Lindsay Buroker

Deadly Games

CHAPTER 1

In the predawn light, Amaranthe Lokdoncharged up the worn travertine steps of the ancient stadium. Herthighs burned, her calves ached, and sweat streamed into hereyes.

“Idiotic,” she muttered to herself betweenstrained breaths. “Deranged…masochistic.”

A dark, round shape blurred out of theshadows. Instinctively, she lifted her hands and caught the heavy,sand-filled ball to keep it from slamming into her chest. Barely.She wobbled, the weight threatening to knock her onto the stonebenches, but she compensated and continued upward. With a lastburst of energy, she hurled the ball back to the shadowy figurethat had appeared at the top of the stairs.

Amaranthe kept her hands up, thinking hemight throw it again, but he propped it against his hip and waited.Legs trembling, she reached the top step and forced herself tostand up straight instead of collapsing in a sweaty, exhaustedheap.

“Dedicated,” Sicarius said.

“What?” she asked when she caught her breath.Stars still lurked in the deep blue sky, and she could not make outhis face, but it would not have hinted at his thoughts anyway.

“Your list,” he said.

Amaranthe waited for him to expound. He didnot.

“You think I’m dedicated for being here, anhour before dawn, training with you? Even though I told everyone totake the week off because we’ve been working so much lately?”

“Yes.”

Figuring her pride had kept her on her feet arespectable length of time, she sat down on the closest bench.

“You don’t think I should be following my ownorders and enjoying a relaxing week? I could be sleeping in ormaybe planning for a day at the beach. It is summer, after all, andthe weather is finally good. Yet I’m here with you, torturingmyself. You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“In general, or for training?”

She scowled suspiciously at him.

A clank drifted up from the sand-coveredfloor of the arena below. A yawning man in city worker’s overallsshambled out of a maintenance door carrying a lantern. He headedtoward the towering machine that controlled the Clank Race, asteam-powered obstacle course with a tangle of climbing walls,swaying nets, rocking platforms, and swinging axes. The contraptionoccupied half of the arena floor inside the running track, andboxing and wrestling rings took up the other half. The workerpatted his pockets, cursed, and walked back inside.

“The athletes will show up soon to starttraining,” Amaranthe said. As a junior, she had competed in asmaller version of the Imperial Games, and she missed training forsomething as innocent as medals and honor. “I suppose we shouldgo.”

“Yes.” Sicarius offered a hand.

Surprised, she gazed at it for a couple ofseconds before clasping it. He pulled her to her feet gently andheld the grip for a moment.

Amaranthe swallowed. A couple of monthsearlier, he had admitted he cared for her, but he had also said itwould be a bad idea for them to act upon such feelings. Outwardly,she had agreed with him; inwardly, she kept hoping he would beovercome by emotion-or she would settle for lust-and tug her intohis arms for a passionate kiss. Unfortunately, she could notremember having too many men overcome by lust because of herpresence. Perhaps it was because she always wore her hair in apractical bun and donned utilitarian clothing more suitable tomercenary life than an evening out. Anyway, Sicarius wasn’t thetype to be overcome by…anything.

He released her hand without a word and ledthe way down the steps. Amaranthe trailed him, wondering if she hadimagined that pause. They followed a railing toward steps leadingdown from the elevated tiers of seating.

Sicarius stopped before he reached thestairs. A young woman climbed into view, blond hair and freckledskin illuminated by a pair of gas lamps burning on the landing.Though she wore the loose white togs of one of the athletes, sheclenched a short bow in one hand and had an arrow nocked with theother. Her head turned from side to side, eyes searching the arenabelow.

A throwing knife appeared in Sicarius’shand.

“Wait,” Amaranthe whispered, slipping pasthim.

Fear whitened the woman’s knuckles where shegripped the bow-this was no hardened bounty hunter.

Amaranthe held her hands out, palms up, andwalked toward the landing. “Greetings.”

The bow jerked in her direction.

Amaranthe dropped to her belly, wincing asthe hard edge of a travertine step rammed her chest. A clinksounded as the arrow skipped off the railing. Amaranthe sprang toher feet, hoping to reach the woman before she could reload.

Sicarius was already behind the woman, aknife pressed against her throat. The bow clattered to the stonefloor.

Amaranthe flung her hand out, saying,“Don’t,” but Sicarius had already paused, waiting to see what shewanted to do. A few months ago, he would not have. He simply wouldhave killed someone-anyone-who dared lift a weapon in hisdirection.

Amaranthe straightened her shirt and walkedforward. “Care to explain why you’re shooting at the shadows? Inparticular, the portion of shadows I was occupying?”

Rings of white shown around the young woman’sblue irises. She opened her mouth a couple of times but did notmanage to speak. She could not be more than eighteen or nineteen,and with that pale skin she was not likely a Turgonian.

Amaranthe waved a hand toward Sicarius tosuggest he could loosen his grip. He did not.

“He’ll only kill you if you don’t talk,”Amaranthe said.

“Accident,” the woman whispered, a faintlilting accent marking the word. “I was tense. My sister…someonetook her.”

“Oh? Like a kidnapping?” Eagerness thrummedthrough Amaranthe, revitalizing her tired limbs even more thanbeing shot at had. Was there some trouble afoot? Something her teamcould handle? Something that could earn them attention-goodattention?

“Kidnapping.” The woman started to nod butwinced when the movement drew blood. Sicarius kept his knives sharpenough to split the hairs on a flea.

“Let her go, please,” Amaranthe told him. “Ido believe that’s a client.”

Though Sicarius had drawn the woman back intothe shadows, to stay out of the light on the landing, Amaranthe hadno trouble reading the cool expression he leveled her way.

“What?” she asked him. “It’s not as if youwere going to spend the week sunbathing at the beach.”

Sicarius released the woman, but he did notput away his dagger. As soon as she was free, the girl clasped ahand to her throat and lunged away from him.

“We might be able to help you,” Amaranthesaid. “My name is Amaranthe. What’s yours?”

“Fasha,” she said, still holding her hand toher neck. She eased closer to Amaranthe while throwing uneasyglances at Sicarius. “Are you…athletes?”

“We’re swords for hire,” Amaranthe said.

“Mercenaries?” Fasha tensed. “Lowlifedung-crawlers that work for the highest bidder? How do I knowyou’re not the people who took my sister?”

“We don’t work for the highest bidder, andI’m reasonably certain I haven’t mingled with dung lately. You?”Amaranthe raised her chin toward Sicarius.

He said nothing.

“He hasn’t either,” Amaranthe said. “He’squite fastidious.” When neither person commented, she cleared herthroat and got back on topic. “We work for the good of the empire,taking on missions that the emperor would approve of in the hopesof-” getting the cursed bounties off their heads, she thought,“-winning his favor. In fact we-”

Whistling came from the arena. The worker hadreturned, a box of matches in hand, and he was veering toward thefurnace.

“But perhaps we should discuss it elsewhere,”Amaranthe murmured.

She led the way into the shadows outside thestadium. Despite her criticism of mercenaries, Fasha picked up herbow and followed. Sicarius disappeared, but Amaranthe trusted himto stay nearby. More than anybody, he knew how good she was atfinding trouble.

Voices sounded-two male athletes walking pastthe stadium a few dozen meters away. Amaranthe chewed on her lip.The idea of a mission excited her, but it would be foolish tolinger at Barlovoc Stadium after sunrise. Though a week would passbefore the Imperial Games themselves started, enforcers werealready patrolling the barracks and training areas to keep thepeace amongst the athletes. That thought made her wonder why Fashahad not sought out the law for help.

“Can you tell me what happened?” Amarantheasked.

“My sister and I are here from Kendor tocompete. This is the first year your Games have been open tooutsiders.”

Amaranthe nodded. She had read the article inThe Gazette and knew Emperor Sespian was responsible forthat. Though monetary rewards had never been a prize in theempire’s biennial competition, every young citizen dreamed ofcompeting and winning. Also there had been instances of superbathletes sweeping the events and being granted a ticket into thewarrior caste, something usually reserved for outstanding wartimeperformances. A foreigner would not be eligible for that, but thenewspaper article had mentioned a citizenship prize for those whowished it-an offer that had traditionalists grumbling in ciderhouses across the city.

“She didn’t come back to the barracks lastnight,” Fasha went on.

Amaranthe’s shoulders drooped. That was it?The girl had only been missing for a few hours? “Maybe she found ahandsome young man and spent the night with him.”

“No. She’s been training too hard for this.She may celebrate after it’s all over, but for the last week she’sbeen in bed early and up before dawn to train. Keisha is good. Verygood. She’s won every race back home. She even beats the men inanything over a hundred meters. She’s utterly serious about winninghere.”

“Did you try going to the enforcers?”Amaranthe asked.

“Yes, late last night. I returned from myevening run, and Keisha wasn’t in our room. Right away, I knewsomething was wrong. I went to the men who guard the barracks, butthey were derisive. They said nothing got past them. And theythreatened to throw me in jail when I mentioned…”

Amaranthe straightened, her interestreturning. “The Science?”

“You…know about the mental sciences?”

“My team has had run-ins with practitionersbefore.”

“Oh!” Fasha’s clothing rustled as she brushedAmaranthe’s shoulder with a pat made clumsy by the darkness. It wasan enthusiastic pat though. “Maybe you can help. Theenforcers told me it’s forbidden to talk about magic-that was theirignorant word for it. Two breaths later, they told me magic doesn’texist. If it doesn’t exist, why would it be forbidden to speak ofit? Ignorant heathens.”

“Yes, the empire’s stance isn’t entirelylogical,” Amaranthe admitted. “What did you actually sense? Are youa practitioner yourself?”

“No, but there’s a shaman in our tribe, andyou come to recognize the Science being practiced when you grow uparound it. I sensed…a definite residue. I believe something wasdone to my sister so she’d be easy to steal away.”

Amaranthe tapped her fingers against herthigh. “I’d like to see your room. I used to be an-” she stoppedherself from saying enforcer, since that might not breed confidencein the girl, “-an investigator. Is it private, or are there othersstaying in there?”

“We paid for a private room.”

“Any windows?” Amaranthe supposed she wouldhave to admit she was a wanted woman at some point and that shecould not stroll past enforcers without risk of being recognizedand captured-or shot.

“No, it’s a little room on the inside of thebuilding.”

“Near a backdoor, by chance?”

“No….” Fasha sounded puzzled. “Does itmatter? We can bring guests in.”

“My comrade and I are wanted by the law.”

Fasha’s lips formed an “Oh,” but no soundcame out.

Amaranthe eyed the brightening sky. More andmore athletes were on the road leading past the stadium, and thebarracks would be an active place. “Don’t worry about it. I’llthink of something. Let’s go.”

Amaranthe had taken only a few steps when adark figure appeared at her shoulder. She jumped despite the factshe ought to know better by now.

“We’re going inside the barracks?” Sicariusasked.

Now Fasha jumped and sidled several stepsaway. The brightening sky revealed Sicarius’s unexpressive angularface, his fitted, black clothing, and the variety of daggers andthrowing knives adorning it. Fasha fingered her bow.

“It’s fine,” Amaranthe said. “He’s my mosttrusted ally.”

“That’d be more comforting if you hadn’t justadmitted to being wanted by the law,” Fasha said.

“You didn’t think you’d find a Science-savvymercenary team in the empire without a few eccentricities, didyou?” Amaranthe asked.

“The barracks,” Sicarius repeated, cuttingout whatever reply Fasha might have made.

“I’ll sneak by the enforcers and check itout,” Amaranthe told him. “I won’t be long. You can wait outside.If they try to drag me off to Enforcer Headquarters, you can benice and provide a distraction so I can slip away. Anon-death-causing distraction.”

“The last time you went into the enemy campwhile I waited outside,” Sicarius said, “someone threw a blastingstick at me.”

“As I recall it was at the positionyou’d recently vacated, but, thanks to your hyper-vigilance, fastreflexes, and quick mind, you evaded the attack and were long gonewhen the cliff top crumbled.”

Amaranthe smiled, hoping to tease a lightresponse out of Sicarius, something that might show Fasha he had aside that was not entirely dark and scary.

Birds twittered in the branches of treeslining the road. Thunks and whistles of steam came from within thestadium, signifying the Clank Race gearing up.

Finally, Sicarius spoke. “I see. Your plan isto flatter your way past the enforcers.”

Amaranthe’s smile did not fade. “If the plandoesn’t work, maybe so.”

She left Sicarius to the shadows and ledFasha to the athlete complex, a mix of permanent structures andbrightly colored tents set up to house visiting competitors fromacross the empire. Men and women jogged or bicycled past, someheading off to train, others stopping at the food pavilions first.A steam carriage chugged past, rumbling up a circular drive to themajestic travertine lodge reserved for warrior caste athletes.Enforcers guarded the front door of the women’s barracks. Amaranthemulled over how to get in and out before full daylight came, makingit easy to recognize faces.

Instead of veering in that direction, sheangled off the main road toward a pair of dome-shaped brickbuildings: men’s and women’s bathhouses. Smoke wafted from thechimneys, signifying the floors and pools were already warm.

“You wish to bathe before investigating?”Fasha asked.

“I could use it.” Amaranthe plucked at hershirt, still damp from the stair-running session. “But, no.”

She headed for the entrance of the women’sbathhouse-no enforcers guarded those doors.

Steam wrapped about them as they headed in,obscuring visibility, but Amaranthe had visited the complex beforeand knew the layout. She slipped into the dressing room, found noone inside changing, and plucked someone’s white togs out of aniche.

“You’re stealing people’s clothing?” Fashaasked.

Already changing, Amaranthe thought aboutspouting some justification about it being for the good of theempire, but she never would have bought that from a thief when shehad been an enforcer. Oh, well. “Sandals, too,” she said.

On the way out, she grabbed a few towels. Shewound one around her hair, draped another across her shoulders, andhanded Fasha a third. She found a satchel and hid her own clothingand her knife-the closest thing to a weapon she had brought for themorning training session-inside.

“Two lady athletes returning from the bathsto change before breakfast,” Amaranthe said.

Fasha sniffed at her. “Let’s hope theenforcers’ sense of smell is as poor as their sense of magic.”

“Your Turgonian is quite good,” Amaranthesaid instead of responding to the dig.

It occurred to her that this could be asetup. What if some early-rising enforcer had spotted Sicarius andher training and, knowing he could not take them on in the open,arranged a trap? More than one bounty hunter had attempted to getclose by feigning an interest in hiring them.

“I’m the daughter of a chief,” Fasha said.“I’ve been educated.”

“What did you say your sister’s name isagain?”

“Keisha.”

“And she’s how old?”

“Sixteen.”

“Why don’t you tell me more about your tribeand why you’re here competing,” Amaranthe said, heading toward thebarracks.

Fasha’s brow crinkled, but she complied.Amaranthe listened to the story and asked more questions as theywalked, seeking inconsistencies or hesitations that would suggestthe woman was making it up as she went. Everything soundedplausible, though, and by the time they neared the barracks,Amaranthe decided she was being paranoid.

Two men with short swords and crossbows stoodguard on either side of the front door. She did not recognizeeither-since Barlovoc Stadium was located on the southern end ofthe city, there was little chance of her running into someone shehad worked with-but that did not mean they would not recognize her.Though her wanted poster did not decorate the city as profusely asSicarius’s, it was out there.

Amaranthe adjusted her towel wrap and climbedthe stairs. “You didn’t run here last year, so you don’t know,” shetold Fasha, “but the sand on the track doesn’t feel very wellpacked. It might make it easy to lose your footing.”

“Uhm, yes, maybe so,” Fasha said. “Do youthink…”

One of the enforcers grabbed Amaranthe’s armas she tried to walk through the door. Cursed ancestors, she hadhoped to at least get inside to snoop about before beingcaught.

“What are you doing with her?” the enforcerdemanded.

Amaranthe blinked. “What?”

The enforcer, a young man who could not bemore than a year or two out of the academy, pointed at Fasha whilescowling so fiercely he threatened to snap a tendon in his neck.“She’s a Kendorian.”

Ah, of course. There must be quite a fewannoyed with the new policy, allowing foreigners into the ImperialGames.

Amaranthe shrugged. “She’s running in thesame events as I am.”

The second enforcer, whose rumpled uniformand bleary eyes might have meant he had been on shift all night,stabbed Fasha in the shoulder with a finger. “She was out here,spouting about magic last night. We ought to have thrown her in thewagon. And any imperial woman who colludes with her as well.”

Amaranthe groaned inwardly. She had neverseen Sicarius laugh, and she did not want the first instance tocome because she was foolish enough to get arrested for someoneelse’s crime.

Fasha lifted her chin. “I’ve done nothingwrong. You ignorant Turgonians should be ashamed of yourselves forheckling athletes.”

“Ignorant?” The first enforcer reached forthe handcuffs dangling from his belt hook. “You-”

Amaranthe pushed Fasha back and glidedbetween the enforcers. She lifted a hand to her lips and whisperedout of the side of her mouth, “I’m on it.”

“Er, huh?” The enforcers shared perplexedlooks.

“Watching the suspicious foreigner,”Amaranthe murmured. “She came to the track babbling aboutkidnappings and magic. As if either would happen at such awell-guarded venue.”

The wrinkled foreheads smoothed. “Oh. Ofcourse, that’s right.”

“You gentlemen can’t go inside the women’sbarracks,” Amaranthe said, “but I can. I can watch her andlet you know if she does anything suspicious.”

“Yes, yes, right,” they murmured. “You let usknow.”

They drew back and nodded for her to goinside. Fortunately, Fasha kept her mouth shut and did nothing toantagonize the men as they passed, entering an open bay dominatedby two long rows of bunk beds. A few held slumbering figures, butmost had been vacated. Women in various states of undress chattedand tended to their morning ablutions.

“That was embarrassing,” Amaranthe said, asshe and Fasha walked down the aisle.

“That your people are so ignorant aboutmagic?”

“That those enforcers fell for that. Academystandards must be slipping.” Amaranthe waved toward the bay.“Where’s your room?”

“Down there.” Fasha pointed toward a hallwayat the end.

Conversations ceased as they passed.Amaranthe wondered if she had made a mistake coming in with aforeigner. She might have acquired information more easily if shechatted with people independently. One of these women might verywell have something to do with the kidnapping. Another plot to oustoutsiders?

The sound of running water came from latrinesfarther down the hallway. Amaranthe would check that directionlater. The back door ought to be guarded similarly to the front,but perhaps someone could have escaped with a prisoner through awindow, especially if some magic had rendered the prisonerunconscious. She shook her head, reminding herself she had not yetdetermined if anything was truly amiss. Even if Fasha’s sister hadbeen a daughter of the warrior caste, the enforcers would not havestarted searching for her after only one night missing.

Fasha pushed open a door that lacked a lock.They walked into a simple room with footlockers, two narrow beds,and a chest between them doubling as a side table. Two tea mugs anda bag of nuts rested on top next to a low-burning kerosenelamp.

Amaranthe turned the flame up.

“I looked around to see if she left amessage.” Fasha lingered in the doorway. “But I didn’t touchanything otherwise.”

“What did you sense exactly to make you thinkthe Science was involved?” Amaranthe poked about, looking foranything out of place. She dropped to her belly to peer under thebeds, and her towel wrap flopped off her head.

“It’s hard to explain. Like a residue in theair.”

One of the tea mugs was half full. Amaranthesniffed the herbal concoction. “Is this hers or yours?”

“I’m not sure. They’re from yesterdaymorning, I think.”

“Hm.” That would be a slow-acting drug if ithad taken all day to go into effect. Amaranthe wished she had moreof a feel for what was and was not possible in the realm of magic.She might have to find Akstyr and come back to-

“Has anyone seen Anakha?” a woman asked inthe hallway.

A black-haired, bronze-skinned Turgonianwoman strode past the door, bumping Fasha without noticing. Shestrode out of sight, but Amaranthe followed her to the bay.

“Anyone?” the woman asked again. “Anakha?Tall woman with more muscles than the men.”

“Haven’t seen her since yesterday,” someonesaid.

“She never came to bed.”

Murmurs of assent came from others.

“Great grandmother’s bunions,” the originalspeaker growled and strode through the bay and out the frontdoor.

Amaranthe returned to Fasha. “Have you heardof any other kidnappings?”

“No.”

“This Anakha, she’s Turgonian?”

“If she’s who I’m thinking of, yes. There’reonly a few of us from outside of the empire.”

“Huh.” Amaranthe scratched her jaw. If thisother missing woman had disappeared in the same manner asKeisha…it would stomp out her theory of this being a plot againstforeigners.

She spent another ten minutes searching theroom, hoping to find something that would justify this trip intothe barracks, but she found nothing, not even dust balls. “I betterget going. I’ll come back tonight or tomorrow night and bring oneof my men.” Assuming Maldynado had not taken Akstyr to someweek-long brothel experience to celebrate their vacation. OnlyBooks had spent the night at their latest hideout. Even Basilard,not a notorious brothel-goer had been gone when Amaranthe awoke.“If you need help before then, you can find me in the locomotiveboneyard. It’s near the tracks, two miles south of here.”

“You live in a…junkyard? Is that whatboneyard means?”

“Temporary lodgings.”

Amaranthe took the towels, prepared to createanother bath-house-inspired costume, but, when she left thebarracks, nobody stood guard at the top of the steps. She did notsee the enforcers anywhere. A shout almost made her misstep andtumble down the stairs.

“Sicarius!” a male voice cried. “He went thatway! Enforcers! That way!”

Amaranthe groaned. What was hedoing?

The early morning sunlight brightening thecity did not reach the alley where Basilard stood on a half-rottedwood stoop before a door. Gang graffiti marked the chipped andbroken brick walls around it, and rusty bars protected a windowclosed off with oilskin rather than glass. A homeless man snored ona stoop farther down while a mangy dog pawed through excrementdumped on the ancient cobblestones. This old neighborhood was noton the city sewer system, as the smell attested.

Thanks to the knives at his belt and thescars covering his hands, shaven head, and face, Basilard doubtedanyone would bother him. He was more concerned about dealing withthe woman inside. A sign dangling from rusty hinges readApothecary.

Basilard lifted a fist to knock, but paused.A bushy tuft of greenery sprouting from a crack caught hisattention. Soroth Stick? Like dandelion and lizard tail, theTurgonians treated the plant as a weed, but he hopped down from thestoop and plucked several leaves. They made a tea that soothedcramps, and, given how much training the team did, such a beveragewas often necessary for replenishing the body.

Since he did not have the foraging satchel hecarried in the wilderness, he tucked the leaves into an insidepocket in his vest, with a mental reminder to wash them well beforeusing them. Given this dubious locale, they had probably been peedon. By multiple species.

Basilard returned to the stoop, but he casthis gaze about, wondering if the grungy alley might host any otheredible plants.

Stop it, he told himself. No moreprocrastinating. As grandpa used to say, “Cleaning a fish don’t getany more pleasant for having put the task off.”

He took a deep breath and knocked on thedoor.

A part of him hoped no one would answer. Notmany of his people lived in the Turgonian capital, and he had notsought any out since Amaranthe and Sicarius had killed the wizardwho had bought Basilard years ago. Nor had he had the freedom tovisit anyone during his tenure as a slave. He had never comeface-to-face with the Mangdorians that played a part in the citywater poisoning a couple of months earlier, so this would be thefirst he had met since… He swallowed hard at the memory of a youngman he had killed in a pit fight engineered by their owners. He hadkilled many in those forced battles, since it had been the only wayto preserve his own life.

The sound of footsteps came from within. Alock thunked, and the door opened.

A stooped woman with graying red hairsquinted at Basilard. An Eye of God necklace hung around her neck,and his breath caught. He had expected an apothecary, not apriestess. She peered up and down the alley before addressinghim.

“You must be here for my herbs,” she said inheavily accented Turgonian. Her gesture encompassed his scars.“Come in, come in. My services are very affordable. I don’t use nomagic though, so don’t expect that.” She glanced up and down thealley again.

Basilard guessed that meant she could use themental sciences, but would not risk it if there was a chance thelocals would find out.

He followed her into a one-room dwellingpartitioned into sections for sleeping, meal preparation, and work.The pungent aroma of dozens-hundreds? — of drying herbs thickened theair. She gestured for him to sit on a faded sofa, and he duckedbeneath bundles of leaves hanging from the ceiling to perch on theedge.

“What’s your problem?” She sat on a stoolbeside a desk piled high with flasks, tins, and tools. “You’re inpain from your scars? I’ve seen pin cushions less poked up.”

Basilard shook his head and touched the knotof scar tissue on his throat, the wound that had stolen his abilityto speak.

“No voice? I can’t fix that. No herb canrepair damaged vocal cords.”

He lifted his hands, but did nothing excepthold them in the air at first. As soon as he signed, she would knowhe was Mangdorian. As far as he knew, the hand code his people usedon the hunt-which Basilard now used to speak to his comrades-wasnot employed anywhere else in the world. He had brought pencil andpaper, too, because there were few female hunters amongst histribes, and she might not understand the code well. Maybe he shouldsimply write his message. But she would find out he was Mangdoriansooner or later, since he had come to discuss their people.

He signed, I seek information. Do youunderstand me?

Her eyes widened, and she drew back soquickly she almost fell off the stool. “You’re Mangdorian?” Sheeyed his scars. “Those are knife wounds, aren’t they? Did someonedo that to you…as punishment?”

He had not expected her to guess he was notresponsible for them, that he may not have violated God’s mandatesof peace and pacifism. Could he lie to her? And avoid hercondemnation? Maybe if she had been a simple apothecary, and notworn the necklace of a priestess as well. He could not lie to aholy servant. Besides, he told himself, this was a one-timemeeting. Her opinion of him did not matter.

I was a slave, he signed. I wasforced to fight for my life. Many times.

The priestess dropped her chin to her chest,clutched the bronze eye on her necklace, and whispered a prayer hehad not heard in a long time, but one that he remembered well. Itasked for God to pity him and give strength to his family becausehis actions had condemned him.

Basilard sighed. When she looked up, hesigned again, I seek to help our people. I need information on aman who might have wronged Mangdoria somehow.

“How would you help our people?” She frowned.“By killing this man?”

He hesitated. I would rather not, but ifhe has committed crimes against us, I feel it would be my duty toact.

Her frown deepened, and he realized she wasstruggling to follow his words. Over the last few months, he hadadded signs to his people’s sparse hunting code, so he could speakmore completely with Amaranthe and the others, but, of course,outsiders would not know the gestures he had made up.

I wish to do good, Basilard signed.If I…help our people, maybe God will forgive me.

The priestess straightened, her back as rigidas a steel bar. “God does not forgive killers. You havecondemned yourself to the darkest circle of Ethor, young man.Nothing you can do in this life can make up for it. That you wouldeven consider killing someone to avenge a wrong proves how far youhave fallen.”

Basilard closed his eyes. He had just met thewoman. Her opinion should not matter, but he knew it was areflection of the same opinion his family-his daughter-wouldshare should he ever return home. And it was an opinion he fearedheld far too much truth.

I need to know…. Have you spoken to anyother Mangdorians in the city? Have you heard anything about a mancalled…

He grabbed his paper, knowing she would notknow his made up sign for the name, and scrawled it for her. Hisfingers surprised him by trembling. Maybe he did not really want toknow the answer. What would he do if his suspicions provedcorrect?

Still frowning, the priestess read the name.“Sicarius? The assassin?”

Yes.

Her lips puckered in disapproval, whether forSicarius or for Basilard, he did not know. “What would you do withthis information if I told you. Attempt to kill him?”

His heartbeat quickened. There issomething to tell?

Her pucker deepened.

Basilard leaned forward. I mustknow.

“You should leave this place. The blood onyour hands taints my home.”

Basilard gripped the sofa’s faded floralarmrest so tightly his fingers ached. She watched his hand warily,perhaps anticipating violence from a man such as he. Condemned ornot, he would not threaten an old woman. He forced his fingers toloosen. How would Amaranthe talk this lady into giving up theinformation? By giving her what she wanted? What did she want?

If he has wronged Mangdoria, he shouldbe…dealt with. Our people cannot do it without damningthemselves, correct? If I am already condemned, then I’m thelogical choice to avenge the tribes.

In truth, Basilard did not want to pick afight with Sicarius. For one thing, he doubted he could win. Foranother, he did not dislike Sicarius, not the way Akstyr and Booksdid. Sicarius was cold and impossible to know, and he expectedeveryone to train as stringently as he did, but Basilard had notfound him cruel or vindictive. Hard but fair, he would say. But,that moment in the shaman’s cave, when Sicarius had destroyed thatMangdorian message before Basilard or Books could read it…. Thathad raised Basilard’s suspicions. Since then, he had thought oftenof the moment and wondered what the assassin was hiding.

“You do not treat your soul with respect,”the priestess said.

If nothing I do matters… Basilardshrugged.

“Very well. The rumor is Sicarius killedChief Yull and his family.”

Basilard flopped back so hard the sofathumped against the wall. Crumbled dust from the herbs dryingoverhead sifted down to land in his eyes. He barely noticed it.Good-hearted Chief Yull, the man Basilard had dreamed of workingfor as a boy, back when he had thought to become a forage leaderand chef. Basilard’s gut twisted. And there had been sons.Young sons. Jast and Yuasmif.

He closed his eyes. Why had he snooped? Whyhad he asked for this information?

And, now that he had it, how could he doanything but kill Sicarius? Or die trying.

CHAPTER 2

Dawn had come, and Amaranthe felt conspicuousas she sidled up beside one of the enforcer vehicles. She could notcount on darkness to mask her wanted-poster features any longer,but she could not leave without knowing if something had happenedto Sicarius.

Several men stood between two lorries withsmoke drifting from the stacks. The enforcers spoke in hushedtones, and she struggled to eavesdrop over the hissing boilers andidling machinery.

“…Sicarius doing here?”

“…missing girls?”

“…men will catch… Already woundedhim.”

Wounded? Amaranthe’s jaw sagged open. Surelynot. Not by enforcers.

One of the men frowned in her direction, andshe knelt to tie a shoelace. She dared not linger. It sounded likeSicarius had not been caught yet. What stunned her was that he hadbeen seen at all. Though it was true he did not usually favorcostumes, he had a knack for remaining unseen, especially at night.It rattled her beliefs to think he could have stumbled into someonehe shouldn’t have-and reacted too slowly to keep that someone fromraising an alarm.

When Amaranthe had spent as long tying hershoe as she could without attracting attention, she jogged toward apair of oaks spreading shade over the men’s barracks. Not wantingto return to their hideout without knowing Sicarius was safe, shestopped where she could watch the enforcers.

Birds chirped overhead. The smell of cookingeggs wafted from a vendor’s nearby tent. Early morning sun slantedthrough the oak’s lower branches and warmed the back of her neck.It was not a sound but the disappearance of that warmth thatalerted Amaranthe to someone behind her.

She turned to find Sicarius, hands claspedbehind his back, the sunlight limning his short blond hair. Nosweat dampened that hair and no dust smudged his black clothes. Hecertainly did not look like a man who had been on the run.

“What’re you doing?” She glanced at theenforcers.

He had placed himself so a tree hid him fromtheir view, but the sunlight and the people walking all about madeAmaranthe feel exposed and vulnerable.

“Standing,” Sicarius said.

“Where have you been? Why did you letthe enforcers see you?”

“I did not.”

“You find him?” someone called near thevehicles.

Amaranthe grabbed Sicarius’s arm. “We have toget out of here. You can explain later.”

They jogged toward a swath of treesseparating the stadium and grounds from the main railway tracksthat ran alongside the lake and through the city’s waterfront.Amaranthe intended to push straight through and follow the rails totheir hideout, but Sicarius veered north as soon as they were undercover.

“This way.” He slipped down a narrow pathclogged with shrubs and brambles.

Amaranthe winced as enthusiastic thornssnagged at her togs and attempted to tug her stolen satchel fromher shoulder. “I hope you’re leading me to a place where answerswill present themselves.”

Not only did Sicarius not respond, hemaneuvered through the grasping foliage more deftly than she andsoon disappeared.

Amaranthe ducked a branch atpoke-her-in-the-eye height and, figuring Sicarius was out ofearshot, added, “This might be worth it if you were takingme to a secluded nook where a picnic basket, blanket, and jug offresh juice awaited.”

Black clothing appeared through the leavesahead. Amaranthe pushed past a rhododendron and stepped into aclaustrophobic clearing only a few feet wide. At first, she couldsee nothing beyond Sicarius’s back. When she realized he waspointing at the ground, she eased around him, almost stepping on aman’s hand.

“So…” she said, “no picnic basket.”

As usual, Sicarius ignored hernon-work-related comments. “While you were inside,” he said, “thisman ran out of the trees near the stadium, and someone shouted‘That’s Sicarius.’ The enforcers took off after him. He racedthrough a crowded area where a sergeant with a crossbow shot him inthe back. He evaded his pursuers and crashed through here, but thencollapsed.” Sicarius pointed at a crossbow quarrel protruding fromthe man’s back. “It pierced a lung.”

Amaranthe crouched, all thoughts of picnicsgone. The dead man wore black, had short blond hair, and wore abandana over his face. She touched a tuft of hair still damp withsweat. “This looks dyed.”

“My color, yes.”

“So, someone’s impersonating you. Someone whocouldn’t have known we’d be here at the same time. Is someonetrying to blame you for a crime? These kidnappings perhaps?”

“Unknown.”

She stood and frowned at Sicarius. “When Irecruited you for my team, I didn’t fully realize how many peoplethere were scheming up plots that involved you.”

“Regrets?” he asked.

Amaranthe almost said something flippant-howoften did he set himself up so nicely for teasing? — but a faintvariance to his usual monotone made her think the answer mightmatter. It seemed impossible. She always figured she needed him onher team far more than he needed her. Ancestors knew he had savedher life more times than she could count. But maybe he had come tocare about what she thought of him.

She sighed and patted him on the arm. “Nah,you know I like a challenge. Let’s get back to the hideout and seeif we can hunt down the others. I seem to have granted a vacationprematurely. I think we’re going to need everyone in on this.”

“Agreed,” Sicarius said.

Morning sun burned into the rusted hulls ofdecommissioned rail cars that filled the vast boneyard. Heatradiated from them, some as yet unscathed by the years and othersso rusted each wall was a see-through latticework. The occasionalshiny bits glinted, throwing rays into Amaranthe’s eyes as shepassed. Weeds rose from cracks between faded and broken bricks thatlined the ground, suggesting the area had once had a noblerpurpose.

Sicarius had disappeared as soon as theyneared the boneyard, and Amaranthe weaved through the aisles towardtheir hideout alone. Unfamiliar coughs and voices echoed fromdifferent parts of the field, a reminder that more groups than herscalled this place a home, however temporarily. Cigar stubs, somefilled with tobacco and some with more potent leaves, littered thebricks. Bloodstains were nearly as frequent. The boneyard had thebenefit of not being visited often by enforcers, but that also madeit a place Amaranthe would not have chosen to visit alone atnight.

She turned down a dead end and stumbled.Maldynado lounged in a chair he had scavenged from one of thepassenger cars. His face was tilted toward the sun, his eyes wereclosed, his hands were clasped behind his head, and hewas…naked.

“Maldynado,” Amaranthe groaned.

“Oh, hullo, boss.” He neither rose noradjusted his position to hide anything; he simply sprawled there,like a cat in a sunbeam.

“What are you doing?”

“Vacationing.”

Amaranthe pulled a towel out of her satcheland draped it across his waist as she walked past. “I see you’veset yourself an ambitious itinerary.”

“You said to relax. I’m relaxing.” Hescratched an armpit. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Profound and philosophical thoughts?”

“Naturally,” Maldynado said. “For instance, Ifigure we should have a team uniform.”

“A uniform?”

“Clothes that make us look like a stylish andcohesive unit of elite combat professionals.”

“Something like what Sicarius wears?”Amaranthe asked.

“He’s far too monochromatic and plain to beconsidered stylish.”

“I see. Well, let me know what you come upwith.” She peered into the cars she and her team had claimed, a setof three that were less rusted than most. They framed a dead endand created a private camp spot. “Anyone else about?”

“Akstyr’s off somewhere being secretive andmagicky, and Books left at dawn, excited about spending a day atthe library-that is pathetic, by the way.”

“Basilard’s not around?”

“Haven’t seen him since last night.”

“I hope he shows up today. I want to takeeverybody in and investigate Barlovoc Stadium. Something’s goingon, maybe something important.”

“Important enough to interrupt ourvacation?”

“Absolutely,” Amaranthe said. “This has thepotential to attract attention high up. This could be the one.”

“Uh huh, when you’re done rubbing your handstogether and plotting gleefully, think about what you’re going towear for your date tonight.”

“My what?”

Sicarius chose that moment to finish scoutingand walk into camp.

“You know what I’m talking about,” Maldynadosaid. “Lord Mancrest. I’ve been trying to get you to meet him forweeks, but you keep saying, ‘wait until we have some time off.’Well, you gave us time off.”

“All right, but not tonight. This is moreimportant than-”

“I already set it up,” Maldynado said.

Sicarius’s expression was cool as he drewnear, but she did not know if it was due to the conversation topicor Maldynado’s lack of attire.

“I told him you were free and that you’d meethim tonight,” Maldynado said. “He said he’ll take you out to a nicedinner. His family has money, so you should mine that vein for allit’s worth. When was the last time you had something fancy? Get thepriciest cut of meat.”

“Maldynado…”

“He’s a gentlemen. Probably won’t even expectyou to warm his sheets afterward. Unless you want to, of course. Idon’t think you’ve blanket wrestled with anybody for as long asI’ve known you, so you must have some urges that are aching to besated.”

“Maldynado!” Amaranthe should not haveblushed, but she was all too conscious of Sicarius standing a fewpaces away.

“Wear something nice,” Maldynado said. “He’sexpecting you at The Gazette building at six.”

“I’m not… Did you say The Gazette?”Amaranthe wanted to object, since she’d already been planning anight of snooping, but the chance to go into the city’s largestnewspaper office and chat up the boss was appealing. At theleast, she could find out if the journalists had heard aboutanything fishy going on at Barlovoc Stadium. Developing arelationship with Mancrest could prove useful long-term as well. Ifshe could convince him her team was working for the good of theempire, perhaps he would publish something nice-like the truth.“All right. I can send you fellows ahead and come to the groundsafterward. No self-respecting snoop sneaks in before midnightanyway.”

“Excellent.”

Sicarius said nothing, but his gaze was lessfriendly than his daggers. When she met his eyes, he jerked hischin toward the old rail car that served as the group’s parlor. Sheclambered inside after him.

The wide opening lacked the sliding door itwould have had during its service days, and Sicarius walked to thefar end, presumably wanting a private conversation. Crates,battered lanterns, and a couple of old strategy games with missingtiles comprised the furnishings. It would be silly to keep anythingvaluable inside since vagrants roamed the boneyard. Amaranthemissed the days of having a safe home to return to at night, onewhere she could keep treasured belongings…like books anddinnerware. When she had been an enforcer, she had never thoughtshe would think of her simple, one-room flat as a luxury.

Sicarius leaned against the far wall, armscrossed over his chest. Sun slanting through holes highlightedrusty rivets on the floor, her purloined broom and dustpan, and theutter lack of humor on his face.

“Problem?” Amaranthe wondered if he might bethe teeniest bit jealous at the idea of Maldynado setting her up ona “date.” She, of course, had only professional interest in thisman and would tell Sicarius that if he asked. She wished hewould ask, since that would imply his admission about caringmeant caring in a romantic way. Well, romantic might not be theexact word to use when describing Sicarius’s feelings, butsomething of that nature anyway.

“Deret Mancrest wrote the story condemning usas Sespian’s kidnappers,” Sicarius said. “Prior to that, he wroteother articles about me and encouraged the emperor to siphon moreforces into capturing me so the army could put me in front of afiring squad.”

“Oh.” Amaranthe sank down onto a crate. Notjealousy after all. Sicarius just hated the man for condemning himin writing. “So he’s the one who called you abhorrent anddegenerate and me an accomplice.”

“You remember the adjectives used to describeme and not the author?”

“Well, I’m not warrior caste. All those‘Crest’ names blend together in my mind.”

“It would be unwise to visit him,” Sicariussaid.

“If he’s a friend of Maldynado’s he-”

“He may have requested the meeting to arrangea trap.”

“For you?” Amaranthe asked. “Wouldn’t he haveasked you out to dinner if that were the case?”

The sun did nothing to warm Sicarius’s darkeyes. “You have a bounty on your head as well.”

“Yes, I know. But…” She stood and grabbedthe broom. “He may actually be exactly what we need. If he has ayears-long record of deriding you-in writing-and he couldbe…converted, he could become an asset to us.” She swept as shespoke, angling dust into a pile. “If we can convince him youweren’t behind Sespian’s kidnapping, and you’ve worked for the goodof the empire on several occasions since then, his favorableopinion of you would carry a lot of weight. With a single story, hecould make the entire city question all they’ve heard about you.”She held the dustpan aloft and smiled. Yes, that sounded like agood plan.

Sicarius stared, as unexpressive and unmovingas marble.

“You know…” Amaranthe dumped her dust pileoutside and returned to face him. “It’s hard for me to maintain myvigor and enthusiasm for leading you when you do nothing but standthere and ooze disapproval at me.”

“Not at you,” he said.

“If your disapproval is aimed at LordMancrest, he’s not here to receive it. And if you’re irked atMaldynado… I think he’s only looking to receive a sunburn on hisnether regions right now.”

“I will go with you tonight.”

“Er, to the eating house?” She imagined himwearing his black clothing and knife collection, looming over hershoulder while she tried to woo this Lord Mancrest over dinner andwine.

“To the newspaper building. To see if it’s atrap.”

“Ah.” She supposed she could send him to thestadium after they verified Mancrest was not up to anythingduplicitous. “Very well. We’ll take Maldynado, too.”

Sicarius strode to the doorway, hopped down,and disappeared.

“No, no.” Amaranthe lifted a hand. “Youneedn’t let me know you think my idea has promise. It’s been nearlythree months since the last time I almost got myself killed, so I’mbrimming with self-confidence. I don’t need bolstering.”

Wind whistled through the boneyard, stirringdust and providing her only answer.

She finished tidying the rail car beforeclimbing out to find Maldynado had left-to put on clothes, shehoped-and Basilard had returned. He sat in the vacated chair, armsdraped over his knees, while he stared at the earth. The sungleamed against his shaven head, highlighting the briar patch ofscar tissue marring his scalp.

“Problem?” Amaranthe asked, thinking heappeared glummer than usual.

He flinched when she spoke, and she wonderedwhat he had been thinking about. He only shook his head.

