hing of value. He was the first person Id trusted since leaving home.
"He checked out the bracelet with the bird and figured out what it was for. You see, it made no sense as jewelry. The maker had cast the birds claws from razor sharp steel and fitted them to the underside of the piece, so that they were in contact with the skin of the person wearing the bracelet. There was also a spring mechanism to rake the claws down the wearers arm. What use could there be for something like that?"
"Cutting. Blood," said Spyder, whod seen his share of bloodletting and scarring rituals among the er-hipster modern primitive crowd in San Francisco.
"Exactly. The bracelet was an instrument of sacrifice, a device for making a blood offering to my family gods. Say the right incantation and release the spring on the silver shrike. The blades would take your blood and help you get what you want. On a small scale. Its not much of a sacrifice. Only good for small favors. Like a second or two of sight. "
"What do you see? Is it like normal vision?"
"Nothing at all. Its like Im floating above the scene, looking down on everything happening. I can see myself and my opponent, plus the nearby landscape. The visions never last for long. Just long enough for me to get my bearings and a sense of an opponent. I cant do it too often. The gods get tired of these dime store sacrifices. I have to be careful not to ask for their help too often. "
Spyder frowned. "I wondered why you kept that coat on, even in the heat. Youre hiding the bracelet. "
"And my arm," said Shrike. "Its not something to see. "
"How many times have you used the bracelet?"
"I dont know. Someti
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