by T. A. Pratt
But when she drew the dagger out it gleamed, perfectly clean, and the red tape was gone.
Instead, alternating bands of purple and white wrapped the hilt, the colors matching her cloak exactly.
Her colors.
“Ah,” Hamil said. “I’d wondered when that would happen.”
Marla looked at him, confused.
“It’s a little known fact,” he said, “that the dagger’s color changes to reflect the owner. When Somerset killed Sauvage, he couldn’t take the dagger, so the color stayed the same. And you hadn’t won it, so they didn’t change for you, either.” He inclined his head to the blade in her hand. “Until now. You’ve earned it.”
“You knew,” she said. “You knew I didn’t kill Sauvage.”
“One of my boys watched the entire fight. He came to tell me, and I sent him back for the dagger. He saw you take it instead.”
“That’s why you didn’t let me show the dagger at the council,” she said slowly. “Because the others would know I hadn’t earned it.” She looked into his now-open face. “But why? Why did you help me?”
“Let’s just say I have a fondness for waifs and strays. I would have stepped in, if necessary... but you handled it well.” He patted her arm. “Leaders lead, Marla. That’s what you did. The dagger truly belongs to you now. And the responsibility.” He shook his head and grinned, strangely wolfish despite his bulk. “I don’t envy you the responsibility.”
She put the dagger back in her bag. Well, she thought, I certainly didn’t expect this. She couldn’t separate her muddled feelings, but she thought pleasure predominated, and pride at doing well, and a desire to continue doing so.
“Consigliere,” she said, looking seriously at Hamil. “Tell me everything I need to know.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing all this time?” he said.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my wife Heather Shaw and son River for their endless support. Thanks to John Teehan at Merry Blacksmith for publishing the print edition, Jenn Reese at Tiger Bright Studios for the beautiful cover, and Aislinn Quicksilver Harvey for her charming interior art. (I love her Pale Dog.) Thanks to all the editors who published things about Marla over the years, most especially Juliet Ulman, who bought the first four books for Bantam back in 2005 and to Shawna McCarthy, who bought “Down with the Lizards and the Bees” and most of my other earliest professional sales at Realms of Fantasy; their support in particular changed my life forever. My gratitude to my closest confidantes, who listen to me rant and complain and mutter to myself and continue to support me anyway, particularly Ais, Amanda, Emily, Katrina, and Sarah, who all put up with a lot.
And, of course, thanks to the people who backed the Do Better Kickstarter (y’all don’t need to do any better. You’re already the best): Aaron Arlet, Aaron McConnell, Albert van Os, Allen L. Edwards, Alyssa Ritchie, Amanda Fisher, Amanda Stevens, Amy Fincher, Andi Carrison, André Arko, Andreas Gustafsson, Andrew and Kate Barton, Andrew Hatchell, Andrew J Clark IV, Andrew Lin, Andrew Plotkin, Andrija Popovic, Anthony Craig Senatore, Antonio Díaz López, Arashi Veronica Cesana, Arlene parker, Arthur, Ashley Knight, becca S, Ben Esacove, Ben Meginnis, Beth Rheaume, Bill Jennings, Bryan Sims, Caity Zimmerman, Carl Rigney, Carol J. Guess, Chad Bowden, Chelle Parker, Chloe Turner, Chris Connelly, Chris McLaren, Chris Sasaki, Christian Decomain, Christy Corp-Minamiji, Chuck Lawson, Cinnamon Davis, Claudius Reich, Cliff Winnig, Colette Reap, Colin Anderson, Colleen “the endo queen” LeBlanc, Collin H Smith, Constance and Gann Bierner, Craig Hackl, Cynthia Anne Cofer and Mark Buckmaster, Dan Burke, Dan DeFor, Dana Cate, Dani (danooli) Daly, Danielle Benson, Dave Newman, David A. Mazza, David Bell, David J. Schwartz, David Rains, Dean M Roddick, Deanna Stanley, Del DeHart, Dena Heilik, Denise Murray, dxfl, Ed Fuqua, Edward Greaves, ej huff, Elaine Tindill-Rohr, Ellen Sandberg, Else, Emb0r, Emily Lane, Enrica P., Eric C. Bates, Ernie Sawyer, Evan Ladouceur, Fred Herman, Gabriel, Galen W Miller, Gary Singer, Gavran, Glennis LeBlanc, Glyph, Greg Levick, GrinR, Guillaume Actif, Heather Pritchett, Heidi Berthiaume, Hugh Berkson, Hugh L. Eckert, J G Lee, J.R. Murdock, James M. Yager, Jamie Wingo, Jaym Gates, Jeff Huse, Jeffrey Reed, Jen Darcy Schwartz & Family, Jen