Amaranthe dragged a crate over so she couldsit beside him. “I’m glad you’re here. You know that vacation Ipromised? We may need to work this week after all.”

He did not react, did not even twitch ashoulder.

“Do you mind going with Books and Akstyr todo some nocturnal investigating tonight?”

This time Basilard did shrug. If it had beenAkstyr, who had just turned eighteen, she might have understood themoody response, but Basilard usually gave people more respect andshowed interest when she discussed missions.

“I’ve heard that talking about problems makesone feel better. I can keep confidences if you want to divulge anydark secrets.” Amaranthe smiled, intending it as a joke, butBasilard studied her through narrowed eyes, as if he knew of thesecrets in her life she had failed to keep. Or perhaps the ones shehad kept and shouldn’t have. Could he have found out aboutSicarius’s past in Mangdoria?

She shifted from foot to foot until sherealized that made her look guilty. She forced herself to stop andclasped her hands behind her back.

You wouldn’t understand, Basilardsigned.

She let out a slow breath. That did not soundlike something that had to do with revenge or deep-set anger.

“Maybe not,” Amaranthe said, “but the nicething about talking to other people is they don’t have to doanything for you to feel better. They might just nod and grunt afew times. The feeling better part comes from speaking of theburdens you’ve been holding inside, things that weigh upon yoursoul.” Hm, that sounded preachy. She decided she wasn’t old enoughor wise enough to mother these men, so bowed her head and backedaway, intending to leave Basilard alone.

He stopped her and lifted a hand, swiping twofingers toward his chest.

“I don’t know that sign yet,” she said.

“Soul,” he mouthed, and she understood sinceshe’d just used the word. Turgonians believe in soul?

Amaranthe drew closer again. “Some do. Theold religion speaks of an eternal soul that lives on after you die.All of our references to spirits and fallen ancestors come fromthat. Though Mad Emperor Motash worked his entire life to declarethe old ways dead and atheism the only acceptable belief, er,disbelief, many still believe in guidance from ghosts of thepast.”

When you die, your soul goes where?

“Agormak, the Spirit Realm, supposedly.Although, through various ceremonies, dead ancestors can be calledupon for advice, and people have claimed to see them in ourrealm.”

No hell?

“Not like your people believe in, no. Thoughsome say cowardly acts, especially suicide, destroy the soul,rendering it unavailable for consultation. One wonders what thosepriests were drinking when they sat around and thought up therules.”

Basilard’s eyes widened, and Amaranthewinced. She forgot how much Mangdorians valued their religion andused its tenets to guide their lives.

“I’m sure your people’s religion makes moresense than ours,” she said by way of apology, but she worried shewas sticking her foot deeper into her mouth. A stricken expressiontwisted Basilard’s face. Yes, she was quite sure her big toe wasbrushing a tonsil. She coughed. “It’s possible I was mistaken whenI said talking to someone would make you feel better.”

He snorted. It might have been a semi-amusedsnort. She hoped so.

Basilard considered her again, and she triednot to squirm. His eyes were not narrowed this time, butwithholding Sicarius’s past crimes in Mangdoria gave her a reasonto feel guilty next to him, and she never forgot that.

Why The Emperor’s Edge? he signed,surprising her.

That surprise must have shown on her face,for he clarified, If you believe your soul safe, why risk yourlife over and over, trying to impress the emperor? Is it just for apardon?

“It’s partially about clearing my name andpartially about…trying to give happiness to someone who means agreat deal to me. Also, it’s about wanting a place in the historybooks. I used to think I could find that through being the firstfemale enforcer to reach… Well, that’s not going to happen now.Maybe it was never going to happen as long as I was followingsomeone else’s path, but now I’ve got my own path, and I believeagain that I can make history.” She chuckled. “It’s all kinds ofhubris, I know, but that’s the imperial way. You either gainimmortality through having children or you earn it by becomingsomeone history remembers. Despite Maldynado’s attempts to set meup with a man, I have a feeling my odds of achieving the latter arebetter right now.”

Basilard smiled briefly, but it did not reachhis eyes. I understand. It’s good that you are making your owntrail. I fear that’s not an option for me. I believe my destinationis chosen.

“I thought you’d decided to work to end theunderground slavery in the empire and to make things better foryour people.”

He poked a brick with his toe for a moment,shrugged, then stood. Thank you, he signed and went into thesleeping car.

Amaranthe sighed, not sure if she had helped,or that she knew how to help him.

A steam whistle blew, and workers streamedout of factories. Positioned between the industrial district andthe shops and studios of the northern waterfront area, the oldGazette building overlooked one of the canals that flowedthrough the city. From the mouth of an alley across the waterway,Amaranthe, Sicarius, and Maldynado observed men exiting, shuckingtheir single-breasted jackets and frock coats to walk home in thewarm air.

Though evening had come, the sun still shone,offering few shadows to cloak the alley. The idea of heading alongthe broad waterfront street and over the wide canal bridge madeAmaranthe uneasy. This was part of her old patrol route, and anyenforcers she ran into here would recognize her.

“It’s not going to be a trap,” Maldynadosaid. “I know this fellow. We used to fence together back before hetook a spear in the hip at Amentar. He earned a medal of valorbecause he was leading the attack to save some border town andrisked his life to save a bunch of children. He’s a good, nobleman.”

“Good, noble people are the types who feelobligated to turn in outlaws,” Amaranthe said, drawing an approvingnod from Sicarius.

“He’ll expect you to come in through thefront,” Sicarius said. “I’ll see if there’s another entrance.”

He went down the alley instead of walking outthe front, presumably choosing a route that would keep him out ofsight.

“He’ll probably find us a third-story windowto crawl through,” Maldynado muttered. “Look, I’ve had brandy withDeret twice since I became an outlaw. He hasn’t turned me in yet.And he doesn’t look down on me because I’m disowned. He’sone of the few who don’t.”

“I’m sure he’s a fine fellow,” Amaranthesaid. “We’re just being cautious.”

While they waited for Sicarius to return, thetraffic leaving the front of the building dwindled. A pair ofenforcers strode along the timeworn cobblestone street lining thecanal, and Amaranthe eased deeper into the alley. An ordinarypatrol, she told herself. Nothing that suggested they wereconveniently around to play a role in a trap being sprung.

She nibbled on a finger, wondering if she wasletting Sicarius’s paranoia get to her.

“This way.” Sicarius appeared at hershoulder.

Maldynado was the one to jump. “Alwayssneaking up on people,” he muttered under his breath.

Without a word, Sicarius led them through thealley and around the building to a ladder leading down to a ledgealong the canal. Keelboats and cargo rafts floated up and down thewaterway, but nobody paid attention to Amaranthe’s team. The pilotswere too busy navigating past houseboats, skiffs, and each other towatch the foot traffic.

Sicarius stopped at the base of one of thecity’s newer steel bridges and gripped one of the support beams.Legs dangling, he swung from handhold to handhold, like a monkeyskimming through the treetops.

Amaranthe and Maldynado exchanged incredulouslooks.

“Is he joking?” Maldynado asked. “Why can’twe walk across the bridge?”

“Training?” Amaranthe guessed.

Sicarius, midway across, paused and peeredback over his shoulder. “The top of the bridge is visible fromThe Gazette’s upper windows.”

“So?” Maldynado said.

“It would be unwise to let them see uscoming.” Sicarius returned to the climb, apparently considering thediscussion over.

“Does he truly believe someone is sitting ata window, watching the bridge for your arrival?” Maldynado asked.“I didn’t tell Deret you were that cute.”

“Thanks,” Amaranthe said dryly.

Sicarius had already reached the other side.Glad she had rejected Maldynado’s suggestion that she wear a dressfor the night, Amaranthe hopped and caught the girder. A couple ofkeelboats were coming; she had best not delay.

The smooth, cool steel did not make the mostideal handhold, but she navigated it without trouble. Sicarius’sfrequent obstacle-course runs had given her experience with awkwardmoves that relied on upper body strength, and she could perform asmany pull-ups as the men. As many as Books and Akstyr anyway.

She landed with a grunt on the other side,and Maldynado soon plopped down behind her. Sicarius jogged a fewmeters and stopped above a storm-water-runoff grate on the canalwall beneath the ledge. Thanks to the recent dry weather, nothingflowed out of it. When he crouched to wait for the river traffic todwindle, Amaranthe groaned.

“We’re not going in there, are we?”

Sicarius dropped to his belly, fiddled with alock, and opened the grate. He rolled off the ledge, twisting toland on his feet inside a tunnel that led inland from thecanal.

“I think you’re right,” Maldynado said. “He’sdoing this because he can’t pass up a chance to torment, er, trainus.”

“Come,” Sicarius said, his voice soundinghollow in the concrete passage.

Amaranthe was starting to get the feeling hehad a reason for this circuitous route, so she slithered off theledge and into the tunnel without answering Maldynado. Aftersighing dramatically, he followed her. Sicarius closed the gratebehind them and jogged into the darkness.

“I forgot to bring a torch,” Maldynado said.“I wasn’t aware you’d preface your date with a spelunkingexpedition.”

Amaranthe headed up the tunnel at a slowerpace, keeping one hand on the cool cement wall for guidance. Thoughdry, the surface sported frequent lumps of indeterminate fuzzy orsquishy-or fuzzy and squishy-growth. She wiped her handoften, wishing she had a glove.

Fortunately, their subterranean trek did notlast long. Light appeared ahead-Sicarius lifting an access cover.He slithered out before Amaranthe could ask where they would comeup. Trusting him to guard the top, she jumped, caught the lip, andpulled herself out.

Sicarius crouched in the shadow of a steamlorry stamped with the newspaper’s name. The travertine of the oldGazette building rose behind it. They were on the back siderather than the front, and no windows gazed out upon the alley.Closed loading bay doors loomed nearby, but nobody was shippingpapers out this time of day.

Maldynado clambered out of the tunnel, andSicarius closed the manhole cover.

“We did all that just so we could go inthrough the loading bay?” Maldynado asked.

“No.” Sicarius pointed at a vent under theeaves of the four-story building. Before they could debate withhim, he grabbed a ceramic drainpipe and started climbing.

Amaranthe shook her head in bemusement. “Andyou thought he’d settle for a window.”

Maldynado groaned. “You did tell himthis isn’t one of our morning training sessions, right?”

Amaranthe headed for the drainpipe, wonderingif she should put her foot down and say this was too ridiculous andthat they would go in through the loading bay. Then something hardpoked into the bottom of her shoe. She lifted her foot to check fora chunk of gravel. It wasn’t a rock that had prodded her though; ashiny metal rifle ball rested in the groove between twocobblestones. A dark, fine powder sprinkled the ground. She swipedher finger through it and sniffed. Black powder.

“You’re right.” She picked up the rifle ball.“I don’t think this is a training session.”

Within city limits, firearms were forbiddento all except the military. Though it was true that gang membersand criminals risked enforcer ire to carry pistols now and then, itwas rare to see evidence of their use.

“Attic entry it is,” she said, grabbing thepipe.

Maldynado issued another dramatic sigh.Sicarius had already unfastened the vent and disappeared inside.Amaranthe clambered up, amused that what would have once seemed animpossible climb did not cause her to break a sweat. She did haveto perform an acrobatic lunge to launch herself from the pipe tothe vent opening, but she had mastered the art of not looking downsome time ago. She shimmied through and landed on a dusty, woodfloor littered with owl pellets and rat droppings. Grimacing, sheremoved a kerchief from a pocket and wiped her hands.

Sicarius waited inside, close enough that hecould have helped if she had needed it. He never presumed she wouldthough. She liked that he trusted her to take care of herself, butit would have been considerate if he’d kept her from stepping inthe dubious pile of… Was that bat guano?

Thanks to Maldynado’s broad shoulders, he hadmore trouble squeezing through the vent opening. He grunted andpushed and cursed Sicarius’s ancestors and finally plopped onto thefloor.

Sicarius took the lead again, padding througha dusty maze that sprawled before them. Boxes and bundles ofyellowed newspapers rose to the ceiling, creating twisting aislesthat often ended without notice. Most of the clutter in the atticwas what one might expect, though a stuffed grimbal head satinexplicably under one window.

Sicarius’s route led them to a trapdoor. Hepressed his ear to the wood, then lifted it. After peering about,he dropped out of sight. Amaranthe waited for his signal, thenfollowed him through.

As soon as she landed, she heard voicescoming from below, but she could not make out words yet. Nolanterns burned, but enough evening light angled through thewindows to illuminate the area. They were on a broad balcony filledwith book-laden shelves. The floor vibrated from printing pressesat work somewhere below.

When Maldynado joined them, Sicarius headedtoward the balcony railing. Before he reached it, he waved for themto drop to their bellies. On elbows and knees, Amaranthe crawled tothe edge.

Two stories below, in a vast workspace opento the ceiling, rows of desks stretched from wall to wall. Only onewas occupied. A man with dark, wavy hair sat before a stack ofpapers, head bowed, pencil scrawling, while a second fellow pacedaround him. The first wore civilian clothes, a cream-colored shirtand forest green vest, and he seemed to be doing his best to ignorethe mutterings of the other. The second man had the same hair,though shorter, and wore black army fatigues, complete with a swordand pistol hanging from his belt.

Amaranthe squinted but could not make out therank pins on the man’s lapel.

“A lieutenant,” Sicarius whispered, and shewondered when he had come to know her so well that he could guessat the thoughts behind her squints.

Maldynado wriggled up beside them. He pointedat the man at the desk and whispered, “That’s Deret.”

“Trap?” Amaranthe flicked a finger at theofficer.

“Maybe not,” Maldynado said. “I think that’sFerel Mancrest, one of Deret’s brothers. There’s an older one, too,but I think he’s a captain. Ferel’s probably in town for theImperial Games and visiting his little brother.”

“So he stopped to load a weapon in thealley?” Amaranthe whispered.

“Hm.”

Down below, the officer leaned his hands ontothe desk. “You said six, didn’t you?”

“That’s what Maldynado said.” Deret keptworking without looking up.

“That disowned drunken gigolo,” the officergrowled. “You’ll be lucky if he gives her the right directions tofind this place.”

Maldynado’s eyebrows rose. “Drunken?”he mouthed.

“Just don’t shoot me with your grandioseplan,” Deret said. “The army has already damaged me enough.” Heflicked a hand at a cane leaning against his desk.

“Don’t be bitter because my C.O. didn’tconsult you. You let me know about her. You did your part.”

“Wonderful.”

“You don’t need to be here. We’ll-” Theofficer broke off and faced the balcony.

Amaranthe tensed, prepared to back away fromthe railing, but his eyes focused on something on his own floor. Asoldier jogged into view, a rifle in hand. He saluted and clickedhis heels together as he came to attention.

“Sir, Corporal Dansek checking in, sir. Nochange in status. The target has not been spotted yet. The menremain ready.”

“Very well. Dismissed.”

“The men?” Amaranthe whispered,turning an incredulous eye on Maldynado. “This is atrap.”

Sicarius leveled a dark stare at him aswell.

Maldynado’s eyes widened. “I didn’tknow.”

Amaranthe scooted back, gesturing for theothers to follow her. They retraced their route in, not stoppinguntil they reached the back alley again. Maldynado muttered tohimself all the way out.

“I can’t believe he’d betray my trust likethat,” he said.

Sicarius took a few steps toward the alleyentrance, but Amaranthe caught his arm.

“Wait,” she said. “Let’s talk aboutthis.”

“You’re not going in,” he said, more an orderthan a question.

“Going in, no. That wouldn’t be too smart ifthere’s a squad of soldiers waiting to capture me.”

“Then what is there to discuss?”

“This man could still be the ally we want himto be. It’ll just take more work than we thought to sway him to ourside.” Amaranthe smiled.

“Dear ancestors,” Maldynado said. “Youalready have a new scheme in mind.”

“Nothing big. Maldynado, I need you to do alittle shopping, then you can meet the others at the stadium andlet them know we’ll be late. Sicarius and I will be arranging akidnapping.”

Maldynado scratched his head. “A kidnappingthat requires…shopping?”

“One must be prepared.” Amaranthe smiledagain.

CHAPTER 3

“What are all these slagging enforcers doinghere?” Akstyr slouched against a tree and glowered at the groundswhere athletes mingled, roaming from the barracks to the baths andto various eating and shopping tents.

Books stood beside the tree as well, thoughhe was scribbling something in a notebook and paying littleattention to the scene before them. As far as Basilard could tell,serious training had ended for the day, but the evening was youngenough that few of the athletes were heading for the barracks. Moreenforcers than one would expect patrolled the grounds.

“We’re not going to be able to investigate acigar butt without getting spotted,” Akstyr went on.

In the fading light, Basilard exaggerated hissigns so Books and Akstyr could read them. We’re only supposedto see if magic is being used. We don’t need to get close or talkto anyone.

“Cursed enforcers will bug me just because ofmy brand.” Akstyr lifted a fist to display the arrow mark scoredinto the skin on the back of his hand. That seemed less likely toget him harassed than the greased ridge of spiky hair bisecting hishead and the baggy mismatched clothing any enforcer would assume hestole-probably correctly.

“Then keep your hands in your pockets,” Bookssaid.

Where should we start? Basilardasked.

“I believe I’ll observe from here,” Bookssaid. “You two lads are young enough to pass as athletes, but withmy gray hairs, nobody will believe I’m in the competition.”

Basilard lifted his eyebrows, amused at beingcalled a lad. He was close to thirty-five and had a bald spot itwould take a beaver pelt to cover. All the scars made the hair onthe sides grow in patchy, so he simply kept his whole headshaven.

“That and the fact you can’t walk more thanten steps without tripping over something,” Akstyr said.

“I’m not that clumsy.” Books tuckedhis notebook into a pocket.

A gaggle of young women Akstyr’s age walkedpast, their sleeveless togs displaying enough flesh to stir one’simagination. Akstyr straightened and touched his hair, as if toensure it was still suitably spiky.

Basilard signed a comment for Books, I’msurprised your empire lets girls compete. Larocka and Arbitan didnot have women fight.

“They’re permitted to enter the runningevents and the Clank Race,” Books said. “Not wrestling or boxing.Women have never been allowed to fight in the empire. As to therest, the historical precedent is interesting. In the old days,warrior caste men would come to the Imperial Games to hunt forbrides. The women who won the events were presumed to be mostlikely to birth sons who would become superior warriors. Theoriginal awards ceremony involved interested men coming out tocompete for the winners. Bloodshed was often involved. Sometimesdeath. I understand there are some warrior-caste men who still comewith the intent of shopping for brides, but the women are lesslikely to be interested these days. They want to start shops orwide-ranging businesses, using the status and honor they gain fromtheir victories to assist in their endeavors. We live in afascinating time, I must say.”

“Look at the chest on that one.” Akstyrpointed at a woman trotting to catch up with comrades. “I’d watchher run a race anytime.”

“Fascinating for some of us anyway,” Booksmuttered. “Akstyr, why don’t you go look for magic. That’s whywe’re here, right?”

Akstyr shrugged and ambled off.

Basilard had wanted to talk to the youngerman alone and saw his chance. I’ll go, too, and see if all theseenforcers are here about the missing people or Sicarius.Amaranthe had briefed Basilard, Books, and Akstyr on the morning’sevents.

He jogged to catch up with Akstyr, and theytook the path that meandered around the grounds. A nervous flutterteased his gut, and he did not start a conversation immediately. Ifhe guessed incorrectly, and Akstyr tattled on him, he would be adead man.

They avoided the crowded areas as theywalked. Basilard could not tell if Akstyr was checking for signs ofmagic use or simply ogling female athletes. They veered into theshadows to avoid a pair of enforcers marching in theirdirection.

“They’ll all over the place,” Akstyr saidwhen the men had passed, “and as annoying as flies on dung.”

Perhaps it’s because Sicarius wassupposedly spotted this morning, Basilard signed, seeing achance to bring up the topic he wanted to discuss.

“I guess,” Akstyr said. Unless one wastalking about the mental sciences, he was a hard man to draw into aconversation.

Basilard tried again. I wonder why thatman impersonated Sicarius. Especially when it only got himkilled.

“Because he was stupid,” Akstyr said.

Someone paid him perhaps.

“Not enough.”

Yes, even if the enforcers did not kill him,Sicarius himself might have…for having the audacity toimpersonate him.

“Probably.”

Basilard gritted his teeth. With theconversation going nowhere, he decided to drop it, but then Akstyrgave him a lead-in.

“I hate him sometimes.”

Sicarius?

They stepped into the shadows behind a foodtent to avoid more enforcers.

“Sometimes he kind of seems all right,”Akstyr said. “Like he stood up for me once when we went to see myold boss, but I think that was on account of Am’ranthe and notbecause he cares if I live or die.”

Likely, Basilard signed, but he didnot know if Akstyr could see his hand codes in the gloaminglight.

“But I hate when he climbs all over our backsjust because we aren’t good enough at his dumb exercises. I want tobe-” Akstyr caught himself and lowered his voice. “Well, you knowwhat I want to be. I don’t care about running and swords andobstacle courses. You can’t object though or he threatens you. He’ssuch as cold bastard.”

Basilard drew Akstyr around the side of thetent where there was more light. Raised fire pits illuminatedtables and benches where men and women chatted over tea andcider.

He lifted his hands to sign the nextquestion. A bead of sweat dribbled down his spine. Do you everthink of…collecting his bounty?

“Oh, dead deranged ancestors, yes.” Akstyrlaughed. “Don’t you?”

The blatant admission surprised Basilard, andhis fingers hung still for a moment before he could sign aresponse. Maybe.

“Bas, you don’t know how bad I want to getout of this balls-sucking sinkhole of an empire. I’m tired ofhaving to hide all my…interests, and I can’t find anyone to teachme, and people here would shoot you just for-” Akstyr’s voicetightened, and he cleared his throat.

Basilard had not realized how passionate theboy was about learning the mental sciences.

“If I had a million ranmyas,” Akstyr said,naming the price on Sicarius’s head, “I could get out of here. Icould go to Kendor or the Kyatt Islands and hire a teacher, andnobody would care ‘cause it’s normal there.”

Basilard nodded. Though money would donothing for his predicament, it made sense to encourage Akstyr’sfantasy if he wanted him for an ally.

“But it’d be a dumb move,” Akstyr said. “He’dkill you in a heartbeat if he thought you were serious about it.And how would you get him anyway? He never sleeps, and he won’t eatanything we cook unless he’s seen everyone else eat it first.”

Yes, Basilard had already considered the factthat he prepared more meals for the group than anyone else. He knewof numerous herbs that could incapacitate or even kill. ButSicarius never ate his stews or soups, nor did he drink anythingbesides water. Basilard was not sure if it represented paranoia orsimply dietary preferences. He’d never seen Sicarius eat anythingexcept fruits, vegetables, nuts, and plainly prepared fish or meat.Basilard thought he might try something Amaranthe offered,but his stomach turned at the idea of using her to get to him. Itwould devastate her to be the instrument of his death, and Basilarddid not want to hurt her.

One would have to be extremelycareful, Basilard signed. Perhaps there’ssome…magic?

Akstyr’s forehead furrowed. He glancedaround-three times-then lowered his voice. “Are you actuallythinking of doing this?”

Maybe.

“What’d he do to you? I thought you got alongwith him better than anyone except Am’ranthe.”

Basilard debated whether or not to share hisreason. Akstyr would care nothing about the deaths of theMangdorian royal family-he probably wouldn’t even be outraged atthe idea that Sicarius had killed children-but he might understandwhy Basilard would be committed and trust him not to back out orcross him.

Remember that note in the Mangdorian shaman’shideout?

“Yes,” Akstyr said.

I recently learned that fifteen years ago,Sicarius was the one responsible for the assassination of myrulers.

“Oh. Huh.” Akstyr stuffed his hands into hisdeep pockets and prodded a tuft of grass with his boot. “If I founda way to make him sleep, would you do the deed?”

Yes.

“And I’d get half the money?”

You can have it all.

Akstyr’s eyes bulged. “Really?”

Yes.

“Well, maybe we could look into things alittle. You gotta swear not to say anything to anyone though.Maldynado and Books wouldn’t get on this locomotive.”

Agreed. You make same promise?

“Oh, I’m not saying a word.”

As they left the side of the tent and thetables full of happily chattering people, Basilard wondered if hehad taken the first step down a path that would result in hisdeath. The idea of death terrified him, especially since thatpriestess had confirmed he had no chance of avoiding eternity inEthor, but shouldn’t he at least go out striking a blow of justicefor his people?

Amaranthe nibbled on a fingernail. She hid inthe shadows behind a street vendor’s cart while she waited forMaldynado. Almost a half an hour had passed since he disappearedinto the busy market. She needed to get back before the Mancrestsleft the Gazette building.

Though twilight had settled in, the throng ofshoppers had yet to wane. Gas lamps shone light onto the vegetablestands, smoked meat carts, and tables displaying candles, soaps,and flower bundles. Across the street from Amaranthe, a man andwoman were selling freshly roasted walnuts and almonds doused incinnamon and sugar. Her mouth watered, reminding her it had been along time since breakfast.

Maldynado ambled into view with bulgingcanvas bags draped over both arms.

Amaranthe stared at the sizable haul. “Youwere just supposed to get flatbread and cheese,” she said when hejoined her. “Maybe a cheap jug of applejack.”

“You do not know how to prepare aromantic dinner.” He poked through his bags. “I got you red wine,Anduvian rolls, quiche, fresh herbs and greens, carrots, parsnips,cider vinegar, and walnut oil-you can make a lovely salad. Oh, andcedar-wood scented candles. Those promote stamina.” He wiggled hisbrows.

“First off, I’m not romancing the man. Hetried to turn me over to the army tonight. Second, how did you getall that? I only gave you five ranmyas.”

“That’s right, you did.” Maldynado rearrangedthe bags, fished in a pocket, and pulled out a five-ranmya bill.“Here’s your change. I got it all for free. Samples, you see, onaccount of the lavish spread my mother is planning. If she likeswhat she tries, she’ll put in a huge order for her annual summertea party.”

“This is the mother who hasn’t spoken to youin a year?” Amaranthe asked.

“Closer to two.” Maldynado winked and startedloading bags onto her arms, but paused midway through. “Maybe Ishould go with you and help set things up. You’re a capable womanin general, but I’m not convinced you have the necessary experienceto seduce a man.”

“I’m not seducing anyone.” She tookthe remaining bags from him. “I’m just trying to talk him intolistening to my story and publishing the truth about ouradventures.”

“I got you today’s copy of TheGazette, too. You might want to see if he’s got an article init. Then you can talk to him about it. Men love it when you’reinterested in their work. And sports. Do you know anything aboutthe athletes entering the wrestling? You could-”

“Thank you, Maldynado.” Amaranthe didnot quite manage to keep the exasperation out of her voice. “I’vegot to get back before he leaves the office.”

“You’re certain you don’t want me tocome?”

“I’m certain.”

“At the least, I feel I should go along andpunch him in the nose a couple of times for betraying me and tryingto ensnare you. That’s not a gentlemanly thing to do.”

“No need. Go check on the others. Books willbe bored without you.” Amaranthe strode away at a brisk pace beforehe could burble more.

“That is true,” was the last thing sheheard him say.

With the bags in hand, she headed toward thecanal where she had left Sicarius watching the Gazettebuilding. Though she appreciated Maldynado’s enthusiasm forplanning her evening-sort of-his shopping trip had taken her awayfor longer than expected. If Lord Mancrest left before shereturned, Sicarius was supposed to follow him and find out where helived, but Amaranthe worried that sending Sicarius off after a manhe loathed might not be wise.

Deepening twilight made it easier to travelwithout worry of being recognized, and she was almost jogging bythe time she reached the canal. Lamps brightened the streetparalleling the waterway, but shadows obscured the alcoves andalleys. She headed for the niche where she had left Sicarius, but afigure stepped out of a doorway before she reached it.

Two figures. One threw back the hood of alantern with a clank, and light flared.

Amaranthe squinted and stepped back.

Two enforcers stood before her, one asergeant holding a sword and the lantern, and the other a youngprivate aiming a repeating crossbow at her chest.

“Can I help you gentlemen?” she asked, hopingthey had not identified her for certain yet. Across the canal, thewindows of the Gazette building were dark. If the Mancrestshad left, Sicarius would be gone, too, following Deret home. Nochance for help.

“Former Corporal Amaranthe Lokdon,” thesergeant said.

So much for not being identified.

“We were told you might be in the areatonight.”

Idiot, she cursed herself. She should haveassumed Mancrest would tip off the enforcers as well as his brotherin the army.

“Who?” Amaranthe asked innocently. “You musthave the wrong person.” It was worth a try. She hefted the shoppingbags. “I’m heading home to prepare a dinner for the young man who’scourting me.”

Footsteps sounded behind her. Steel rasped-asword being drawn-followed by the thunk of a crossbow lever beingset. She peeked behind her, verifying that two more enforcers stoodless than ten paces away. One she recognized, Corporal Riek, a manshe had worked with before. Not good.

The sergeant snorted. “Who’s courting you?Sicarius?”

“We know who you are Lokdon,” the crossbowmanin front of her said. “You worked with us until you turnedtraitor.”

Right, no chance of convincing them they hadthe wrong person.

“Do it,” the sergeant told thecrossbowman.

The weapon came up, quarrel aiming atAmaranthe’s chest, and the meaning of “do it” became clear.

“Sicarius,” Amaranthe blurted.

“What?” The crossbowman and the sergeantlooked around.

Amaranthe might have taken the moment to runand fling herself into the canal, but it was a dozen paces away,and the two men behind her surely had her targeted.

“Sicarius is in the neighborhood,” shesaid. “And he’s more of a reward than I am, isn’t he?”

The sergeant scowled at her. “We’re not inthis for a reward. Taking down criminals is our job, a jobyou once shared.”

“I know you wouldn’t be granted a monetaryreward,” Amaranthe said, glad she had him talking. Talking to herwas far superior to shooting her. “But surely promotions have beenoffered.” She remembered how much the promise of a promotion hadmeant to her once-it was the reward Hollowcrest had dangled to gether to go after Sicarius all those months ago.

The men exchanged glances. Soft murmurs camefrom the enforcers behind her.

“Out of curiosity, has a promotion beenoffered for me?” Amaranthe said.

“Killing you, or bringing you in, is worth apositive commendation,” the sergeant said.

“And Sicarius?”

“A promotion to captain.”

If not for the bags in Amaranthe’s hands shewould have propped her fists on her hips. “I’m only worth apositive mark in your record, and getting him can leapfrogyou straight to captain?”

The crossbowman laughed. “Jealous?”

The sergeant glared at him, and he forced hisfeatures into a more professional expression. That’s right,Amaranthe thought, chat with me, laugh at me, and think I’m afriend and not someone you want to kill….

“Look,” she said, “I don’t want to dietonight. I know you gentlemen have no reason to believe it, but Iwasn’t the one who kidnapped the emperor. I helped free him infact. You should be looking up an outfit called Forge.”

The sergeant was shaking his head, and helifted a hand, as if to give an order. Yes, that tactic wasworthless.

“But regardless,” Amaranthe blurted, rushingto out-speak the man, “I can take you to Sicarius. In exchange formy life. I’ll show you his latest hideout.”

“You wouldn’t betray an ally.”

“Come, now, if you believe I betrayed theempire and the enforcers, why would you think I wouldn’t turn in anassassin? It’s not like he’s a friendly, cuddly fellow who I sharea deep, meaningful relationship with.”

Though it was her intent, it saddened her ina wry way that the argument seemed to sway the men. At the least,they nodded in agreement. Who could have a meaningful relationshipwith a callous assassin?

“We can’t let you go, Lokdon,” the sergeantsaid.

“And we don’t have enough men to take downSicarius,” the crossbowman said with a shudder.

The sergeant glared at him again.

“You don’t have to let me go,” Amaranthesaid. “Just don’t shoot me. Take me to the magistrate, and I’llplead my case to him. I’m sure you’ll still get your commendation.And then there’s the potential of that captaincy….” She met thesergeant’s eyes. He would be the one who would make thedecision-and who stood to earn the reward. “Big pay increase, huh?And an honor as well. It’s true Sicarius is a dangerous man, but hewon’t likely be there right now. It’s night…the time when he doeshis work. I can show you his hideout, and you can come backtomorrow with more men. Attack him while he’s sleeping.”

“I don’t know….” The sergeant scratched hisjaw.

She had him. She sensed it. A little more,and she could sway him.

“Wasn’t he seen on the Imperial Gamesgrounds?” Amaranthe asked.

The sergeant’s chin came up. “This morning,yes. What was he doing there? Do you know?”

“I’m not privy to all his whims,” Amaranthesaid, “but if he did have some mischief planned…” Sheshrugged. “I’m sure you’d feel bad if he hurt someone there, andyou knew you’d had the chance to take him down before it allhappened.”

The sergeant glowered. He had to know she wastrying to manipulate him, but her argument was persuasive-shehoped.

“If I agree to take you to the magistrate,”the sergeant said, “and to have you show us this hideout, will yougive me your word you aren’t walking us into a trap?”

“A trap?” How could she be walking them intoa trap, when they’d been the ones to ensnare her? She almostblurted, ‘Of course,’ but stopped herself. If Sicarius saw herbeing escorted by these men, he would attack them without thinkingtwice, and he might kill somebody. She frowned at her thoughts?Might? Sicarius would kill somebody.

“I’m aware of what happened to Corporal Wholtand his team when he tried to arrest you,” the sergeant saidcoolly.

The crossbowman scowled, finger tightening onthe trigger of his weapon. She wished nobody had mentioned thatincident. They would be more wary while escorting her now.

“They tried to kill me,” Amaranthe said.“That whole night was…unfortunate.”

“I’ll say,” the sergeant said. More murmurscame from the men behind her. “Your word. You’re not walking usinto a trap?”

Strange that her word meant something to him.She lifted her chin and announced loudly-loudly enough Sicariuswould hear if he was nearby, “You have my word I’m not walking youinto a trap.”

She hoped that was true. Fortunately, he hadnot made her swear she would not try to escape. That was more onher mind, and she had better do it before Sicarius showed up.Having more enforcer blood on her hands would be intolerable. Shecould not pretend she was some noble hero working for the good ofthe empire if her actions resulted in dead citizens.

“Check her bags,” the sergeant said.

“Want to carry them for me?” Amaranthe askedthe young private who came forward to rifle through them. She hopedhe would be less likely to confiscate them if she made it soundlike it would be a favor. “They’re getting heavy.”

“Carry them yourself, outlaw,” the privatesaid.

Good.

“Just food and wine, sergeant,” the privateannounced.

“Wine?” came a speculative inquiry from thecrossbowman. “Maybe we should confiscate that.”

“Focus on your duty,” the sergeant told himin a clipped tone. “Get going,” he said to Amaranthe.

With two enforcers marching behind her,crossbows trained on her back, and one man on either side,Amaranthe led the way down the street. She doubted she couldmeander through the city for long before they grew suspicious abouther ability to take them to this fictitious hideout.

She considered her surroundings, searchingfor inspiration. Couples walked past, hand in hand, enjoying thepleasant evening. Now and then, crowds of university students oroff-duty soldiers sauntered down the street, their voicesboisterous with drink. Everyone turned curious eyes toward theenforcer procession as it passed, but nobody gave Amarantheanything to work with.

She decided to stay on the street parallelingthe canal. If no better option presented itself, she might be ableto distract her captors long enough to sprint to the side and jumpin. Of course, she might also get her back peppered with quarrelsif she tried that tactic. Even if she made it in, the gas lampsfrom the street shone onto the water, creating yellow pools thatprovided enough light for a crossbowman to see a head pop up and toshoot at it.

Ahead lay the bridge her team had crossedunder earlier. She thought of the grate Sicarius had unlocked. Hehad closed it, she remembered, but nobody had bothered to re-lockit. If she could get to it, maybe she could sprint through thattunnel and out the other side, then lose the enforcers in the city.How, though? Jump into the canal, swim to the grate, open it, climbin, and run? That seemed like an eternity where she would be atarget to the crossbowmen-if she could get past them long enough tojump over the railing to start with.

Most of the boat traffic had dwindled withtwilight’s arrival, though a keelboat floated past now and then.Lanterns lit up one heading upriver, with six pole-bearers stridingalong the sides in sync, pushing the vessel with their long staves.It would float under the bridge before long. If Amaranthe slowedher pace, she might be able to time a trip over the canal at thesame time as the keelboat passed below.

“Hold up, please.” Without waiting forpermission, she lowered the bags to the ground and made a show ofshaking out her hands. “These are heavy.” She moved a couple ofitems from one bag to the other.

A boot thumped against her backside. “Getgoing.”

She picked up the bags one at a time,watching the approach of the vessel. That should do it.

“This way.” Amaranthe headed for the bridge.“He’s in the attic of a factory over on Sankel Street.”

The enforcers followed without comment. Herheart lurched into double time as she considered the escape. Shemight very well get herself shot. Or she might break a leg jumpingoff the bridge. Or they might simply follow her and capture her.This was foolish. She should wait for a better opportunity. Butthere might not be one.

They started up the bridge as the keelboatapproached.

A harsh smell wafted through the air. Shesniffed, trying to identify it. Varnish.

She eyed the houseboats tied on either sideof the canal. It was hard to tell in the dim light, but she spottedsomething that may have been brushes, drop cloths, and a tin ofvarnish on the deck of a floating home.

Between one step and the next her planchanged.

Amaranthe slipped a hand into one of thebags, hoping Maldynado had been complete with his shopping. Whatgood were stamina-promoting candles without matches to lightthem?

As they reached the apex of the bridge, thesergeant moved a step closer, a shrewd gaze upon her. He must havenoticed the keelboat and guessed at her plan.

Well, she had a new plan now. Down at thebottom of the bag, past the vegetables, wine bottles, and candles,she found what she sought-a couple of sturdy wooden matches. Whilethanking Maldynado for overly thorough shopping, she slid themout.

When they passed the apex without Amarantheattempting to leap onto the keelboat, the sergeant’s attentionshifted forward again.

She found a round tin can in the bag. Somefancy spread? It didn’t matter. As they neared the bottom of thebridge, and the floating home in the process of being refinished,Amaranthe tossed the item down the slope.

“Oops,” she said, “dropped something.”

She bent, as if to try to catch it before itcould roll away, and launched a backward kick into the enforcer whohad been walking on her right. At the same time, she jabbed anelbow into the sergeant’s gut. Without waiting for them to gathertheir thoughts, she vaulted over the railing.

Though she anticipated the drop, it stole herbreath. With the water low this time of year, she fell twelve orfifteen feet before hitting the roof. She rolled to keep frombreaking an ankle, but got tangled up with the shopping bags, andan ill-placed stove vent made the landing even more painful.

Shouts sounded above. A crossbow quarrelthudded into the roof.

Amaranthe scrambled over the side, landing onthe deck near the finishing equipment. She found the varnish andunscrewed the tin.

Thumps came from the roof-the enforcersfollowing her down.

“Over here!” one shouted.

She dumped the varnish all about and struck amatch. She dropped it in the liquid and darted around the corner ofthe house. Flames flared to life behind her.

“Wait, don’t go down!”

“She started a cursed fire!”

Amaranthe hurled a deck chair into the waterunder the bridge, hoping the enforcers would think the splashresulted from her diving in. As she eased around another corner,she silently apologized to the poor homeowner whose house she wasvandalizing. Maybe she could send money later.

“Did she go overboard?”

“I heard a splash. There!”

“Somebody get a bucket! This fire is-” Theorder broke off in a round of coughing.

Hoping they were all peering into the waterunder the bridge, Amaranthe slipped up a ladder leading to theledge along the canal. She skimmed through the shadows to thegrate. It remained unlocked. She eased over the side and alightedin the tunnel.

When she leaned out to pull the grate shut,she glimpsed the fire she had started, and she gaped. The flameshad spread to the wall and roof of the home. The intensity of thelight illuminated the canal and turned the water a burnishedorange. People on the street were gathering. If the enforcers didnot give up their search and send someone to alert the ImperialFire Brigade, the owners of that house would lose everything.

She pulled the grate shut, pausing to leanher head against the cold bars. “Dumb move,” she whispered. Yes,she had escaped, but at what cost? She didn’t have the kind ofmoney it would take to reimburse the homeowners.

Amaranthe straightened, and a wine bottle inthe bag clunked against the iron bars. How she had managed to keepthe silly groceries with her she did not know.

She turned her back on the canal, and thedevastation she had wrought, and ran up the tunnel.

In the alley behind the newspaper building,she checked both directions before crawling out of the passage.Careful to do it quietly, she eased the manhole cover back intoplace. She stood, then jumped with surprise when she found a shadowlooming next to her.

“It’s me,” Sicarius said before she couldthink of flinging a shopping bag at him.

“Thank the emperor,” she breathed. “We needto go.” She trotted to the nearest street.

“Yes.” He fell into step beside her, and theyheaded away from the canal. Shouts rang out behind them-peopleyelling at others to help or run for the fire brigade. “I saw theenforcers,” he said.

Great. Another witness to her arson, thoughhe would probably approve of such tactics. That didn’t make herfeel better.

They jogged past rows of factories, dormantfor the night, and crossed into a residential neighborhood. Severalblocks into it, on the edge of a park, Amaranthe dared to stop tocatch her breath and collect herself. She dropped the canvas bags,hardly caring if she damaged something. The bottle of wine rolledout and bumped to a stop against a tree root.

“What happened after I left?” she asked. “Didyou follow Mancrest?”

“Yes. An army lorry rolled into the alley andpicked up two squads of soldiers. The Mancrests left out the front.They parted ways, and I followed the journalist to his house.”Sicarius eyed the shopping bags. “You still wish to speak withhim?”

“Yes.” Amaranthe snorted. More than ever sheneeded to make friends with Mancrest. “I need someone to squash thefront-page headline I foresee hitting the papers tomorrow: Notorious Criminal Amaranthe Lokdon Commits Arson on the 17thStreet Canal.”

“That can be arranged,” Sicarius said, thoughhe hesitated before saying it, as if he was not certain they werethinking of the same way that deed could be done. Good guess.

“Not with threats of pain,” Amaranthe said.“Or actual pain.”

He said nothing.

She crouched, putting her back to an oak, andlooked up at him. Streetlights burned at both ends of the park, butfull night had fallen, and darkness hid Sicarius’s face. His blackclothing made it hard to pick him out, even a few feet away.

“Out of all the enforcers you’ve…killed…”She had a hard time saying that. Whatever happened, she had stillbeen an enforcer for nearly seven years, and it was painful tothink of harm coming to her old colleagues. “Out of all of them,did you ever start the fight? Or was it all just a matter of themtrying to kill you?”

