spoiled

there’s no risk involved in finding those ‘paltry few victims’? This isn’t the old days; when people die or disappear, even if they have no relatives to ask after them, someone generally notices! Take too many, and we’ll be contending with mortal police at every turn! I’d rather not have to fly the anchor off if I don’t have to, and if too many people come up missing, or we pick the wrong victims, Folk or not, we are going to be—”
“That is not the point,” the Bane-Sidhe whispered angrily. “Your—” It turned, abruptly, its enshrouding wrappings flaring, sending a wash of dank stench over Aurilia, as the door to her sitting room opened and Vidal entered.
She assessed his expression, and her already-sour mood spoiled further. If Vidal had been unhappy before he left on his errand, he was livid now. Aurilia started to ask him what was wrong, then thought better of the idea. The rage that burned behind his thoughts was palpable even to her, and she was not particularly sensitive to emotion.
Well, this time she was not going to play scapegoat. Niall would undoubtedly want to know where Vidal had been and what he had been doing all this time. And just as surely, when the Bane-Sidhe learned of his errand, Niall would sneer at him.
Well and good. Aurilia would stay out of it. If anyone was to suffer Vidal’s anger, let it be the Bane-Sidhe.
After all, she thought maliciously, he spoiled my breakfast by arriving when he did. Let him take it in the teeth. I’ve had more than my share of My Lord Vidal’s temper tantrums. Niall outranks him; let Niall exert himself for a change.
“And where have you been?” Niall snarled. “I have things I wish to discuss—”
“And I don’t give a damn!” Vidal exploded, his eyes black with rage, fists clenched at his sides. He turned pointedly away from Niall and snarled at Aurilia. “That thrice-damned human mage! Keighvin has had his little protégé put shields on the old