Woods, Jenjen4280, Jenn Snively, Jennifer Berk, Jennifer Chun, Jennifer L. Pierce, Jennifer Scott, Jesse Morgan, Jessi Harding, Jessica Bay, Jim Dorondo, JM Templet, Joe Dougherty, Joe McTee, Joe Rosenblum, Joey Shoji, John Blankenship, John Devenny, John M. Gamble, Jon Ault, Jon Lundy, Jonathan K. Stephens, Jordin Rausch, Jordy Jensky, Josh Rountree, Julie Gammad, Justin E Gilbert, Karen Robinson, Karen Schaffer, Kathleen Wienhold, Katie Douglas, Keith David Hall, Keith Teklits, Keith Weinzerl, Kelly A Hong, Ken Meltsner, Kendall PB, Kevin Hogan, Kiara Pyrenei, Kimberly Lloyd, Kris Downs, Kristin Bodreau, Kristyn Willson, Kyle Mack and Laura Taylor, Lilly Ibelo, Lisa Hawkridge, LJ Delman Hanechak, Lori Gildersleeve, Mara Jade Smith, Marcel van Os, Marius Gedminas, Mark Rowe, Matthew Galloway, Max Kaehn, Maynard Garrett, Melissa L. Hayden, Melissa Tabon, Michael “Maikeruu” Pierno, Michael Bernardi, Michael D. Blanchard, Michelle Matel, Mike Bavister, Mike Dawgson, Mirek Nowak, MK Carroll, Natalie Luhrs, Nathan Bremmer, Neil Campbell, Nellie Batz, Nicole Dutton, Paul Bulmer, Paul Echeverri, Pete Milan, Peter Heller, Phil Adler, Phil Boswell, Pixel, Q Fortier, quiltingkitty, Rick Frazier, Ro Molina, Rob Steinberger, Robert Adam II, Robin Mayer, Rockyboy, Rodrigo Martin, Roger Silverstein, Roman Pauer, Ron Jarrell, Ryan Rapp, Sam Courtney, Sarah Day, Sarah L. Heitz, Scott Blizzard, Scott Drummond, Scott E Sanders, Shadow, Shawntay Shannon, Shelley Cass, Smoot, Sophia Fisher, SPL, Sraedi, Stefon Mears, Stephen Ballentine, Stephen Boucher, Steve Feldon, Steve Lindauer, Stonerberg, summervillain, Susan Marie Groppi, Tamara L. DeGray, Tania Clucas, Tara Rowan, Ted Brown, Tibs, Tim Uruski, Timothy Callahan, Tobias Buckell, Todd Dashoff, Tony James, Topher, Vicky Brunet, Visioni Daniele, Von Welch, Will, Yaron Davidson, Yoshio Kobayashi.
Publication History
“Do Better” is original to this collection.
“The Four Horsepersons of the Eucatastrophe” is original to this collection.
“Gift of the Anthropophagi” via Patreon, December 2017.
“Three Petitions to the Queen of Hell” via Patreon, March 2017.
“Under the Tree” via Patreon, December 2016.
“The Doorman” via Patreon, April 2016.
“A Pathway Up and Down” via Patreon, March 2016.
“The Atheist in the Garden” [chapbook], February 2016.
“Ice Murder Safari” [chapbook], May 2015.
“Manic Nixie Dream Girl” [chapbook], January 2014.
“That Time Hell Froze Over” [chapbook], January 2014.
“Ghostreaper, or, Life After Revenge” in Nightmare, January 2014.
“Sorcerer’s Honeymoon” [chapbook], January 2014.
“Mother of the Bride” [chapbook], January 2014.
“Happy Old Year” in Drabblecast, December 2013.
“Cages” in Antiquities and Tangibles, January 2013.
“Snake and Mongoose” [chapbook], September 2012.
“A Cloak of Many Worlds” [chapbook], September 2012.
“Ill Met in Ulthar” in Witches, March 2012.
“Pride Is an Engine” in Metamancer, January 2012.
“A Void Wrapped in a Smile” in Basement Stories, October 2011.
“Little Better than a Beast” in Those Who Fight Monsters, April 2011.
“Shark’s Teeth” in Daily Science Fiction, March 2011.
“Mommy Issues of the Dead” in Way of the Wizard, November 2010.
“Grander than the Sea” in The Solaris Book of New Fantasy, December 2007.
“Haruspex” in Shadows of Saturn, June 2005.
“Life in Stone” in Lenox Avenue, November 2004.
“Pale Dog” in Little Gods, November 2003.
“Down with the Lizards and the Bees” in Realms of Fantasy, August 2003.
“Encounter on a Back Street” in Horrorfind, February 2003.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Introduction: What Am I Looking At
Part One: Marla Mason
The Doorman
Mommy Issues of the Dead
Ill Met in Ulthar
Pale Dog
Grander than the Sea
Little Better than a Beast
Shark’s Teeth
Snake and Mongoose
Sorcerer’s Honeymoon
Cages
Manic Nixie Dream Girl
Mother of the Bride
Do Better
Three Petitions to the Queen of Hell
The Four Horsepersons of the Eucatastrophe
Part Two: Everybody Else
Down with the Lizards and the Bees
A Cloak of Many Worlds
That Time Hell Froze Over
Life in Stone
A Void Wrapped in a Smile
Ice Murder Safari
The Atheist in the Garden
The Gift of the Anthropophagi
Ghostreaper, or, Life After Revenge
Happy Old Year
A Pathway Up and Down
Under the Tree
Part Three: Odds and Beginnings
Encounter on a Back Street
Haruspex
Pride Is an Engine
Acknowledgments
Publication History