“If I perceived them as a threat, Ieliminated them.”

“But you never saw a couple of patrollersstrolling down the street and decided, oh, yes, there need to befewer enforcers in the world, so I’m going to leave the shadows andstick a knife in their backs?”

“You know I did not,” Sicarius said, a hintof reproach in his normally emotionless voice.

“I know. Sorry. I’m just trying to figurethis out.” She dropped her head in her hands and dug her fingersinto her scalp. She liked to think she was bright, but maybe shewas just delusional. She ought to have been able to escape withoutwreaking havoc. If she truly were smart, she would not have beencaptured in the first place. But as long as they worked in thecity, and went out and about to pursue missions, it seemed unlikelyshe could successfully avoid the enforcers every minute of everyday. She needed them to look the other way, but her stomachclenched at the idea of blackmail or any strong-arming. “How can Imake them understand that I’m on their side and they don’t need totry to capture me, no matter what the bounty says? I feel like wemade some progress with that water scheme, but again so few peopleknow we were involved. And every time something like this happens-”she waved back toward the canal, “-it’s a step backward. I’m notsure they’ll ever forgive me for what happened to Wholt and thoseother enforcers.” She thought of her discussion with Basilard andwondered if she was delusional for believing she could find a placein the history books as a hero. “Maybe I should give up on heroicsand become a villain. The money’s better, I hear, and you’re a fineexample of how easy it is to become notorious. You’reprobably guaranteed a place in the history books.”

She sighed and dropped to her knees to grabthe wine bottle and shove it back in the bag. “All right, I’m donewhining. Thank you for listening.”

In the dim lighting, she did not at firstnotice when Sicarius grabbed one bag and extended a hand for thesecond. She gave it to him. She was cursed tired of carrying thethings anyway. Maybe he knew that. He surprised her by offering hishand again, this time to grip her arm and help her up.

“Hm,” she said. “If I’d known it would resultin you carrying things for me, I’d have moaned and complained toyou more often.”

“Easy?” he said as they headed off down thetree-lined street.

“What?”

“You think it’s easy to becomenotorious?”

“Well.” She managed a faint smile. “You makeit look easy.”

“Huh.”

CHAPTER 4

“Top floor, eh?” Amaranthe followed Sicariusto one of only two doors in a short hallway. The one they stoppedin front of was made of stout oak and featured a hand-carved imageof a spear-toting man hunting a bear alongside a tree-linedriver.

“Yes,” Sicarius said.

Since Mancrest was warrior caste, it madesense that he would have the resources to own a flat that took uphalf of the floor. What surprised her was that he lived in aneighborhood full of university students and modest-incomefamilies, in a building that lacked a doorman in the lobby to keepout riffraff. Maybe as a journalist, he favored being in the heartof the city.

Amaranthe took the grocery bags fromSicarius. “Thank you. Do you want to wait outside while I-”

“No.”

“No?”

“He may have a limp, but he’s a formerofficer. He’ll be a dangerous opponent.”

“No doubt,” Amaranthe said, “but I’m notplanning to fight him. Also, I find it difficult to…sway peopleto my way of thinking when you’re holding knives to their throats.That tends to render one unwilling to believe my entreaties offriendship.”

Sicarius’s only response was to knock on thedoor.

“You have an amazing knack for being almostpersonable one moment and, er, yourself the next.”

He said nothing.

Uneven footsteps and the rhythmic thump of acane on a hard floor sounded on the other side of the door.Sicarius took up a position against the wall. She wanted to tellhim not to jump out and put a knife to Mancrest’s throat, but thedoor opened too soon.

Amaranthe had a glimpse of short, wavy brownhair, a strong jaw, and spectacles before Mancrest realized who shewas and reacted.

He jumped back, whipping his cane up. A clicksounded, and the wood flew away from the handle. Amaranthe droppedthe groceries and flung an arm up to block the projectile, butSicarius blurred past her.

He caught the flying cane and tackledMancrest. Something-steel? — clattered to the floor.

In the half a second it took Amaranthe torealize she could lower her arms, the skirmish was over. Mancrestlay sprawled face-first on the floor with Sicarius on top, pinninghim. She cringed. At least knives were not involved. Yet.

“Good evening, Lord Mancrest.” Amaranthepicked up her bags and the hollow husk of the cane. She spotted thehandle attached to a rapier on the floor inside the threshold.Sword stick. “I thought we had a dinner date. Was my invitationreceived in error?”

Having his face pressed into the floormuffled his response.

“Pardon?” Amaranthe stepped inside, closingthe door behind her. “Sicarius, would you mind letting him up,please?”

Sicarius yanked him to his feet, keepingMancrest’s arms pinned behind his back. A pained grimace twistedMancrest’s face, and his spectacles dangled from one ear.

Amaranthe waved for Sicarius to loosen thehold. He did not.

“I apologize for being tardy at your proposedmeeting place,” Amaranthe said, “but there appeared to be a squadof soldiers lurking inside. What do you suppose they were doingthere?”

Mancrest glowered and said nothing.

“Maldynado seems to think you’re an honorablefellow,” Amaranthe said, “and even knowing that you arranged tohave me captured, or killed I suppose, he still thinks I shouldtalk to you.” Actually, according to Maldynado’s candle selection,he thought they should do more than talk.

“I am honorable,” Mancrest said, voicestrained as he fought to stifle grimaces of pain that flashedacross his face. “That’s why I tried to arrange your capture.”

Sicarius stood a couple of inches shorterthan Mancrest, but Amaranthe had no trouble meeting his eyes overthe bigger man’s shoulder. “Let go,” she mouthed.

At first he did not, but she held his gazefor a long moment, and he finally searched Mancrest for otherweapons and released him. Mancrest took a couple of careful stepsaway from them, trying to hide his limp, but the stiffness of hismovements gave it away. He positioned himself so his back was nolonger to Sicarius.

Amaranthe assembled his sword stick andextended it toward him. Mancrest considered it-and her-for severallong seconds before accepting it. He rested the tip on the floor,though he did not lean on it.

Despite what must be a permanent injury, heappeared fit. The rolled-up sleeves of his creamy shirt revealedmuscular forearms. As Maldynado had promised, Mancrest had ahandsome face, though what might have been pain lines creased hiseyes and the corners of his mouth, making him appear a few yearsolder than he probably was.

“I guess it’s good I didn’t dress up for youthen.” She hefted the bags. “Hungry? Mind if I find someplates?”

“Depends.” Mancrest was spending more timewatching Sicarius than her. “Will three be dining or just two?”

“Ah, I believe my provisions were gatheredwith a pair in mind.” She gave an apologetic shrug to Sicarius.“Maldynado did the shopping.”

Sicarius wore his usualguess-my-thoughts-if-you-can mask, though she sensed he did notapprove. Of dinner or the entire situation? She did not know.

“Where shall I set up?” she askedMancrest.

Masculine leather chairs and sofas, a desk,and a gaming table occupied the main room, but nothing looked likea dining area. A half a dozen doors marked the brick and woodwalls, none of them with any enlightening ornamentation thatproclaimed, “Kitchen this way.”

Mancrest jerked his head toward one in theback. “In there.”

At least he was cooperating. That was a goodstart, right?

Amaranthe headed for the door. As she passedthrough, she noticed she had picked up a shadow.

“I don’t think he’s going to try anythingright now,” she whispered to Sicarius who was already taking up apost against the wall beside a long dining table made from a singlethick slab of wood. “He must be curious about what I have to say.He’s a journalist, after all.”

Mancrest stepped through the door, veeringthe opposite direction from Sicarius.

“May I get you a drink?” he asked, pointedlynot looking at Sicarius or including him in the offer.

Amaranthe pulled out the wine bottle. “Just acorkscrew.”

Mancrest examined the bottle. Checking thelabel to see if it met with his refined warrior-caste palette? No,she realized. He was seeing if the seal had been broken.

“Nothing’s poisoned. If we wanted you dead,that would have happened by now.” She did not nod toward Sicarius;she didn’t figure she had to.

“Oh, yes, I’m sure your assassin could havearranged that,” Mancrest said, “but I figured you might have alesser punishment in mind and have arranged for some gut-wrenchingvomiting or emergency movements from the other end.”

“You must have courted some vindictivewomen,” Amaranthe said.

Mancrest grunted, set the wine bottle down,and headed for a door that presumably led to a kitchen.

“Plates, too,” Amaranthe suggested.

Sicarius detached himself from the wall tofollow.

Mancrest paused and stared at him. “Unlessyou know where I left my corkscrew, I don’t need your help.”

Sicarius followed him into the kitchenanyway, probably thinking Mancrest might have a pistol or two onthe premises. If she ever did go out with a man fornon-work-related reasons, she would have to figure out a way toleave Sicarius home. Of course, if he’d ever deign to take her outfor non-work-related reasons, that would suffice as well.

Amaranthe laid out Maldynado’s food choices,trying to arrange the bread and pastries in such a way that onemight not immediately notice their battered state. Given what thesegroceries had gone through to arrive here, she was happy nothingwas poisoned with varnish.

She had forgotten Maldynado stashed anewspaper in a bag, too, and she glanced over it. Mancrest did havean article on the front page. Apparently the winners of each of theevents in the Imperial Games would be invited to dinner with theemperor.

“Wish I could enter,” she muttered. With allthe training the team did, she was more fit than she had ever been.Though she had never been tall enough to have a chance at thesprints, where the long-legged women excelled, she had won medalsfor the middle- and long-distance races as a junior. Unfortunately,any race she ran these days would end with enforcers taking herinto custody-or worse.

A crash sounded in the other room-a bigone.

Amaranthe lunged around the table, a visionof Sicarius mashing Mancrest with a meat cleaver stampeding intoher head. She shoved the swinging door open. A drawer lay on thefloor beside a butcher-block island; cutlery and silverwarescattered the travertine tiles. One wicked serrated knife hadsomehow struck a cabinet door with such force that it protrudedfrom the wood, handle still quivering.

Sicarius had Mancrest bent over the island,his cheek smashed into the butcher block, his arm chicken-wingedbehind his back, fingers jerked up so high he could have braidedhis own hair, were it long enough. Maldynado would have had aninnuendo-laden comment about the men’s positioning. Amaranthe onlypropped her hands on her hips and said, “Problem?”

“No,” Sicarius said.

“Yes!” Mancrest cried. “I was just trying toget silverware out.”

“Is it possible you’re being a touch jumpy?”Amaranthe asked Sicarius.

He kicked something on the floor behind theisland. An ivory-handled pistol skidded across the tiles and bumpedagainst the fallen drawer.

Amaranthe picked it up. The hammer wascocked. She lifted the frizzen, and powder poured out of thepan.

“I forgot it was there,” Mancrest said, voicemuffled by the fact his cheek was still mashed against the butcherblock.

“Really?” Amaranthe asked, prepared to givehim the benefit of the doubt.

Mancrest hesitated. “No.”

Given the situation, his honesty surprisedher, however belated.

“Care to tell us where the rest of the loadedfirearms in your flat are?” she asked.

“Not really,” Mancrest said.

“Then I guess Sicarius will have to followyou around all night, hovering over your shoulder while you eat.Breathing down your neck. Sharing your salad. Hogging yourcroutons.”

That might have drawn a snort from Sicariushad they been alone, but with someone else present, he gave nohints of emotion, and she could not guess what he was thinking.Probably that he did not want to be there. Perhaps that he wouldlike to finish grinding Mancrest’s face into the island.

“Do you actually think I’m going to sit downand dine with you?” Mancrest asked.

“Standing is an option, if you wish,”Amaranthe said. “Where are the other firearms? I’ll be morecomfortable eating and chatting with you, knowing it’s unlikelyyou’ll be able to shoot me between courses.”

“Parlor room desk drawer,” Mancrest said,“and in the latrine above the washout.”

“Thank you. I’ll…did you say latrine?”

“A man feels particularly vulnerable with histrousers around his ankles.” Mancrest tried to pull his arm free-afutile attempt. “Would you mind calling off your attack dog? Ican’t feel the blood in my fingers.”

Amaranthe nodded at Sicarius. “Want to gocheck on those firearms?”

He did not move.

“Or I could check,” she said. “Let himwriggle his fingers, will you?”

Amaranthe trotted through the rooms, wantingto find the weapons and come back to rescue Mancrest before lack ofcirculation lost him any digits. She found the pistols and returnedto the dining room. Mancrest sat in a seat-not the head of thetable-with Sicarius at his back, arms crossed over chest in one ofhis typical poses. Amaranthe handed Sicarius the pistols, which heunloaded, then tossed into a corner.

She slipped into an upholstered seat at thehead of the table, a throne of a chair that made her feel slight.The hand-carved feet resembled cougar paws and the rest of thedetailing also evoked a predatory feline feel. None of this man’sfurnishings had been produced in a factory or by anyone other thana master woodworker.

Mancrest, arms also crossed over his chest,glowered at her, and Amaranthe wondered how much force had beeninvolved in seating him.

A gold-and-silver corkscrew rested on thetable by the wine. She opened the bottle and poured twoglasses.

“Your dog isn’t drinking?” Mancrestasked.

Amaranthe fought to keep a scowl off herface. While she could understand Mancrest being irked withSicarius, her instinct was to come to his defense. She doubted thebarbs would bother him, but they bothered her. “Sicarius is mypartner in our endeavors. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t belittle,dehumanize, or otherwise deride him. Given the stories you’veprinted about him, I believe he’s showing admirable restraint innot killing you.”

“He’s a cowar-assassin, and I’ve done nothingbut print the truth.”

Hm, maybe that correction was a sign ofprogress. Or maybe he was gentlemanly enough not to purposelyirritate a woman.

“At least one of the stories you’ve printedis an untruth,” Amaranthe said. “We did not kidnap the emperor lastwinter. In fact, we saved his life.”

Mancrest snorted. “I interviewed witnessesthat say you were there and that Sicarius had an axe over theemperor’s head when the guards stormed in.”

“He was lifting the axe to cut the chainsbinding Emperor Sespian to a dispensary of molten ore, a situationset up by Larocka Myll and Arbitan Losk, the former heads of theForge organization. You’ve heard of them, I trust?”

Mancrest’s face grew as hard to read asSicarius’s. Since he was not scoffing, she decided to press on.

“Arbitan was a Nurian masquerading as aTurgonian businessman, and he was the creator of the monster thatwas killing people all over town last winter. That was little morethan a distraction, though, so he could plot against the emperor.And he almost succeeded. Sicarius saved Sespian’s life.”

Mancrest snorted. “Oh, please.”

Ah, there was the scoff.

“We also thwarted Forge’s attempt to pollutethe city water a couple of months ago,” Amaranthe said. “Thatepidemic you wrote about as well.”

“You’re claiming that, too?” Mancrestlaughed. “The entire army went up there. They handledthat.”

“They cleaned up after we did all the work,including killing a half a dozen makarovi that had butcheredeveryone in the dam.”

Amaranthe stood before Mancrest could voiceanother statement of disbelief. She untucked her blouse anddisplayed the scars on her abdomen. Showing unfamiliar men-orany men-her midsection was not something she did often, andthe wounds were not exactly unquestionable evidence that her storywas true, but she figured it might prove worth it. His eyebrowsflew up and his mouth sagged open. The reaction did not leave herwith the triumphant feeling she had expected; rather it remindedher that she would have ugly scars for life. Though she might befocused on her goals and was not usually one to worry about vanity,no woman wanted a man to be horrified when she showed some skin.She tucked her blouse back in.

“Of course, if my plan had been betterthought-out, I might not have been mauled, but fortunately I hadtalented people to dig me out of trouble.” She smiled at Sicariusand caught him staring at her abdomen.

He lifted his gaze to meet her eyes, and foronce she was glad she could not read his face. She could notimagine the long look being for anything other than pity or perhapsguilt over not having kept her from that fate, and she did not wanteither from him. Ancestors knew that whole debacle had been aresult of her questionable-at-best scheme, one he had tried to talkher out of, and she had nobody to blame but herself.

“Naturally, I don’t expect you to take myword as truth,” Amaranthe said, “for any of these events, but I’dlike to think The Gazette, should it be proved to be inerror, would print a retraction.” She gestured to the forgottenmeal and wine. “Shall we dine?”

“Huh?” Mancrest glanced back at Sicarius,then stared at her.

“Problem?” Amaranthe asked.

“I… When you started talking about thosestories, I assumed you were here to threaten me and force me toprint something more to your liking.” He checked on Sicarius again,who was doing a good imitation of furniture at the moment. “Or isthat activity still forthcoming?”

“No, I’d rather eat now if you don’t mind.I’ve had a busy night.” She tore a chunk of bread, admiring theflaky crust and soft interior-a tasty change from the rice-basedflatbread more common in the empire. A small tin held freshlysmashed peanut butter. It never warmed enough in their satrapy forpeanuts, so the import was a rare treat. She smeared some on thebread, and her mouth watered in anticipation. Though Maldynado hadnearly walked her into a trap, she could forgive him since hisshopping had proved so thoughtful. She lifted the piece of breadand offered the traditional before-meal salute, “A warrior’shealth.”

Mancrest had been watching her, and, aftershe took a few bites, he prepared a plate for himself.

Amaranthe lifted her bread toward Sicarius.Though she knew he would not accept the invitation, she would havefelt awkward eating without offering him something. He gave asingle minute head shake.

“You’re not what I expected,” Mancrestsaid.

“What’d you expect?”

“Given you’re a rogue enforcer and who youwork with now-” Mancrest jerked a thumb over his shoulder atSicarius, “-someone draconian and pugilistic.”

“You think Maldynado would spend time withsomeone like that?”

“If that someone had nice breasts, yes.”

Amaranthe chuckled. “Perhaps so. By the way,did Maldynado tell you who he wanted you to meet, or did youguess?

“Is he going to be in trouble if you find outhe did tell me?” Mancrest sipped from his glass of wine-he hadapparently decided it was safe to drink-and watched her over therim of the glass.

She had a feeling she was being tested. “Thatmight earn him an extra stair-running session.”

Two vertical lines formed between Mancrest’seyebrows. “Stair-running? Like exercise?”

“Yes.”

“If it’ll get him extra work, then maybe Ishould say yes.” Mancrest smiled for the first time that night.“But, no, he just said he knew a nice girl I should meet, someonewho was working too hard and needed to have more fun.” He raisedhis eyebrows. “I figured out the rest on my own. People havenoticed who he’s running with these days. His family is vocal inexpressing their disappointment and quick to point out that thisdemonstrates why he deserved to be disowned.”

So, they had earned enough notoriety thateveryone who knew Maldynado knew he was a potential avenue to herand Sicarius. She would have to remember that.

Mancrest sipped his wine. “How do you getMaldynado to climb stairs? We used to fence together, and he wasalways too unambitious to put any serious effort into histraining.”

“We aim to be a fit group. It helps withdefeating the evil doers of the world. At the least, it helps ifyou’re fast enough to outrun them. We’re all up well before dawnfor distance work or obstacle courses, and there’s usually weaponstraining in the afternoon or evening.”

Mancrest sputtered and almost spilled hiswine. “You can convince Maldynado to get up before dawn?”

Behind him, Sicarius stirred. He pinnedAmaranthe with a hard stare. Not enthused about her sharinginformation on when and where they trained? She raised her fingersand nodded once. He was right. Mancrest was not someone to betrusted yet.

“I didn’t think even breasts could convincehim to get out of bed before nine,” Mancrest continued, notnoticing her exchange with Sicarius. He did glance at her chest, asif wondering if something special might be going on down there. Uhhuh. Right.

“That’s not how I motivate the men,”Amaranthe said dryly. “And I’m sure it would take someone prettierthan I to finagle them into doing things by that method.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Mancrest smiled for thefirst time. “You’re pretty enough. I’d like to see you with yourhair down. It looks like you have a few waves that don’t want to beconfined.”

“Uhm. Maybe another time when I’m sureescaping soldiers and enforcers won’t be a part of the eveningactivities.”

Mancrest’s smile widened. “Is that a requestfor a second date?”

“Er.” She was rescued from having to avoidSicarius’s gaze by the fact that his eyes were boring into the backof Mancrest’s head. “We’ll see. Why don’t you tell me more aboutyour recent story?” She laid the newspaper on the table betweenthem. “The emperor is going to dine with the winners of all theevents?”

Yes, that was good. Talking about work.Sicarius wouldn’t glare disapprovingly then, right? And maybe shecould even get some useful information out of her new contact.

With that in mind, she spent the rest of thedinner chatting with Mancrest about the Imperial Games and avoidingsuch fraught topics as hair. He had not heard of the kidnappings,so she managed to pique his interest with those tidbits. Though hemade no promises in regard to Forge or retracting stories, by theend of the evening, she had hope that she might make an ally out ofhim one day.

After almost an hour of wandering thegrounds, Basilard and Akstyr found something. Rather Akstyr foundsomething, and Basilard waited while the younger man knelt in thegrass behind the bathhouse examining it.

What is it? Basilard signed.

Head bent low, Akstyr did not see thequestion.

Basilard nudged Akstyr’s arm, drawing theyounger man’s gaze, and repeated himself.

“It’s too dark back here,” Akstyr whispered.“I can’t see your fingers.”

Basilard waved toward a glass globe lanternhanging from a post and took a couple of steps that direction, butAkstyr did not follow. His head was down again, his eyes focused onsome tiny object in his hand. Something magical? That was the onlything Basilard could think of that would explain Akstyr’sfascination-especially since it was too dark to examine much witheyes alone.

He headed to the lantern, figuring Akstyrwould come show him his find sooner or later.

The number of people enjoying the summerevening had dwindled, but people still ambled along the trails.Voices drifted from the men’s and women’s bathhouses every timesomeone opened a door. Athletes strolled back to the barracks inpairs and groups, all friends now, but that would likely changeonce the events started.

The faint scent of blackberries lingered inthe evening air. Basilard patted himself down, found one of hiscollection bags, and followed his nose toward a bramble patch inthe shadows.

Frenzied grunts coming from nearby bushesmade him pause, thinking someone might be embroiled in a battle andneed help. His cheeks warmed when he realized it wasn’t the sort ofbattle from which one wanted to be extricated. He supposed heshould move farther up the path and give the enthusiastic grunterstheir privacy, but a post-coital chuckle made him freeze. Thatlaugh sounded familiar.

Basilard plucked the lantern from its wroughtiron perch and returned to the bushes. He parted the branches,lifted the light, and revealed…

“Oh, hullo, Basilard.” A nude Maldynadopropped himself up on an elbow.

A young woman squealed, snatched agrass-stained towel off the ground, covered herself, and sprintedtoward the women’s barracks. Judging by the speed her long barelegs managed, she was one of the athletes, a rather embarrassedone.

You have the night off? Basilardsigned, an eyebrow raised.

“Not exactly.” Maldynado stood, brushed grassoff himself, and started retrieving clothing. A shoe from under thebush, a belt from the grass, and-how did that shirt get ten feet upin that tree? “The boss sent me to find you fellows and let youknow she’d be late. I hunted all over and didn’t see you. I did seethat exquisite young lady coming out of the baths all by herself,though, and she appeared lonesome so I struck up a conversation,asking if she knew how in the old days women used to compete at theImperial Games to win the eye of eligible warrior-caste bachelors,and did she know I was warrior caste-I left out the part aboutbeing disowned naturally-and would she like to…”

There were times Basilard dearly missedhaving undamaged vocal cords. He would have liked to bark an,“Enough,” to cut Maldynado off. It was bad enough few peopleoutside of his team could understand his sign language, but hisscars and lack of height ensured no Turgonian women looked upon himwith kind-or lascivious-eyes.

Akstyr trotted over, which fortunatelyresulted in Maldynado bringing his story to an end.

“Look.” Akstyr held his hand out, obliviousto the fact Maldynado had yet to find his trousers.

Basilard lifted the lantern, wanting to seewhat had occupied the younger man’s attention so thoroughly. Itlooked like…

“A cork?” Maldynado asked. “You’ve been herefor two hours and that’s all you’ve found?”

“A cork with the residue of something Made,”Akstyr said. “A powder or maybe it was a liquid in a vial. I needto do some research.” He snapped his fingers. “That Nurian book Ihave has a section on potions, powders, and airborne inhalants. Oh,but I’ll need Books to help me translate it. Where is he?” Akstyrlooked around and blinked in surprise when he noticed Maldynado’sstate of undress. “Why are your crabapples hanging out?”

“Crabapples? More like MountainGenerals.” Maldynado made gestures with his hands to denote thesize of the largest local apple.

“Uh, whatever.” Akstyr nodded at Basilard.“Books?”

Back that way, last I saw. Basilardpointed toward the other side of the grounds.

“All right, tell Am’ranthe we may havesomething.” Akstyr waved the cork and jogged off. “I’ll grab himand go back to the boneyard,” he said over his shoulder.

Excited about his find, he sprinted awayalmost as quickly as Maldynado’s conquest had. A nervous threadwove through Basilard’s belly. Akstyr had promised he would sharenothing of their discussion with anyone, but losing track of theyoung man made him uneasy. Also, this left Basilard alonewith…

“So, Bas.” Maldynado slung an arm over hisshoulder. Thankfully, he had located his pants and put them on.“Looks like we found what we needed to find tonight. We ought to beable to head off and have a few drinks now, eh?”

Is Amaranthe still coming?

“Later, I think. She got held up.” Hiseasy-going smile faded. “Deret tried to set up a trap to captureher. He used me to get to her.”

Alarm coursed through Basilard. Is she allright?

“She’s fine, or was when I left. Sicariusfigured it for a trap before we went in. She’s going to visit Deretfor dinner and still might get in trouble that way. You know howshe likes to take risks.” Maldynado lowered his arm and swatted atree branch brushing his hair. “I helped buy her groceries, but I’mirked at Deret. I always thought him a decent fellow. Sure, I couldsee him feeling compelled to set the enforcers on Sicarius’s tail,but the boss doesn’t deserve that bounty.”

Agreed, Basilard signed. Weshouldn’t drink if she’s coming here. She might expect us to beworking.

Maldynado shrugged. “We can’t find magicstuff.”

Let’s check the stadium for anythingsuspicious. We haven’t yet, and the athletes should have stoppedtraining for the day.

His prediction proved true, and nobodyoccupied the arena or the tiers of seating surrounding it. Lanternsburned at periodic intervals, providing enough light for walking.He and Maldynado did a lap of the track, though Basilard did notknow what to look for. Without Akstyr’s nose for magic, they wouldhave to search for mundane clues.

It took Maldynado only a few minutes to growbored of investigating. He wandered into the middle of the arenawhere the furnace powering the Clank Race still burned. Someonemust have been out training recently.

Maldynado threw a couple of levers. Gearsturned, pistons clanked, and a moan of releasing steam sounded asthe massive machine powering the obstacle course started up. Whilethe wood and metal structure remained stationary, the moving partscreated a strange sight in the darkness. Arms and spindles rotatedand turned, propelling sharpened axes and battering rams out tothwart someone crossing spinning logs and tiny moving platforms. Inmore than one spot, bloodstains spattered the sand beneath thecontraption.

Anyone ever die at your Games?Basilard signed.

“Oh, sure,” Maldynado said, “but I thinkthere are more injuries in the wrestling. Most of the people crazyenough to do this thing are agile as foxes. But, yes, someone diesmost every year, and others lose arms and legs. People get carelesswhen they’re trying to earn the best time.” Maldynado tapped apaper stuck to the side of a support post. “Looks like some cockyathletes have posted their times already. Hm.” He eyed the machinespeculatively.

What?

“Want to try it?”

What? Basilard signed. After youjust told me it’s killed people?

“Come on. Odds are good Sicarius is going tomake us try it at some point anyway.” Maldynado mimicked Sicarius’sstony face and monotone to say, “Good training.” The serious facadelasted almost a second, before he grinned and said, “Doesn’t itlook fun?”

Basilard eyed the swinging blades, clankingmachinery, and the puffs of steam escaping into the darkness withsoft hisses. The long lost boy in him admitted it might beenjoyable. They were not competing with anyone, so they did nothave to sprint through recklessly.

“Ah, you’re tempted, aren’t you?” Maldynadogrinned and trotted over to a giant clock, its hands visible evenin the dim lighting. “Let’s see, how do we time ourselves…. Herewe go. Loser buys the winner drinks tonight. Ready? Go!”

Maldynado threw a lever on a giant time clockand darted up a ramp leading into the course.

What? Basilard had not agreed to the terms,but he sprinted after Maldynado anyway. They did not get paidenough for him to buy drinks for that bottomless gullet.

He raced up the ramp to a wooden platformseesawing up and down. Two spinning logs stretched ahead. Maldynadohad taken the left, so Basilard ran right. He darted across as fastas he could, staying light-footed on the rotating wood, knowingthat going slow or with tense muscles would be more likely to causea misstep.

He caught up with Maldynado at the nextplatform.

“Look out,” Maldynado barked.

Half expecting the warning to be a trickdesigned to slow him down, Basilard almost missed the man-sizeddummy swinging down at him on a series of ropes. Spikes protrudedfrom all of its wooden sides.

Basilard flung himself to his belly. Thedummy swung past, the draft stirring the hairs on the back of hisneck.

When he rose, Maldynado was already jumpingonto a rope that dangled from a beam. Something-spikes? — protrudedfrom the ground beneath.

Basilard growled and chased after Maldynado.After the rope climb, they had to traverse along pegs sticking outof the beam, thirty feet above the ground. A net took them to thenext obstacle. Tiny circular platforms, some only a few incheswide, rotated about while axe blades and battering rams swung outof the darkness. Basilard jumped and darted, relying on instinctsmore than thought. By luck more than design, he reached the nextseesawing platform before Maldynado. He clambered up a mesh wall,over a beam, through a rope swing course, and finally hurledhimself into a net where he scrambled to the bottom and toward aten-foot wall.

He burst over that last obstacle and sprintedto a finish line, beating Maldynado by several seconds. Hestaggered a couple of weary steps and collapsed in the sand torest.

Stars had come out overhead, though they werenot as bright as those he had once known in his mountain home. Heinhaled deeply; here, surrounded by grass and trees, the air wascleaner than in the city core, but it still smelled of burning woodand coal. A homesick twinge ran through him, an aching for a lifeto which he could never return.

“Great time, Bas.” Maldynado stood by thegiant clock. “You were as fast as some of these athletes. Prettyimpressive considering this is your first time doing it. Of course,I would have beaten you, but I was a touch weary from my earliervigorous exertions.”

Basilard was about to sit up when a darkfigure loomed over him. Sicarius.

The flickering illumination from a lanternhanging on the obstacle course frame cast his face half in shadow,half in light, enhancing his hard, angular features. When he stareddown, Basilard struggled not to cringe or show any nervousreaction. Sicarius could not know what he and Akstyr had beendiscussing earlier. He had just arrived.

“What’s going on, gentlemen?” Amaranthe’svoice came from a few paces away. “Finding anythinginteresting?”

Basilard jumped to his feet and faced her,glad for the excuse to turn his shoulder toward Sicarius. He hadsensed Sicarius’s suspicions toward him since the incident in theshaman’s hideout, and now he knew why. He must suspect Basilardwould one day find out about his crimes in Mangdoria. That warinesswould make it all the more difficult to surprise him.

“We found out Basilard can run the Clank Raceas fast as some of these pampered athletes,” Maldynado said.

“Oh?” Amaranthe regarded him with moreinterest than Basilard thought the statement warranted. “That mightbe perfect,” she said, talking more to herself than him.

What? Basilard signed.

“It seems the winners of each event get tohave dinner with the emperor. That’ll be…thirty-six people, butmost of those youngsters won’t have anything to talk about.”

Maldynado smirked. “I like how you talk aboutyoungsters as if your twenty-six years make you venerable and wise,boss.”

Basilard smirked, remembering her memorablebirthday party at the Pirates’ Plunder.

Amaranthe, eyes bright, continued her visionwithout acknowledging Maldynado. “Those young athletes will likelybe cowed by Sespian’s royal presence. If you won, you could angleyour way in there and talk with him about your people, about theunderground slavery that still exists in the city.”

Basilard almost sank back down to the earth.Was that possible? For him to win an interview with the emperor? Inone night, could he truly bring awareness of the slave problem toSespian? Basilard glanced at Sicarius, abruptly regretting his vowto kill the man. That was a task he was not sure he could carry outwithout being killed himself. Maybe it could wait until after theImperial Games? But perhaps his mind was spinning too quickly. Whatwere the odds of him actually winning an event? Against agile youngathletes half his age?

“You could take Books to translate for you,”Amaranthe said.

“Most men would prefer to take a woman on adinner date with the emperor,” Maldynado said.

“Well, if Basilard could find one that couldtranslate for him, I suppose. I’m too notorious to show up at sucha venue these days. But anyway, Basilard are you interested inentering? Sicarius can help you train.”

I can train on my own, Basilard signedswiftly.

Amaranthe gave Sicarius a bemused smile. “Iguess nobody else appreciates your stair-climbing sessions the wayI do.”

Sicarius did not respond. Theirrelationship-if they could be said to have one-baffled Basilard.She treated him like a friend and confidant, and half the time hedid not even respond when she spoke to him.

“Where are Books and Akstyr?” Amarantheasked.

“They went back to the hideout,” Maldynadosaid. “Akstyr found…I don’t know. Bas, did we decide it was acork?”

Magic, Basilard signed.

“Oh?” Amaranthe asked. “Related to thekidnappings?”

“I’m not sure precisely,” Maldynado said. “Iwas looking for my pants at the time.”

Amaranthe opened her mouth, then shut it,probably deciding she was better off not knowing. “Have there beenany more kidnappings?” she asked. “Are the people who disappearedlast night still gone?”

Three total, Basilard signed. Twoforeigners and one Turgonian man from a different…place.Though he had added a lot of signs, giving his language versatilityamongst the group, saying “The Chevrok Satrapy” was beyond him fornow, but Amaranthe nodded understanding, and he went on, Theenforcers I overheard are starting to accept that something strangeis going on. They’re blaming Sicarius since he was sighted thismorning.

“Supposedly sighted,” Amaranth said.“I wonder if we can find out who sent that fellow and what hewanted to accomplish. Basilard, I apologize, but my reason forwanting someone from our team in the Imperial Games isn’t entirelyselfless. I’m hoping an insider might be more likely to hear aboutwhat’s going on. Maybe they’ll even target you for one of thekidnappings.” She bounced on her toes, then caught herself. “Sorry,that should probably not excite me.”

I’ll take solace knowing you’d be just ashappy if you could pose as an athlete and get kidnapped.

Maldynado snorted. “That’d make her evenhappier.”

“Basilard, you’ll need someone to play therole of trainer and translator,” Amaranthe said. “Akstyr and Booksmay be busy, so…”

Maldynado slung an arm over Basilard’sshoulder. “I’m always happy to spend time at the stadium and watchall the fine…events.”

Just keep your pants on, Basilardsigned.

Amaranthe opened her mouth again, shut itagain, and shook her head.

“No promises.” Maldynado winked.

CHAPTER 5

An ice wagon trundled across the grounds,selling blocks to vendors who turned them into chilled tea andstrawberry juice. Amaranthe thought about buying a glass of thelatter, but the midday sun left few shadows for wanted women tohide in. Clad in white athlete togs again, she was sitting on abench on the edge of the grounds with a wide-brimmed sun hat pulledlow over her eyes while she waited for Fasha to meet her. Sicariushad pointed out that night meetings would be safer, but Amaranthewanted to listen in on the local gossip. The trail leading from thestadium to the baths and barracks wound past her perch, and she hadalready overheard quite a bit.

“…need more guards,” a woman withsweat-dampened bangs told her comrade as they strolled past.

“The enforcers aren’t admitting to anything,”the other woman answered. “They’re saying nothing’s going on, thatthe missing athletes probably went home.”

“Oh, sure, they trained all year, and thenjust went home before the competition even…”

The women walked out of hearing range.Amaranthe bent her head to study the short list of names on anotepad in her lap. Five athletes were missing now: two foreigners,including Fasha’s sister; and three Turgonians, one a local, andtwo from other satrapies. She recognized the local man, awarrior-caste wrestler, because they were the same age and hadcompeted in the junior events at the same time. What eluded her wasthe common theme. All of the missing people had disappeared in themiddle of the night from their barracks or, in the wrestler’s case,a private room in the lodge.

“You should pay attention to yoursurroundings when you’re in a public area,” Sicarius said from theshrubs a couple of feet behind the bench.

Amaranthe stifled her usual twitch ofsurprise and did not lift her head, wondering if she could wheedleher way out of a lecture. “I knew you were on the grounds.”

A long moment passed before he answered. “Youare assuming that you’re safe, simply because I’m in the area?”

“You know I’m not at my most attentive whenI’m plotting and mulling. I’ve come to trust you’ll keep an eye onme.”

“That’s reckless,” Sicarius said. “I’m yourcolleague, not your bodyguard, nor can I guarantee your safetysince I cannot walk about freely here. If you must study papers ina public area, you should scan your surroundings every fifteenseconds, ensuring you are aware of the movements and interests ofeveryone within a radius of at least… Why are you smiling?”

Actually, it was more of a grin. “You calledme a colleague,” Amaranthe said. “I’m flattered.”

“You are not taking my admonishmentseriously.”

“I am, too,” Amaranthe said.

Another pair of athletes was approaching, soAmaranthe left the bench to join Sicarius in the foliage.Mischievous branches tugged at her hat and rained leaves onto hershoulders. She dusted them off. As much as she liked the idea ofnature, it was difficult to maintain a tidy appearance whensurrounded by it.

“I’m just bad at admitting out loud that I’mwrong about something,” Amaranthe added.

“A character flaw you should correct.”

“Likely so.” She lifted her notepad,intending to ask his opinions about the names, but he surprised herby continuing.

“It would bother me if you died while I wasattending to biological needs.”

Amaranthe’s grin returned at the admission.“It would bother me if I died then, too. Or any time.” She handedhim the notepad. “These are the people missing thus far. Onedisappeared three nights ago, two the night before last-that waswhen Fasha’s sister went-and one last night. I’m trying to figureout what the common link is. After talking with Fasha, I figured itmight be another ploy against foreigners, but we now have moreTurgonians missing than outsiders. The wrestler, Deercrest, has wonoften, so I could see him being targeted as someone to get rid of.Though it’s not honorable to make opponents disappear, it’scertainly not without precedent in the history of the ImperialGames. But the other four are young no-names. One isn’t even oldenough to compete in the regular events; he was entered into thejunior Clank Race.”

“Perhaps they are promising contenders forthis year’s competitions,” Sicarius said.

“How would a kidnapper know? The qualifiersdon’t start until tomorrow. Sure, some people post their practicetimes, but most don’t, and the best athletes often only competehard enough to make the cut in the early rounds.” Amaranthe leanedagainst a tree. “Besides, who would want to get rid of multiplegood athletes? I could see rigging your own event, or your child’sevent, but why wrestling, running, and the Clank Race?”

As was often the case, Sicarius did notanswer, but she knew he was listening.

“Could it be a gambling scheme?” she mused.“People bet on the events, and some people bet a lot. Issomeone trying to set things up so they can guess the winners?”

“With athletes disappearing days prior to therace, the odds will be adjusted accordingly.”

“True, it’d make more sense to kidnap someonethe night before, or minutes before the event if you wanted toupset the odds-makers.” Amaranthe took the notepad back and tappedit. “Still, it might be worth talking to some of thebookmakers.”

Male voices sounded on the path in front ofthe bench. She parted the branches as a trio of muscular young menwalked past. They did not wear athletes’ togs, but instead thesleeveless overalls of miners. That was odd. Most local companiesonly gave workers the final two days of the Imperial Games offbecause they were considered a holiday in the capital. Even if oneman had finagled a day off somehow, it seemed unlikely a groupcould have managed the same. Mining outfits were particularlystingy with leave, as Amaranthe well knew. She had seen little ofher father when she was growing up. Yet here these men were,wandering about, a day before the qualifying events were to startand a week before the holiday finals.

“They are not bookmakers,” Sicariussaid.

The branches rustled as Amaranthe releasedthem. “No, I know. I was just thinking…” She paused as thepossible connotations of his comment slid over her. Was hedispleased to have caught her ogling handsome young men? No hint ofconsternation marked his face; maybe she had imagined his words hadunderlying meaning. Besides, he knew she would happily ogle him ifhe gave her more opportunities. “I’m going to follow those men. Ihave a hunch.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but all he saidwas, “There are numerous enforcers about.”

“I know. I’ll stay out of trouble.”

“Doubtful.”

“Just don’t wander off for too long at a timeto attend biological needs.”

Amaranthe tossed him a wink and slipped outof the brush without waiting for a response. She tugged the brim ofher hat low over her eyes. It did a decent job of hiding herfeatures, especially considering most enforcers were men, and herfive-and-a-half feet put her face below their eye level, but shehad best not chance getting too close.

She trailed after the miners at a distance,keeping other people between her and them. One had a rolled upnewspaper and a small leather-bound journal protruding from backpockets. That piqued her interest even more. Most miners only hadthe mandatory six years of schooling and started working young, soit was rare to find one who was comfortable looking to books ornewspapers for information.

A bent, old woman stepped out from thecourtyard of an eating tent, and the miners stopped abruptly. Sheleaned on a cane and wore her gray hair in buns on either side ofher head-hardly a formidable-looking person, but the young mendarted back the way they had come, nearly running into Amaranthe.She hopped off the path to let them by. They must have been intheir twenties, but they tore away like truant children avoiding aschool teacher.

“I saw you, Rill and Stemmic,” the old womanhollered after them, “and your mother will hear from me. You beingoff work this many days, you ought to be helping her out.”

The men ran into the stadium and disappearedfrom view, but Amaranthe barely noticed. That woman’s voice… Itwas familiar. Something from her childhood.

She squinted at the old lady, and it took amoment to place her. She was the mother of a friend of herfather’s, and Amaranthe had stayed at her flat once as a girl whenAuntie Memela had been sick.

The woman had stopped yelling after the youngmen, but she continued to stand there, leaning on her cane andgrousing under her breath. Though Amaranthe was curious what theexchange had been about, she found herself hesitant to go up to thewoman. She had avoided everyone from her old life since becoming anoutlaw, in part to keep them out of trouble, but also because shedid not want their pity or condemnation. Once she found herexoneration, she could reconnect with old comrades.

But this was different. This might be somesort of lead.

Amaranthe girded herself and strode up to thewoman. “Hello, ma’am?” She decided not to mention her name. Whatwere the odds that the woman would remember her? “Do you need anyhelp? Did those boys do something to you?”

