Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

worried.” I began to circle, too.
    â€œYou should be.”
    â€œFirst you say I should, then you say I shouldn’t. Make up your mind.”
    Drops of water slid down his jacket. Judging by the light stabbing through the holes in the roof, the sky was clear. No hint of moisture in the air. Suppose Derek’s intel was right. Suppose he did teleport. How would I keep him from disappearing?
    The man spread his arms. I didn’t like the way he moved, either, light on his feet.
    â€œWhat’s with the cute shoelace on your head?”
    â€œWhat this?” He flicked the end of the cord with his finger.
    â€œYeah. Rambo called, he wants his bandana back.”
    â€œThis Rambo, he a friend of yours?”
    â€œWho’s Rambo?” Julie asked.
    If a cultural reference flies over a man’s head, does it make a sound if nobody else gets it? I had never managed to watch the whole movie—magic always interfered, but I had read the book. Maybe after the flare cut out and tech reasserted its dominance for a few weeks, I’d dig the minidisc out and watch the darn thing from start to finish.
    The bowman took a step, and I pointed Slayer’s business end in his direction. “No closer.”
    He took another baby step forward. “Sorry, my foot slipped.” Another step. “Sorry, just can’t keep the bloody buggers under control.”
    â€œNext one will be your last.”
    He rocked forward and I almost lunged.
    â€œUh-uh-uh.” He shook his head in mock disappointment. “I didn’t actually step, see.”
    Julie snickered.
    He raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. “You need to relax a bit, dove. Like Mouse over there. You trust me, don’t you, Mouse?”
    â€œNope!”
    â€œAhhh, I’m hurt. Nobody likes me.”
    I knew he’d move a fraction of a breath before he started. Those eyes gave him away. He lunged, missed, and found Slayer’s tip at his back.
    â€œMove, and I’ll cut your liver in half.”
    He spun toward me, and my saber glanced off metal. Chain mail under the jacket. Crap. Steel fingers clamped my sword hand, keeping it pinned. He turned and stabbed the rigid fingers of his right hand under my breastbone. I shied away from the stab to lessen the impact—it still hurt like hell—and grabbed his right wrist, jerking him toward me. For a second all of his weight rested on his left leg and I kicked it out from under him. He crashed to the floor and dragged me down with him, his fist locked on my sword hand. I hit the ground, letting go of Slayer. My hand slipped between his fingers and I rolled into the clear.
    Half a breath later we were both on our feet.
    â€œPretty sword,” he said, twisting Slayer to catch a sun ray. The light danced on the opaque blade and sank into the black chain-mail shirt now showing below his jacket. “Why no guard?”
    â€œDon’t need one.”
    â€œIs it any good?”
    I kicked a strip of leather I’d sliced off. “You tell me.”
    His hand went back to check his chain shirt, and I kicked him, aiming for the throat. He caught my foot with a grunt, and dumped me on the floor. His knee pressed on my neck. He’d set a trap and I’d walked right into it. The light was shrinking. I could barely breathe.
    â€œYou kick like a mule.” He grimaced and ground his knee harder. I wasn’t getting enough air. He had my right hand pinned, but not my left. I bent my left hand, and a cold sliver of the silver needle slid into my palm from the leather wristband. “But I’ve been at this a lot longer…”
    I drove the silver needle into his thigh.
    His thigh muscle contracted. He grunted and fell off me. I leaped to my feet and kicked him in the face. It was a solid kick and it connected. He sprawled on his back, blood running from his nose. I dropped next to him, slid my leg under his arm, and clenched it with my other leg, bending the arm backward in a classic shoulder lock. He growled. All I had to do was scissor my legs, and I’d dislocate his arm, and I still had both hands free.
    I zipped his jacket open, looking for the maps.
    â€œWrong zipper,” he gasped. “Try lower.”
    â€œIn your dreams.” I reached into the inner pocket and pulled a plastic pack free. The maps. “Stealing’s a crime. Thank you for returning the Pack’s property. Your cooperation has been noted.”
    He