SOUNDS GROSS," he said. "SALAZAR PREFERS WOOD. TAPESTRIES ARE ALSO ACCEPTABLE.

You could heal him?" I asked, glancing at Hal."Could," said the wysling, "but won't, until I get what's mine."I pressed my lips together and took a deep breath. "You're heartless and selfish.""I agree," he said, steepling his pale hands together and pointing them at the floor. "Any decent human being would offer to heal him anyway. However, since I'm neither decent nor a human being, I feel pretty all right about it.

Is he safe?" I whispered as soon as the baker was out of earshot."I very much doubt it," Hal said in a low voice.I frowned. "You're meant to say 'yes, I'd trust him with my life.' That sort of thing. Something reassuring."He blinked twice at me. "I beg your pardon. Next time I'll read between your very vague lines, and lie. Will that make you happy?

Get off me!" Badger tried to roll away, but Azrael held his palms over the baker's eyes again and more white light poured out. "You're blinding me! Stop!""No," said Azrael."Please!""I can't hear you over the sound of my total indifference.

You can't rush art." I crumpled another lost attempt and tossed it behind me. "Besides, patience is a virtue.""It's a virtue until it's a waste of time," he pointed out.The cello unleashed a few notes that sounded strangely bright for such an instrument, and Hal nodded in its direction. "See; even a musical instrument agrees with me.

Are you deliberately trying to waste our time," Hal asked in an icy voice, "or are you just being petty?""A little of both," said Azrael.