The woman tilted her head and squinted up atAmaranthe, peering beneath the hat. “Amaranthe Lokdon?”

“Er, you remember me?”

“I remember you.” Her face was difficult toread. No hint of a smile stretched her lips. “I see you rememberme, too.”

“Yes, but you look the same.”

“That’s good. I think,” the woman said.

“Wasn’t I only seven or eight the last timewe met?”

“Yes, but I’ve recently seen your facedecorating a poster.”

“Ah.” Amaranthe tugged her hat a littlelower, reminded of the public nature of the place.

“I imagine your father would behorrified.”

“Yes, ma’am. I imagine so.”

“He wanted so much for you, sacrificedso much.”

“I know, ma’am. I’m trying to…make amendsnow.”

“By loitering around the stadium grounds inthe middle of the day? Are you betting on the events orsomething?”

“No, I-” Amaranthe cleared her throat. Shewould be here all day-or until someone caught her-if she stoodaround, explaining her every action. “I was wondering about thoseminers. Don’t they have work?”

“Indeed so. They’re not outlaws.”

“Then why aren’t they at work?” Amarantheasked, pushing the dig aside.

“Some scheme of Raydevk’s. I haven’t thefaintest notion of what, but they’ve been down here all week. Mygrandson is racing. That’s why I’m here. There’s no reasonfor young, able-bodied souls not to be laboring during theworkday.”

“Yes, ma’am. Ah, is that the Foreman Raydevkmy father knew?”

“No, his son. Elder Raydevk passed on lastyear, Black Lung, same as your da.”

“I’d like to talk to Raydevk,” Amaranthesaid. It was a long shot, that off-work miners roaming around withjournals had anything to do with the kidnappings, but she had nobetter leads. “He has a place in the city, doesn’t he?”

“Not one he’d like me to direct some outlawto, I’m sure. You thieving these days, too? He’s got a wife and twosons, and he scarcely makes enough to keep them fed. He doesn’tneed any more trouble than what he’s already schemed up.”

“No thieving, ma’am. If it matters, I waswrongfully accused, and I’m trying to clear my name. But now thatyou bring it up, I think I’ve been to Raydevk’s flat. Doesn’t helive down by the railway tracks?” She was guessing, but most of thelow-income housing was down there, near the Veterans’ Quarter. “Inthat building on…” She wriggled her fingers, as if searching forthe information in her head.

“Nelview?” the old woman said.

Amaranthe snapped her fingers. “Yes, that’sit. It’s right by that eating house, isn’t it? The…”

The woman snorted. “I’d hardly call TheBrewed Puppy an eating house. If you don’t stick to drinks, you’relike to get sick in there.”

“That’s true enough,” Amaranthe said,conjuring a map of that part of the city in her head. “AndRaydevk’s flat is on the second floor, right?”

The woman opened her mouth, but snapped itshut again and gave Amaranthe a shrewd look.

“Never mind,” Amaranthe said. “I’ll find it.Thank you for your time.”

She hustled away, hoping she could escapebefore the woman shouted any parting messages, but her wordsfollowed Amaranthe anyway.

“You’d better not thieve from him, girl. Yourfather’s spirit must be twisted in knots, knowing what came ofyou.”

A pair of athletes walking past from theother direction gave Amaranthe quizzical looks. At least theyweren’t enforcers.

“Crazy old grandmother,” Amaranthe told themwith a chuckle and hustled toward the stadium.

She wanted to find the miners and see if theymight give her more information on this “scheme,” but a knot ofpeople blocked the entrance to the stadium. A bare-chested manhopped onto a bench, his oiled muscles gleaming, a wooden megaphoneheld to his lips.

“Sicarius, we know you’re out there!” heshouted.

Amaranthe tripped and almost fell over.

“I, Erton Garthcrest, challenge you,” the manwent on. “If you’re half the man the rumors say, come and prove it.Enter the wrestling and see if you’re my match!” He finished bythumping his fist against his muscled chest, which was so puffedout that he looked like he could tip over backward and fall off thebench at any moment.

The bystanders cheered at the short speech.Amaranthe wanted to go around and into the stadium, but the cheerswent on. “More,” someone hollered, “Bring out Sicarius,” and thatstarted a chant of, “Sicarius, Sicarius.” This drew more people tothe scene.

The entire episode had an orchestrated feelto it, and Amaranthe thought about creeping closer to see if shecould identify the ringleader in the crowd, but several enforcerstrotted out of the stadium and headed for the group.

Amaranthe eased off the path. With theenforcers extra alert to trouble, this wasn’t the time for her toroam about inside.

She headed for the shrubs where she had lastseen Sicarius, but did not find him. She continued on toward thegreenbelt, figuring he would have gone that way. They had beenfollowing the railways from the boneyard to the grounds the lastcouple of days.

Before she had taken more than three stepsinto the trees, Sicarius’s voice came from behind the brush.

“You found trouble,” he said.

“I had nothing to do with those peoplecalling your name,” Amaranthe said. “It seems you’re a popularfellow around these parts.”

“Too popular.”

“Yes, it’s suspicious. Think someone istrying to get you to make an appearance?”

“Unknown.” He gazed toward the stadium,though foliage hid the crowd from view. Perhaps at the enforcers’behest, the shouts of “Sicarius” had stopped.

Amaranthe summarized her conversation withthe woman for him. “I want to find this Raydevk’s flat, but let’scheck in on Books and Akstyr first. It’s hard to imagine Turgonianminers coming up with a scheme that involves magic, but I’d like abetter idea about what we’re dealing with, just in case. Unless youwant to go off and start training for the wrestling event?” sheasked, since his gaze was still toward the stadium. “Did thatfellow with the megaphone tempt you?”

Sicarius looked at her as if he suspected herof having received a brain-damaging head wound. “It would befoolish for me to go anywhere near the stadium once the ImperialGames begin, certainly not into the arena.”

He turned his back on the grounds and led herdeeper into the woods. They passed a human-sized statue of anarachnid that must have once had a head, for it was hewn off withthe granite stump now fuzzed with moss. Another victim of MadEmperor Motash’s mandate to decapitate all statues from the oldreligions.

“True,” Amaranthe said, “but some men haveegos that demand they prove themselves whenever challenged.”

“That is why they are dead, and I amnot.”

“I guess that explains your longevity.” Shegrinned. “I knew it wasn’t a matter of your amiable, warm-heartednature endearing you to people.”

That comment received no look at all, and hesaid nothing during the trip back to the boneyard. With that muchsilence surrounding Amaranthe, her mind was left to its own musing,and, not for the first time, she wondered why Sicarius’s name keptcoming up here-and why someone would risk impersonating him. Shealso wondered what had happened to Fasha to keep her from meetingAmaranthe.

“Questions,” she muttered to herself.“Nothing but questions.”

“What are you doing? I thought you were goingon two more runs before taking a break. You’re timing is still offon those swinging axes.”

Basilard flopped onto his back, hot sweatstreaming down his cheeks. Maldynado stood over him, fists proppedon his hips. The Clank Race whirred and hissed behind him. Most ofthe other athletes had left, though a young man was timing himselfon sprints up the nets.

You’re a worse taskmaster thanSicarius, Basilard signed.

“That’s because you don’t seem motivated. Youhave to win to have dinner with the emperor. I thought thatmattered to you. You want to talk to him on behalf of your peopleand slaves in the city, don’t you?”

Basilard sighed and rolled to his knees. Ifhe attacked Sicarius, he would not live long enough to winanything. Unless he succeeded. And if he did, Amaranthe would kickhim out of the group, and he’d have no one to translate his wishesto the emperor anyway.

“Why don’t you get some water?” Maldynadosaid. “Then we’ll do another round.”

Basilard stumbled to his feet with thighsrubbery from the previous twenty runs. We?

“We,” Maldynado said. “We’re a team. You runthe Clank Race, and I stand over here with the pocket watch andcheer you on. I think it works well. I’m…” His eyes shifted towatch something over Basilard’s shoulder. He frowned.

Basilard turned around to follow Maldynado’sgaze, but did not recognize the man approaching. He wore simple,but tailored clothing and a wide-brimmed beaver hat. Walking with acane made his gait uneven, but it slowed him little, and heappeared hale. Folded spectacles hung from his shirt collar, apencil protruded from the band of his hat, and he carried a pad ofpaper under his arm. He strode directly toward Maldynado andBasilard.

“What do you want, Deret?” Maldynadogrowled.

Basilard wondered if he should know thisperson.

“I’m working on a story.” The man gaveBasilard a curious look before focusing his attention on Maldynado.“Interviewing athletes. Trying to figure out what’s going on aroundhere with the missing people.”

Ah, this had to be the journalist Amaranthehad gone to see the night before. Mancrest.

“You could apologize for trying to kill myboss when I promised her you’d take her out to dinner and show hera nice evening,” Maldynado said.

“You neglected to mention she was a notoriousoutlaw,” Mancrest said.

“Seems you figured it out on your own. I’mlucky you don’t turn me in.”

“For two hundred and fifty ranmyas? Whybother?”

Maldynado’s fingers curled into a fist.

Basilard waved to get his attention.Perhaps we should not irritate this man since there areenforcers around and he knows who we are.

Maldynado sniffed. “I’m not going to irritatehim. I’m not going to talk to him at all.” He turned his back onMancrest and pointed at a couple of young men resting in the shadeof the Clank Race’s massive furnace and boiler. “Those two looklike your most promising competition, Bas.”

Basilard kept an eye on Mancrest. IfMaldynado’s dismissal bothered him, he did not show it.

“I have information for your…what is she toyou exactly?” Mancrest said. “A former lover? I can’t imagine youtrying to arrange a courtship for someone you were currentlyinvolved with, but it’s also impossible for me to imagine yougetting out of bed to exercise before dawn at the behest of a womanyou have no feelings for. It is equally impossible for me toimagine you living in close quarters with a woman and not sleepingwith her, or attempting to sleep with her.”

During this spiel, Maldynado had slowlyturned to face Mancrest again, and he eyed the other man withsuspicion. “Bas, was there an implied insult to the boss in there,or is he just insulting me?”

I…think the latter, Basilardsigned.

“All right.” Maldynado’s shoulders lowered,and he unclenched his fists. “That’s nothing unexpected then. Whatdo you want me to tell her, Mancrest?”

“What is she to you?” Mancrest asked.

“My employer.”

“You’ve never gotten up early for an employerbefore.” Mancrest eyed Maldynado up and down. “You look like you’rein the best shape of your life.”

Maldynado brightened swifter than the nightsky presented with a lightning flash. “I am! Look!” He dug hisshirt out of his trousers to display the lean ridges of hisabdomen.

Basilard rolled his eyes. There aren’t anywomen around to impress.

He caught a similar eye roll from Mancrest.Maybe the fellow wasn’t so bad after all.

“Maldynado…” Mancrest sighed.

“Look, she’s my boss and a friend, allright?” Maldynado lowered his shirt. “And…” He prodded the dustyclay earth with his boot. “She’s twenty-six.”

Huh? What did Amaranthe’s age have to do withanything?

At first, Mancrest appeared as perplexed, butthen his lips formed an, “Oh.”

“Tia’s age,” Maldynado said. “And realadventurous and quick to smile. She’s a good girl, and she doesn’tdeserve that bounty, and she probably only has it because Sicariusis in the group. She thinks he’s useful, and I guess he is, butnobody’s going to pardon us as long as he’s around.”

Basilard studied Maldynado’s face, wonderingif he might have another ally to turn against Sicarius. Surely ifthe whole group wanted him gone…

“Yes,” Mancrest said. “I wondered about that.If you’re not sleeping with her, is he?”

“Listen, Deret. This isn’t one of thosesmutty Aleeta Dourcrest novels your mother has lying all over thehouse. We’re a professional team of mercenaries. Elite even.Nobody’s sleeping with anybody.” He hesitated and whispered toBasilard. “They’re not, right?”

I don’t think so.

A hint of relief lightened Mancrest’s face,and Basilard thought the man’s interest in Amaranthe curious,especially given that he had tried to turn her over to thearmy.

“Didn’t my mother catch you reading one ofthose novels when you were over to play in the pond with me and mybrother?” Mancrest asked.

“No.”

Mancrest folded his arms over his chest.

“Well, fine, maybe. I wanted to know whatwomen like, and some of that information has proved useful to meover the years.”

Ask what he wants to tell Amaranthe,Basilard signed, hoping to keep Maldynado from wandering offtrack.

“Right,” Maldynado said. “Just tell us whatyou want. We have training to do.”

“You’re not entering an event, are you? Whilenobody is going out of the way to turn you in for that measlybounty, I’m sure if you were right here in front of everybody onrace day, even the enforcers could bestir themselves to walk theten meters to the finish line to lock you up.”

“I’m not racing.” Maldynado pointed atBasilard. “He is.”

“Oh?” Mancrest asked. “No bounty on yourhead?”

Basilard ran his fingers over the scarredflesh of his scalp. The sweat had dried, leaving his skin dusty andwarm beneath the sun. No.

“Surprising. You look…” Mancrest shrugged,perhaps thinking better of offering what could only have been aninsult.

“Thugly?” Maldynado suggested.

Basilard frowned at him.

Maldynado slung an arm over his shoulder.“Basilard’s a good fellow. Only fights when he hasn’t got a choice.And besides, who would waste money putting out a bounty for aforeigner?”

Basilard removed Maldynado’s arm.

“I understand Amaranthe is researching thekidnappings here, too. I want to exchange notes with her,” Mancrestsaid.

“Does that mean you believe what reallyhappened when the emperor was kidnapped?” Maldynado asked.

“It means…sometimes present deeds count formore than past actions.”

Basilard shook his head wistfully, wishingthat were true. Neither man caught his movement. He missed being amore viable part of conversations. He missed…mattering.

“Anyway,” Mancrest said, “I’m interested inwhat she knows about the missing people. Tell her I’d like to meether at-”

“You don’t get to pick any more meetingplaces,” Maldynado said.

“Fine, what do you propose?”

“I’ll tell her you’ll be at Pyramid Park twohours before midnight.”

“That sounds like a good place to get yourhead thumped in and have your purse stolen,” Mancrest said.

“Not with Sicarius around.”

Mancrest snorted. “He’s just as likely tothump my head in as a pack of gang kids.”

“Quit whining. You’re warrior caste, not somedefenseless kitten.” Maldynado pointed a finger at Mancrest’s nose.“And if there are enforcers lying in wait, we’ll know not to trustyou. And you better believe Sicarius will do more than thump onyou, too.”

“Any chance you can tell him he’s notinvited?” Mancrest asked.

“I’ll pass on your message, that’s it.”Maldynado shooed the other man away. “We’ve got training todo.”

As soon as Mancrest left, Maldynado asked,“Think we can trust him?”

Doubtful, Basilard signed.

“Think that’ll keep Amaranthe from meeting upwith him again?”

Doubtful, Basilard signed again, thistime with a wry twist to his lips.

Maldynado sighed. “That’s what Ithought.”

CHAPTER 6

Before they entered the boneyard, Sicariusstopped Amaranthe with a hand on her arm. He pointed at plumes ofblack smoke wafting into the sky ahead of them. Overgrownblackberry bushes and the rusted carcasses of locomotives hid thesource.

“Bonfire?” Amaranthe guessed.

“No. Listen.”

Amaranthe closed her eyes and cocked an earin the direction of the smoke. Despite the homeless and hunted thatcamped in the boneyard, quiet ruled there, except for the cicadasthat favored the trees on the southern end. She and Sicarius wereat the northern entrance, though, closest to the city, and sheheard nothing beyond chirping birds. A working train rumbled by tothe west, following the tracks along the lake and into Stumps.Wait. She listened harder. Maybe that was not a locomotive, andmaybe it was not far enough west to be on the tracks.

“Steam carriage?” she asked. “No, I can’timagine anyone wealthy enough to own one spending time here.Enforcer wagon more likely.”

Amaranthe took a step in the direction of thesmoke, intending to check it out, but Sicarius had not released herarm.

“Don’t you want to investigate?” she asked.“Or did you want to stand here and fondle my arm for a while?”

He released her. “I was alerting you to thepotential of trouble so we could avoid it.”

“So…no interest in arm fondling, eh?”

She expected him to ignore her or perhapssigh. Instead, he said, “Were that my goal, your armwouldn’t be my target.”

Amaranthe blinked. “Why, Sicarius, is itpossible you have a playful side beneath your razor-edged knives,severe black clothing, and humorless glares?”

“I will lead.” Sicarius headed into theboneyard. “Make no noise.”

She was the one to sigh, but she followed himanyway. One day, after they finished their work and made peace withthe emperor, she was going to drag him off some place where itwould be impossible to train and the only acceptable activity washaving fun. She had heard of tropical islands in the Gulf where theinhabitants welcomed everyone with bead necklaces and feasts. EvenTurgonians were supposed to be allowed, so long as they did notcome to conquer.

Sicarius did not choose a direct path to thesmoke. He circled through weed-choked aisles between rows of boxyfreight cars. Nobody stirred in the shadowed interiors, not withenforcers around.

Sicarius climbed the rusty side of an earlymodel locomotive. Salvagers had torn away the siding, removed thewheels, and scavenged any engine parts light enough to carry.

Crouched in the shadow of the smokestack,Sicarius waved for her to come up. She clambered to the top. Theywere closer to the source of the smoke now, and she glimpsed thetop of a steam wagon between rail cars a couple of aisles over. Itgleamed with familiar red and silver paint. Enforcers.

Something clanged, like a baton striking themetal side of a car.

“See any more?” a man called.

“We probably got the wizard already,” cameanother male voice.

“The ones we’ve chained say it’s notthem.”

“Of course they’re not going to admitit, patroller. Not when the punishment is death.”

“They’re all gang thugs. They’re probablygoing to get a death sentence anyway.”

“The lady said the wizard wasyoung.”

Amaranthe mumbled, “What has Akstyrdone?”

Sicarius said nothing.

She had seen enough. She jumped down, herfeet stirring a cloud of fine dust when she landed. It tickled hernose, and she pinched her nostrils shut. The last thing she neededwas to alert the enforcers to her presence with a mighty sneeze.Sicarius alighted beside her, somehow not kicking up any of thedust covering the sun-faded bricks.

“Let’s warn Akstyr and Books,” she whisperedand headed into the maze. Warn wasn’t exactly what she wanted to dowith Akstyr. Kick might be a better verb. Maybe he had a goodreason for doing something that had made someone think he was awizard, but she doubted it.

Their hideout lay a half a mile to the east,close to the far boundary of the boneyard, and she hoped they wouldhave time before the enforcers made it over there. Between thehundreds of rail cars and the narrow, cluttered aisles of junk andweeds between them, the area would not be easy to navigate with asteam wagon. Of course, she and Sicarius had been gone all day. Theenforcers might have already been to their hideout. That thoughtstirred worry in her gut, but, no, even if they had searched hersection of the boneyard, their words implied they had not capturedAkstyr yet.

Amaranthe relaxed when she heard familiarvoices.

“I did not mistranslate it,” Bookssaid.

“Well, it’s not working,” Akstyr huffed. “Itried three times.”

“Perhaps the error is not with thetranslation but your interpretation.”

“Are you calling me inept, old man?”

A clang reverberated from within a railcar.

Amaranthe and Sicarius turned down the deadend to their hideout. Books stumbled out of the “parlor” car with apalm pressed to his temple. She’d thought the men were past thepoint of engaging in fisticuffs if she was not around to mediate,but perhaps not.

“Did Akstyr hit you?” she asked. Maybe sheshould let the enforcers find him.

Books waved an acknowledgement of theirarrival and said, “Not exactly. His concoction emitted fumes thatcaused me to lunge away and smack my head on the wall.”

Sicarius climbed the nearest car and crouchedon the roof, standing watch.

Since it appeared Books would recover,Amaranthe gave him a pat on the shoulder and went straight tobusiness. “There are enforcers searching the boneyard for a youngwizard with a gang brand.”

Akstyr stuck his head out of the rail car.The usual spiky queue he styled his hair into had sagged, leaving alimp carrot top dangling on either side. Soot and blue goo stainedwhat had started out as a baggy white shirt. A faint smudgedecorated his upper lip.

“What?” he asked. “Why?”

“I thought you might know,” Amaranthe said,reaching for her kerchief. “Been performing your arts on anybodyoutside of our group?”

“I wish he wouldn’t perform them on anybodyinside the group,” Books muttered, his hand still clutchedto his temple.

“Uhh… I don’t know what you’re talkingabout,” Akstyr told Amaranthe.

“Positive?” she asked.

Akstyr shoved his hands in his pockets.“Yes.”

“What about that girl you were talking tothis morning?” Books asked.

Akstyr scowled at him. “I can’t talk togirls?”

“She was comely and well-dressed,” Bookssaid. “Maybe warrior caste.”

“What’re you saying? That no good-lookinggirls would talk to me?”

“Essentially.” Books lowered his hand andcurled a lip when his fingers came away bloody.

Amaranthe glanced up at Sicarius, not surethey should be wasting this time with the enforcers nearby. Hewriggled his fingers in one of Basilard’s signs. The predators werecloser, but not yet a threat.

“Akstyr,” Amaranthe said, “what you do withyour talents is your choice, but doing it where the group is hidingout can get us all in trouble.”

He bent his head and kicked at a weedthrusting from beneath one of the rusted car wheels. “I just wantedto make some money on the side. You don’t pay us hardly nothing,and I’ve got expenses. I don’t just drink and whore like Maldynado.I’ve got to buy books and components for researching now.” Hejerked his elbow toward the car without taking his hands out of hispockets.

“Understandable,” Amaranthe said. “Nexttime…” She approached him with the kerchief. The smudge above hislips was bugging her. Since his hands were occupied, she figuredshe could clean it off before he objected. She dampened it andswiped it beneath his nose.

“What’re you doing?” he balked.

“Cleaning that smudge,” she said.

“What smudge? There’s no smudge.”

“No, there’s definitely something there.”Despite his protests, she managed to give it a good rub.

“Amaranthe, you’re tormenting the lad,” Bookssaid, though his eyes glinted with amusement.

“Huh,” she said. “It won’t come off. Oh, it’shair.”

“It’s not hair.” Akstyr stepped out ofreach. “It’s a mustache.”

“I don’t see anything,” Books said.

“That’s because you’re senile.” Akstyr liftedhis nose and smoothed his upper lip to show it off. “Anyone canplainly see that it’s coming in nicely. I’ve been working on it forseveral days now.”

“I see,” Amaranthe said. “A bit on the wispyside still.”

“Wispy and invisible,” Books muttered.

She shook her head and settled for wipingsome of the goo off of Akstyr’s face and shirt. He sighed deeplyunder this torture.

“As I was saying,” Amaranthe said, “nexttime, just come to me if you need help purchasing items that canbenefit the group. I’ll find a way to get the money.”

“And don’t be a dolt and bring your…clientshere,” Books said. “What’d you do for her anyway?”

Amaranthe wondered that, too. And how had thewoman known to find Akstyr? Honored ancestors, he didn’t haveflyers out around the city, did he?

“Healed her,” Akstyr said.

“Nothing appeared to ail her,” Bookssaid.

“Look, it was her toenail, all right? Somefungus. It was all black and nasty. Could we not talk about it?This isn’t exactly what I dreamed about when I started studyingthis stuff. It’s embarrassing. I wish I could go to Kyatt orsomewhere that I could study real Science and learn to dointeresting things.”

Leave the empire? Was that the goal to whichhe aspired? Amaranthe supposed she could understand that, given thedanger his studies brought him here, but she would have to keep aneye on him. If he planned to leave, he probably did not care aboutexoneration or accolades from the emperor. The day might come whenhis goals were at odds with hers.

“Well…” Amaranthe rested a hand on herbelly. “I’ve found your healing skills to be quiteinteresting. And useful. In a thank-you-for-saving-my-life kind ofway.”

Akstyr grunted.

“And please update your flyers to make surepeople know you’d rather visit them than have them visit here,” sheadded.

“I don’t have flyers.”

“Update whatever your promotional method is,”Amaranthe said. “Now, tell me about your research. Did you findanything?”

“Oh!” Akstyr clambered into the rail car.

“I didn’t mean to send him scurrying away,”she murmured.

“We found a fine yellow powder inside a divotin the cork,” Books said. “It was visible only with a magnifyingglass.”

Akstyr popped back out again, a hefty tomebalanced in his arms. He held it open, displaying weathered pagesfull of foreign text comprised of sweeping curlicues andcomplicated symbols. Amaranthe could not imagine writing a page inthe ornate script, much less an entire book.

“What language is that?” she asked.

“It’s Nurian,” Books said, “though acalligraphy version. It was most difficult to translate, and it didnot help that someone was impatiently breathing down-”

“Just look at the picture.” Akstyr tapped thepage.

Several yellow dots were sprinkled around ahomely brown root with more kinks and snarls than a hair ball.

“That’s the powder that was on the cork?” sheasked. “It comes from that root?”

“This might be the powder,” Akstyrsaid. “I’m…not real experienced at identifying things yet.”

“An understatement.” Books massaged histemple.

“If this is the right powder, the root it’smade from can make you sleepy if you eat it. But wizards havetinkered with it, and there’s a recipe here for enhancing itseffects, so it can knock someone out completely.”

“Is it put in food or water?” Amarantheasked.

“It can be, but it’s so fine that people havealso made blow tubes and breakable capsules for distributing it inthe air. Breathing it can be enough to knock you out.”

“So, it’s Nurian?” Amaranthe thought ofArbitan Losk. Was it possible another Nurian had come to thecapital with a plan to disrupt the empire? Or to get at the emperorsomehow? Tradition mandated he would be at the final days of theImperial Games, and there was that dinner…. She did not know howdisappearing athletes might be used against him though. Couldsomeone be getting the competition out of the way so a particularloyal athlete would make it to the end to get close to the emperor?For an assassination attempt? But, if so, why bother to kidnap somany people, across multiple events?

“Maybe.” Akstyr tossed his head, flickinghair out of his eyes. Thanks to his errant experiments, it had thesame snarls and tangles as the root today. “Maybe not. The root isfrom the Nurian continent, but it’s actually the Kyattese that madethe powder and have done most of the experimenting with it.”

“They wouldn’t attack the empire, though,”Amaranthe said. “Or would they? They’re supposedly a peaceful folkwith academic tendencies, but we did try to conquer them a coupleof decades ago. Could they be harboring thoughts of revenge?”

Akstyr looked around. “Are you still talkingto me? ‘Cause I dunno about that stuff.”

“No, just thinking out loud. Books?” sheasked, thinking to draw him into the conversation-he had wanderedaway and seemed to be looking for a cloth for his cut.

“Anyone home?” Maldynado’s voice came fromthe distance.

Amaranthe winced at the loudness of it.

“We’ve got news for-ouch!”

She jogged out of the dead end to findSicarius standing before Maldynado and Basilard. Maldynado wasclutching his shoulder.

“Lower your voice,” Sicarius said. “Enforcersare nearby.”

“You could have started with that instead ofthrowing a rock at me,” Maldynado muttered. He spotted Amarantheand said, “Mancrest wants to meet with you.”

Sicarius glared. Maldynado was lucky he hadwaited until after the rock throwing to deliver thisinformation.

“You arranged another meeting for me?”Amaranthe asked. “Are we certain enforcers and army officerbrothers won’t be involved?”

Maldynado thumped his chest. “I setthe meeting place this time. Tomorrow night, Pyramid Park. Nobodycould possibly ambush you there.”

She snorted and looked at Sicarius, thinkingof their first meeting. He hadn’t exactly ambushed her, but he hadappeared behind her as if by magic. She still did not know how hehad gotten there without using the only set of stairs leading tothe top. He appeared to be too busy glaring at Maldynado to askjust then.

“All right,” Amaranthe said. “Did hesound…interested in hearing more from me? Did you arrange thingsagain, or was it his idea?”

“His idea,” Maldynado said. “He wants to talkabout the kidnappings, but he sounded interested in you. And wantedyou to leave Sicarius at home.” Maldynado winked. “I think youcharmed him. Maybe he’s ready to take you to dinner.”

If Sicarius’s glare grew any frostier, itwould leave icicles dangling from Maldynado’s lashes. Or perhaps anice spear thrust between his eyes.

“It’s likely another trap,” Sicarius toldAmaranthe.

“This Mancrest thing isn’t the priority now,”Amaranthe said. Eager to change the subject, she added, “I’d likeyou gentlemen to get out of the boneyard before the enforcers amblethrough. Please assist Books and Akstyr in their research. Sicariusand I have something to do tonight and may be back late.”

“Nothing that will make Deret jealous, Ihope.” Maldynado snickered, as if he had made some fabulousjoke.

The building trembled as a locomotive rumbledinto the station down the street. From the darkness of The BrewedPuppy rooftop, Amaranthe watched a tenement building across thestreet while she waited for Sicarius to join her. The stench ofburning meat wafted up to her, mingling with an omnipresent thickyeasty smell oozing from the building’s pores, and Amaranthe judgedthe old woman’s dismal opinion of the eating house’s quality to beaccurate.

With her elbows propped on a low wall and aspyglass raised to her eye, she checked each window, searching fora man with a woman and two young boys. She did not know if shewould recognize Raydevk based on a vague memory of the man’sfather, but if she found the right combination of people…

She paused. Could that be it? Beyond athird-story window, a woman sat, knitting on a couch in aclutter-filled, one-room flat. Toys littered the floor at her feet.While Amaranthe was trying to judge if the carved wood blocks andautomata represented boys’ or girls’ playthings, two youngstersscampered into view from behind a room partition formed byfurniture draped with clothing. They chased each other around thewoman’s chair, but an upraised hand and word from her halted that.She thrust a finger toward another clutter-partition, this one witha curtain hanging on a rod to delineate a door. The childrendisappeared into the dark space. Their sleeping area, Amarantheassumed.

Voices sounded below as a couple exited theeating house, and she shifted her elbow to move the spyglass fromher eye. Something gooey made her sleeve stick. She drew her armback with a grimace and picked off tar.

She yawned and glanced around her rooftopperch, thinking of Sicarius’s warning to check her surroundingsfrequently. Moonlight gleamed against a stovepipe and providedenough illumination to confirm nothing stirred nearby. No doors ledto the lower levels of The Brewed Puppy-she had climbed up via adrainpipe-and she doubted anyone except Sicarius would sneak up onher. She returned her attention to the brick building across theway.

“Is he there?” came Sicarius’s voice frombehind her.

Amaranthe almost dropped the spyglass.

“Not yet,” she said, putting her back to thewall so she could face him.

It took her a moment to pick him out,standing in the shadows of a chimney. Had he just arrived? Or hadhe been testing her? Seeing if she would notice him before heannounced himself? And why did she always feel like he was an armyinstructor, bent on training her to be a better soldier?

“You found a uniform?” Amaranthe asked.

He glided out of the shadows, soundless, likea haunting ancestor spirit. The moonlight did not reveal the colorof his outfit, but it appeared less dark than his usual black, andshe thought she detected familiar silver piping and buttons. A boxycap covered much of his blond hair.

“Yes,” he said.

She touched his sleeve when he knelt besideher, and her fingers met the familiar scratchy wool of an enforceruniform. She wore hers as well, the only article of clothing shehad retained from her old life.

“Did you…uhm, where’d you find it?”Amaranthe had asked him not to maul anyone for a uniform, though hedid tend to do things his own way.

“Clothesline.”

“Oh, good.” Her hand bumped an enforcer-issueshort sword hanging from his belt. He had not found that ona clothesline, but it was a typical part of the uniform, so shedecided not to ask. She wore one, too, as well as handcuffs. Shepointed at the window she had identified earlier. “I think I’vespotted the wife and children. Maybe we should…interview herbefore the husband gets home.” Yes, “interview” sounded friendlierthan interrogate. “She might know what he’s up to. I can talk toher, see what I can learn, and you can snoop and see what you canlearn.”

“Too late,” Sicarius said. “The husband hasarrived. Or an enthusiastic lover.”

“Huh?” Amaranthe lifted the spyglass to checkon the flat again, but jerked it from her eye as soon as the scenecame into focus. “Ugh. I don’t want to walk in on that.”

“They’ll stop.” Sicarius started for thedrainpipe leading to an alley below.

“Maybe we should wait until they’re done,”Amaranthe said.

“Why?”

“I’m sure he’ll be in a better moodafterward. Would you want to be interrupted in the middleof…stoking the furnace?”

He said nothing. He probably thought itridiculous to worry about such a thing.

“We’ll just wait here and…” She groped fora way to pass time that would not make Sicarius balk. Chat? No.Draw a grid and play Dirt Defender? No, not enough light. Emulatethe people across the street? Hah. Sure.

“Watch?” Sicarius said when her silence wenton.

“What? No! I used to arrest people forthat.”

Grunts drifted up to the rooftop. The lovershad clambered out of their window and were undressing each other onthe fire escape. That was one way to avoid waking the children,Amaranthe supposed. Though the neighbors might not appreciateit.

“We could discuss the team uniform,” shesaid, joking.

“The what?”

“Maldynado thinks we should have a teamuniform.”

The long silence that followed said plentyabout his opinion of the idea. She collapsed the spyglass, tuckedit into a pocket, and moved away from the edge of the roof so shecould not be seen from the fire escape. “We’ll just take our timegetting over there,” she said.

“The plan?” Sicarius asked.

Yes, it would not be as easy for him to snoopwith two adults in the room. “Back to the original.” Amaranthepatted a pocket that held a forged document neatly folded intoquarters. “It seems we have the magistrate’s permission to searchthe premises.”

“If they recognize one of us?” Sicariusasked.

“I doubt they will. Miners don’t get muchtime off to roam the city and peruse wanted posters.”

“If your source is correct, this onedoes.”

“We’ll adjust the plan if need be,” shesaid.

“It would be far simpler to go in, grab him,and force him to answer questions.”

“Sicarius…” Amaranthe hung her head.“Sespian is never going to want to get to know someone whosesolution for every problem is torturing people. I know it’sefficient, but I don’t think he’s someone who can respect a man whoisn’t humane.”

“Humane,” Sicarius said flatly.

“Yes. At least in one’s actions. Nobody canbe judged for what’s in his thoughts, eh?”

“And the humane thing to do is todisguise ourselves as enforcers and lie to these people to obtainanswers.”

Er, she hated it when she was trying to bemorally superior and someone pointed out that her idea was onlyslightly less sketchy. “I think it’s a…humane option, yes. If allgoes well, nobody will be hurt. Is it ideal? Perhaps not, but Idon’t know of an ideal situation. I’m beginning to think ourcircumstances preclude those. But maybe it’s always been that way.If the legends are anything to go by, being a hero doesn’t meanbeing perfect. Being a hero means overcoming those imperfections todo good anyway.” There that sounded plausible. Or pompous. Was shetruly comparing the two of them to the great heroes of old?“ Anyway, I think Sespian is far more likely to admire someone whoeschews the easy solution, however efficient, in favor of the onethat does no harm. I’m sure of it.”

Sicarius said nothing at first, and shewinced in anticipation of a cold reaction. Surely thephilosophizing of a twenty-six-year-old woman could only make himsnort in derision. Inwardly anyway. He would never deign to be thatexpressive outwardly.

“I see,” Sicarius finally said. “And areyou?”

“Am I what?” she asked. Her own thoughts hadsidetracked her.

“More likely to admire someone likethat.”

Huh. Did he care what she thought ofhim? Enough that he might make a humane decision instead of apractical one? For her? She found herself reluctant to test thathypothesis, for she might be disappointed-and hurt-if it provedfalse down the road. “I know it’s the nature of women to try andchange men, but you don’t have to do anything on my behalf. I’mjust trying to help with Sespian. In my arrogance, I think I’m morelike him than you are, and I may have more insight into what wouldmake him…interested in knowing you.”

“Not arrogance. Fact. They’ve completed theircoitus. Let’s go.”

Amaranthe blinked at his abrupt switching oftopics, but she recovered and jogged after him. They skimmed downthe drainpipe, waited for a couple of locals to enter the eatinghouse, and crossed the street to the apartment building. Sheslipped past Sicarius to open one of the double doors and stepinside first.

Nobody occupied the shabby parlor, and halfof the gas lamps on the walls were out. She headed for a hallway atthe back. Doors lined both sides, and the staircase she sought roseat the far end. A faded gray runner had collected so much dirt, shebarely recognized the repeating sword pattern. She did know it hadbeen one of the early themes woven on the first steam looms, makingit a testament to the rug’s age.

At the base of the stairs, she stopped nearone of the working lamps, intending to check Sicarius’s uniform.She trusted him to get the details right, but she needed to know ifhe had any rank pins or badges that would mark him her superior. Ifso, she would have to amend her spiel to pretend she was takingorders from him. But, when she saw him in the light, she froze andstared.

Clad in the crisp, clean lines of a grayenforcer uniform, he looked…good. Handsome, yes, but heroic, too.Not like some assassin who lurked in the shadows, ready to jab adagger into someone’s back, but like someone noble who helpedpeople.

It’s just fabric, girl, she told herself, butthe thoughts brought a lump to her throat nonetheless. What mighthe have been had his childhood been different? Normal.

“Something inaccurate?” Sicarius asked.

“No.” Amaranthe cleared her throat. “No,you’ve got it right.” She lifted a foot and placed it on the firststair, but paused again. “Do you-or did you ever want to besomething else? For an…occupation? When you were a childmaybe?”

Anyone else would have given her a perplexedfrown over such a random question. He…gazed at her without a hintof his thoughts. Floorboards creaked in a room nearby. A muffledconversation went on behind a door. In the hallway, he neithermoved nor spoke. She searched his eyes. Did he spend even half asmuch time wondering what she was thinking as she did wondering whathe was thinking?

“Never mind,” Amaranthe said. “I just meantyou’d be…believable as an enforcer.”

She headed up the stairs.

“A soldier,” Sicarius said quietly.

Amaranthe halted. “You daydreamed of being asoldier?”

“When it was necessary for my focus to beelsewhere, I thought of it occasionally.”

He caught up with her and kept climbing,perhaps considering the conversation over. Focus to beelsewhere. As in to block out the pain of some torturouschildhood training session? He did not expound, and she did notask. She matched him, and they ascended the steps side by side.

“Like Berkhorth the Brazen?” she asked,wanting to leave him with better thoughts than of some past need towill his mind elsewhere. “The third century general who was sogifted with a blade that an entire city surrendered en masse whenthey saw him walk up with a single squad of soldiers?” They roundedthe second-story landing, and she kept talking, warming to the ideaof Sicarius as the legendary hero. “The man so fearsome that noneof the soldiers guarding that city realized his squad was coveredin blood and wounds and had only a single, battered sword betweenthem because they’d just escaped capture and torture?”

Sicarius slanted her a faintly bemused look.“Starcrest.”

Her toe bumped a step, and she caught herselfon the railing. “Fleet Admiral Starcrest? Really? I picture youmore as a warrior general than a brilliant naval strategist.”

They reached the third floor and anotherempty hallway.

“You believe I lack intelligence?” Sicariusasked.

Amaranthe jerked a hand up. “No, no.” It hadbeen some time since he had thrown a knife at her, and she did notwant to give him a reason to consider it again. “It’s justthat…ah, you lose to me three out of four times when we playStrat Tiles.”

“Because you cheat.”

“How do I cheat?” she asked, trying to readhis face to see if he was irked or merely giving her a hard time.She never should have given him permission to tease her.

“You talk,” Sicarius said.

“Talking isn’t cheating.”

“It is when you seek to wheedle my strategyfrom me under the guise of learning from my greaterexperience.”

She blushed. She hadn’t realized he sawthrough that so easily. Though it had worked.… Several times.

“I should be flogged, no doubt,” Amaranthesaid.

A rare gleam of humor entered his eyes.“Perhaps.”

Amaranthe counted doors until they reachedthe flat she had been observing, the one she hoped belonged toRaydevk and his wife. The building could very well house otherfamilies with two young sons.

She pressed an ear against the door beforeknocking; she did not wish to interrupt a second round oflovemaking. Voices murmured, male and female, the words too low tomake out. They did not sound ardor-filled.

She knocked. Out of habit, she straightenedher uniform and patted down her bun. Looking the part of aprofessional enforcer might no longer be a requirement, but sometics failed to die.

The door opened, and a moon-faced womanleaned into the gap. When she spotted the uniforms, her eyesbulged. Even a rookie could have interpreted the guiltywe’re-caught expression.

Amaranthe stuck her foot into the gap, lestthe woman’s first instinct be to slam the door shut and lock it.The woman stepped back, but bumped against one of the piles offurniture, boxes, and clutter that were used to delineate separatespaces in the single room.

“Peaceful evening,” Amaranthe greeted. “I’mCorporal Lokdon.” The name was sewn on her name tag, so she darednot change it, but she said it quickly on the chance the woman readthe newspapers. Amaranthe nodded to Sicarius. “And this is CorporalJev.” Or so his uniform said. “We have a few questions for yourhusband, ma’am.”

“Who is it, Pella?” a man, presumablyRaydevk, asked. “One of the boys? They weren’t supposed to comeuntil nine.” He snickered. “Or is it old Ms. Derya complaining thatthe fire escape isn’t a suitable place for sex play? Again.”

Since the woman-Pella-seemed stunned withindecision, Amaranthe pushed the door open. The smirk on theminer’s face dropped. He held a book-a journal? — in his hands, andhe hid it behind his back. Yes, the guilt hung in the air like smogaround a factory. Though that meant it was probably good that shehad come, it also made her fairly certain these weren’t themasterminds behind…anything.

“Mister Raydevk?” Amaranthe asked. “We have afew questions for you.”

“I’ve done nothing illegal,” he said.

“Good.” She smiled. “Then we’ll be able tofinish quickly.”

“Uh, right.” Raydevk eyed several of thecabinets and clothing-draped stacks. Seeking somewhere to stash hisjournal?

“Mind if we come in?” Amaranthe asked.

Sicarius invited himself in, slipping pastAmaranthe to stand inside the doorway. Pella stepped, no, stumbledbackward. Hm, Amaranthe might find Sicarius’s appearance heroic inthe uniform, but he still intimidated others. The cold unwaveringstare perhaps.

“Thanks,” Amaranthe said brightly. Shestrolled in and displayed her warrant oh-so briefly to Pella.“Corporal Jev has orders to search the premises. I hope this won’tinconvenience you terribly.”

“Search?” Raydevk’s voice squeaked. “Whatfor?” His eyes darted about in his head, searching again. Stilltrying to get rid of that journal? He focused on a credenza in acorner by a cook stove. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thanks,” Amaranthe said.

