Some days later, Una called Mus?ad.
?You've aroused my curiosity because you asked if Elijah enjoyed the kill 'as I do?,? she said when he picked up. ?Yet as far as I know, you've not been privy to that aspect of my life. How is it you presume to know what I enjoy?" There was no menace in the question, just bald inquiry.
The vibration of his phone woke Mus?ad from his dozing sleep. A quick lift of the phone showed him who was calling and he smiled, hitting the green button to accept before lifting it to his ear.
"We bargained for you to answer questions in exchange for payment. What will you give to me if I answer your question?"
"What do you want?" she asked in return.
"I would ask for your assistance in a delicate matter: the questioning of a prisoner for information."
"Oh? What sort of prisoner, and what's his offense? Do I want to know?" It didn't sound as if it was a requirement that she know, and it certainly wasn't an outright no. "You don't enjoy questioning yourself? Too unsavory?"
"Of course I will tell you. The man attacked Owen in a book shop where I met him for coffee. The man said he was looking for Owen, to take him as a gift for someone else. He claimed to work for Anubis. Not the actual god but a very old, very powerful magi. Owen thought it best to leave the questioning to me since he had not the stomach for it."
He paused to sit up and lean back against the pillows. "I do have the stomach for it but I sense you do, as well, and I would like to spend more time in your company. If it can be for the benefit of a mutual acquaintance, so much the better."
The frown that settled on Una's face deepened, though when she spoke, it wasn't to address any concern she might have had over a stranger seeking out her employee, but rather the last bit. "Owen doesn't have the stomach for it?" She found that revelation interesting.
After a moment she waved a hand to herself and continued. "I'll do it, certainly." It was one of the easier bargains she'd made.
Mus?ad smiled to himself, pleased at the outcome. "You are a delight, masul sauk." A date was popped into his mouth, chewing slowly while choosing his next words carefully. "Perhaps I misspoke. What I meant to say is that you do not seem to bear any shame in your nature, the role you have been dealt in this life, as the creature you are. Nor should there be. You are confident, intelligent, and you allow your intelligence to rule your decisions rather than baser instincts. But when you do give into that darker side of yourself, I do not think you hold yourself back from it, either. I hope I have not offended." Particularly because it was something he very much enjoyed about her.
"I think--" Una drew out the word, her smile evident as she spoke, "that it would be very difficult for you to offend me. Not impossible, not insurmountable, but quite the challenge. Let me know when you need me."
?You've aroused my curiosity because you asked if Elijah enjoyed the kill 'as I do?,? she said when he picked up. ?Yet as far as I know, you've not been privy to that aspect of my life. How is it you presume to know what I enjoy?" There was no menace in the question, just bald inquiry.
The vibration of his phone woke Mus?ad from his dozing sleep. A quick lift of the phone showed him who was calling and he smiled, hitting the green button to accept before lifting it to his ear.
"We bargained for you to answer questions in exchange for payment. What will you give to me if I answer your question?"
"What do you want?" she asked in return.
"I would ask for your assistance in a delicate matter: the questioning of a prisoner for information."
"Oh? What sort of prisoner, and what's his offense? Do I want to know?" It didn't sound as if it was a requirement that she know, and it certainly wasn't an outright no. "You don't enjoy questioning yourself? Too unsavory?"
"Of course I will tell you. The man attacked Owen in a book shop where I met him for coffee. The man said he was looking for Owen, to take him as a gift for someone else. He claimed to work for Anubis. Not the actual god but a very old, very powerful magi. Owen thought it best to leave the questioning to me since he had not the stomach for it."
He paused to sit up and lean back against the pillows. "I do have the stomach for it but I sense you do, as well, and I would like to spend more time in your company. If it can be for the benefit of a mutual acquaintance, so much the better."
The frown that settled on Una's face deepened, though when she spoke, it wasn't to address any concern she might have had over a stranger seeking out her employee, but rather the last bit. "Owen doesn't have the stomach for it?" She found that revelation interesting.
After a moment she waved a hand to herself and continued. "I'll do it, certainly." It was one of the easier bargains she'd made.
Mus?ad smiled to himself, pleased at the outcome. "You are a delight, masul sauk." A date was popped into his mouth, chewing slowly while choosing his next words carefully. "Perhaps I misspoke. What I meant to say is that you do not seem to bear any shame in your nature, the role you have been dealt in this life, as the creature you are. Nor should there be. You are confident, intelligent, and you allow your intelligence to rule your decisions rather than baser instincts. But when you do give into that darker side of yourself, I do not think you hold yourself back from it, either. I hope I have not offended." Particularly because it was something he very much enjoyed about her.
"I think--" Una drew out the word, her smile evident as she spoke, "that it would be very difficult for you to offend me. Not impossible, not insurmountable, but quite the challenge. Let me know when you need me."