Belladonna

fate. I'm a dead man.
    "He wasn't trying to hurt me," she said. "His sister is missing, lost in the landscapes."
    "And this is how he responds to finding his sister!"
    The woman's mouth primmed as she looked at Michael and made a lightning-flash decision. "I've been told that men who are scared tend to yell at a loved one as a way of showing relief. Which is totally unfair since the person being yelled at has already had a difficult time because otherwise she wouldn't have been late. But unfair or not, I've been told that this is a male thing to do and men have to be forgiven, eventually, when they do it."
    Irritation tightened Sebastian's mouth when the blond-haired man choked back a laugh, but it was enough to break the coldness in his eyes.
    "I thought we agreed that discussion was finished," Sebastian said.
    "It is finished," she agreed. "I was just reminding you of it."
    He would have found the domestic byplay more amusing if his life didn't depend on Sebastian's temper.
    The woman looked at Michael. "You came here to find your sister."
    "I came here by mistake," he replied.
    "No one comes to the Den by mistake," Sebastian said. "By accident, yes, but not by mistake."
    Michael nodded to indicate he understood the distinction. "By accident then."
    "The Merry Makers brought him across the border in order to see you," Addison said from behind Michael.
    "Why?" Sebastian asked.
    "I'm looking for the answer to a riddle," Michael replied. It wasn't really a riddle anymore since he'd already figured out
    "belladonna" was a woman and not the plant, but if he kept these people intrigued about why he was among them, he might be able to talk his way out of this place.
    "You said you were looking for your sister," the woman said, shifting so she no longer blocked Sebastian's right hand.
    Damn the darkness, these people were too suspicious of strangers to be intrigued by anything. And if the woman stopped believing his reason for grabbing her ... He had a feeling Sebastian could kill him in cold blood right here on the street and no one would say a thing about it.
    "I am looking for my sister," he said, putting all the conviction he could into his voice, "and the answer to this riddle. I'm thinking finding one is the only way of finding the other."
    Sebastian stared at him. "What's the riddle?"
    "Heart's hope lies within belladonna."
    He didn't expect a reaction, so he wasn't sure what it meant when Sebastian rocked back on his heels as if he'd just felt a fist jab him in the ribs.
    "Who are you?" Sebastian asked.
    "Michael. The Magician."
    No response to the word. Might have given him some leverage if they'd been a bit fearful of him. Then again, he wasn't sure being an ill-wisher measured up to whatever "deadly magics" Sebastian wielded.
    "I'm Sebastian Justicemaker," Sebastian said. "This is my wife, Lynnea," He tipped his head to indicate the blond-haired man.
    "That's Teaser."
    Michael nodded to Lynnea, then to the blond-haired man, who just gave him a measuring look before returning to his table.
    Sebastian lightly touched Lynnea's shoulder. "Why don't you clear that far table and ask Philo to bring some food."
    "Best make it downwind," Michael muttered, pinching his shirt. Since everything he owned had gone into the bog, everything smelled like the bog. "I'd be grateful for some food and something warm to drink. And some water."
    The customers at the chosen table were shifted to another, and Michael noticed no one grumbled about the change in seating.
    At least, not out loud. He washed his hands in the bowl of warm water that was offered, glad to have that much clean. The beverage Lynnea called koffee was hot and strong, which made him realize how cold and tired he was.
    "I suppose you want the whole story," Michael said after Lynnea delivered the food — thick stew, slices of fresh bread generously buttered, a white cheese, and some round, black objects in their own small bowl.
    "Be careful biting into the olives," Sebastian said, pointing at the small bowl. "They have pits. Eat while it's hot. Then I'll listen."
    He didn't need to be told twice. He dug into the meal, but he studied the street and the people while he ate. Strange place.
    There was a mean edge that reminded him of the streets around the docks in Kendall, and certainly enough taverns ...
    A beautiful woman strolled toward the table, gave him an assessing look, then smiled in blatant invitation. Michael felt the heat of a blush as he looked down at his