Regardless, he darted for the credenza,opened a door, and withdrew glasses and a bottle of applejack.“I’ll just have a taste, if you don’t mind.”

Loosening one’s tongue was not a particularlygood idea for a liar-a possibly criminal liar-faced with enforcers,but Amaranthe saw no reason to object. Raydevk met his wife’s eyes,widening his own in some signal.

“Why are you folks here?” Pella asked.

“A group of miners has been implicated in aconspiracy against the athletes at the Imperial Games,” Amaranthesaid, trying to surprise reactions out of Pella and Raydevk. Shedid not truly expect these people to have much-if anything-to dowith the kidnappings, but one never knew. “The missing athletes, tobe precise.”

Pella glanced at her husband and rushed tosay, “We don’t know anything about that.”

Raydevk had his back to everyone, ostensiblypreparing a drink, but he froze at Amaranthe’s words. He jerked hishead at Pella and she burbled on, giving some story about the menwinning time off at a company lottery and simply going to the Gamesto relax.

Amaranthe barely listened. She was watchingRaydevk. Still fiddling with his drink, he tried to hide hisactions as he set the journal on the credenza and opened it. Hecoughed to cover the noise he made ripping the top sheet off. Heused the movement of returning the bottle to a shelf to slip thatpage into his pocket.

“Corporal Jev,” Amaranthe said. She trustedSicarius had seen the inept legerdemain and hoped he interpretedher head tilt as would-you-be-so-kind-as-to-retrieve-that-for-me.“Begin the search.”

Sicarius gave her a hard look, no doubtwondering why they were dickering around instead of simply takingwhat they needed. She flicked her fingers, hoping he would playalong a little while longer. These people were not experiencedcriminals, and they would likely give her everything they knewwithout the need for force.

“You’re not going to disturb the children,are you?” Pella asked.

Amaranthe had forgotten they were sleepingbehind one of the walls of clutter. She trusted Sicarius with herlife, and she resented that doubt curled into her at the idea ofsending him in to deal with a couple of kids on his own, but whathe had shared of his history did not lead her to believe he wouldbe good with them. Granted, the order to dump decapitated heads onthe floor with five-year-old Sespian watching had been EmperorRaumesys’s command, but still.

“We’ll check them last,” Amaranthe said.Together. She hoped Sicarius did not read the reason for herhesitation in her words. She trusted him. She did. She just figuredthat even at his most innocuous, he would scare children.

“Mister Raydevk, where do you work? BlackPeak?” she asked while Sicarius went through shelves and drawers inthe room.

“Yes.” He took a swig of applejack, though hehad appeared more relaxed before the alcohol touched his lips.

Yes, Amaranthe definitely wanted that paper.“Then it’ll be easy enough to check up on this story about alottery and winners.”

Raydevk froze again, the amber liquid to hislips. He recovered and shrugged. “I imagine so.”

Pella scraped her fingers through her hairand chewed on her lip.

“You and other miners have been seen at theImperial Games a number of days this week,” Amaranthe said. “Careto explain what you’re doing there?”

“Just watching the athletes and enjoying mytime off.”

Amaranthe decided to try talking aboutherself instead of asking questions. It might put the man at easeand make him more likely to slip with his comments. “It’s fortunateyou got that much time off. My father was a miner. He neverreceived more than a couple of days off in a month.” Though he hadonce come all the way into the city to watch Amaranthe’s race eventhough he had to get right back on a train to make it to work thenext morning.

“He die young, did he?” Pella asked.

“Yes,” Amaranthe said. “It’s a hard life, Iknow.”

“Got that right,” Raydevk said.

“Can’t blame people for wanting to bettertheir lot,” Pella said.

“Is that what you’re doing at the Games?”Amaranthe asked.

“I told you,” Raydevk said, quick to speakover Pella, Amaranthe sensed, “I’m just down there to enjoy my timeoff.”

“I’d think you’d want to spend more of thattime with your family.”

“Don’t you judge me.” Raydevk scowled andpointed a finger at her face. “I take care of my family realgood.”

“I’m sure you do,” Amaranthe said.

“Then what exactly are you accusing meof?”

Sicarius paused at the curtain leading to thechildren’s sleeping area. His ear was cocked. Had he heardsomething?

“The boys are sleeping in there,” Pella said.“No reason to go in.”

Amaranthe could not tell if she was hidingsomething, or simply did not want enforcers scaring herchildren.

Sicarius pushed the curtain aside. A five- orsix-year-old boy stumbled out and collapsed at his feet. Someonelistening at the “door,” apparently. Eyes round, the boy stared upat Sicarius.

“Are they here?” a young voice queried fromthe darkened sleeping area. Soft thumps sounded-bare feet runningacross a thin carpet. “Ma, you said we could come say, ‘Hello,’when Uncle Drovar came.” A boy younger than the first charged outof the room as he spoke, and he would have crashed into Sicarius’sleg, but Sicarius lifted his foot, removing the obstacle.

When the boys realized they had strangevisitors, in intimidating uniforms no less, they grew quiet andslunk over to their mother. She lifted a finger, as if she mightsend them right back to bed, but Sicarius slipped into the vacatedarea. A light came to life. A good time to search, but Amaranthewished he would get her that note first. He would be a smootherpickpocket than she.

“Mister Raydevk,” Amaranthe said, “you’re notaccused of anything yet, but it’s clear you’re not telling thetruth. If you don’t answer my questions honestly, we’ll beauthorized to take you to the magistrate for further questioning.Are you sure you don’t know anything about the missingathletes?”

“I don’t know anything.”

The older of the two boys left his mother’sside to peer into the sleeping area.

“If you did know something,” Amaranthetold Raydevk, “and it led to the arrest of those who spawned theplot, it’s possible we could work a deal where your punishment waswaived.”

Raydevk hesitated, but only for a second. Hespread his arms wide. “What would a miner have to do withkidnappings?”

“I only said athletes were missing, not thatthey were kidnapped,” Amaranthe said. “How do you know someone istaking them?”

“Er, I don’t. I mean, the newspapers saidthat, didn’t they?”

“No.”

“Just a guess, then,” Raydevk muttered.

The boy peering into the sleeping area leanedin further. “What are you doing, mister?”

His mother stepped around the younger one andstretched out a hand to grab him, but the boy slipped inside.

“Do you want to see my models? I have animperial warship, the first steam ferry, and Da’s friend made me areplica of the city’s ice breaking ship.”

Amaranthe figured Sicarius would ignore thequestions, but he was pragmatic to the point where he probablywouldn’t think twice about tying the boy up to keep him out of theway. She stepped toward the curtain to make sure nothing like thathappened, but knocks at the door made her pause.

Raydevk cursed under his breath. His wifewinced.

“Problem?” Amaranthe asked.

“No,” Raydevk said. “Wrong address.”

Nobody said anything for a moment, but thenthe knocks came again-multiple fists striking the wood. “Ray,what’s the hold up? You two entertaining the neighborhood from thefire escape again?”

The wife’s face flushed red, and even theminer had the sense to appear mortified.

“Why don’t you let that wrong address in?”Amaranthe asked. “Maybe they know something about the missingathletes.”

“Come on, Ray, we have to go. Meeting startsin ten minutes.”

“Meeting?” Amaranthe smiled even as Raydevkcursed. She supposed she should not feel pleasure at watchingsomeone’s lies falling apart, but fate usually tormented her, so itwas nice seeing someone else have trouble.

“I…uh…I’ll just answer that,” Raydevksaid.

He backed toward the door, watching her as hewent, and she sensed he meant to try something. He wore no weapons,but he might have one stashed in the flat. A small table with adrawer leaned against the wall near the door. Amaranthe easedbehind the sofa, figuring she could duck for cover if need be.

Raydevk reached for the doorknob, though, notthe drawer. “You gentlemen will have to come back another time,” hesaid loudly without taking his eyes from Amaranthe. “There’s anenforcer lady here who’s talking to me about-” He flung the dooropen and darted into the hall. “Run!”

Surprised, Amaranthe did not reactimmediately. The coward had left his wife to deal with theenforcers while he ran off with the boys? The wife gaped at theopen door, as startled as Amaranthe. All the men had taken off, andfootsteps thundered in the stairwell at the end of the hallway.

“Si-Corporal Jev,” Amaranthe called.

Sicarius strode out.

“I need you to follow that…” The grinningboy riding Sicarius’s leg and clutching a toy boat made her pause.Well, Sicarius hadn’t tied the child up. That was good. “Our minersare off to a secret meeting. If you could extricate yourself, I’dappreciate it if you’d find out who they’re meeting and where.”

Without a word, Sicarius unwound the boy fromhis leg, deposited him on the sofa, brushed past Amaranthe, andslipped out the window. He vaulted over the fire escape railwithout bothering with the ladder.

“How come that man can’t talk?” the boyasked.

“He can talk. He’s just not the chatty type.”Amaranthe eased around the sofa toward the door. She doubted Pellawould run off and leave her children behind, but there was no needto tempt her. As she was shutting the door, her hand brushed herpocket, and something inside crinkled. She slipped her fingers inand slid a piece of paper out-the note Raydevk had stashed. WhenSicarius had been close enough to him to retrieve it, she did notknow, but she itched to unfold it and read it.

“My brother isn’t chatty either,” the boysaid.

Conscious of the mother’s gaze upon her,Amaranthe slid the note back into her pocket. She would check itlater.

“He liked my boat,” the boy added.

Amaranthe wondered how that deduction hadbeen made if Sicarius hadn’t said anything. “I’m sure he did. It’svery nice.”

“Marl, Denny, go back to bed,” Pellasaid.

Marl, huh? Amaranthe wondered if Books wouldbe flattered to know a boat-loving toddler shared his name.

“Where did Da go?”

Pella dragged her hands through her hair. “Idon’t know. Just go to bed, please.” She shoved them toward thecurtain and sank down in a chair.

Amaranthe thought that “I don’t know” soundedauthentic, but she perched on the sofa across from the woman,intending to find as many answers as she could. “Ma’am, mindanswering a few questions?”

“Do I have a choice?” Her bleak smile held nohumor.

“Not really, no.” Though she had a goodmemory, Amaranthe withdrew a notepad and a pen. It might help herappear official. “Do you know what he’s involved with? He’s notresponsible for kidnapping athletes, is he?”

“No, no, he wouldn’t do that. I don’t evenknow why…” Pella shrugged. “I’m not sure what he’s up to.”

“It’s strange that he’s home for the week,isn’t it?”

“Yes, he never gets this much time off.He…I shouldn’t be betraying his trust to you, should I? A goodwife is supposed to keep the books and her husband’s secrets.”

“You do know,” Amaranthe said, “that the lawno longer requires a woman to go to jail with her husband if he’sconvicted of a crime, right? Unless she’s found to be anaccomplice….”

“I’m no accomplice! He shows up here, takesall our savings, and promises me it’s for the greater good. That wewon’t have to worry about anything in the future. That it’s worthliving in poverty today if we can live like emperors tomorrow. Idon’t know what I’m supposed to make of that. He won’t tell memore. Just says not to worry about it. I’ll have to work for ourreward, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”

“You’ll have to work for it?” Amaranthetapped her pen against the notepad. That did not sound like agambling scheme. Unless Raydevk meant his wife would have to work,taking care of kidnapped prisoners. But, no, she did not know aboutthem, and some had been missing for days, so she would have beenrecruited by now if that were her task.

“That’s what he said.”

Amaranthe leaned back. A broken springbeneath the sofa cushion prodded her in the butt. Though she fearedshe would get little more information, she spent another fifteenminutes questioning Pella.

“I’m not going to jail, right?” Pella askedwhen she walked Amaranthe to the door at the end. “Whatever he’sgotten tangled up with, it wasn’t my idea. I’m a good, loyalcitizen. I swear it. And my boys are, too. They need me.”

A guilty twinge coursed throughAmaranthe-this woman had doubtlessly committed fewer crimes thanshe had. She forced a smile and gripped Pella’s shoulder.“If what you say is true, you’ve nothing to worry about from theenforcers.”

Her husband was another matter.

The building’s parlor remained empty, soAmaranthe stopped beneath a light to check the note.

Two columns of names were written in sloppy,barely legible handwriting that an imperial code-breaker would havestruggled to decipher. She recognized three out of the five, andone of them was Sicarius.

A chill ran through her. Had Raydevk knownwho Sicarius was all the time? He hadn’t shown any signs ofrecognition when Sicarius stepped through the door. And Raydevkhadn’t been that great at hiding any of his other thoughts. Surely,he would have given something away.

Sicarius’s name was at the top of theleft-hand column, one with three entries in it. Deercrest, themissing wrestler, came under him, and Amaranthe did not recognizethe third. The top name on the second column belonged to Fasha’ssister Keisha. The other two looked like Borsk and Allemah.Maybe.

Amaranthe pocketed the note again and steppedoutside. She debated whether to wait on the sidewalk in front ofthe building, return to the hideout, or go back up to Pella and seewhat her reaction would be to the name, “Sicarius.” Her gutsquirmed, knowing she had sent him off to spy on people whoapparently wanted him for some nefarious reason.

She headed back into the building, adjustingthe stiff collar of her enforcer uniform as she climbed the stairsagain. It was scratching her neck more than she remembered-maybethe fabric was reminding her she no longer had any right to wearit.

When she reached the flat and lifted her handto knock, the door stood ajar. Strange. She would have thoughtPella would lock everything up and put the children to bed afterthe incident.

Amaranthe pushed the door open. Darknessshrouded the room, but she sensed what she would find even beforeshe brought in a lantern and searched. Pella and the children weregone.

CHAPTER 7

Basilard urged his legs to greater speed,though the darkness made the footing treacherous. He snorted. Evenby day, the footing was treacherous.

He reached the end of the swinging platforms,leaped onto the last wall, pulled himself over, and dropped theground. He sprinted the last ten meters to the finish line.

A soft clack sounded as Akstyr stopped thewatch. He held it up to one of the few gas lamps still burning.“Just over two minutes. Nice. You’re going to be a real competitor.Imagine how speedy you’ll be when it’s light enough to see.”

It will be easier to avoid the swingingaxes, Basilard signed with a nod toward the dark, deadlyshadows swaying back and forth.

Akstyr squinted, and Basilard could tell hestruggled to read the hand signals in the dim lighting. When Akstyrhad told Maldynado to take the night off, that he would work withBasilard on his “training,” Basilard had assumed the young manwanted to speak about Sicarius-perhaps he had some idea? — but thusfar Akstyr had not mentioned him. Basilard should bring it up. Thiswas his quest after all.

As if sensing his intent, Akstyr whispered,“I was thinking about that powder. If it’s what I think it is….Am’ranthe tell you the details?”

Basilard drew closer to the light, so hishand signs would be visible. Yes.

“If we could get some…”

A creak sounded behind them, and Akstyrjumped a foot, spinning in the air to face the sound. Themaintenance fellow who manned the obstacle course’s furnace strodefrom a doorway in the stone wall below the first tier ofseating.

Akstyr chuckled nervously. Basilard touchedhis arm and nodded, indicating they should walk. The man would bepowering down the engine for the night anyway, so training wasover.

You suggest finding the kidnappers andcolluding with them? To get some of the powder? The thought didnot sit well with Basilard. Though he had no reason to love theathletes attending the Imperial Games, he had no reason to wishthem ill either, and he did not care for the idea of workingagainst Amaranthe.

“No, I wasn’t thinking about that.” Akstyrsaid, keeping his voice low as they walked. “Am’ranthe wants me togo investigate apothecaries tomorrow, to see if we can find out ifa local sells the stuff and if someone suspicious has been buyingit up. If I get a chance, I’ll buy some while I’m there. Then wejust have to figure out how to use it on Sicarius, and you can…”He sliced a finger across his throat.

Basilard swallowed. Even if he was no longerthe model Mangdorian, he shrank from the idea of killing anunconscious man. But at the same time, he could not foresee downingSicarius in a fair fight. He had never even drawn blood when theysparred. Basilard had a measure of talent when it came to knives,but Sicarius had…erkt mahlay. That was the Kendorian termfor it, and one his people used as well. Literarily, snake blood.Figuratively, the ability to strike, not just with the speed of aviper, but with a snake’s utter lack of hesitation and remorse.Even knowing what he knew about the man’s crimes, Basilard wouldhesitate. He knew he would. Sicarius would not.

Basilard massaged the bridge of his nose withhis thumb and forefinger.

“You’re not backing out, are you?” Akstyrasked.

No. I’ll do it.

“Good.”

* * * * *

Amaranthe stood on top of the rail car, herback to the rising sun. A thousand metallic objects in the boneyardreflected its rays, and her eyes already ached from staring acrossthe expanse.

Clanks sounded below her-one of the menclimbing up. The others spoke in low tones around the fire pitbelow. Basilard was cooking eggs, and the appealing scent waftingup should have pleased Amaranthe, but she was busy worrying.

Books’s head poked over the top of theladder. “Breakfast is almost ready. A particularly fine one. Themen are in a celebratory mood because they got to sleep in andnobody dragged us off to exercise before dawn.”

Great. Sicarius was missing, and that causeda celebratory mood. Maybe Amaranthe should have led an exercisesession, despite his absence.

Books clambered up beside her. “No sign ofhim yet?” He nodded toward the metal-filled vista.

Amaranthe shook her head once.

“I’m sure he’s fine,” Books said. “He’salways disappearing to do…whatever it is he does when hedisappears.”

“Not when he’s on an assignment for theteam.” Amaranthe sat down on one of the crates Maldynado haddragged up while claiming that a person could stand watch just aswell sitting down as he could fully upright.

“He’s probably trying to fulfill hisassignment then. Perhaps he’s chanced onto something good and needsto observe it before reporting back.”

“Perhaps.” Amaranthe rubbed her eyes. She hadlain awake most of the night, waiting for Sicarius’s return, and,as the hours had dwindled on, she had begun to question herself forsending him after the miners. They had seemed innocuous enough, butthat was before she read the note with his name on it. And beforethe family had disappeared, leaving her with no link to the miners.“I should have let him do it his way, Books.”

“Would that be a way that involved killing,torturing, or otherwise maiming people?”

“I bet he could have gotten the answers weneeded by applying force that didn’t do permanent damage.” Shepoked at a splinter of wood sticking out of the crate. “Instead Igot sanctimonious and said it would be better to fool the minersinto talking to us by dressing up as enforcers. If we’d done it hisway, we’d probably have been finished in ten minutes, and we’d knowwho we were up against by now.”

“I’d be uncomfortable working for you if youchose his way very often,” Books said.

“Well, my way isn’t getting the swordpolished.”

“Why do you say that? We’ve accomplishednoteworthy tasks under your leadership.”

“Because we’ve been lucky. No becausehe’s gotten me out of trouble. My crazy ideas have almostgotten me killed a half a dozen times now, and I’ve landed thewhole group in dire situations more than once. My schemes seem sotantalizing and shiny when they first come to mind, and then I jumpoff the dock without checking to see if the lake’s gone dry. Ishould stop and get Sicarius’s opinion first-and listen to it andthink about it. I should get all of your opinions. What goodis a group if you don’t utilize everyone to his fullest?”

Books grunted and sat on a crate oppositefrom hers.

She eyed him. “This would be the appropriatetime for you to say something like, ‘Amaranthe, you’re being toohard on yourself….’”

“Oh? I thought we’d had a conversation likethis before, and you told me the woman wants to rant while the mannods and grunts in agreement.”

“That was a little different.” She tried tosmile for him, but could not, not when she remembered the eventsthat had led up to that conversation with him on a frozen dockoutside of a cannery. That night, Sicarius had helped her byslaying a squad of enforcers and her old partner. “You’re rightthough. Sicarius’s ways of doing things are too macabre for thegroup and our goals. But mine are…” She propped her chin on herfist. “What do you think, Books? I value your opinion.”

“I don’t think we’d have accomplished what wehave without your ideas. Don’t get rid of them, and don’t stopbeing…”

She waited for him to say “crazy.”

“Creative,” Books said.

Well, that was nicer than crazy.

“But…”

Amaranthe braced herself. She hadasked.

“You lack prudence,” Books said. “I suspectit’s a combination of youth and the fact that, until recently, youlived your life under strict rules, first as a child obedient toyour father and your school teachers, and then as an enforcer,obedient to superiors and indeed in charge of enforcing lawsyourself. For the first time, you have utter freedom, and it’snatural for you to struggle to find a way that works. We all say wecrave freedom, but the truth is many people hang themselves withoutthe structure society imposes. Nobody’s done what you’re trying todo, so there’s no precedent, no guideline to follow.”

“That is true,” Amaranthe said.

“Since that’s the case, you should thinktwice and consider all possible outcomes before embarking on a planthat could get you, or someone else, captured.”

“It’s not as if that’s alwaysforeseeable.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure? Youhave a tendency to wander into the enemy camp to chat with the headvillain.”

“I don’t…” She stopped, since his eyebrowswere threatening to crawl up to the top of his scalp and leap forthe sky. Yes, she had done exactly that with Hollowcrest, thewizard Arbitan, and the shamans from Mangdoria. And now she hadsent Sicarius off to spy on what might be the head villain.

“You do,” Books said, “and I understand why.You get a lot of information from talking to people, and you’resmarter than average, so you probably believe you can get yourselfout of any trouble you get into. When I was a professor, I foundthat bright people sometimes make the worst students. They don’twant to simply do the assignment; they want to add creative flairand sophistication, and they make things so complicated that theyfail to finish on time.”

“What did you say to thosechallenged-by-their-own-creative-flair students?” Amaranthe asked.“How did you teach them more…prudence?” She smiled, thinking hewould appreciate that she used his word.

His face grew long though, and he shook hishead. “I couldn’t teach them that. Only experience could. There area lot of platitudes that suggest age makes us wise, but the truthis it’s losing that teaches best. Making mistakes. Failing.Some people are wise enough to learn from the mistakes of others,but most need to experience failure first hand. You may need tolose something important before the lessons of life sink in.” Hegrimaced, perhaps thinking of his son and his own past.

“I liked it better when you were justgrunting,” Amaranthe said.

“I’m sorry, but you asked-”

She lifted a hand. “I know. I did. Thank you.I’ll think about your words. And I hope they’re not prophetic. I’mnot ready to lose anything, especially not one of you.”

“Well,” Books said lightly, “if youhad to lose someone, Sicarius would be the leastmissed.”

Amaranthe stared at him, stricken.

“Er.” This time he raised an apologetic hand.“Sorry. It was a joke. A poor joke.”

“He’s the only reason I’m alive, Books. Hesaves my life again and again, and I repay him by sending him offto be abducted or killed by whatever nefarious magic-hurlingzealots are swiping athletes from the Imperial Games. Whodoes that to people they-” Amaranthe stopped herself fromfinishing the sentence, certain Books would be horrified by aproclamation that she loved Sicarius. She cleared her throat andswitched subjects. “I’m hoping he’s only detained, but I feel it’dbe best to go forward on the assumption he’s in trouble. If that isthe case, I’d like to prudently extract him from it.” Shedug out the note they had swiped from the miner’s pocket. “We losenothing by working toward that goal, since I’m guessing, if heis missing, he’s where the rest of the athletes are.”

While Books studied the note, she wondered ather own words. Rest of the athletes? It was applicable, ifnot official. Sicarius might not have ever competed in a publicvenue, but she had little doubt, even older than most of the field,he would be at the top if he did enter. Maybe this had nothing todo with the Imperial Games at all. Could it be someone was roundingup the most physically gifted men and women around and using thisevent to shop for likely candidates? Sicarius’s reputation couldplace him at the top of such a list even if the people doing theshopping had not seen him perform.

If her theory were true, to what ends wouldsomeone want these people? To create some sort of mercenary army?An elite force? She curled her lip at the idea. That was herown fantasy for the Emperor’s Edge. Aside from perhaps thewrestlers, the other athletes who had been taken were notnecessarily warriors. Being able to run fast or maneuver throughthe Clank Race did not mean one had studied fencing or unarmedcombat.

“Any thoughts?” she asked Books.

“Horrible penmanship.”

“You better give me more than that if you’regoing to save me from doing something imprudent.” She smiled.

“Oh? You have an idea?”

“I was just ruminating on the common linkbetween the names I know. Superior athleticism.”

“Why don’t you let me go to the stadium withBasilard today? I’ll see if I can get a copy of the list ofentrants and match these two unknown names. If it turns out they,like Sicarius, are not athletes that might give us more to goon.”

“Agreed,” Amaranthe said. “If we can figureout exactly why these people were taken, we might be able to get abead on who might want to take them. Akstyr’s going aroundto the apothecaries in the city to see if any of them has that rootin stock and if they remember anyone buying it recently. If youfinish early, you and Basilard can join up with him. He may needhelp researching and finding all the apothecaries.”

“Huh, and I thought it was going to be alight work day,” Books said, but he smiled, and she suspected hewas happy for the chance to do research.

“I’ll take Maldynado and go back to theminer’s flat to see if the family is back or if anyone hasinformation on where those men meet. Maybe if we work this fromboth ends we can find the kidnappers’ lair somewhere in themiddle.”

“Assuming we are dealing with kidnappers andnot someone who merely wants to kill irritatingly gifted people,”Books said.

She stared at him. “This would be a case whena grunt or a nod would have been more appreciated.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

CHAPTER 8

Under the light of day, the brick buildingwhere Raydevk and his wife lived seemed poorer. Every few minutes,a train chugged through, shaking the ground. Surly men hunkered indoorways, drinking from ceramic applejack mugs stamped with theThree Legged Dog logo, a homely mark for the satrapy’s cheapestdistillery. Some said the outfit used the bruised worm-filledapples left in the orchard grass after the other distilleries hadtheir pick.

“Charming neighborhood,” Maldynado drawledafter a gaunt old man stepped out of an alley, buttoning his pants.Amaranthe hoped all he had been doing in there was peeing.

As she and Maldynado approached the building,they stayed near the wall, so the wife, Pella, would not see themcoming if she glanced out the window.

“This is the kind of place Sicarius takes youfor evenings out, eh?” Maldynado added.

“Actually, I took him here,” Amaranthesaid. “And got him kidnapped. I’m not a very good date.”

They reached the front door, and Maldynadoheld it open for her.

“Fortunately, Deret likes an adventure,” hesaid.

“Is there some reason you’re intent onmatching us up?” she asked as they headed up the stairs.

“He’s a good man, mostly, and you’re a goodwoman, mostly. And he’s in a position to help us reach our goals,so that doesn’t hurt. Maybe he’s not in love with you yet, but I’llwager you could talk just about any man over to your side, giventime. I mean, emperor’s warts, you’ve got Sicarius workingfor you.”

Her lips twisted into a dry smirk. “Gettingpeople to go along with my schemes and getting men to fall in lovewith me aren’t the same.”

“Sure, they are,” Maldynado said as theystepped out onto the third floor. “You just make the former yourpriority. If you tried as hard to woo a man into bed as you did towoo me into joining your mission, you’d never sleep alone.”

Amaranthe speculated on the idea of puttingeffort into “wooing” Sicarius, but shook the notion from her head.She had more important things to focus on. She hoped Pella hadreturned home, so she could question her.

Two doors away from the flat, Amaranthehalted and stretched her arm across the hallway to stop Maldynadoas well. An uneasy feeling raised the hairs on the back of herneck.

The door to the family’s flat stood open.Gouges marred the wood of the jamb near the lock, and splinterslittered the floor beneath.

“Think Sicarius is in there?” Maldynadowhispered.

A thump sounded inside, like a drawerclosing.

“You think Sicarius would leaveevidence of entering or make noises once inside?” she whisperedback as she slipped her short sword from its scabbard.

“Er, no.”

She would like to think it was he, thatperhaps he’d spent the night tracking the miner, lost him, and comeback to question the wife, but Amaranthe doubted it. She easedforward, sword in hand, stepping lightly on the hall’s threadbarerunner.

A faint rasp of steel sounded as Maldynadodrew his rapier and followed her.

Before she could peep around the doorjamb,footsteps came from within. Heavy footsteps. A scruffy young manstrode out, carrying a canvas tote stuffed so full the contentsthreatened to burst through the material. When he saw Amaranthe andMaldynado, he threw the tote at them and bolted down the hallway inthe opposite direction.

Amaranthe turned her shoulder, but Maldynadolunged and caught the bag before it hit her.

“Get him,” she said. “Bring him back.”

Amazingly, he dropped the bag and sprinteddown the hall without stopping to make comments about how hard sheworked him for so little pay.

Another thump came from inside. Amaranthepeeked past the door, did not see anyone, and eased into the room,her back pressed against the wall. Several of the purposelyarranged clutter-piles-turned-into-walls had been tipped over. Foodcans, cooking utensils, and clothing scattered the floor. All thecabinet doors were open on the credenza where Raydevk had storedhis applejack. One dangled from a single hinge. No bottles ofalcohol sat inside the cabinets now.

Footsteps came from the corner of the roomnear the window, but one of the partitions hid the area. A curtainhanging from a rod marked the “doorway.” Amaranthe eased closer andpeered around it.

A man knelt before a dresser, shovelingclothing and knickknacks into an apple crate on the floor. His backfaced Amaranthe. The hilt of a dagger poked up from his belt, butshe did not see any greater weapons on him. No thoughtfulconsideration went into the items chosen for the crate, and shesuspected they had stumbled across a mere burglary.

She crept forward and pressed the point ofher sword against the back of the man’s neck. “Aren’t thievessupposed to ply their trade at night?”

The man froze for a heartbeat, then doveforward into a roll. He twisted and came to his feet, facingAmaranthe. His hand went to the dagger, only to find it missing.Bewilderment widened his eyes.

Amaranthe held up the blade and raised hereyebrows. “Mind if we skip further attempts at complicating my day?If you tell me how you found out this place was vacant, I imagine Ican look the other way over this robbery.”

“Velks!” the man shouted.

“I see, you wish to complicate my day.”

“Velks!” he cried again.

A grunt sounded in the living area. The mangave Amaranthe a you’re-in-trouble-now look, to which she shook herhead sadly. This fellow, barely older than a boy, judging by thethinness of the goatee he aspired to grow, did not seem toobright.

When his comrade, Velks presumably, came tostand beside Amaranthe, his arms were twisted behind his back,courtesy of Maldynado who loomed behind him. Velks appeared littleolder than the first young man, and they shared a squareness offace. Brothers?

“Got him, boss,” Maldynado said.

“Tie them up, please,” Amaranthe said.

“Gently or roughly?”

“Neither!” Velks blurted with a heroicattempt to twist free.

Maldynado yawned, unperturbed by the slenderman’s efforts.

“Yes, neither.” The younger man eyedAmaranthe’s sword, but with Maldynado blocking the exit, he did notattempt anything physical.

“That depends,” Amaranthe said. “Are youworking for someone I shouldn’t annoy, or are youindependent…entrepreneurs?”

The old enforcer in her hated the idea ofturning her back on a crime because the criminals were working fora gang leader or another influential underworld figure, but she hadspent the last few months trying to establish connections with afew of those types, and she would look the other way if it meantkeeping contacts happy. If they were independent thieves, she sawnothing wrong with trussing them up and sending a tip to EnforcerHeadquarters so they could be collected.

“We’re working for Sicarius,” Velks said.

For half a second, Amaranthe thought he mightbe telling the truth, that Sicarius had sent them back to hunt forclues or some such, but she caught herself. That was wishfulthinking, a hope that Sicarius was about and on the mission. Evenif this man’s eyes had not darted up and to the left when hespoke-according to Sicarius, that was a tell for many folks whenthey were lying-the story was implausible. Before he met her,Sicarius had always worked alone. He would not use errand boys.

“Yes, that’s right,” the younger brothersaid. “We know him real well, and he’ll assassinate you if youbother us.”

“Assassinate you for certain,” Velks said.“He owes us a favor on account of us taking him out for drinks lastnight.”

“You lads aren’t very good at this,”Maldynado said. “So, boss, gentle or rough for the tying?”

“Actually…” Amaranthe eyed the clothingstrewn about the floor. “I believe they’d like to clean up theirmess first. Take their weapons and help them find a broom.”

“Clean?” The thieves exchanged incredulouslooks.

“Yes,” Amaranthe said. “It’s a type of work.Like stabbing people with knives, but with less bloodinvolved.”

Maldynado shrugged and patted down the firstman for weapons. “As long as I’m not the one waylaying the dustballs, I don’t care.”

While he monitored them, Amaranthe searchedthe room. One of the thieves tried to flee for the door whenMaldynado thrust a feather duster into his hands. Maldynado poundedan unapologetic fist into the man’s nose, convincing him to sufferthe task without further escape attempts. He wiped at a trickle ofblood with his sleeve and glowered at Amaranthe.

“I thought you said cleaning didn’t involveblood,” he growled.

“I said it involved less blood than stabbingpeople, not no blood,” she said without looking up from the deskdrawers she was rifling through.

Fifteen minutes of searching did not revealanything interesting. She checked the tote the first thief had beencarrying out when she interrupted them, but it contained onlyvaluables, modest ones commensurate with the income level of aminer.

Amaranthe drummed her fingers against herthigh and considered the thieves again. “Did you gentlemen takeanything out of here before we found you?”

“No.”

Maldynado grabbed Velks by the collar andhoisted him up to his tiptoes. “Are you positive?”

“Positive!”

“Were you looking for anything when you brokein?” Amaranthe asked.

“No, just stuff to fence. We live downstairs,saw the family leave last night.”

She watched his eyes, but nothing in his faceimplied he was lying. The other one nodded, and he, too, appearedsincere.

“What lovely neighbors this place has,”Maldynado said. “Go out for the night, and they’re in your flat,pawning your silverware before lunchtime the next day.”

“Have you noticed any men coming and going,visiting this flat?” Amaranthe asked.

“You mean the other miners?” Velks asked.

“Yes. How long has that been going on?”

The brother lifted his feather duster. “Whyshould we answer all these questions? What’s in it for us?”

“I could restrain myself from punching youagain,” Maldynado said.

“Now, now, no need to be brutish,” Amaranthetold him while considering the thieves thoughtfully. “If the flatis cleaned up and everything is put back, I don’t think there’s aneed to tell the enforcers you were here. If you answer myquestions.”

“You were going to tell the enforcers?” Velksasked. “You’re thieves, too, aren’t you?”

“No, we’re investigators.”

Both brothers’ brows furrowed. She imaginedthem trying to figure out if “investigators” were people who werelegally on the premises or not. She decided not to clarify.

“About these miners,” she said, “how longhave they been visiting?”

“Seen some of them before,” Velks said, “butthey only started coming all the time last week.”

“Did they stay here when they met, or didthey start here and go someplace else?”

Velks shrugged. “How should I know? We didn’tsit up here with our ears pressed to the door.”

The brother snapped his fingers. “But thatone time, when we were sitting on the steps, hoping to get a lookup girls’ dresses when they went up, we did hear them saysomething, remember?”

“Don’t tell people about that,” Velkshissed.

“About what they said?”

“About the dresses, you idiot.”

Maldynado leaned a hand against the wall andshook his head. “Not too bright, are they?” he mouthed toAmaranthe.

“You never tried that tactic?” she asked.

“I never had to resort to such desperatemeasures. Women couldn’t wait to lift their dresses when I wasaround.”

Amaranthe kept from rolling her eyes-shehad encouraged him by asking after all-and turned back tothe thieves. “What’d you hear them say?”

“They were going with Raydevk to meet a girlat a fountain,” Velks said.

Oh, yes, that was a priceless gem ofinformation. Still, if the men had all been going together, maybeit had been more than a tryst. “What fountain?” she asked.

Velks glanced at his brother who onlyshrugged. “They didn’t say.”

Amaranthe asked a few more questions, hopingshe might tease more out of the would-be burglars’ heads, but theyproved feeble resources at best. While they finished cleaning, shesearched every last nook of the flat, even going so far as to thumpat floorboards in case any covered a hollow storage niche.

She knelt, doing a last check of the areasbeneath the beds, when Velks spoke again. “Can we go?”

“We cleaned everything and put everythingback that we took,” his brother said. “We even got rid of thosegummy food stains that we were not responsible for.”

“We even did the windows!” Velks added.

Maldynado snickered. He was lounging on thesofa, playing with a sliding puzzle block in which one had to findappropriate niches for various war implements. Apparently thethieves had not made an escape attempt in a while.

“Yes, you may go.” Amaranthe returned thedagger she had taken from them and surveyed the flat. It sparkled.Huh. “Gentlemen?” she added, stopping them in the middle of asprint for the door.

“What?” Velks asked, shoulders hunched.

“You do good work. Perhaps you shouldconsider a career in the cleaning services.”

“Cleaning services?” Their mouthsgaped open.

“Men don’t clean, they fight!” one said.

“And they run over imperial enemies withgiant steam trampers and they tear down massive fortifications withthose brilliant new rammers.” Velks sighed longingly.

“Are you two planning to join the military?”Amaranthe asked, thinking they appeared old enough-Akstyr’s age atleast.

Maldynado yawned and gave her awhy-are-we-spending-so-much-time-here look as he thunked a puzzlepiece into place.

“Maybe.” Velks shrugged.

Probably a no then. “Madame Rawdik on Fourthruns an industrial cleaning outfit. They have a steam pressurewasher as big as a tramper. If you worked for her, you couldprobably ride it.”

Two sets of eyes grew round. “Really? Ididn’t know there was such a thing.”

“If you decide to apply for a job, tell herthat her old school friend Amaranthe says you do good work.”

Their eyes remained wide, and they exchangedgapes with her. It wasn’t that much of a favor. Had nobodyever vouched for them for anything before?

“Thanks,” Velks said, and his brother noddedand scampered out the door. Velks hesitated, his face screwed up inconcentration. “I don’t know if it helps, but those miners alsosaid…the girl they were seeing had…fire hair? Fiery hair. Andshe was worth pounding like a steam hammer. I listened to thatpart, on account of, well-it was about a woman.”

“I see,” Amaranthe said. “Thank you.”

The young men left, and Maldynado thunked afinal piece into the puzzle before tossing it onto a chair. “How’dyou know?” he asked.

“Know what?”

“That they had more information.”

“I didn’t.” She winked. “I just like toreform wayward youths whenever possible.”

“That’s very noble. I bet Deret likes noblewomen.”

“Don’t start with that again, or I’ll try toreform you.”

“I’m hardly a youth.”

“But you don’t argue against needing reform?”Amaranthe headed for the door.

“Not really, no.” Maldynado opened it forher. “What’s next?”

“We have Akstyr update his search. He’s notjust looking for that powder at the apothecaries; he’s askingclerks if they remember a sexy red-headed woman coming in and doingthe shopping. That’s far from a normal hair color in theempire.”

“Ah, Akstyr will be doing the work?Excellent.” He followed her into the hallway.

“Oh, no, we’ll be searching the neighborhoodand contemplating all the fountains within a two miles radius.”

Maldynado stopped walking and flopped againstthe wall. “All the… This is Stumps! There are almost asmany fountains in the city as there are headless statues.”

“There aren’t that many,” Amaranthesaid.

“There’s one at every intersection.”

“Every other intersection, at the most.”

“That’s still a lot. And just becausethese people met at a fountain the other night doesn’t meanthey’ll be loitering nearby now.”

“I know. It’s not much to go on. I’ll thinkon it while we watch Basilard compete this afternoon.”

“Yes.” Maldynado snapped his fingers. “And weneed to get there early. No fountain searching on the way. What ifsomeone tries to kidnap him?”

“I doubt anyone knows who he is,” Amaranthesaid, amused at how quickly Maldynado could start scheming his wayout of work. “He entered with his Mangdorian name, didn’t he?” Evenif people knew a “Basilard” ran with Sicarius, nobody in the citywould know his real name.

Maldynado snickered. “Not exactly.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.”

Basilard hopped up and down and swung hisarms. He was one of six athletes left in the staging area, and hedid not think anyone else appeared as nervous as he. Though it wasthe first day of events, and only a third of the benches in thestadium were filled, Basilard could not help but feel as ifthousands of eyes watched him. Already, he had visited the washoutsbeneath the stands three times, both to urinate and to throwup.

He remembered being nervous before the pitfights, but not this nervous. Strange, considering his life hadbeen on the line there, and people had shouted and jeered fromabove, calling out for bloodshed. Maybe it was because he had moreto win here. It wasn’t just an extension of his own existence, buta visit with the emperor and a chance to speak for his people. Ifhe did not get himself killed trying to take out Sicarius first. Hegrowled at himself, annoyed with the situation. He never shouldhave gone to visit that priestess.

Basilard distracted himself by studying alarge blackboard near the furnace. So far, two people had beatenthe best time he had recorded with Maldynado or Akstyr. He hopeddaylight-and the exhilaration of the moment coursing through hisblood-would help him improve. To go out in the first round would bea shame.

“It’s all right,” a familiar voice said. “I’mhis coach.”

“You don’t look like a coach. You look like aprofessor.”

“Why, thank you,” Books said.

Basilard lifted a hand toward the young mantasked with keeping intruders from bothering the athletes in thestaging area. He let Books through with a suspicious glower.

Books weaved past other athletes swingingtheir arms and stretching in the sandy pit. “Greetings, Basilard,”he said. “Are you prepared for your event?”

Yes.

“Good.” Books unfolded a piece of paper. “Ifound those other two names. They are indeed athletes here. One isa male boxer and one a female entered in the Clank Race.” Heconsidered the men surrounding them. “Did the women alreadycompete?”

Earlier this morning.

“She’s not missing yet-she’s the only one onthat list who isn’t. The boxer disappeared last night. If we couldfind the girl and watch her, perhaps we could get a glimpse of thekidnapper.”

Books?

“Yes?”

I race soon. I must concentrate.

“Oh. Yes, of course. Do you want me to watch,or leave you alone?”

Stay. Cheer. He lifted an arm andimitated some of the enthused people in the stands.

“I’ve not attended many sporting events,”Books said. “Is that arm-pumping action required?”

Absolutely. Basilard flashed agrin.

“Clapping won’t suffice?”

Clap for others’ performances. Cheer forme.

“Ah, very well.”

“Temtelamak?” the man queuing the athletescalled.

Basilard lifted an arm, then told Books,That’s my imperial athlete name.

Books’s eyes widened. “Temtelamak?Why?”

Thought enforcers would recognize ‘Basilard,’and Maldynado said my Mangdorian name didn’t sound fierceenough.

“Did he tell you who Temtelamak was?” Bookslowered his voice to mutter, “I’m surprised that uneducated buffoonknows that much history.”

A mighty warrior.

