Michael J. Sullivan
Hey MacKenzie, I'm so glad you enjoy the tales...and I certainly enjoy talking to readers. As to your question. It's a bit confusing because he looks twice (the first time he can't find it, and it's only later that he does).
After the first time he decides he has to strangle her, then after finding the key he decides to beat her. And it's when he goes to get a metal pole from the cook-fire that he eventually sees the knife. Here's the text from the book, I'll highlight the area.
He saw it then. A shiny key was dangling from a hook just to the side of the door. Why he hadn’t seen it before he had no idea, except he wouldn’t have expected Mercator to act in such a rational way. After the missing knife, he had assumed she wouldn’t be sensible about the key. By the time he snatched it off the hook, Villar’s blood was up. He was ready for murder. Still, the idea of actually strangling the noble bitch, of touching her, was awful. Then he remembered the metal poles. Better to beat her to death. I can do that!
Returning to the pot and its stand, he saw a blade in the bottom of the empty container—a small one, not much bigger than a paring knife. Mercator had left it where she used it the most. With a grin, Villar took it. Holding the little knife in one hand and the key in the other, he returned to the locked door. He was so enraged his hand shook, and he had a hard time putting the key in the lock. He was forced to put the knife under his arm as he used two hands to steady the key.
I hope that helps. And thanks for reading!
After the first time he decides he has to strangle her, then after finding the key he decides to beat her. And it's when he goes to get a metal pole from the cook-fire that he eventually sees the knife. Here's the text from the book, I'll highlight the area.
He saw it then. A shiny key was dangling from a hook just to the side of the door. Why he hadn’t seen it before he had no idea, except he wouldn’t have expected Mercator to act in such a rational way. After the missing knife, he had assumed she wouldn’t be sensible about the key. By the time he snatched it off the hook, Villar’s blood was up. He was ready for murder. Still, the idea of actually strangling the noble bitch, of touching her, was awful. Then he remembered the metal poles. Better to beat her to death. I can do that!
Returning to the pot and its stand, he saw a blade in the bottom of the empty container—a small one, not much bigger than a paring knife. Mercator had left it where she used it the most. With a grin, Villar took it. Holding the little knife in one hand and the key in the other, he returned to the locked door. He was so enraged his hand shook, and he had a hard time putting the key in the lock. He was forced to put the knife under his arm as he used two hands to steady the key.
I hope that helps. And thanks for reading!
More Answered Questions
Andy Mccarl
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Not a question, just a statement - It is killing me that I have an ecopy of the book, a hard copy of the book, and I'm waiting for the audiobook version to become available! Can you sync that up next time? I stumbled on your work through "The Jester", and I've listened before reading each of the series since. Killing me!
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