“A moderately famous general, yes, but he wasnotorious for his bedroom exploits, not fighting. He had sevenwives at the time of his death, all near different forts andoutposts where he’d been stationed. None of them knew the othersexisted. I believe there were copious mistresses as well.”

Basilard shrugged. It’s Maldynado.

“Yes, he doubtlessly thought it’d be amusing.We’ll see if the emperor finds it so, should you win the event andget your chance to meet him.”

Could make an interesting conversationstarter.

Books opened his mouth to say more, but ascream of pain interrupted him. One of the athletes had stumbled inthe axe crossing and fallen off the moving platforms. He rolled inthe sawdust, one hand grabbing the opposite triceps. Blood flowedthrough his fingers and stained the wood chips. A medic trotted outto help him off the field while the people in the seats roared.Whether they were supporting the noble attempt or cheering at thesight of blood, Basilard could not guess.

“Perhaps you should have entered a runningevent,” Books said, eyeing the bloodstained sawdust.

If he were tall and lanky and fast, thatmight have been an option. For Books’s sake, or perhaps to reassurehimself, he simply signed, One less competitor now. Besides, Ihad no trouble with the axes on the practice runs.

“Yes, but is it not different when a thousandgazes are upon you, and there’s something at stake? Suddenly, sweatis dripping into your eyes, your hands are unsteady, your sensesare over-heightened, and-”

Basilard gripped Book’s arm. You’re nothelping.

“Oh, pardon me.”

“Temtelamak,” the call came again. “You’re upnow, or you’ll forfeit if you’re not ready. You coming?”

Basilard chopped a quick wave at Books andjogged forward. On his way, he glanced at the chalkboard. The topseed had run the Clank Race in 1:55 with the fifth coming in at2:03. The top five advanced to the finals, and there were four morerunners after him. He had best target a sub two-minute time, whichwould put him in third. That ought to be enough.

Easier said than done, he thought, as hewalked to the starting line. The giant axe heads swinging on theirpendulum arms appeared far more dangerous by the light of day.Their steel blades gleamed in the sun, and Basilard no longer hadto imagine their ability to draw blood, since crimson dropsspattered more than one of the platforms.

After taking a deep breath, he stepped to theline and nodded his readiness to the starter.

Though nobody in the stands could know who hewas, or care, cheers went up, regardless. Memories flooded hismind. He thought of his nights in the pits, fighting before anaudience who craved blood. The pain and anguish he had experiencedthere. The comrades he had been forced to kill so he could go onliving.

Nausea stirred in his stomach again, andthose memories almost overwhelmed him. It’s merely a race, he toldhimself. He was not here to hurt anyone.

A hammer hit a gong, signaling the start ofthe run. Thanks to his wandering thoughts, he lost a split second,and he cursed himself even as he sprinted up the ramp to thespinning logs. He sprang across them, bare feet navigating wood hotbeneath the sun. Most of the other athletes wore shoes of somekind, but he could grip and scramble up obstacles more easily withtoes available. He skimmed across the moving platforms, ducking andweaving the swinging axes.

He launched himself at a rope hanging from abeam. Below, a bed of three-foot-long spikes glistened in the sun.Basilard caught the rope and zipped up it. Thanks to Sicarius’straining, that was an easy obstacle.

No, no thanking Sicarius, he told himself.And no thinking about anything except the clock he had to beat.

When he reached the top of the rope, hethrust himself toward the first of several pegs sticking out of thebeam. Sweat slicked his palms, and his hand slipped free. Basilardflailed with his other hand and, by a stroke of luck, caught thepeg before he fell. His heart hammered in his ears. The thirty-footdrop to the spikes would do more than put him out of thecompetition; it would kill him.

The crowd roared shouts of encouragement,and, for the first time, he grew aware of them. He wished hehadn’t.

He caught the next peg, a couple of feet tothe right, and swung from handhold to handhold, his feet danglingbelow. The pegs started in a straight line, but then zigzagged upand down, requiring strength and agility to maneuver throughthem.

Basilard reached the end and swung his legsto the right, catching a net stretched between two massive woodensupports. He skimmed halfway down to the ground, found the openingin the middle, and slithered through to land on a platform. One ofhis bare feet, just as sweaty as his palm, slipped on the smoothwood boards. He caught himself, but not before he rethought thewisdom of going shoeless.

Ahead of him, the small circular platformsmoved, some linearly back and forth and others in orbits onmechanical arms, like those that rotated wheels on a train. Theaxes swung like pendulums.

He launched himself onto the first platform,planning his route on the fly. An axe whistled by behind him. If hehad hair, the breeze would have stirred it. He did not look back orslow down. Basilard danced to the next platform, then the next.Some were barely four inches wide. Even without the axes slashingthrough, they would have been difficult targets.

Here, his bare feet helped. His toes wrappedover the edges, and he launched himself from spot to spot. At onepoint, he dove under an axe for a chance to skip two platformsahead.

Thousands of people gasped at once as theblade skimmed past, an inch above his shoulder blades. He got hisfeet under him again and leaped the last couple of feet to thesolid platform on the far side. Two more walls, net climbs, and asprint across a spinning log, and he reached the ramp on the farside. Though weariness burned in his thighs, he sprinted the lastfew meters and catapulted over the solid wall, pulling himself upand over without using his feet. Relieved to be done, and out ofsome notion he should finish with a flourish, he leaped into theair as he passed the finish line, doing a somersault before landingby the timekeeper.

Cheers erupted, and he grinned. Those peoplewould root for any good showing, but knowing they appreciated hisathleticism, instead of his ability to stick knives into people,made him grateful.

The cheers went on longer than expected. Anattendant was already painting his time on a sheet on a giant padof paper that could be spun to show both sides of the stadium.1:53.

Basilard gaped. That put him in firstplace.

A high-pitched, enthusiastic whistle floateddown from the seats near the stadium entrance. He glanced over intime to see Books swatting Maldynado in the back of the head,nearly knocking a hat off, one with a white plumed feather ofridiculous proportions. Though Basilard could not read lips, hecaught the gist of Books’s words, “Quit drawing attention to us,you big oaf. We’re wanted men.”

Amaranthe stood with them, too, herbroad-brimmed sunhat hiding her face to some extent. A lump formedin Basilard’s throat. They-especially Amaranthe-were risking achase from the ever-present enforcers to be here to root forhim.

He did not want to call attention to them, sohe merely nodded that direction before accepting a towel from a boygarbed in attendant’s yellow and white. Basilard swabbed sweat outof his eyes and off his scalp.

“Congratulations on your time, sir,” the boysaid, eyeing the briar patch of scars crisscrossing Basilard’shead. No imperial child would shy away from a man covered with oldwounds, but even here, in the militaristic empire, he was anoddity. “There’s lemonade in the athletes’ lounge. I’ll showyou.”

The promise of a cold drink enticed him.Besides, it was better not to go straight to Amaranthe and theothers, not when enforcers might be watching. Still wiping himselfoff with the towel, he headed for the shady rooms beneath the tiersof spectators. He had never had lemonade before coming to theempire-importing a perishable item from hundreds of miles to thesouth was an impossible feat for his people-but he admitted afondness for the drink, and he was salivating in anticipation whenhe entered the shady concrete corridor.

He padded into the interior, his eyesadjusting to the dim lighting. Just as he was wondering if it wasstrange that nobody else occupied the passage, something stirredthe hairs on his arms. Magic?

When he glanced over his shoulder, he sawonly the towel boy strolling after him. With dark hair and tanskin, he appeared a typical Turgonian youth, not anyone who mighthave access to the mental sciences.

A few feet ahead, something tinkled to thefloor. Glass.

Immediately, Basilard thought of the corkAkstyr had found, the cork that had restrained a vial full ofknock-out powder.

He backed away and stumbled into the boy, butthe youth made no move to stop him.

Basilard’s mind spun. Had his fast time madehim a new target? Could these kidnappers work so quickly?

He would not linger to find out. Though hecould see no one in the corridor, he continued backing toward theentrance, ready to defend himself if necessary. Before he had gonemore than a few steps, a strange lethargy came over him. Thefatigue that had turned his legs leaden at the end of the ClankRace was nothing compared to the heaviness that flooded them now.Heaviness and numbness.

His steps turned to stumbles, and then hecould not feel his bare feet coming down on the cement at all. Helost his balance and tipped backward. The ground came up far tooquickly for him to turn the fall into a roll, and his head crackedagainst the hard floor.

Shapes drifted out of the shadows andcoalesced into men looming over him. Basilard could not lift hisarms, could not do anything to defend himself.

His instincts forgot he could not speak, andhe tried to scream for help, but no sound came out. One of the mengrabbed Basilard’s head and slipped a bag over it. Darknessswallowed him, and he knew no more.

The last of the competitors finished theClank Race, and the timekeeper painted the results for all to see.1:59. Nobody had beaten Basilard’s score. Amaranthe smiled toherself, tickled that he had done so well against younger andtaller competitors, men who had trained all year for this event.Albeit, the exercise sessions they endured with Sicarius could beno less arduous than anything those athletes inflicted uponthemselves.

Her smile faded at the thought of Sicarius.Guilt sat in her belly like an undigested meal; it was wrong toidly watch the Games while he was missing.

“What’s he doing down there for so long?”Amaranthe murmured.

She wanted to collect Basilard and startinvestigating the fountains near Raydevk’s flat. They did not havemany hours before her meeting with Deret. She was tempted to cancelthat, but he might have information about the kidnappings she didnot. Surely a journalist had as many informants in the city as theenforcers did.

“He’s a contender for the trophy now.”Maldynado removed his hat to scratch his head and nearly pokedAmaranthe in the eye with the ostrich feather. “I bet he’s gettingmobbed by women who want to grease his snake tonight.”

Amaranthe gave him a sidelong look. “The wayyour mind works is unique.”

“Not amongst men,” Maldynado said.

“Amongst some men,” Books said.

Amaranthe fidgeted and watched the tunnelentrance through which Basilard had walked with the towel boytrailing behind. Several minutes had passed, and neither hadreturned to the arena.

“The towel boy hasn’t come back,” shesaid.

“What?” Maldynado asked.

Even if Basilard had decided to find thelatrine or change out of his white togs, the boy should havereturned to attend to the remaining competitors. Why had hefollowed Basilard, anyway? No boys had accompanied any of the otherathletes.

“I think Basilard’s in trouble,” shesaid.

“What?” Books asked.

“He’s been gone too long.” Amaranthe wonderedif it signified paranoia that neither of them seemed concerned. “Doeither of you two ‘coaches’ want to try to go down there? See ifyou can get into that tunnel?” Amaranthe eyed a pair of enforcersstationed where they could keep spectators from wandering into thearena to bug the athletes. “I’ll go outside and see if I spotanything suspicious.”

“Which of us should-” Books started.

“Either. Both. I don’t care.” She was alreadymaneuvering through the packed benches toward the aisle, worryingthat they had wasted too much time. How long would it take to dragan unconscious man out through a back door? “Maybe I’moverreacting,” she muttered under her breath. “Maybe it’snothing.”

Though she said the words, they did not keepher from pushing past spectators and running down the stairs. Atthe bottom, she reluctantly slowed down, aware that a sprintingwoman might draw the enforcers’ suspicions.

Only when she reached the stadium exit didshe break into a run. Maldynado caught up with her.

“Books is going in since Basilard alreadyvouched for him today.”

“Understood,” Amaranthe said.

They ran off the path to follow the curve ofthe stadium’s outer wall. Twenty meters of neatly trimmed grassstretched away from the structure before trees and shrubberystarted, hiding the locomotive tracks in the distance. Amaranthescanned the leafy green canopy, searching for the telltale smoketrail of a steam-powered lorry. Anyone in the kidnapping businesswould need a getaway vehicle.

“I don’t see anybody,” Maldynado said.

“Me either.”

Intermittent metal doors marked the outsidewall, too many for her and Maldynado to watch. Amaranthe took aguess at which one corresponded with the corridor Basilard had gonedown and tried it. It did not budge, nor did it have a lock on theoutside one might pick. A single pull-bar handle rose from a sea ofbrass rivets and steel.

“No way to pick the lock, huh?” Maldynadoasked.

Amaranthe knelt to examine tracks in theearth. Dozens, if not hundreds, of people had been in and out ofthe door that day, so they told her little. A dirt trail led to thewider road ringing the stadium.

“We’re smart though,” Maldynado said. “Weought to be able to figure a way in.”

“Got an idea?”

Amaranthe touched a long gouge in the earth.Was it her imagination, or did that look like the sort of mark thatmight be left if a couple of men were dragging another?

“Lots of ideas.” Maldynado grabbed thepull-bar and heaved for all he was worth. Muscles strained beneaththe thin fabric of the back of his shirt, but the door did notbudge. He released it with a growl, then kicked it.

“Watching your mind work is always apleasure,” Amaranthe said.

“Because it’s unique?”

“Something like that.” She pointed at thegouge. “I think they may already have him.”

She trotted to the opposite side of the roadand examined the ground. If kidnappers had dragged Basilard out ofthere, they would not have stuck to the main path where witnesseswould be many. Even now, a pair of female athletes was joggingalong the road, warming up for the upcoming races.

Half-crouching, half-walking, Amaranthesearched for unusual prints. Too bad Basilard was the one missing;he was a great tracker.

“Afternoon, ladies.” Maldynado swept his hatfrom his head and dropped into a low bow when the athletesapproached.

Amaranthe expected him to ask them toaccompany him somewhere for drinks or other activities, but hestayed on task.

“Has either of you seen anything suspiciousout here?” he asked.

One of the women eyed Amaranthe, who wasstill poking at the earth, looking for tracks, and asked, “Asidefrom you two?”

“Yes.” Maldynado offered a sparkling smile,the kind known for making the most standoffish ladies swoon, andthe women’s visages softened. One blushed. “Anyone dragging anathlete across the grass, for instance,” he said. “Or a towel boyroaming around where he shouldn’t be?”

“Oh!” The blushing girl sidled closer toMaldynado and laid a hand on his forearm. “On our last lap, we didsee a young boy standing at that door.” She pointed to the oneMaldynado had tried to open. “It looked like he was beckoning tosomeone in the woods. I didn’t see anyone, and he ducked backinside when he spotted us.” She gazed up at Maldynado and battedher eyelashes. “Does that help?”

Amaranthe shook her head in bemusement. Attimes, Maldynado could be downright useful.

“Tremendously, dear,” he said. “Thankyou.”

“We should go, Reeva,” the girl’s companionsaid. “Our race starts soon. If you don’t want me to win again, youshould probably be there to compete against me.”

“Win again?” Reeva released Maldynado andpropped her hands on her hips. “You only won last timebecause that stupid warrior-caste girl tripped and took me downwith her.”

“On second thought,” her comrade said, “youshould stay here and go off with him.” She resumed her jog, heelskicking up dust on the dry path.

Reeva pouted at Maldynado. “I have to go.Would you like to come watch my race? It starts soon. And thenafterward, perhaps we could have an iced tea in the garden.”

“Why, I’m quite tempted, my lady,” Maldynadosaid.

Amaranthe gripped his arm. “No, he’s not. Ourfriend needs us.” She jerked her chin toward the trees.

The girl scowled at Amaranthe. She ignored itand tugged Maldynado along.

“Sorry, miss,” he called to his newfoundfriend. “I’m not the sort to put my own pleasure above a friend’sneeds. Not a good friend’s, anyway.”

Amaranthe led the way into the trees, andMaldynado caught up with her. She was debating whether to look fortracks or go straight through to the railway when voices drifted toher ears.

Somewhere ahead of her, men spoke in urgenttones. She picked up the pace, though she stepped lightly, notwanting to be heard. She held a finger to her lips, and Maldynadosoftened his own footfalls.

“…got him,” someone said ahead of them.“Go, go.”

Machinery ground and clanked. An enginestarting? Amaranthe sniffed and caught a whiff of burning coalmingling with the earthier scents of the woods.

She gave up stealth and ran full out, dodgingtrees and trampling through dry brush. Her hand strayed toward herbelt, where she often wore her short sword, but it wasn’t there.Right. She’d decided a woman with a sword would stand out at thestadium. At least Maldynado had his.

The chugging of machinery floated through thetrees clearly now. It sounded more like the great pumping pistonsof a locomotive rather than the smaller engine of a carriage. Butnobody had a train for an escape vehicle. She hoped.

The woods thinned ahead with sunlightstreaming through a gap in the canopy. The railway tracks?

The sounds of the machinery were moving awayfrom her. More, the distinctive clickety-clack of a car moving onrails joined with the chugs. No doubt now. She was listening to atrain.

Amaranthe sprinted the last ten paces, burstout of the trees, and scrambled up the raised ballast bedsupporting the train tracks. Twenty meters away, a combinationlocomotive-carriage was rumbling toward the city. Puffs of graysmoke wafted from a short stack. Though doors on either side heldwindows, the carriage had moved too far away for her to see throughthem. For a second, she thought of running after it, but it pickedup speed even as she watched. No, she would never catch it.

Growling, she kicked at the gravel betweenthe wooden sleepers.

Branches snapped and brush rustled,announcing Maldynado’s exit from the woods. Amaranthe pointed atthe carriage dwindling in the distance.

Maldynado blew out a low whistle. “What abeauty. An expensive conveyance for a private owner to pay for,too. My father talked about getting one for the family businessesat one point, but we never did.”

“So our kidnappers are well-to-do,” Amaranthesaid. “Or they stole it from someone well-to-do.”

“Always a valid vehicle acquisitionstrategy.” Maldynado threw a wink at her, no doubt thinking of thetimes they had borrowed enforcer wagons as a means of creating adistraction.

She could not muster a response, not with asecond man now missing. Amaranthe squatted on the tracks, elbows onher knees, head hanging. If she had thought Basilard would be atarget in the middle of the day, she never would have suggested heenter the competition. Well, not exactly true. She would have hadhim enter with the intent of using him as bait to lure thekidnappers, and she wouldn’t have been sitting hundreds of metersaway in the stands when it was time to spring the trap.

“Did he ever run the Clank Race that quicklyin your practice sessions?” Amaranthe asked.

“Nah. He got under two minutes once, but whoknew he’d have the fastest time today?”

“Strange that the kidnappers went after himright in the middle of the day when all their other abductions havebeen at night. Did they know he didn’t sleep in the dormitories?Maybe this was to be their last abduction, and they figured itdidn’t matter if someone saw them at work. Maybe they weren’tplanning on targeting him at all, but he beat the person they hadin mind so they switched-”

Crashes sounded in the woods from whenceAmaranthe and Maldynado had come. She drew her knife and jumpeddown to take cover behind the four-foot-high ballast bed. Maldynadoknelt beside her, a rapier in hand. This one had an opal gem on thepommel, and silver runes running up and down the steel blade.

“How many swords do you have?” Amaranthewhispered.

“Only thirteen. That covers most of myensembles.”

The thrashing continued, closer now. Booksraced out of the foliage.

Amaranthe started to relax, but theexpression on his face stopped her. As he ran toward the tracks, heglanced over his shoulder twice. The second time, he tripped over arock and nearly tumbled head long into the gravel.

“Time to depart,” Amaranthe said. She climbedup to the wooden sleepers and waved for Maldynado to follow.“Books,” she said, but he had already seen her.

He scrambled up the ballast bed and joinedthem on the railway.

Amaranthe raced along the tracks, bootsstriking the wooden sleepers with each stride. She wanted toobscure their trail by running on a surface that wouldn’t leavetelltale footprints, but only for a moment. “How far behind areyour pursuers?”

“Not…far,” Books panted.

A steam whistle screeched in the distance, atrain heading for the city. Good. Maybe it would cut offpursuit.

“This way!” a male voice shouted from thewoods.

Amaranthe led the way off the tracks, jumpingfrom the gravel to the weeds lining the edge of the woods, hopingnot to leave prints in the dusty band in between. Maldynado andBooks, with their longer legs, made the leap easily. The teamweaved through the trees for a hundred meters, then came out on thepaved trail that ran along the lake, the trail Amaranthe andSicarius had run together so many times.

The ache that formed behind her breastbonehad nothing to do with her running efforts. He hasn’t even beengone a day, she reminded herself. Nothing to worry about yet.Besides, they were going to find him. Basilard, too.

Thousands of footprints trampled the dustyred clay of the trail, and her fear of pursuit faded as she and themen continued along it.

“What happened?” Amaranthe asked Books.

“Basilard wasn’t back there,” he said.

“We know.”

She explained the towel boy and the railcarriage as they continued running. Popular beaches sprawledbetween the trail and the lake, many occupied with naked childrenrunning, playing, and swimming about. It was a workday, and mostadults who could steal time away were at the Imperial Games, but afew nannies attended the youths. One voluptuous and quite nudewoman waved to Maldynado who puffed out his chest and smiledback.

“Well, there’s one witness to our passing,”Amaranthe muttered. “Who was chasing you, Books? Enforcers?”

“Yes, I saw that towel boy, and I tried toapprehend him. He pulled this out of his pocket.” Books plucked avial filled with a golden powder from his own pocket and held itout for Amaranthe. “He tried to hurl it to the ground to, Ipresume, knock me out. I was quicker than he and stopped him, buthe started screaming, and enforcers surged into the tunnels. Onethought he recognized me as a criminal-can you imagine that? — so Ihad to run.”

Amaranthe took the vial. With that much ofthe powder, perhaps Akstyr could give her more information onit-confirm whether it was the one from his book or if it had otherproperties.

“You bested a ten-year-old boy?”Maldynado asked Books. “All by yourself? Why, I’m impressed.”

“Impressing a small mind is an insignificanttask.” Books lifted a hand, pointing toward a beach. “Is thatAkstyr?”

Amaranthe almost dismissed the possibilitywithout looking-Akstyr was supposed to be investigatingapothecaries-but they were getting close to the boneyard.The shirtless figure lounging on his back in the sand had afamiliar spiky hairstyle, too….

“Yes, it is,” Maldynado said. “How come he’sgot the afternoon off?”

“He doesn’t.” Amaranthe checked behind themto make sure no squad of enforcers was huffing and puffing down thetrail after them, then veered past three rows of stands stuffedwith bicycles.

Akstyr saw them coming and sat up, a sheepishgrin on his lips. Children hollered and yelled in the shallows.Though this particular beach was far from residentialneighborhoods, it sported sand instead of rocks, making itpopular.

“I checked a whole heap of apothecaries anddidn’t learn anything about your red-headed woman or the powder,”he rushed to say, probably trying to head off a lecture. “Some ofthe older clerks knew about the powder, but they said you can’t getit in the empire.”

“How many apothecaries are in ‘a wholeheap’?” Amaranthe asked.

“Bridger’s on Second and that littleforeign-owned one in the Veterans’ Quarter, and…uhm…”

“Two?” Books said. “Two constitutes a heap?I’ll send a note to the publishers of the Titanus ImperialDictionary so they can update the entry.”

“Ha ha,” Akstyr said. “Look, I was going tocheck some more after I relaxed a little.”

Amaranthe held out the vial Books hadretrieved. “We got a sample of the powder.”

Akstyr took it and held it up to the sun.“Oh, brilliant,” he breathed. His eyes narrowed, and calculationgleamed in them.

Amaranthe noted his expression. Did he thinkhe could sell the powder for a handsome profit?

“Where’s Basilard?” Akstyr asked. The handholding the vial drifted toward his pocket.

“He was kidnapped after a stellar performanceon the Clank Race.” Amaranthe reached out and caught Akstyr’s handbefore he could pocket the vial. She pried it out of his fingers.“I’ll keep this for now.”

He reached for her hand, and an objectionseemed on his lips, but he caught himself. “Sure, whatever. Notlike I need it for anything.”

Uh huh. Which assured her he did. She wouldhave to keep an eye on him.

“What do you mean Basilard was kidnapped?”Akstyr asked. “Weren’t you there? How could someone take him whenyou were watching?”

“He was in the athlete area,” Maldynado said.“We were spectators.”

“And we’d appreciate it if you didn’t implywe were negligent,” Books added, his back straight and stiff.

“Fine, but we need Basilard,” Akstyr said.“He’s important for…stuff.”

“Yes,” Amaranthe said, her own eyes narrowednow as she considered Akstyr. “Yes, he is.” It was hard for her tobelieve Basilard would be a part of some scheme of Akstyr’s, butshe had noticed the two talking together more this past weekthan ever before. “We’re going to get him back. Sicarius, too. Ineed to hunt down a map and make some notes.”

“A map of city fountains?” Maldynado asked,watching her warily.

“Perhaps,” she said. “You can help me. Books,are you up for a research assignment? Want to see if you can find arecord of that rail carriage?”

“Of course,” he said.

“This isn’t turning out to be a very goodvacation,” Maldynado observed.

“I agree,” Amaranthe said, as they paddedonto the dusty trail.

CHAPTER 9

Amaranthe examined the map under the softlight of one of the gas lamps lining the city block around PyramidPark. She had a lantern along as well, since the boneyard was blackat night, but this provided better illumination.

Books leaned over her shoulder, also studyingthe map, while Akstyr humored Maldynado in a game with the catchytitle of “You Pick a Letter and I’ll Say a Woman I’ve Slept withWhose Name Beings with That Letter.”

“Z?” Maldynado asked. “That’s easy. Zevinikaand Zela.”

“This isn’t any fun. You could be makingthese people up,” Akstyr said.

“Well, traditionally two people alternatenames of women they’ve slept with, and the name one person says hasto start with the last letter of the name the other personsaid.”

“How is that more fun?”

“It’d be more fun for you because youcould reminisce on past loves as well,” Maldynado said, “but sinceI know you’ve a dearth of experience in that area, I chose tomodify the game so you could play.”

“Real thoughtful of you.”

“I know. You’re welcome.”

Attempting to block out their chatter,Amaranthe pointed at the seven fountains circled on the map. “Theseare the closest to the miner’s flat,” she told Books. “Since theysaid they were meeting at the fountain instead of the Fourthand Loom Street Fountain or some such, that seems to imply it was anearby location they were all familiar with. What do youthink?”

“I think we may want to focus on the railtracks instead.” He tapped the hatched line on the map. “Thatlocomotive headed into town, but, given its clandestine purpose, Idoubt it ever made it to the station where its arrival would havebeen logged. There are a limited number of stubs it could haveturned up before then. A hideout might be located along one ofthose routes, as kidnappers wouldn’t want to carry famous athletesthrough the open city for far.”

“True, but they could have transferred theircargo to a steam carriage.”

“If they did, they might have left evidencebehind, or someone might have seen them,” Books said. “There areonly six possible stubs before the station and only two near thefountains you circled.”

Amaranthe would not get her hopes up, but shesaid, “It’s worth checking out.”

“Since these are residential neighborhoods,there are limited places where one could store a number ofkidnapped athletes,” Books went on. “I doubt anyone would choose aflat surrounded by nosy residents, so we can narrow our search toabandoned buildings or perhaps those with large basements withexterior entrances. If we split our team up, we could check thebuildings along both of these stubs tonight.”

“Agreed,” Amaranthe said, “though I hate theidea of splitting up when we’re already missing two people. I don’twant to lose anyone else.”

“I’m surprised nobody’s tried to kidnap me,”Maldynado said. “I’m at least as good of a find as Basilard andSicarius. It’s obvious these kidnappers aren’t basing their choiceson looks.”

“We believe they’re basing their acquisitionson athletic prowess,” Books said.

“I have that, too. I should have entered anevent, so I could get noticed.”

“Are you actually jealous that you weren’tkidnapped?” Amaranthe asked.

“Not jealous. I just think they’reshortsighted if they didn’t consider me.”

“Why would you care?” Akstyr asked. “They’reprobably getting tortured and forced to do unpleasant stuff.”

Amaranthe winced. She did not need to hearabout those possibilities, not for her men. Her friends.

“I would have entered if not for the bountyon my head,” Maldynado said.

“It’s not like anyone ever tries to collectyour bounty,” Akstyr said. “It’s not worth it.”

“That’s not true. Just the other day abounty-hunting miscreant tried to apprehend me. I was lucky toescape with my life.”

“Is that the child I saw chasing you throughthe boneyard with a slingshot?” Amaranthe asked.

“What? No! Er. You saw that?”

Amaranthe drew her pocket watch. “A quarterpast ten. If Lord Mancrest doesn’t show up in five minutes, we’regoing rail-carriage hunting.”

“It’s that late?” Maldynado asked. “That’snot like him.”

Amaranthe picked up her lantern and headedfor the gated entrance to the pyramid. It was set into a wallaround the corner from the steep stone stairs leading to theancient dais. The gate ought to be locked-the woman who owned theproperty ran tours during the day and presumably wanted to keep thetacky souvenir merchandise inside safe-but maybe someone had leftthe door open and Mancrest had gone in to wait. It seemed unlikely,but it did not hurt to check.

“What’s that?” Maldynado asked.

Amaranthe squinted at a shape on the groundunder the gate. She stepped closer, holding her lantern aloft. Atfirst she had no idea what the object might be because it wassquished beneath the metal frame. Then recognition jolted her.

“Mancrest’s hat,” she said.

Maldynado grabbed a metal handle, turned it,and swung the gate open with a soft creak. A stone tunnel led awayinto darkness.

“Think someone snatched him?” Akstyrasked.

“Our kidnappers?” Books scratched his jaw.“How would they know he was here? And why would they want him?Mancrest, with his cane and spectacles, doesn’t fit into the samecategory as the superb athletes they’ve abducted thus far.”

“He was a decent duelist before he got hurt,”Maldynado said.

“We going in after him?” Akstyr asked, histone suggesting the idea held no appeal for him.

“Amaranthe?” Books asked. “What do youthink?”

She was standing, head down, chin in her handas she considered the hat. “I think…if Sicarius were here, he’dsay this is a trap.”

“Set by Mancrest?” Books asked. “Or thekidnappers?”

“Do we believe there’s any connection betweenMancrest and the kidnappers?” Amaranthe did not. “He hasn’t coveredthem in the newspaper, other than to say some people are missing.I’m skeptical they’d be aware of him.”

Maldynado picked up the hat. “If that bastardtried to get me to set you up again, I’ll…” He squinted atsomething inside the hat, then held it close to Amaranthe’slantern. “That looks like blood.”

Amaranthe closed her eyes, trying to decidewhether she wanted to devote more time to Mancrest when hercomrades were missing. If he was in trouble, rescuing himmight endear him to her, but she found the location of the hatsuspicious. It couldn’t have been better placed if someone wantedher to find it.

“Books,” she said, moving away from the gate,“do you know another way in?”

“Hm, I believe so.” Books stroked his chin.“I researched the pyramid extensively when I wrote a paper on thecivilization that lived around the lake two thousand years ago.They were a fascinating people, primitive and cannibalistic, butsurprisingly advanced insofar as literacy and mathematics. Theyworshiped a-”

“Books,” Amaranthe said. “I’d like to havetime to look for Sicarius and Basilard tonight. The entrances?”

“Ah, of course. There’s an undergroundentrance coming up from the ancient tunnels beneath Stumps, but theinstallation of the city sewer system destroyed a lot of thosepassages. Oh, wait. I recall a reference to a trapdoor under thedais up top.”

Amaranthe nodded, remembering how Sicariushad appeared up there without using the stairs. She had wondered ifthere might be a door up there somewhere.

“And it connects with this tunnel?” Shepointed through the gate.

“I believe so. The passages do wind around inthere, and I can’t promise to be an unerring guide, but I have somememory of the layout from the maps in the texts I… Where are yougoing?”

Already heading for the stairs, Amaranthewaved toward the top of the pyramid. “Up. You can keep talking onthe way if you want.”

“But it’s not a requirement,” Maldynado said,jogging after her.

Books muttered something to Akstyr about hisknowledge not being fully appreciated. Akstyr responded with hisusual, “Whatever.”

When Amaranthe reached the top, she huntedaround for signs of the trapdoor. Sicarius, she remembered, hadappeared behind her when she had been near the stairs, lookingdown. She knelt and prodded around the base of the altar, whichstill sported the headless statue with its two wings, clawed feet,and furry torso.

“Did your studies tell you how to open thistrapdoor?” Amaranthe asked Books.

“Not that I recall,” he said.

“You can recite the dates of each reign ofevery emperor since Dorok the First,” Maldynado said. “Why can’tyou remember something useful like this?”

“Historical tomes rarely advise people on howto break into ancient structures through unguarded entrances,”Books said. “I believe they like to discourage the pillaging ofgoods inside.”

“We’re not pillaging anything,” Maldynadosaid.

“Unless there’s something good to pillage,”Akstyr said. “Is there?”

“Not that I’d tell you about,” Bookssaid.

Amaranthe groped about the stone floor. Thelantern light did little to illuminate the subtle nuances in theancient blocks, but her fingers found dents and divots. She poked afew and nothing happened. She moved to the two rear columnssupporting the roof covering the altar.

Her knee clunked against a bump, and shewinced. She investigated the object, a slightly elevated triangularstone. She-and her knee-found it suspicious that it stuck out whennothing else did. Amaranthe tried pulling and pushing it. Neitherworked. Maybe a turn? She rotated it to the left, as if she wereunscrewing a lid on a jar.

The floor disappeared beneath her.

Amaranthe dropped into darkness with astartled squawk. Though surprised, she twisted in the air, movingquickly enough to get her feet beneath her. The landing jarred her,but she softened her knees enough that she did not injureherself.

Unfortunately, her lantern did not survivethe fall unscathed. It had gone out as it dropped, and clanks andclatters echoed from the stone walls as it bounced several times,then rolled to a stop in the darkness. Close, dusty air wrappedabout Amaranthe, intruding upon her nostrils. It smelled likevermin had died nearby. Maybe other things as well.

“Amaranthe?” Books called from above. “Areyou…well?”

She had their only lantern-well, the darknesshad it at the moment-but she could make out the men’s silhouettesas they leaned over a three-by-three-foot hole in the ceiling. Sheopened her mouth to respond, but a sneeze assailed her nostrilsinstead.

“Is that a yes?” Books asked.

“Yes. Looks like I found the trapdoor.”

“Looks like,” Maldynado drawled.

“We can’t see anything,” Books said, leaningforward and patting around the trapdoor entrance. “How far down areyou? Is there a ladder?”

“Maybe ten or twelve feet, and I don’t know.I’ll see if I can relight the lantern. After I find it.”

Amaranthe knelt and swept her hands acrosscold, smooth stone. Cool air whispered past her cheeks. Aboveground, it had been a warm summer evening, but down here, sheshivered in her thin trousers and half-sleeve shirt.

It took a few moments to find the first wall,and she determined she was in a room, not a corridor. Some sort ofpreparation area for priests performing ceremonies on the altarabove?

She found the lantern. A soft thump came frombehind her.

“Who-” she started to ask.

“Me,” Maldynado said. “Can’t let a girlwander around a dark pit by herself.”

“You can if you don’t know if there’s a wayout,” Akstyr said. He and Books waited above.

“Want us to go grab some lanterns?” Booksasked.

“Let me see if I can get this one relitfirst.” Amaranthe patted her pockets down. “I have matches.”Somewhere.

“Is one lantern sufficient lighting forpyramid spelunking?” Books asked, his tone implying he hardlythought so.

“It’s a long jog to the boneyard and back.”Amaranthe struck a match and lit the lantern. “And I think youshould join us since you’re the pyramid expert. Akstyr can stay outthere in case we…” Got themselves hopelessly lost or trapped bythe enemy? No, she shouldn’t say that. Too demoralizing. “Needbackup,” she finished.

The lantern light revealed a chamber filledwith cobwebs and layers of dust that made her long for the giantsteam-powered cleaning machines she had described to the thieves inthe tenement building. Rows of niches on the walls had long sincebeen emptied of their contents, though cobwebs cloaked them likecocoons, and one could almost imagine this place still held ancienttreasures.

“Not very likely when we’re in the middle ofa city with a population of a million,” Amaranthe told herself.

“That’s why I came down,” Maldynado said.

“To treasure hunt?”

“No, to keep you from talking to yourself.That’s a sign of a lonely, disturbed mind.” He drew his rapier andswiped at a cobweb curtain dangling above a narrow, low-ceilingedstairwell leading down. “This way, you can pretend you’re talkingto me.”

“Oh, good.” She turned her head toward thetrapdoor again. “Books, are you coming? We need your insight.”

“Since I so rarely hear those words, I’d bestjoin you.”

“We’d crave your insight more if you gave usless of it,” Maldynado told him. “They say scarcity createsdesire.”

“I’m heading down,” Amaranthe said. The mencould snipe at each other all night if she let them.

She drew her short sword, but waited forBooks to shimmy over the side of the hole, dangle from the lip fora moment, then drop down. He landed in an easy crouch. She smiled.He might not realize it, but Sicarius’s training had brought Booksa long way in the last six months. Whether one had naturalaptitude or not, constant repetition and an unrelenting taskmasterdid tend to encourage improvement.

A couple of steps down the stairs convincedAmaranthe to return her sword to its sheath. The narrowness andsteepness made her want to brace herself on the wall as shedescended, and the lantern seemed the more important thing to holdaloft. Blackness swallowed the bottom of the stairs, but sheimagined the fall could be long and far should she lose herbalance.

“What kind of tiny-footed people built thisplace?” Maldynado asked after a bout of cursing when one of hisboots slipped.

“Actually,” Books said, “it’s quitefascinating. The Pey’uhara, the first lake dwellers, were-”

“No, no, never mind,” Maldynado blurted. “Ididn’t mean it. I don’t want to know.”

“It’s a shame you prefer to wallow in a mireof ignorance when knowledge floats by within reach,” Bookssaid.

“Isn’t it?”

“Let’s practice our stealth mode,” Amaranthesaid. “In case there are kidnappers or trap-settersabout.”

The men mumbled sheepish apologies and fellquiet.

Silence surrounded them, stirred only by thesoft padding of their feet and their own breaths. One could forgeta modern city lay less than a block away.

The soft flame of the lantern revealed ashort landing below with three options. To the right and the left,more stairs descended. If they continued straight ahead, they wouldenter a narrow corridor. A low stone ceiling promised much duckingfor Maldynado and Books should she choose that route.

Amaranthe stopped on the landing. “Have wegone far enough to be at ground level?”

“I don’t think so,” Books said.

He touched cryptic hieroglyphs carved intothe wall. One looked like a dog mounting another dog, but shesupposed that was her imagination. Nothing so crude would berepresented in two-thousand-year-old glyphs.

“Also the tunnels at the floor level arewider and easier to navigate. I believe that corridor leads to theGraveyard of the Fallen Enemies.” Books lifted a finger, perhapswanting to explain the place more thoroughly, but he glanced atMaldynado and said no more.

“Doesn’t sound like a place we need tovisit,” Amaranthe said.

“Is that a dog humping another dog?”Maldynado to pointed the hieroglyph she had noticed. Leave it tohim to have a mind at least as crude as hers.

“Actually, yes,” Books said. “It’s a sign ofdominance. These people were letting everyone know they haddominated and vanquished their fallen enemies.”

“Dominance, eh?” Maldynado said. “If you sayso.”

“Left or right?” Amaranthe asked. “Anythoughts?”

“Not from me,” Books said.

“There’s an uncommon event,” Maldynadosaid.

Amaranthe lifted the lantern and examinedboth stairwells. The right held fewer cobwebs, and soft gouges andstirrings on the dusty steps might be footprints. “It looks likethat way has seen traffic more recently.”

When no one disagreed, she led the waydownward again. The stairs did not descend far before they reacheda T-section with wide corridors.

A faint rustle came to Amaranthe’s ears. Herimagination? She dimmed the lantern in case it was not.

The blackness to the left seemed lessabsolute than the blackness to the right.

Nothing on the smooth granite floor would bean obstacle for their feet if they moved forward in darkness, soAmaranthe signaled to her men with a finger to her lips, pointed,and dimmed the lantern the rest of the way.

Darkness swallowed them. She waited for hereyes to adjust to the gloom. There was not enough light for her tosee anything except that it was less dark in one direction than theother, but that would have to be enough.

A hand reached out and found her shoulder.Maldynado’s, she guessed, because he had a tendency to be lesstentative than Books when touching people, especially femalepeople. She hoped Books had a hand on Maldynado’s shoulder as well.She did not want to lose anyone down here.

With one hand on the wall, she felt her waydown the corridor. She found an edge-a corner. The light increasedwhen she turned down the new passage, though she could not see itssource.

“…longer?” a male voice asked ahead.

Amaranthe halted. The grip on her shouldertightened in warning.

She turned an ear toward the passage, butwhatever response the question garnered was too quiet for her tohear. She tried to decide if that had been Mancrest’s voice. It hadnot sounded familiar, but it was hard to judge anything from oneword.

“Want me to check it out?” Maldynadowhispered in her ear.

“No,” she whispered back. Basilard would bethe first to tell Maldynado he was not the stealthiest man on theirteam. She pressed the lantern into Maldynado’s hand. “I’ll go. Stayhere. Fetch me if I get myself in trouble.”

His snort was soft, but audible. She pattedhim on the chest, then eased her short sword free and continueddown the passage. Toe before heel, she walked, making sure therewas nothing on the floor that might crunch or be kicked beforecommitting to each step.

Cobwebs brushed at her face, and she stifledan urge to sneeze again. It was hard to sneak up on someone whiledischarging dust from one’s nostrils.

As Amaranthe walked, she let her fingersgraze the wall, and she twitched in surprise when they found a gap,then bumped against metal. She slid her hand up and down it. A bar.One of many. Some kind of gate?

She continued on, passing several of the widegates, and finally reached a corner with the warm yellow of lanternlight glowing beyond it. Trusting the darkness to hide her,Amaranthe eased her head around the edge. The illumination, severallanterns’ worth, came from inside an open gate. From her angle, shecould not see inside, but impatient mutters and shuffles came fromthe cell beyond.

The snippet of conversation she had caughtimplied there were at least two people waiting in there, but thenoises suggested more. Four or six maybe.

She eased around the corner and tiptoedcloser. Stacks of boxes came into view first, the closest stampedwith the words “souvenir hats.” Ah, the gates represented shopfronts. She must be nearing the main pyramid entrance.

Another step took her close enough to seepast the boxes and into the room. A man in black soldier’s fatiguesleaned against the wall, his elbow propped on the muzzle of arifle.

“Maybe we should turn out the lanterns,”someone opposite of him said.

“We’re three turns from Mancrest,” someoneelse said. “She won’t see the light.”

“Until it’s too late.”

Soft snickers followed that oh-so-wittyline.

“Unless Sicarius is with her.”

That stopped the snickers. A nervousshuffling followed.

“Word from the enforcers is that somebody’sgot him.”

Amaranthe curled her fingers into a fist. Howhad the enforcers found out? Did they know something shedidn’t?

“I’ll believe that when his head is on a pikein Mariner Square,” the man in view said.

Clothing rustled-a shrug? “I heard theenforcers were told to send word to the emperor to get the bountymoney together, because his dead body would be delivered after theImperial Games.”

It was just talk, Amaranthe told herself.Rumors.

“Enough chatter,” an unseen man said. “Thisis an ambush, not barracks cleaning day. Nobody’s paying you totrot your lips.”

The soldier Amaranthe could see sighed andturned his eyes toward the corridor. She stopped breathing. Ifenough lantern light seeped out of the room for him to seeher…

He frowned and squinted in her direction.

Amaranthe slipped a hand into her pocket. Herfingers found curved glass.

The soldier took a step her way.

Before she could debate the wisdom of themove, or the danger to herself, Amaranthe held her breath, thumbedthe cork off, and tossed the vial through the metal bars. Itskidded beneath the soldier’s feet, and he jumped.

She scurried back, not sure what the rangewas on the powder, or if it would even do anything without somesort of magical preparation.

The soldier charged into the corridor.

Amaranthe spun and ran. The darkness aheadkept her from sprinting, but she hoped she remembered the layoutbetter than the soldier.

Only her outstretched hand kept her fromsmashing her face into the wall at the first turn. So much formemory.

Heavy footfalls followed her, but it soundedlike only one or two pairs of boots, not the entire squad ofsoldiers. If only a couple of the men chased her, she and her teamought to be able to take care of them. They could separate-

“Oomph,” she grunted, hitting anotherwall.

Left turn this time. One more corner, and sheshould run into Maldynado and Books.

Before she finished the thought, she ran intoanother obstacle. Not stone this time, clothing and flesh.

“Boss?” Maldynado whispered.

“Yes, sh.”

The clomping footfalls of a soldier rang outas the man rounded the corner. Amaranthe turned to face him.

In the darkness, she could see nothing. Therhythm of the soldier’s run faltered and slowed. He must sense hewas close, or maybe it was something else. The powder? His stepswere heavy, almost labored. He made no attempt to stifle the soundof his advance.

The gait slowed and grew uneven. Amaranthebent her knees, sword ready. A loud thud came from ahead, no morethan a pace away. Something clattered to the floor.

Silence fell.

A flame flared to life. Maldynado held thelantern high, illuminating the dust-and-cobweb-cloaked tunnel-andthe unmoving soldier at their feet, his rifle a foot away from hisoutstretched hand.

“Huh,” Maldynado said.

“You killed him?” Books stared at her.

“No, at least I don’t think so. I threw thatvial you took from the towel boy into their room.” She knelt down,intending to check his pulse, but a soft snore rumbled from theman’s lips.

“Ah,” Books said.

Amaranthe took the soldier’s rifle, thenpatted him down. She found keys on a clip at his belt and removedthem. “Anybody have rope we can use to tie him up?”

“Not me,” Maldynado said.

Books spread his open hands. No rope. Hm.

“I need to come better prepared for thesemeetings with men,” Amaranthe said.

“Yes,” Maldynado said, “you never know whenrope will come in handy on a date. Lots of reasons to tie peopleup.”

Amaranthe chose not to contemplate hisstatement. She pointed to the soldier. “See if you can use his beltand pants or something, and then follow me. There are more men. I’mhoping they’re sleeping, too.”

Not sure how long the powder might last,Amaranthe jogged back down the corridor toward the cell. She didnot know the dissemination range either. That thought made her slowdown. Would it still be active, or did it wear off shortly afterrelease? She would feel idiotic if she ran in to check on thesoldiers and passed out on top of some man’s chest.

She thought about waiting for Maldynado andBooks to catch up, but maybe it was best to go in alone. If she didpass out, maybe they would realize it and avoid the mistake. Orthey’d collapse on top of her on top of the soldier.

“Over-thinking things,” she muttered, thoughshe dug a kerchief out of her pocket and wrapped it about her noseand mouth before continuing.

She peered through the gate and counted fivesoldiers sprawled on the floor amongst overturned boxes and tippedlanterns. A couple had taken steps toward the exit, but most hadcollapsed where they stood. The vial, now cracked, gleamed where ithad come to rest against the wall. The powder had disappeared,turned to smoke and vanished.

Amaranthe decided not to risk getting closeenough to investigate further. She checked the keys she had takenfrom the soldier. A fob read Polga’s Pyramid Tours.

“Let’s hope Polga has the power to lock andunlock the gates,” she said.

“Talking to yourself again?” Maldynado askedas he and Books strode around the corner.

“No.” Amaranthe tried one of the keys in thelock. “I knew you’d be here to hear me.”

“The other soldier is sufficiently trussedup,” Books said.

“Albeit, he’ll find it a bit drafty in herewithout his pants,” Maldynado said.

“They’re the only thing that could be used totie his ankles together and bind them to his wrists,” Bookssaid.

“I’m not judging you,” Maldynado said. “That,given the opportunity, your first thought was to strip a handsome,young soldier of his pants doesn’t bother me.”

“You’re odious.”

“They were setting up an ambush,” Amaranthesaid. “Perhaps we should stop talking until we’ve subdued thebait.”

The fourth key she tried turned in the lock.Good. She closed the gate and secured the soldiers inside.

“Do we believe the bait is Mancrest?” Bookswhispered.

“We’ll see.”

She debated whether to continue forward withthe lantern dimmed, but decided the bait would expect her, so shemight as well come in as anticipated. There just wouldn’t be asquad of soldiers ready to charge in and capture her.

She pulled her kerchief down around her neck,and she, Maldynado, and Books followed the corridor to a ramp thatangled downward, then turned at the bottom. More hieroglyphsadorned the walls down here, though she did not spot any more dogsengaged in carnal activities.

The corridor widened and angled to the right.Light came from ahead. More gates marked the walls, andcells-shops-lay behind them. A mix of tacky “adventuring hats,”pyramid-related paraphernalia, and history books adorned theshelves.

The light ahead of them was coming from oneof the shops. Amaranthe cut off her lantern and approached onsilent feet.

She stopped at the gate. She did not seeanyone inside, though a candle burned on a merchant’s counter, theflame sputtering on the wick, and a hint of beeswax tinged themusty air. Racks of cheap factory-made clothing stretched along thewalls.

A low groan emanated from the back of theshop. Ah, there was their bait.

A man lay on the floor, his back to them,wrists and ankles tied with a fat rope. Perhaps it had been chosenfor its visibility-one could not miss it, even from the corridor.The wavy brown hair on the man’s head was a familiar hue andlength.

Amaranthe lifted her eyebrows towardMaldynado. He nodded. Yes, it was Mancrest.

The gate stood open. Amaranthe slid her handinto her pocket, wrapping her fingers about the cool metal keys.Though she meant to abandon stealth in a moment, she did her bestto withdraw the fob quietly.

“Evening, Lord Mancrest,” she said as sheselected the key that had worked on the other gate. The number ofshops-and locks-they had passed suggested one key opened multipledoors. “How’d you get yourself tied up there?”

The muffled response was unintelligible. Hedid manage to twist about so she could see a gag blocking hismouth.

“Disgusting,” Maldynado muttered. “What proudman of the warrior caste stoops so low as to act as bait in astupid trap?”

“Ssh,” Amaranthe whispered, then raised hervoice. “Are you in danger, Lord Mancrest? Who tied you up?”

Again, the gag muffled his response, but shecaught the gist this time, “Help, come untie me.”

“I don’t think so.” Amaranthe shut the gate,slipped the key into the lock, and turned it with a resoundingthunk.

Mancrest sat up, eyes wide. His “what’re youdoing?” was easy to understand.

“Getting annoyed with your donkey manure, oldboy,” Maldynado said.

“What?” Mancrest said, still playing thegame.

Was it possible he had not arranged this, andhe was actually imprisoned? No, soldiers would not tie up someonefrom the warrior caste without permission.

“We have comrades to rescue,” Amaranthe said.She found a rough corner on one of the stones on the opposite walland hung the key ring on it. “I imagine you can find a couple ofclothes hangers, twine them together, and fetch that on your ownwith a little patience, assuming your binds aren’t particularlytight and you can free your hands. I wouldn’t count on the soldiersrescuing you. They’re incapacitated at the moment.”

“Especially the one without pants,” Maldynadosaid.

“Will you stop bringing that up?”Books asked.

“Probably not,” Maldynado said.

“Let’s go, gentlemen,” Amaranthe said. “Wehave work to do.”

Mancrest’s shoulders heaved and his facescrewed up as he wriggled his hands behind his back. His bonds fellfree, and he yanked the gag out of his mouth.

“Wait!” He tore away the ropes at his ankles,leaped to his feet, and sprang to the gate.

Books jumped back. Amaranthe watchedMancrest’s hands to make sure he did not reach for a pistol ordagger beneath his shirt. Maldynado leaned against the oppositewall and yawned.

Mancrest grabbed the bars of the gate. Hetried to open it, failed, and gaped at her. “You locked me in?”

“You were planning to ambush us,” Amaranthesaid, not surprised but chagrinned to realize Sicarius had beenright, that Mancrest could not be trusted to do anything exceptturn her over to the enforcers. “I think my response is quitegenerous.”

He curled his lip and opened his mouth, as ifto argue, but closed it again and took a deep breath. “What aboutmy men. Are they…unharmed?”

“I think so. We used what the kidnappers havebeen using to knock people out, and I locked them in.”

“Who’s going to let us out?” Mancrestasked.

“Surely someone else is privy to your planand will come look for you eventually.”

“My brother. After he gets off worktomorrow.”

“Long time without a latrine nearby,”Maldynado said, still leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “Butyou deserve to marinate in your own pee overnight.”

Mancrest ignored him. Hands gripping thebars, he told Amaranthe, “It’s my duty and obligation to capturecriminals if I have a chance.”

“Our duty sometimes lands us in unpleasantcircumstances.” A fact she knew well, since following duty was whathad set her on the path that resulted in her becoming an outlaw.She nodded toward the key ring. “I can make it easier for you tounlock yourself, if you tell me what you know about Sicarius’scapture and the kidnappers in general.”

Mancrest’s shoulders drooped, and he leanedhis forehead against a bar. He chuckled ruefully. “When I imaginedhow tonight would end, it involved me questioning you about whatyou knew, not the other way around.”

“He should have come up with a more cleverploy then,” Books said out of the corner of his mouth toMaldynado.

“For once, we agree,” Maldynado saidback.

“Was this interrogation you imaginedhappening here or at Enforcer Headquarters?” Amaranthe asked.

“Fort Urgot,” Mancrest said.

“I’ve been questioned there before. I don’tcare to arrange another visit. Are you going to provide theinformation I requested, or not?”

“What will you do with the information?”

“Rescue my men and stop the kidnappers fromwhatever it is they’re doing,” Amaranthe said. “Given the nefariousnature of the disappearances, I doubt it’s wholesome.”

“Why are you bothering?” Mancrest asked. “Iunderstand your comrades are missing, but you were involved in thisbefore that, were you not?”

“I want exoneration, so I help the empirewhen I can. Now, speak.” She gave him her best icy-cold-Sicariusstare. Given the hours she had wasted coming to Pyramid Park, itwas not difficult to muster.

Still leaning his forehead against the bars,Mancrest considered her. His eyes flicked downward, taking in hernewly acquired rifle. “I suppose I should be grateful you haven’tkilled me for my attempts at trapping you.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Amaranthe said.

“I might,” Maldynado said. “Since youkeep using me to get at her. Street licker.”

“No,” Mancrest said, holding Amaranthe’sgaze. “I’m beginning to see that. I don’t know who has Sicarius,only that an anonymous message came into Enforcer Headquarters,informing them he’d been captured and would be delivered dead bythe week’s end.”

Amaranthe’s breath caught. A steam tramperstomped all over her theory that these kidnappers were collectingsuperior athletes to turn them into soldiers. If they intended tokill Sicarius in a few days…

She closed her eyes. Then she had a few daysto find him. That was what she needed to focus on.

“Also…” Mancrest slipped a hand into apocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “One of the rookiesbrought me this advertisement for approval. Someone mailed it inwith scrip from a mining outfit.”

Amaranthe’s ears perked. Mining outfit?

“I disapproved it. The Gazette doesn’taccept ads for just any business, certainly not anythingthat sounds like a spiel from a pitchman’s oiled tongue, and wedon’t take scrip for payment either. Later I realized it came in acouple of days before the first abduction. It could be unrelated,but…” He spread a hand, palm up. “Perhaps not.”

Curiosity piqued, Amaranthe took the paperfrom him. Before it had been folded, it had been crinkled, as if ithad spent time in a wastebasket. Books peered over her shoulder atit.

Foreman got you down? Do you deserve more? Ahome on the Ridge? A say in the government? It’s all possible.Invest in your future now. Enquire at the Imperial Tea House.

“Interesting,” Books said. “Perhaps arecruiting letter that was intended to gather more miners?”

“Raydevk didn’t seem too bright,” Amaranthesaid. “I could see him trying to recruit people for criminalactivities in a newspaper.”

Mancrest’s grip tightened on the gate bars.“Raydevk? That’s the name I got when I checked at the tea house.Is this tied in with the missing people?”

“It’s possible.” Amaranthe handed the note toBooks to study further. For all she knew, he could do somehandwriting analysis to identify likely culprits. “We had a run-inwith some miners. What else did you learn at the tea house?”

“Little,” Mancrest said. “Despite the loftyname, it’s run by the same people that own half of the mines in themountains, and it’s something of a slum establishment for lowlyworkers who can only pay in company scrip.”

“I know it,” Amaranthe said, her tone cool.“My father used to go there when he was in town.”

“Oh.”

“Smooth tongue there, Mancrest,” Maldynadosaid.

“Yes, uhm, they picked me out aswarrior-caste right away,” Mancrest said, “and nobody answered myquestions. I was trying to find out where the fellow lived and whathe was selling.”

“Perhaps we’ll check it out later,” Amaranthesaid. “We have another mission tonight.”

“If you find out anything,” Mancrest said,“and you need any help…”

“Oh, sure,” Maldynado said. “You’ve onlytried to lure us into traps twice. Let’s arrange another meeting.Maybe the third time, you’ll figure out how to get us.”

“I understand why you might not be quick totrust me,” Mancrest said.

Amaranthe snorted.

“But-” he lifted a finger, “-if you seekexoneration, then you’ll want me there to witness your magnificentcapture of the perpetrators. As a man from the warrior-caste, Iwould also be obligated to report the truth as I saw it.”

She watched his face, trying to decide if hewas eager for a story or if he simply wanted another chance toensnare her. If he had gone to this tea house, then it mightindicate the former. But Maldynado was right. She’d be an idiot togive him another chance to betray her.

“I’ll think about it,” Amaranthe said.“Gentlemen.” She nodded to Maldynado and Books. It was time togo.

They started down the corridor, but Mancrestcleared his throat.

Ah, the keys. Right.

Amaranthe removed them from the protrudingstone on the wall and dropped them on the floor in front of theshop.

“Didn’t you say you’d let me out if I sharedwhat I knew?” Mancrest eyed the keys. They were closer but stilltoo far for him to reach.

“I said I’d make it easier for you tounlock yourself,” Amaranthe said. “Now you’ll only need one clotheshanger instead of two. Good night.”

She, Maldynado, and Books headed out.Midnight had to be growing near, and they had much work to do.

CHAPTER 10

Soft rain pattered onto the cobblestones andrailway tracks alongside the street. Amaranthe pedaled up thewaterfront, trying to hover above the damp bicycle seat in anattempt to avoid a wet backside. Maldynado rode alongside, hisknees nearly clunking his own chin with each revolution-he had beenunable to find a taller model left on the communal rack and hadrefused a couple of larger bicycles that appeared “too feminine.”That it was well after midnight and no one was around to see himriding did not seem to matter.

He also balanced the soldier’s rifle acrossthe handlebars. Tonight, it might be worth risking the unwantedattention of being spotted with firearms in the city. Amaranthewore a pistol on her sword belt, opposite the blade. A light jackethid the firearm, and Maldynado could always toss the rifle ifpotential witnesses spotted them.

They pedaled through darkness punctuated bypuddles of light from gas lamps. On the other side of the tracks,water lapped at the pilings of docks, many supporting toweringwarehouses, all dark this time of night. Amaranthe supposed theywould not luck across one with a brightly painted sign that read,“Kidnapped athletes stored here.” This time of year, the docks sawa lot of traffic and would make a poor hideout for those engagingin felonious activities.

“There’s the spur.” Maldynado pointed attracks veering inland, away from the main line. The wet steelgleamed under the influence of a corner street lamp.

“Let’s check it,” Amaranthe said.

She turned onto the street, glad to leave thebumpy cobblestones for a modern cement avenue. A hill loomed,though, and Maldynado grumbled under his breath, something about itbeing less work to carry the small bicycle up the incline than topedal.

Warehouses continued for the next few blocks,and commercial and residential tenements rose beyond that.Amaranthe doubted they needed to search that far up the hill.

“What are we looking for exactly?” Maldynadoasked.

“A door large enough to hide that railcarriage.” Amaranthe yawned. She was starting to feel the latenessof the hour. “Though freight cars are sometimes shunted up thesidings, they don’t spend the night. Our kidnappers have to be ableto hide their conveyance when they’re not using it.”

“A lot of these doors are big.”

“But are they big with railway tracks leadingbeneath them?”

“Ah, not all. Just…” Maldynado pointed.“There’s one.”

Amaranthe parked her bicycle against thebrick wall of a building on the opposite side of the street. Theywere between lamp-lit intersections, so shadows would hide themfrom anyone looking out a window. Not that she expected to chanceupon the villain’s hideout in the first place they checked, but onenever knew.

A couple of blocks up the hill, a ponderoussteam vehicle rolled onto the street with twin lanterns lightingits way. It had the girth of a rail car itself, and swingingmechanical arms stuck out of the upper portion of both sides, likea pair of bug antennae. A stench reminiscent of burning hair wafteddown the street ahead of it.

“What is that hideous thing?” Maldynado hadalso dismounted and leaned his bicycle against the wall.

“You’ve never seen a garbage steamer?”Amaranthe asked. “How can you have lived your whole life in thecity without seeing one?”

“I don’t know.” He clasped a hand over hisnose. “I tend to run the other way when I smell a stench like thatin the middle of the night.”

The vehicle trundled to a stop and asoot-caked man with a greasy beard and hair in need of scissorshopped out. He grabbed a couple of ash cans in an alley and dumpedthem into the back. He opened the door to an incinerator thatburned independently of the firebox powering the boiler. Thecontents of a bronze waste bin went into the flames.

“Why don’t you take a look at that building?”Amaranthe waved to the one they had stopped to check. “I’m going totalk to that fellow. If he works at night, he may have seensomething suspicious on his route.”

“Be careful,” Maldynado said. “He looksdangerous, like he doesn’t see daylight too often. Probably notwomen either.”

“So, he’ll be happy to see me.”

“He’d be happier if you were in somethingless…well, less. What happened to the disguise I got you beforewe went into the mountains?”

“The one that showed more skin than mostpeople reveal in the public baths? Sicarius didn’t like it.”

“First off,” Maldynado said, “you shouldn’ttake fashion advice from someone whose wardrobe is monochromatic.Second, he didn’t like it? How could a male not like seeingan attractive young female in that outfit? Whatever is wrong withthat man is no small thing.”

“I’ll let you tell him that when we findhim.”

Amaranthe waved him toward the building andjogged up the hill.

“Hello,” she called to the man, not wantingto startle him. A second fellow sat in the cab of the vehicle, andshe lifted a hand in greeting toward him as well.

The garbage collector nearly dropped the canin his arms when he spotted her. He glanced over his shoulder,perhaps thinking she was speaking to someone else.

“That’s a nice looking steamer,” Amaranthesaid as she drew near. She fought the urge to crinkle her nose, notentirely sure all the foul smells came from the vehicle.

He scratched his tangled hair, probablytrying to figure out why a woman was running up to him in themiddle of the night. “Yup, yup ‘tis.”

“I was wondering what those arms do.” Shepointed at the articulating antennae-like devices.

“Yup, yup, they’re for fetching big piecesoutta hard-to-reach spots. See them claspers at the end?” The manwent on to detail dozens of features of the vehicle, which turnedout to be a brand new model. After a barked warning from hisco-worker, he continued to work while he talked.

Amaranthe walked beside him and gruntedencouragingly from time to time, figuring they were bonding. Theman ought to think her less odd if they had established a rapportbefore she started pumping him for information.

“Yup, she’s a real fine lady.” He finished bypatting the vehicle on the side. “You want to ride along aspell?”

“Tempting,” she said, “but I’m on aquest.”

“Oh?” He scraped his fingers through histangled beard.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen a fancy blackrail carriage rolling through this neighborhood late at night? Itwould have been in the last two…”

She trailed off, since he was alreadynodding.

“Seen that beauty a couple of times. That’s acustom job. Ain’t no factory-made model, no, ma’am.”

“Did you see it on this street?” sheasked.

“Naw, over on West Monument. Saw it rollingout of the old fire brigade building a little after midnight a fewnights back.”

“Monument, good, thank you.” A nervousflutter disturbed her stomach. That was the direction she had sentBooks and Akstyr. “I don’t suppose you’re heading over that way?”she asked, thinking of the proffered ride. It would be faster thanthe bicycles if she could convince these fellows to detour fromtheir route-and not pick up trash on the way.

“Naw.”

“Any chance you could be convinced tohead that way?”

“Well, my partner drives, so reckon I gots toask him.” The man held up a finger, then swung up to address theperson manning the controls.

While they conversed, Amaranthe looked forMaldynado. She could signal him to stop searching the buildings offthis spur if she spotted him, but nothing stirred on the street. Amuggy breeze whispered off the lake, bringing harder rain. Anotherreason to switch from bicycles to covered conveyances.

“…take that long,” her scruffy ally wassaying.

The only word Amaranthe caught in theresponse was “teats.” She arched her eyebrows. The fellow might beinvoking the ancient imperial platitude about the unfairness ofsuckling on a dog’s rearmost teats, or he might be referencing herchest. Neither sounded promising.

“…nice girl,” Scruffy said. “…not goingto do that.”

“Nice?” the response came, voice louder.“Nice girls don’t roam the streets at two in the morning. They’rehome with their fathers or husbands.”

“Ssh. I’m not asking her…”

No, this did not sound good at all. She tooka step forward, thinking she had better handle the negotiating, butScruffy swung down and faced her first.

“Sorry,” he said, “but Chalts figgers we’regoing to get took down by our boss if we delay our route that much,so it’s got to be real worth the hollering at.” He shuffled hisfeet and prodded one of the vehicles fat tires. “He says we’ll doit if you show us-show him-your, uh…”

“Emperor’s warts, Scuv, we’ll be here allnight if you talk.” The second man leaned out of the cab so thelights on the vehicle illuminated his face. He was comelier thanhis scruffy comrade, but that did not make Amaranthe appreciate hisrequest more. “Pull up your shirt and show us some teats, and we’llgive you a ride.”

While she had paid greater prices for thingsbefore, she doubted a mercenary leader striving to build areputation for competence should entertain such an offer. Sheunbuttoned her jacket, intending to show them her pistol ratherthan any skin.

“She’s going to do it!” Scruffy whispered inan aside to his comrade.

“Told you,” the other muttered. “Sheprobably-oomph!”

Without further warning, the man flew out ofthe cab and crashed to the street at his comrade’s feet. A familiarfigure slid into the vacated seat-Maldynado. The soldier’s riflerested across his lap.

“I haven’t even seen under her shirt,”he said, “so there’s no way you two shrubs are going to get ashow.” He gave her a wide-eyed significant look, as if to ask whatshe had been thinking by unbuttoning her jacket.

Amaranthe smiled and lifted the garment todisplay the pistol.

“Ah, right.” Maldynado wriggled his fingers.“You coming? I’m sure I can drive this.”

“You want to steal it?” She eyed thegarbage workers.

Scruffy was helping his comrade to his feetamidst much groaning.

“I just wanted a ride,” Amaranthe added.

“Aw, come on, boss,” Maldynado said. “Ihaven’t gotten to abscond with an official imperial vehicle sincewe molested those soldiers up at that secret lake.”

“We didn’t molest them, we helped them.”Amaranthe rubbed her face. It was so difficult to establish areputation for being a doer of good. “These two gentlemen weregoing to give us a ride. I don’t think we need to steal theirvehicle and get them in trouble.”

The man Maldynado had thrown out lunged forthe cab, his hand balled into a fist and drawn back to throw apunch. He halted mid-swing when the rifle whipped up. The coldsteel muzzle pressed against his forehead.

“I don’t think we want these fellows ridingalong with us,” Maldynado said.

The driver backed down, arms raised. “Toldyou she wasn’t nice,” he muttered to Scruffy.

“What did I do?” Amaranthe asked.

Both men glared at her. Maldynado grinned.Yes, this might have gone past the point of salvaging with words.She took out her pistol. Though she did not point it theirdirection, she made sure they saw it.

“You two have any rope in there?” she askedScruffy.

“Spare winch cable.”

“Can you get it, please?”

He shrugged and unlocked a box near the frontwheels. He pulled out a large spindle of metal cable.

“Thanks,” Amaranthe said. “Now, you two sitover there, back to back, please. I’m going to tie you up.”

“What?” Scruffy balked.

His comrade scowled. “Definitely not anice girl.”

“Actually, I thought this would keep yougentlemen out of trouble,” Amaranthe said. “Better to beincapacitated by deadly bandits than simply wander back toheadquarters without your truck, right?”

“Oh,” Scruffy said. “Like a lot ofbandits, right?”

“At least six, I should think,” Amaranthesaid.

He sat on the cement. After a glower atAmaranthe’s pistol, his grumbling comrade did the same.

“Want me to beat them up a bit?” Maldynadoasked. “To add verisimilitude?”

“No time.” Amaranthe finished tying the menand joined Maldynado in the cab. “They can smash their headsagainst each other’s faces if they feel the need to add physicalevidence to corroborate the story.”

Maldynado threw a lever. Gears turned,pistons pumped, and the truck lurched backward, flattening an ashcan.

Amaranthe groaned. “Why do I find it sodifficult to be a law-abiding citizen these days?”

Maldynado shoved the lever the otherdirection, causing the vehicle to roll forward. “Is there a lawagainst smashing people’s trash cans?”

“Imperial City Code 174 covers it. There arenumerous pages on vandalism.”

“It can’t be vandalism if it’s done byaccident.” Maldynado fumbled about, and they veered toward a stonewall.

“No, no, use the turning arm!” came a cry ofadvice from the bound men.

Maldynado located the controls and turned thevehicle to the left. He angled toward an intersection. “Good thingyou didn’t gag them.”

“Yes, they’ll be in big-bigger-troublewith their boss if we wreck their vehicle.” Amaranthe realized herhand was gripping the side of the cab with clenched fingers.

“Nah, I’ve got it now.” Maldynado pushed thevehicle to full speed. “We’ll be there in a few minutes. This isfun. Far better than riding that ridiculous bicycle.”

Wind drove rain droplets through the openside, and moisture spattered Amaranthe’s cheeks. She was alreadyregretting her choice. That theft would be reported, and theenforcers would match it to her once the workers described her. Sheshould have handled the situation better.

“Quit it,” Maldynado said.

“What?”

“Self-flagellating. I heard what that mansaid; you got the location of the rail carriage. We wouldn’t havegotten that if you hadn’t gone up to talk to them. And it’simportant to get over there quickly in case Books and Akstyr havealready found it and are on the brink of getting themselves introuble.”

Amaranthe wiped water from her cheeks.“You’re wiser than you let on most of the time. In fact, youusually hide it well.”

“It’s late. I’m not at my best.” He noddedtoward an upcoming intersection bisected by rail tracks. “There’sour street.”

He turned the corner and rolled over astreetlamp in the process. It snapped from its cement post withouthindering the sturdy truck. Amaranthe dropped her face into herpalm.

“Oops,” Maldynado said.

Smoke teased Amaranthe’s nostrils,distracting her from a mordant response. She sniffed at the airoutside the window. It did not smell like the coal burning in theirfurnace.

“Uh oh.” Maldynado pointed down thestreet.

Flames licked around the edges of a window ina building a block ahead. A building with an oversized statue inthe shape of a hydrant out front-the old fire brigade.

A sleek black steam carriage trundled up thehill, coming their direction. It was a street model, not one forthe railways, but it had a similar style to the other one. Achauffeur perched on the bench of the carriage, hood drawn toshield him from the rain. Face forward, he avoided looking theirdirection. Lamps burned inside the carriage, but dark curtains hidthe contents.

“Crash into them,” Amaranthe said.

“What?” Maldynado blurted.

“Nobody who lives around here can afford apersonal vehicle, and somebody started that fire.” The carriage wasdrawing even with them, and it would be too late to stop them soon.“Crash into them!” Amaranthe reached toward the controls.

“All right, all right.” Maldynado jerked thevehicle to the left.

The garbage truck rammed into the side of thecarriage. Metal crunched, and the impact threw Amaranthe againstthe back of the cab. That did not keep her from scrambling out,pistol in hand.

She had expected the crash to force thecarriage to stop, but the chauffeur only turned his vehicle away,trying to extricate himself from the garbage truck. The curtainsstirred, and Amaranthe caught a glimpse of red hair. Her heartleaped. Their foreign woman.

Maldynado kept mashing the garbage truck intothe carriage, trying to pin it against the brick wall of theclosest building.

“What are you doing, idiot?” the chauffeurshouted.

Amaranthe sprinted around the garbage truckand jumped onto the driving bench. The carriage lurched andwobbled, rattling the perch like a steam hammer. The chauffeur spuntoward Amaranthe, his hand darting for a weapon.

She pressed the pistol against his temple. “Idon’t recommend that tactic. Why don’t you stop the carriage?”

He snarled at her and did not obey. Sheshoved his hood back with her free hand. He had the olive skin andbrown hair of a Turgonian. A scar ran from his ear to his jaw, amark that would have been memorable if she had seen it before, butshe had not. He did have the short hairstyle soldiers favored.

“Stop the vehicle,” Amaranthe repeated,putting more pressure on the muzzle pressed against his temple.

“Very well.” The man grabbed a lever.

Steam brakes squealed, and the abrupt haltnearly threw Amaranthe from the bench. She gripped the frame andwould have been fine, but the chauffeur took advantage. He launcheda kick at her ribs. She dodged, avoiding the majority of the blow,but it upset her balance. Before she toppled off, she grabbed hisleg and took him over the edge with her.

They tumbled toward the street. Amaranthetwisted in the air and landed on top of him. She caught his wrist,yanked it behind him, and slammed his face into the wet cement. Hegroaned and ceased struggling. With her knee in the chauffeur’sback, she patted him down and found the weapon he had been reachingfor, also a pistol. She stuffed it inside her belt.

Steel squealed behind them.

Amaranthe rolled to the side and jumped toher feet, afraid someone had started the carriage again. Gettingrun over was never a good plan.

Neither it nor Maldynado’s vehicle was movingthough. The noise came from one of the garbage truck’s articulatingarms. It had latched onto a flue on the carriage and was liftingthe back end of the vehicle into the air.

“They’re not going anywhere now,” Maldynadocalled, leaning out of the cab and grinning.

A carriage door opened. Somethingglinted.

“Look out,” Amaranthe called.

A shot rang out.

Maldynado yelped and ducked out of sight.

Not sure if he had been hit or not, Amarantheleft her man and sprinted for the opposite side of the carriage.She grabbed the door handle, thinking to surprise those inside ifthey were watching Maldynado, but it was locked. The dark curtainswere still drawn, and someone had extinguished the lightinside.

Amaranthe was debating about using her pistolto smash through the window when footsteps sounded to the rear. Shepeered around the end of the carriage. Books and Akstyr wererunning toward her, swords drawn.

She waved for them to cover the back of thecarriage, in case the people inside jumped out and ran in thatdirection, then she left the locked door and eased around thefront. The chauffeur was sprinting toward an alley. She ignoredhim, figuring the important people were inside.

Using the front of the carriage for cover,Amaranthe leaned around the corner, her pistol ready. The carriagedoor dangled open.

Books hunkered by the front of the garbagetruck, using it for cover while he pointed a pistol at the opendoor. Akstyr had gone to the far side of the carriage in case theriders tried to escape that way.

“Come out,” Amaranthe said. “We have yousurrounded.”

Something tiny flew out from within, andAmaranthe jumped back. Glass hit the cement and shattered. Smokepoured from a broken vial.

She fired into the few inches of opendoorway. She did not expect to hit anyone, but maybe it would makethem think twice about throwing anything else outside.

“Is that-” Books started.

“Back up,” Amaranthe called over hisquestion. If this was the stuff that knocked peopleunconscious…

Though she backpedalled several meters, thesmoke billowed outward at an alarming rate. It soon smothered thestreet and hid both vehicles. An acrid scent stung her nostrils andeyes. She fumbled to reload the pistol, but had to stop to dashaway tears that blurred her vision. At least she did not feel woozyor sluggish. This was some new concoction with adifferent-horrible-smell from the yellow powder.

She wiped her eyes again.

Movement stirred the smoke. She lifted herpistol, but did not fire, not when it might be one of her men.

Amaranthe listened, expecting telltalefootfalls. Surely, the occupants intended to use the smoke tocamouflage their escape.

Though the vehicles had stopped moving, theirengines still rumbled and clanked. But then she heard somethingdifferent. A clatter. Something hitting the ground.

She dropped to a knee, left arm supportingher right hand to steady it for a shot. She waited, searching thesmoke through bleary eyes.

A boom shattered the night. Its force hurledAmaranthe backward, and her head cracked against the cement street.Pain exploded in her skull, and black dots danced before her eyes.Rain pelted the street around her. No, not rain. Pieces of metaltinkling and clanking to the ground.

A shard gashed her cheek, eliciting new pain,and she rolled over, wrapping her arms over her head. Somethingslammed onto the street inches from her face. She found herselfgaping at a detached portion of the articulating arm.

“Up, girl,” she told herself, forcing hermind into gear.

Pain lanced through her at the change inposition, but she shoved her feet under her anyway, and turnedtoward the crash site. Smoke still hazed the street, and the airstank. Her first thought was that one of the boilers had ruptured,but perhaps the people in the carriage had thrown some sort ofexplosive.

Two tall figures strode toward her, theirfeatures masked by the smoke and night shadows.

Amaranthe had lost her pistol in the fall.She yanked out the one she had taken from the chauffeur.

“It’s us,” Maldynado said.

“Are you all right?” Books asked.

Amaranthe lowered the weapon. “Yes. Did yousee anyone? Did you capture anyone?”

Given that they dragged no prisoners betweenthem, the latter seemed unlikely, but Akstyr wasn’t accounted foryet. Maybe he had had better luck.

“Sorry, I was busy getting shot,” Maldynadosaid.

In the poor lighting, she could not see if hewas bleeding, but the way he reached for his temple and thenlowered his hand to check it made her suspect so.

“Can you walk?” Books asked. “I think theyset the fire in that building down there. If so, they must havebeen trying to hide something, to destroy evidence perhaps.”

Before he finished the words, Amarantheforced her legs into a jog. “Let’s check it. Where’s Akstyr?”

The back of her head sent a pulse of painthrough her skull with each step. She probed her scalp gingerly,and her fingers met dampness. What a night.

“I’m not sure,” Books said. “I saw him racinginto an alley. I think it was him. He must have seen someone.”

Amaranthe thumped her fist against her thigh,torn between wanting to race after him to make sure he did not getin trouble and wanting to investigate the building before theflames burned away any evidence that might be inside. “Whichalley?” she asked.

Books hesitated, then pointed at one a half ablock down the hill. Amaranthe veered toward it, but when shereached the mouth, she could not see anyone. Several alleys openedto the left and right before the main one emptied onto a street ablock away.

“Could be anywhere,” she muttered.

“Let’s check the building,” Books said. “I’msure he’ll be fine.”

Amaranthe was not, and she did not want tolose any more men, but she let Books lead her away. Maldynado hadstopped to gawk at the wreckage revealed by the clearing smoke.Warped and charred, the vehicles slumped like candles melted downto stubs. Though warehouses and commercial buildings filled theseblocks, Amaranthe doubted that explosion would go unreported forlong.

Shaking her head, she followed Books to atall, double-door entrance-one large enough to accommodate arailway carriage. Smoke poured out, and he had pulled his shirt upover his nose. Flames continued to burn at the ground-level window,and fire danced behind the upper floor windows now, too.

Even before Amaranthe stepped inside, dryheat blew over her face. The rail carriage sat in the middle of anopen bay. Flames crackled and danced along the wooden ceiling highoverhead, but the fire had not damaged the carriage yet.

She rifled through a pocket and found thekerchief she had used earlier in the night.

“The flames have likely compromised thestructural integrity of the building,” Books said.

“That’s his way of saying we’re stupid to goinside, right?” Maldynado asked.

“I believe so.” Amaranthe went in anyway,heading straight for the rail carriage. Hot air and light assaultedher already beleaguered eyes, and tears streaked down her cheeks,cool against skin flushed from the heat. “Spread out and searchthis floor.”

A board fell away from the ceiling andthudded to the cement ahead of her. Flames licked the charred wood.She ran around it and circled the carriage, hoping one door wouldbe open. None were. She tugged her jacket off, wadded it up toinsulate her hand, and reached for the handle.

The heat seared her flesh even through thecloth barrier, and she yanked the door open as quickly aspossible.

A ceiling beam snapped, and half of itdropped, smashing onto the engine of the rail carriage.

Amaranthe gulped. Wisps of charred paper andwood floated in the air, and even with the kerchief over her mouthand nose, hot fumes seared her lungs.

Using her boot, she nudged the door openwide. Nothing rested on the carpeted floor or black-velvet bencheson either end. A shirt or jacket hung over the back of one though.Amaranthe doubted it would reveal anything useful, but she lungedin and grabbed it.

“Amaranthe!” Books yelled.

She jumped out of the carriage. “What?”

“Over here,” he called from the far corner ofthe bay, somewhere behind the carriage. “You’re going to want tosee this.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Maldynadosaid.

Amaranthe eased around the carriage andspotted the two men behind a low wall that partially hid a bank ofstanding lockers. Books was staring at something on the ground, hisface twisted in a horrified rictus.

Maldynado backed away, his expression grim.“I can’t look at that.”

Amaranthe took a deep breath and joinedBooks.

The woman’s body on the ground did notsurprise her, but its nudity and the scars gouging the torso did.Though the smell of burning wood-burningeverything-dominated the building, she caught a whiff ofblood, and her stomach twisted into a knot, threatening to ejectits contents. Amaranthe took a deep breath and sought to finddetachment, at least enough to study the body and figure out whatit meant.

The scars seemed systematic rather than theresult of sword or knife fighting. Some were stitched and partiallyhealed while others appeared more recent. Though blood saturatedthe blonde hair, the face was oddly unmarred.

A jolt of recognition went through her. Itwas Fasha, the woman who had first alerted Amaranthe to thekidnappings. Either that, or the missing sister was a twin, butgiven that Fasha had failed to show up for their lastmeeting…

“Some of those scars.” Books coughed andcleared his throat. “Some of those look like they’re over thereproductive organs.”

Amaranthe stared at him. “What are yousaying? Someone removed her organs?”

“It seems likely someone did somethingto them.”

Another beam snapped, and burning shards ofwood fluttered to the floor.

“We ought to get out of here,” Maldynado saidfrom a few feet away. “I’m sure you two can further discuss thecreepiness of this whole situation outside.”

“Good idea,” Books said, stepping pastAmaranthe.

“Wait, we should remove the body,” she said.A doctor could tell them more about the cuts and if anythingwas…missing. “Can you help me-”

A massive crack boomed above her head.Burning boards plummeted toward her.

Amaranthe leaped back. Someone’s hand grippedher collar and yanked her further. Charred wood and rubble from thefloor above buried the body and hurled smoke and ash into theair.

The rag about her mouth did little to keepfine particles from invading her throat. Coughs wracked her body,and she bent over, trying to find air. The heat and fumes broughtdizziness, and blackness encroached upon her vision again.

More wood snapped overhead. An arm snakedaround Amaranthe’s waist, and she found herself slung oversomeone’s shoulder.

“Help you get out of here?” Maldynado askedin response to her request. “Why, yes, yes I can.”

When Amaranthe opened her mouth to protest,another series of coughs sent spasms through her body.

“You approve?” Maldynado said.“Excellent.”

Despite her reluctance to leave without thebody, a surge of pleasure raced through her when they steppedoutside and cool night air replaced the heat of the building. Rainsplattered the back of her neck, and she didn’t mind it onebit.

“Dear ancestors,” Books said, “what amess.”

“Me?” Amaranthe croaked.

“I believe he’s referring to the crash youinstigated,” Maldynado said.

He had not set her down yet. Amaranthe, buttin the air, torso dangling down his back, twisted her head to theside to view the tangled metal carnage in the middle of thestreet.

“Take a good look,” Maldynado said. “I wantyou to remember this the next time you bother me about running overa street lamp.”

“Are you planning on destroying more streetlamps?” Books asked.

“Oh, I think that’s a given as long as wework for the boss here.”

Amaranthe opened her mouth to tell him to sether down, but motion up the hill stopped her. A vehicle had turnedonto the street and was rolling toward the crash. Night made itimpossible to make out details, but she could guess at theoccupants. “Enforcers coming. Time to go.”

“Right.” Maldynado jogged toward analley.

Amaranthe bumped and bounced on his shoulderlike a crate on a bicycle navigating cobblestones. “I can run on myown,” she said, voice vibrating with Maldynado’s every step.

“Promise you won’t sprint back inside and tryto drag that body out?” Maldynado asked.

“Yes.” Unfortunately.

Maldynado lowered her gently. She scrapeddamp hair out of her eyes, wincing when she brushed against a knotthe size of a chicken egg on the side of her head. She wassurprised to find she still clutched the jacket she had pulled outof the carriage. Not exactly the chance for illumination the bodywould have provided, but maybe a pocket would contain a usefulclue.

Several blocks away and back on the streetfollowing the waterfront, Amaranthe paused beneath a streetlight toexamine it. The flame revealed heavy black material in the cut ofan army fatigue jacket.

“What’s that?” Books asked, stopping besideher.

Maldynado stopped as well, though he turnedhis attention the way they had come, watching for pursuit.

“It was in the carriage.” Amaranthe checkedthe pockets and found nothing. So much for that hope. The rank pinshad been removed, though the nametag was still sewn on above thebreast pocket. She turned it toward the light. “Taloncrest,” sheread and paused. That name seemed familiar.

“Nobody I’ve heard of,” Maldynado said.

“Nor I,” Books said. “Amaranthe?” he askedwhen her thoughtful silence continued.

“Colonel Taloncrest,” she murmured, an uneasyflutter vexing her stomach at the memory.

“Who’s he?” Maldynado asked.

“He was the surgeon performing medicalexperiments on people in the Imperial Barracks dungeon whenHollowcrest had me thrown down there.”

Memories of that miserable place floodedAmaranthe. The military could not be behind the kidnapped athletesand her missing men, could it? No, Sespian would not allow that tohappen. Unless he didn’t know it was happening. He hadn’tknown of the experiments in the dungeon the winter before. But hehad been drugged then. The more likely scenario was that Sespianhad learned of the experiments in the dungeon and ousted Taloncrestfor being one of Hollowcrest’s lackeys. That would mean Taloncrestwas a rogue, perhaps hirable by someone else. Such as thisred-haired woman.

“You’re sure?” Books asked. “Medicalexperiments?”

“Dear ancestors,” Maldynado said, lookingback the way they had come, toward the dead woman. “That’sdisturbing.”

Amaranthe tried not to think of Taloncreststanding over Sicarius, a scalpel poised. It did not work.

CHAPTER 11

When Basilard woke, his head ached worse thanit ever had after a night out carousing with Maldynado. He openedhis eyes to-thankfully-dim lighting emanating from a globe hangingbeside a metal door. The entire room-cubby might be a betterword-was made from dark gray metal. He lay on a narrow cot, staringat riveting running along ridges traversing the walls from floor tocurved ceiling. He had never been on a steam ship, but guessed thatwas his location. Engines somewhere rumbled, the reverberationspulsing through the floor and up his cot.

Was he being transported somewhere? Though hehad never sailed, he had seen maps of the empire and knew that onecould travel from the Chain Lakes down the Goldar River and all theway to the Gulf. From there, one could go…anywhere in the world.Had he been captured to be sold into slavery once again? This timesomeplace far away? Someplace so far away there was no chance hewould ever return home again to see his daughter?

The daughter you could have already gone tosee if you weren’t such a coward, he told himself.

Basilard sat up, and the pounding in his headintensified so much he groaned and grabbed his temples. Toughen up,he told himself. Sicarius would not bellyache so.

He sneered at himself. Why was he holdingSicarius up as a model to emulate?

When the throbbing calmed enough to handle,he swung his legs over the edge of the cot and found the floor-thedeck? Was that what ship people called it? The cold metal numbedhis bare feet. With a twitch of surprise, he realized everythingwas bare. He patted himself down, checking for…he did not knowwhat, but one couldn’t trust people who kidnapped one and stoleone’s clothing.

Soft, rhythmic clangs sounded beyond thedoor. Footsteps.

A scratch and thud echoed through the door.Basilard slipped off the cot and dropped into a defensive crouch.One that could easily turn offensive, if the situation permittedit. Though he should perhaps figure out where he was beforeattacking people. Who knew how long he had been unconscious?

Another thud sounded, then a clank. Multiplelocks being thrown? If so, they had secured him well.

The thick, metal door squeaked open.

A woman stood there, her long red hair pinnedinto a swirling dervish atop her head. Two men framed her. Theywore the black fatigues of army soldiers, though no rank pinsadorned their collars. One appeared to be “the muscle.” He crowdedthe hallway with broad shoulders and tree-trunk arms that evenMaldynado would have dubbed substantial. He aimed a pistol atBasilard, though the challenging sneer curling his lips said hewould be happy to battle barehanded or perhaps with the swordsheathed at his waist. The surname stitched on his jacket read,LEV. The second man had neatly trimmed gray hair and wielded aclipboard instead of a gun. His tag read, TALONCREST. Awarrior-caste officer involved in this scheme? Surprising.

The woman stepped inside first with noapparent fear of Basilard. The men followed after, one at a time,ducking and stepping over the raised frame of the door toenter.

“Greetings,” the woman said. “I havequestions for you.”

Though Basilard would not have been in a rushto answer their questions under any circumstances, he doubted itwas a possibility here. The soldiers would not understand his signlanguage, and he did not think the woman was Mangdorian. Thoughfair-skinned, she was not as pale as his people, and he thought shemight be Kendorian or perhaps from one of the island nationsbetween Turgonia and Nuria.

He touched the scar tissue at his throat andshrugged. Maybe they would not think to ask if he could read,though Arbitan had insisted Basilard learn that skill before hetook over as head of security for the wizard.

“You can’t speak?” the woman asked, eyesnarrowed.

Basilard shook his head and signed, Whoare you? more out of habit than because he wanted a response.In reflection, maybe he should not have done that. Maybe it wasbetter if they believed he could not answer their questions at all.Or would that mean they had no use for him?

The gray-haired officer’s eyebrows rose. “TheMangdorian hunting code?”

Basilard nodded.

“That answers your question, Litya.”Taloncrest scribbled something on his notepad.

“Yes, but race matters little for myexperiments,” the woman said in a lilting, almost musical accentBasilard did not recognize. “I prefer Turgonian stock, given thegoals of my clients, but your people have such muddied bloodlinesthat no one will be the wiser as long as we breed the foreignerswith darker skinned specimens.”

Breed? Basilard caught his mouth danglingopen, and he snapped it shut.

“If you don’t need him,” Taloncrest said,eyeing Basilard as he tapped his pen on his clipboard, “I’m sure Icould use him.”

“You can have them all for your cuttingsafter I’ve taken my samples.”

“Excellent,” Taloncrest said.

“I can move ahead with him as soon as mysister returns with the anesthesia ingredients.”

Cuts were nothing new to Basilard, butTaloncrest’s smile and the enthusiastic way he scribbled notes onhis clipboard made Basilard uneasy. As did the talk of “samples”and “anesthesia.”

“Your speed in the race,” thewoman-Litya-said, “is that typical for you, or do you believe itwas a fluke performance? Your agility must have impressed our boy,because he’d had another pegged as our last acquisition. I have nodata on you however.”

Basilard clasped his hands behind his back.These people had nothing good planned for him, so he saw no reasonto assist them.

“Taloncrest,” Litya said, “can you understandhis hand codes? Can you make him speak?”

Basilard raised his chin. They couldtry to make him speak.

The young soldier stepped forward at this, aneager smile tightening his lips.

“I don’t know enough of the signs,”Taloncrest said.

“Maybe he’s learned to write Turgonian?”Litya asked. “Or does anybody here read Mangdorian? They’re vaguelyliterate, aren’t they?”

Basilard thought about waving for a pen, ifonly so he could attempt to stab the woman in the belly with itbefore the men stopped him, but it was probably better to pretendhe could not write and did not understand much of what they weresaying.

“When Metya gets back, we’ll question himunder the influence of pok-tah,” the woman said. “If heknows anything, he’ll be eager to share it with us then, one way oranother.”

“It didn’t work on Sicarius,” Taloncrestmuttered, head down, scrawling notes again.

Had Basilard thought about it, he would haveassumed Sicarius was here somewhere, too, but hearing the namestartled him. He covered his surprise quickly and hoped nobodynoticed.

He waited, hoping they would say somethingthat would indicate whether Sicarius was alive or if they hadalready…disposed of him, but nobody spoke again. After Taloncrestfinished scribbling his notes, he nodded to the woman, and the trioleft.

The door clanged shut, and the locks thunkedinto place.

Basilard could only guess at what thesepeople were up to, but he knew he wanted to be no part of it. If hewas on a ship, steaming away from the city, he could not count onAmaranthe and the others finding him and rescuing him. He wouldhave to escape.

He eyed the solid metal walls and the sparseconfines of the cabin. It would not be easy.

Amaranthe swept dust and food crumbs off thetop of the lookout car. Despite the busy night, she had sleptpoorly when she, Maldynado, and Books returned to their camp in theboneyard. She had woken at dawn, the lump on her head throbbing,and frequent yawns had been tearing her gritty eyes ever since.Morning sun beat against her back, making the night’s rain a faintmemory, but the warmth failed to cheer her. Akstyr had notreturned, and she was beginning to fear he had been captured, too.Or worse.

She could not stop picturing Fasha’s deadbody in her mind. Though the girl had never officially hired herteam, or asked for protection, Amaranthe knew she had failed her.She should have kept better tabs on the girl, or at least warnedher not to go hunting for clues on her own.

She swept more vigorously.

“Amaranthe?” Books called. “Are you upthere?”

She swept a walnut shell off the edge,sending it clanging against the rail car on the far side of theircamp.

“Must be a yes,” Books muttered as he climbedup. He frowned over the top of the ladder at her. “I can seecleaning the cars we’re dwelling in, but the tops of them? Is thatnecessary?”

Books held a napkin full of food, andAmaranthe stopped sweeping. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her thatmany hours had passed since her last meal.

“Someone ate walnuts up here and left shellseverywhere,” she said.

“Yes, but is it necessary to cleanthat?”

“No, it’s not necessary, Books, but this iswhat I do when-” She broke off, not wanting to start ranting overnothing. He was not the one upsetting her; it was the cursedsituation and the fact that she was losing men every time sheturned around. “This is what I do.”

“Sorry,” he said. “I just thought…youshould get more rest.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Ah.” Books cleared his throat, glanced down,and seemed to remember he held food. “Breakfast?” He offered her acouple of hard-boiled eggs and a slab of ham.

Amaranthe drew her kerchief from her pocket,found it soot-stained, and sighed. She set it aside to wash laterand grabbed the food barehanded. “Thank you.”

“It’s an all-protein breakfast,” Books said.“I believe Sicarius would approve.”

She tried to smile. “He’d add seeds and rawvegetables to counteract the saltiness of the ham. Or maybe they’reto keep morning movements regular. I think I’ve finally got hisdiet down, but I can’t remember all the reasons for all therules.”

“I just know we’re lucky to have food at allwith Basilard gone. What are we going to do next to find them?”

“I’m not sure.” Which meant she had no idea.“They know we’re looking for them now. I wish we had some soldierfriends at Fort Urgot, so we could ask if anyone knew whatTaloncrest was last working on.” Amaranthe took a bigger bite ofham than normal, tearing it off with a savage chomp.

“Yes, soldiers have that tedious tendency totry and capture us when we get close. Or shoot us on sight.”

“We were this close….” She held upher thumb and forefinger, a millimeter between them. “I don’t knowif that was their hideout or simply a transfer station, but thefire surely destroyed any evidence left behind. They must haverealized there were witnesses to Basilard’s kidnapping. Or maybethey intended him to be the last person they stole, and they didn’tneed the fire brigade building any more.”

“I know it seems bleak now,” Books said, “butwe can’t give up.”

“Of course not. We’re just…” Amaranthetouched the lump on her head, eliciting a stab of pain. “Recoveringfor a few hours.”

“Anyone home?” a familiar voice called.

Akstyr. Amaranthe rose to her feet andstepped to the edge of the car roof. He slouched into camp, hisspiky hair drooping, and dark circles beneath his eyes. He appeareduninjured.

Amaranthe knew it was uncharitable, but shewished it were Sicarius striding into camp instead. Akstyr mighthave information though. She waved for him to come up.

“Busy night?” she asked.

“Boring night,” Akstyr said.

That didn’t sound promising. “Did you learnanything?”

“Enh.”

She circled her hand in the air, implying hecould explain further.

“I spotted the woman and the man running outof the smoke and into an alley,” Akstyr said.

“Woman and man? From inside the carriage?”Amaranthe asked. “What did they look like?”

“The woman had red hair and she was nice andcurvy. The man was older. Short, gray hair. Looked like a soldier,but he was just wearing a black shirt, so it was hard to tell.”

That sounded like Taloncrest and the womanthe young thieves had described. Amaranthe nodded. “Go on.”

“I followed them, figured you’d want to knowwhere they went.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you. And?” Sometimes sheappreciated that Maldynado launched into the whole story at thetiniest prompting. Surely soldiers could get information out ofprisoners of war more easily than she could dig it out of Akstyr attimes.

“Stayed back in the shadows so they wouldn’tsee me. Almost lost them a couple of times, but I found ‘em againon the docks. They went out on Pier Thirteen to a warehouse at theend.”

Amaranthe frowned at Books. “That’s theBolidot’s Imports warehouse, isn’t it? She has a huge business witha big turnover, and cargo ships go in and out of there every day.Kidnappers needing to maintain a low profile couldn’t use such abusy place.”

“Agreed,” Books said.

“They never came out,” Akstyr said.

“That seems unlikely,” Books said.

Akstyr stepped toward him, chest puffed out.“You thinking I’m blind? Or lying? While you were sleeping, I wassitting there watching and waiting for them to come back down thedock and they never did. I stayed until workers showed up and wentinside. What’d you do? Come back here and snore all night?”

“Four hours, perhaps,” Books murmured.

Amaranthe rested a hand on Akstyr’s arm,drawing his attention to her. “Is it possible they slipped away ina boat?”

“Don’t think so,” he said. “I thought of thatand checked how many boats were around. Didn’t see anydisappear.”

“I guess we can take a look,” Amaranthe toldBooks.

Akstyr yawned. “You two do that. I’m going tomake it thunderous in the sleeping car.” He emulated a noisy snore,then jumped to the ground.

“Akstyr,” Amaranthe called. She stifled atwinge of annoyance that he had dismissed himself without asking ifshe needed anything else. He had to be tired after staying up allnight, and he was surly even on a perky day. “We need you tocome.”

“What?” he called up in a whiny voice a fiveyear old could not have bested.

“I’ll bet you ten ranmyas Taloncrest and hisforeign lady aren’t working out of that warehouse.”

“So?”

“So, if you didn’t see them leave bymundane means, isn’t it possible they used the mentalsciences?”

“Oh,” Akstyr said. “Well, yeah.”

“Then we’ll need you to stick yourmagic-sniffing nose in the corners,” Amaranthe said, “see if youcan catch a scent.”

“I’m not a hound, you know.”

“We know,” Books said. “Hounds work alot harder for a lot less incentive.”

“You’re not helping,” Amaranthe said.

“We can’t go until night, right?” Akstyrasked. “Lots of people will be working, so we can’t sniff arounduntil they go home.”

Amaranthe leaned over the edge of the roofand smiled down at him. “I’ll get us in. Have some breakfast, andwe’ll head over. You can sleep later.”

Akstyr stabbed a finger at the open door ofthe sleeping car. “Does Maldynado get to stay here?”

“That wouldn’t be fair, would it?” Amarantheasked. “You better go wake him up.”

“Good.” Akstyr smiled for the first time andleaped into the car with zealousness.

“Misery is more palatable when shared withothers,” Amaranthe noted to Books.

“Indeed.”

Amaranthe led Maldynado, Akstyr, and Booksonto Pier Thirteen, her strides long and her chin high beneath thebrim of her sunhat. It hid her face to some extent, and, on thetrolley ride over, she had arranged her hair in a number of braids,then pinned them up in a creative bundle that looked nothing likethe style on any of her wanted posters. She supposed she could lookinto cosmetics to disguise her facial features, but shewanted to be recognized when she was doing something good,something that might help her clear her name.

A massive crane belched smoke as it liftedshipping containers from the bowels of a merchant steamer andlowered them to the dock. Dozens of burly, bare-chested stevedoresunloaded the cargo and ported it inside the towering warehouse. Theshirtless workers seemed to be competing with each other for therole of Tattoo Emperor. Amaranthe decided the man with the krakenwas the winner-its head emblazoned his neck while tentacles randown his back, both arms, and his chest, with the largest pairdisappearing beneath his trousers. Of its own wayward volition, hermind wondered how far beneath the waistband the tentacle motifmight continue and what exactly it would be doing down there.

The tattooed man glanced her way beforeheading into the warehouse with a crate in his arms. He caught hereye and winked.

“If Deret doesn’t turn out to be your dreamman,” Maldynado said, “we can always find you someone here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you dolt,” Books said.“If Amaranthe must copulate at all, it should be with a man whoknows how to read and preferably how to use the Imperial LocusSystem to pluck appropriately intellectual books from the libraryshelves.”

“A skill that would be completely useless forsatisfying her in bed,” Maldynado said.

“Surely, finger dexterity has crossoverapplications.”

“Gentlemen,” Amaranthe said, wondering whensuch commentary had ceased to make her blush. “Let’s go over ourstory.”

“You’re going to pose,” Books said, “as theowner of an escort service, with Maldynado as your employeeand-”

“Star employee,” Maldynado said.

“Uh huh.” Books stepped around a man carryinga massive ceramic jar and continued. “And you’re shopping forimported silks and tapestries and such for your…office? Is thatthe correct term for a place where someone like Maldynado would beprostituted out?”

“Close enough,” Amaranthe said.

“Costasce called her viewing room ‘TheParlor’,” Maldynado said.

They had reached the roll-up door of thewarehouse, so Amaranthe stopped. None of the men streaming in andout spared her group a glance. Maybe they could simply walk in andsnoop about without anyone caring. She peeped through thedoorway.

A woman in spectacles checked off items on aclipboard and directed men toward different areas in the warehouseor toward a massive lift that could deliver cargo to an upperlevel. The men might not care about interlopers, but she wouldsurely notice strangers strolling through the premises. Theplatform sandals crossing her feet with thin straps promised shewasn’t going to wander far to do lifting or other work.

“As to our role,” Books started, butAmaranthe cut him off with a raised hand.

“Akstyr?” she asked. With his disinterest forthings non-magical, she never knew how much he was payingattention. “Your role?”

“We’re your porters.” He yawned. “Me andBooks.”

“Good,” Amaranthe said.

“As long as we don’t have to really portthings.”

“You just sniff about,” she said.

“Are we sure this is wise?” Books ask.“Should this turn…confrontational, we don’t have our two mostproficient fighters here.”

Maldynado propped his hands on his hips. “Youhave me.”

Books looked him up and down, then focused onAmaranthe again. “We don’t have our two most proficient fightershere.”

“You believe Basilard a better brawler thanme?” Maldynado asked. “Truly?”

“We’ll be fine,” she said and headed in.

The clipboard-toting lady’s head swiveledtoward the door before Amaranthe had gone more than three steps.No, this woman would not allow random snoopers, not without a coverstory.

“Morning,” Amaranthe said, strollingcloser.

“What do you want?” the woman snapped.

Ah, the friendly sort. Wonderful.

“Hello, I’m Darva,” Amaranthe said. “DarvaLarkcrest.” As long as she was making up names, she might as wellattach herself to a warrior caste family. “Who are you?”

Amaranthe’s invocation of warrior-castestatus did nothing to impress the woman. In fact, she scowled moredeeply. New money, perhaps, one who had no respect for thearistocracy. Still, if she was the owner, or someone high up in thebusiness, she ought to be interested in pleasing clients.

“Ms. Setjareth,” she said. “Partial owner.What do you want? This is my warehouse, and unless you’re carryingin cargo, I’m not interested in talking to you. You, Squid Tat,take that one to the second floor.”

“I’m interested in purchasing some of yourinventory,” Amaranthe said.

“Shop’s on Third and Canal.” The woman’s gazelowered to her clipboard again.

Amaranthe stepped closer so she blocked thewoman’s view of Akstyr. Behind her back, she flicked a finger tosend him to snoop. “I thought it might save us both some money if Icame directly to the source. No need for you to transport and stockyour inventory when I can-”

“Shop’s on Third and Canal,” the womanrepeated.

“I see. You’re the half of the ownership teamthat isn’t in charge of dealing with customers.”

“Correct,” the woman said without thefaintest hint of an eyebrow to suggest she took reproach atAmaranthe’s dry tone.

Akstyr had moved away from the group, but hehad scarcely begun to search. Time for another tactic. Maldynadowas leaning against a post nearby, an amused smile on his lips. Shejerked her chin toward the woman.

Maldynado gave her a small bow and strolledforward. He crouched down so the woman could see past the clipboardto his face.

“Ms. Setjareth,” Maldynado drawled. “I’llwager you’ve got the prettiest smile this side of Wharf Street. Whydon’t you give me a demonstration so I can more properlyjudge?”

“If I tried a line like that, I’d get stabbedin the eye with a pen,” Books muttered.

“Ssh,” Amaranthe whispered. “Let the masterwork.”

“Master?” Books said. “Please.”

“There are less than ten females this side ofWharf Street,” Setjareth growled. “Not much of a competition.”

Amaranthe grinned. Though it wasn’t exactlyan instant melting, the woman didn’t order Maldynado to go away orleave her alone, so it was promising. There was no talk of stabbingeyeballs with pens either.

“Ah, but some of your stevedores might haveattractive smiles,” Maldynado said.

Setjareth snorted.

“Also my own employer stands a mere five feetaway.” Maldynado waved at Amaranthe. “Do you understand the risk Itake to my livelihood by suggesting your smile might be prettierthan hers?”

Setjareth’s snort was mellower this time witha slight upward curl of her lips. Amaranthe eased a few stepsbackward to let Maldynado ooze his charms in private. She shouldhave started with that.

“What are you doing?” Setjareth shouted.

The bellow startled Amaranthe, and at firstshe thought Maldynado had offended the woman, but that wasn’t it.Setjareth was pointing into a corner of the warehouse where Akstyrstood, a trapdoor in the floor lifted.

He offered a blank look in response to thequestion.

“Don’t worry about him.” Maldynado slung anarm over Setjareth’s shoulder and attempted to turn her about.“He’s a dull lad. Got run over by a steam carriage as a boy andhasn’t been strong in the head since. Harmless though. If-”

Setjareth shoved Maldynado’s arm from hershoulders and stalked toward Akstyr. “What’re you doing pokingaround my warehouse?”

Akstyr looked at Amaranthe. “Uhm.”

“Are you spying on our inventory?” Setjarethasked, voice rising. “Are you reporting to Lady Devirk orBucktooth?”

Several of the stevedores who had been ontheir way out the door to pick up more cargo stopped and turnedaround. Chests out, arms flexed and wide at their sides, themuscled men strode toward their boss.

“No, no, nothing like that.” Amaranthegrabbed Akstyr’s arm and tugged him away from the trapdoor. Shecaught a glimpse of a ladder and water less than a foot below.There was no way a boat could have waited down there. “I see you’renot interested in easy sales, and that’s your loss. We’ll leavenow.”

“Not until you answer some questions.”Setjareth snapped her fingers, and the stevedores loomedcloser.

Amaranthe’s instinct was to flee rather thanrisking injury to these people or her team, but Akstyr gave her aminute nod. He was onto something. Besides, it would be nice ifBooks realized he was capable of more than he gave himself creditfor. She counted the men. Eight of them against her four. Thanks totheir work, the stevedores were large and brawny, but they had thecultivated swagger of street bravos rather than the cool,competence of soldiers, and she doubted there were manydistinguished veterans among the bunch.

“You wish us to stay?” Amaranthe asked. “Verywell.” She gave her men a single nod.

Books blanched, but he did not object.Maldynado grinned. Akstyr gave his “whatever” shrug.

“Wants me to grab ‘em, boss?” One of thestevedores stretched a meaty hand toward Amaranthe.

She caught it by the wrist, twisted it over,and smashed the palm of her free hand into the back of the man’slocked elbow. He blurted a surprised yelp. She forced him to theground with a kick to the inside of his knee, and something poppedin his arm.

“My shoulder!” he bellowed.

Amaranthe yanked the knife at his belt freeand spun on a second man advancing upon her.

A few feet away, Maldynado had already thrownhimself into three others and gone down with them in a tangle.Despite the chaos of flailing arms and scissor-kicking legs, he wason top, seemingly in control. Akstyr, his dagger out, was tradingopening swipes with another man. Books had a blade in hand as well,though he crouched in a defensive stance, waiting for an opponentto advance on him, rather than jumping into the fray.

The man nearest Amaranthe lunged for her. Hehad chosen fists over blades, and he grabbed at her arm with hisright hand while drawing his left arm back for a blow. She blockedthe grasp, ducked the punch, and slammed the heel of her hand intohis solar plexus, twisting her hips to throw her entire body intothe move.

His hard sheath of muscle provided some armorfor his torso, but she hit her spot. He hunched over, clutching hischest. His mouth gaped open, but his stunned muscles denied himair.

Eyes huge with concern, he did not seeAmaranthe’s knee coming. She rammed it into his groin. His nosescraped his knees as his hunch turned into a collapse. The big manhit the ground and rolled into a protective ball next to the firststevedore Amaranthe had dropped.

That fellow lay on his back, eyes watering,his hand clutching a dislocated shoulder. He glowered at her andseemed to be considering whether to hurl himself back into thefight.

“I wouldn’t,” Amaranthe said. “I know how todislocate other body parts as well.”

He eyed his comrade who was still hunched onthe floor, grabbing at his groin and moaning. “I don’t doubt it,”the stevedore muttered.

Amaranthe checked on her men. Maldynado stoodnext to three bodies stacked on each other like Strat Tiles. He hadone foot atop the pile, as if to keep them pinned down, but none somuch as twitched in an escape attempt.

Nearby, blood trickled out of Akstyr’s nose,but he had dropped one man and was boxing with another. Akstyrdodged a swift series of punches, but barely. Though layers ofblubber sheathed the towering stevedore’s broad torso, he movedwith the speed and precision of someone who had been the recipientof training at one time.

“Need help?” Amaranthe asked.

The big man glanced in her direction.

Akstyr’s eyes narrowed in concentration. Heclenched a fist and flung it open again when his opponent turnedback.

Flesh never touched flesh, but the manstaggered back, arms wide, face stunned. With flexibility that hadgreatly improved over the last few months of training, Akstyrlaunched a straight kick that smashed the stevedore beneath thechin. The big man toppled backward, felled like an oak.

“That was good,” Akstyr told Amaranthe.

She did not know if he referred to thetimeliness of her brief distraction or his ability to employ themental sciences during a fight. The latter probably. He wasn’t thesort to praise anyone.

“Yes,” Amaranthe said, agreeing eitherway.

“Look out.” Akstyr pointed over hershoulder.

She ducked and slid to the side, avoiding astevedore’s attempt at a grasp. A knife glinted in his hand.

Books stalked after the man. Surprisingintensity burned in his eyes, and Amaranthe danced further awayfrom the confrontation, figuring this was the middle of somethingbetween the two men.

“You think you can grab her and use heragainst us?” Books growled as the stevedore spun back to face him.“I don’t think so.”

The man limped backward, hands raised, andAmaranthe wondered what Books had done to him.

Movement to the side distracted her from therest of the fight. Ms. Setjareth had discarded her clipboard andwas scurrying toward the door, steps short and awkward thanks tothose sandals.

Amaranthe ran over to cut her off. They didnot need the woman calling for reinforcements-many more stevedoresstill labored on the dock.

Setjareth tried to evade Amaranthe buttripped, sprawling face first onto the hard floor. Amaranthegripped the woman by the triceps and hauled her upright.

“One who has a personality that grates likeglass paper should probably choose footwear sufficient for fleeingfrom irritated people,” Amaranthe said.

“You’re no business woman,” Setjarethgrowled.

“Not true. I run a mercenary business.”

“What do you want?” Setjareth tried to yankher arm away.

Amaranthe did not let go. After skirmishingwith the brawny stevedores, restraining another woman was easy.“Tell the workers out there to take a ten-minute break, then closethe door.”

The woman leaned outside and filled herlungs. Recognizing the nascent scream for what it was, Amaranthegripped the back of Setjareth’s neck and dug her thumb into one ofSicarius’s favorite pressure points. The would-be scream came outas a soft whimper.

“Listen,” Amaranthe said. “Nobody’s planningto harm you or your business. We just need a few minutes to lookaround to make sure you’re not harboring fugitives.” She decidednot to point out that she was a fugitive herself.

“What?” Genuine bewilderment blossomed onSetjareth’s face.

“A couple of suspicious folks took refuge inyour warehouse last night.”

With the sounds of fighting fading, Amaranthechecked on her men. They had routed the impromptu security team andwere forcing the stevedores to sit against the wall in a neat row.Akstyr had returned to peering into corners and prodding atcrates.

“Maybe that’s why the lock was destroyed,”Setjareth muttered.

“What?” Amaranthe asked.

“When I came in this morning, the padlock onthe door was dangling open. It didn’t look like it’d been forced,and it still works.”

Amaranthe removed her hand from Setjareth’sneck. Akstyr knew a few atypical methods of bypassing locks; maybethe red-headed woman was a practitioner herself.

“First time this happened?” Amarantheasked.

“Yes,” Setjareth said. “I spent two hoursrunning inventory this morning.” That might account for some of herdourness. “Nothing was missing, and I didn’t find anyoneinside.”

“I’m sorry. Checking through all yourinventory must have made for a tedious morning.”

“Ancestors know that’s true.”

“And we must have fueled your suspicions,”Amaranthe said, thinking she might yet win the woman’s cooperationif she commiserated.

“You’re mercenaries, you say?” Setjarethasked.

Books, who had been supervising the disarmingand lining up of the men, looked in the women’s direction at thequestion. A grin played across his lips. Pleased with himself, washe? He had done well. No falling apart as he had done in thepast. Amaranthe smiled and nodded at him.

“More or less,” she told Setjareth.

“Do you have a card?”

“A what?”

“A business card. My partner and Ioccasionally have problems the enforcers are lax about solving.They’re professional and thorough when it comes to protectingcitizens, but much less enthusiastic when they’re tasked withprotecting a business’s interests.”

As illogical as it was, Amaranthe stillbristled at slights toward enforcers, but she had to admit thatmembers of the predominantly male force did sometimes showresentment toward the growing power women in the city wielded.Maybe she should tailor her services to fill that gap. As themen-especially Akstyr-were quick to remind her, charity work donein the name of the emperor didn’t pay well. Especially when theemperor never learned of that work….

Setjareth, waiting for an answer, lifted hereyebrows.

“Sorry, no card,” Amaranthe said. “We find itprudent to move our base of operations often, but…” She retrievedthe woman’s clipboard, scribbled the name and address of one oftheir contacts on a page, and tore it off. “Either one of thesefellows usually knows how to contact us. Uhm, take some of yourstevedores-the big ones-if you go to that neighborhood. And don’tgo at night. Or without some alcohol to bribe your way out of…”Amaranthe leaned over and scribbled the name out. “Actually, justgo to that fellow. It’s usually safer. And if you get there beforenoon, he’s usually sober.”

“You might want to think your contact chainthrough a little, dear,” Setjareth said.

“Yes, thank you.”

Since the woman no longer seemed inclined toscream for help, Amaranthe joined Akstyr to see what he had found.He had returned to the trapdoor and was peering down the ladderagain.

“Think they swam away?” she asked, though itseemed unlikely. Why go through the effort of breaking in when onecould simply dive off the end of the dock?

“There’s a residue here.” Akstyr swiped afinger along the edge of the square hole.

“Something physically visible?” Amaranthesquinted but saw nothing more interesting than algae sliming thetwo ladder rungs visible above the water’s surface.

“No, just a sensation. Someone used the-” heglanced about and lowered his voice, “-mental sciences. Rememberwhen that Mangdorian shaman flew out of the lake with Books andthere was a glimmering globe wrapped around them?”

“I was unconscious at the time, but Maldynadotold me the story, yes. You think this practitioner lady envelopedherself and Taloncrest in magic?” She almost choked at the idea ofa Turgonian army officer agreeing to such a mode of transportation,especially when the man had sneered at the idea of magic when he’dexplained his medical experiments in the Imperial Barracks dungeon.“If so, where did they go? For a flight? Or into the lake?”

“I didn’t see anyone fly away in a glowysphere,” Akstyr said.

“Glowing,” Books said.

“What?”

“Glowy isn’t a word.”

“Books…” Maldynado groaned. “I was gettingready to compliment you on doing a decent job in that fight andbeing less of a pedantic know-it-all, but you’re ruining myenthusiasm for the idea.”

“Impressive,” Books said.

“What is?”

“That you used the word pedantic.Correctly.”

“You’re always going to be a stodgyprofessor, aren’t you?”

Books’s eyes crinkled. “It does seemlikely.”

Amaranthe held up a hand to silence them.“Akstyr, are you suggesting the perpetrators have ahideout…in the lake?”

“I’m not wearing a diving suit again,” Bookssaid.

Amaranthe watched Akstyr, hoping he wouldsuggest another explanation, but he merely shrugged.

“Is it even possible to have a hideout on thebottom of the lake?” she asked Books.

“If we were talking about something madeentirely with imperial technology, I’d say no, but with magic…”He spread his arms. “I have no idea.”

“All right,” Amaranthe said. “This is allspeculation at this point. We need to find out if there’s anythingto it or not.”

“So…we need diving suits?” Booksgrimaced.

“Unless Akstyr knows how to make one of thosebubbles to steer us around the lake depths.”

“Nope,” Akstyr said. “I’d sure like to learnfrom someone who could though.”

“You’re not thinking of apprenticing yourselfto the enemy, are you?” Amaranthe teased, though it was not as muchof a joke as she pretended. She watched him carefully for areaction.

“Naw,” he said. “Not unless… Do you thinkshe’d have me?”

“She seems the type who would prefer a manwho could grow a real mustache,” Maldynado said.

“I can!” Akstyr probed his upper lip. “It’sgetting there.”

Amaranthe nodded to Books. “I know you’re notexcited by the idea, but I think we’re going to need those divingsuits. Can you do some research and see where we might getsome?”

Books sighed. “Why do I have the feelingnothing good is going to come of this?”

“Because you lack optimism?” Amaranthesuggested.

“That must be it.”

CHAPTER 12

Footsteps rang on the other side ofBasilard’s door. He leaped out of his cot. The hours he had spentsearching, pressing, pulling, and pounding his fists had notrevealed any weaknesses in his prison.

The door opened, revealing the burly youngsoldier who had held a pistol on him earlier. An equally young andburly man accompanied him, though this one had a scraggily rat tailhanging down his back and wore no military clothing. Both pointedpistols at Basilard.

“Move,” Rat Tail said.

Basilard measured both men as he squeezedpast them. The tight doorway and corridor forced closeness, and hethought about trying for their weapons, but they watched himcarefully. And what if he did overpower them? He had no idea wherehe was or how to get back to the city. Hoping he would not regretit later, he decided to wait for a better opportunity toescape.

The men pushed him through a corridor sonarrow his shoulders brushed the walls, and he had to duckfrequently for pipes that crossed overhead. He waited for aporthole that would provide a glimpse of their location, butnothing broke the monotony of the dark gray bulkheads. The glowingorbs provided the only lighting, and he had no idea if it was nightor day outside. Oddly, though engines pulsed somewhere in thestructure, he had no sense of forward movement nor the rise andfall of waves.

Clanks, clacks, and a rhythmic sucking soundcame from ahead. The engine room? The corridor ended at a chamber,but a transparent barrier filled with glowing yellow tendrils thatwrithed about like snakes blocked the entrance. Basilard blinked,questioning his eyesight.

“Stop,” one of the guards said beforeBasilard reached the entrance.

The man pushed him aside and stepped forward.He leaned into a bronze box mounted on the wall at head level, andhe pressed his face close to a concave indention. A blue pulse oflight washed over his face.

The shimmering tendrils winked out, and theguard stepped through. The second guard shoved Basilard frombehind.

They entered a chamber cluttered with pipes,equipment, moving machinery, and tanks of yellowish blue liquid.Flesh-colored blobs floated in some. Machinery and pipes filled thecenter of the space and one could go left or right down confiningaisles jammed with consoles and narrow tables, or perhaps thosewere beds. Some lay horizontal and others were tilted upward tostand against the wall. Trays near them held scalpels, saws, andscissors.

Basilard swallowed. He did not know what thisplace was, but it was nothing so innocuous as an engine room.

The men prodded him toward the far aisle. Herounded a tight corner and stopped. Two red-haired women leanedtogether, heads almost bumping. One wore her hair in a long braidand the other had hers pinned up in a wild swirl of hair. Theyspoke in soft tones. Litya and the sister…. What was the name?Metya.

One of Basilard’s guards cleared his throat.The women turned in unison. They were twins, identical except for afew freckles and an old half-moon scar on one’s temple. He pickedLitya out as the woman without the marking.

As one, their eyes shifted up and down,studying Basilard. Under other circumstances, he might have flushedwith embarrassment-he was naked, after all-but there was nosexual interest in their perusal. He struggled to keep fromsquirming under their scrutiny.

The aisle behind them held more beds,occupied by nude men and women. Most were propped upright againstthe wall, the people held tight by leather straps, but the bedbehind the twins lay in the horizontal position with a muscular manon it, not strapped like the others but chained, the links sosecure that he could do no more than lift a hand or twitch a toe,though he did neither while Basilard watched. Cords snaked from amachine to coin-sized, spider-like devices with the tips of the“ legs” digging beneath the skin on the man’s naked chest.Translucent tubing ran from a pulsing green globe, and a viscousfluid of the same color flowed through it and into a needle in hisarm. Not just his arm. His vein.

“Put him on that table.” Metya pointed to anempty one behind her. “I have the pok-tah solution ready.”She stepped to the side, so the guards could shove Basilard past.“Once we hook him up, he won’t-”

Basilard sucked in a startled breath when theview opened up and he saw the face of the man on the table. Heshould have guessed. Sicarius.

His eyes were open. That surprised Basilardagain-he would have assumed, even with the restraints, someonewould keep Sicarius unconscious if they dared to detain him. Whenthose dark eyes swiveled toward Basilard, though, they were glazedand dull. No sign of recognition glinted in them.

The guard shoved Basilard, trying to forcehim around the end of Sicarius’s table and toward the vertical onea few feet away. He balked and groped for a way to communicate.

“Wait.” Litya pointed the pen at Basilard.“Do you know him?” She shifted the pen and tapped Sicarius on abare toe.

Basilard choked on her audacity. He didn’tthink even Amaranthe would poke Sicarius’s toe, and hetolerated more from her than anyone else.

“Well?” Litya demanded. She grabbed aclipboard from a wall where it dangled on a string, a penattached.

Basilard did not know whether admitting heknew Sicarius would help him or hinder him. He just knew he wouldhave to make his escape attempt soon-if these people strapped himdown and drugged him, he might never wake again.

Basilard lifted his fingers and signed,Can you understand me?

“Why does it matter?” Metya asked. She stoodnear the second bed, tapping buttons beneath a dark orb identicalto the green one at Sicarius’s station.

“Aside from this one-” Litya waved her pen atBasilard again, “-the assassin is the only one here whose lineagewe haven’t been able to discover. He proved resistant to the truthelixir, and he’s the one I’m most curious about.”

“It’s not crucial,” Metya said.

“No, but the information could prove usefulfor our studies. He’s already what our clients wish us tocreate.”

Basilard lifted his eyebrows. Assassins?Gifted warriors? Superior athletes?

Metya sniffed. “I’m sure we can makeimprovements.”

Litya gave her sister a slit-eyed glare andshuffled a blank page to the top of her clipboard. She held it outto Basilard. “Can you write? I can read Turgonian, Kendorian,Kyattese, and Nurian.”

Which of those was her native tongue? He tookthe implements and wrote, I know him. What’s in it for me if Ican extract the information?

When he handed Litya the notepad, the othersister came over as well. Not a foot from Basilard, they bent theirheads together to read his message.

If he could grab one, spin her about, and useher as a shield against the guards’ firearms, maybe he could barterfor his freedom.

Before the thought had finished, a coolpistol muzzle pressed against the back of his neck. He sighed. Hewould have to find a better moment, one when the guards were lessattentive.

“Help us,” Litya said, “and we’ll let youwalk out of here when we’re done collecting specimens.”

Purpose of specimens?

“Nothing you’d understand,” Metya said.

“Stay focused,” Litya said. “Are you willingto cooperate for your life, or not?”

All these other people will die?

Metya shrugged.

“Not by our hands,” Litya said, “but ourcolleagues have more invasive experiments. Some of them preferfresh cadavers. However, you were something of a bonus. We’dalready collected our handful of chosen men and women.” She laid ahand on Sicarius’s bare leg and smiled.

Basilard shifted, uncomfortable with theentire situation and not certain how to read her. He had never hadmuch of a knack for perceiving when women were telling the truth,but going along would prolong his stay amongst the upright andun-drugged.

What about him? Basilard nodded toSicarius, then wrote, Will you let him go as well?

He wasn’t sure why he asked it. If Sicariusmet his death here, at the hands of these scientists, that would bea way to see the Mangdorian royal family avenged. It seemedcowardly to shy away from doing it himself, but if God had otherplans, why should Basilard interrupt?

“Well…” Litya started.

“No,” Metya said, throwing her sister a sharplook. “Why do you think we were trying to get him to show up at thestadium where we could snatch him? This is a long-term project, andthe bounty on his head will fund the latter half of our work. It’sfar more than we’re getting from our clients.”

“I wanted him for research,” Lityamuttered.

The speculative gaze she cast Sicarius madeBasilard wonder if this one had more than science in mind.

He wrote, Research for what?

“The main goal of our research is to-”

“Litya,” a male voice said from the corridor.Footsteps thudded, and Taloncrest appeared at the head of theaisle. “I know you’re a newcomer to our land, but here in Turgoniawe don’t explain ourselves to our captives.”

The guards shuffled aside to let Taloncrestthrough, and Basilard took note of the pistols no longer pointeddirectly at him. Unfortunately, people fenced him in on eitherside, so his odds of getting by were poor. Besides, where would hego? He had yet to glimpse a door to an upper deck on this ship oreven a porthole so he could see what lay outside. Footsteps soundedas other people walked in and out of the laboratory, and hesuspected there were far more people on board than he had seen.

“We’re not interested in adopting Turgoniantactics,” Metya said. “Your people aren’t known for theirnegotiating skills or anything else that doesn’t involvebloodshed.”

Taloncrest leaned against one of the tanks,apparently intending to watch. Though he carried no weapons beyonda utility knife at his belt, he towered over the women. Sensingthey would be less forthcoming with Taloncrest there, Basilardpointed at Sicarius and indicated he was ready to start.

Can you lessen his stupor? He doesn’trecognize me. I won’t be able to get answers from him.

“I wouldn’t,” Taloncrest said, the first torespond to Basilard’s scribbles. “You girls aren’t from the empire,so you may not be that familiar with his reputation, but he’sdangerous. That you got him at all was…”

“Impressive?” Litya suggested.

“Lucky,” Taloncrest said.

Metya snorted. “We are highly trainedpractitioners. Setting a trap for a mundane warrior is easier thana first-year telekinesis test.”

“Turgonian men are horrible at acknowledgingthat women can be skilled,” Litya said, sharing a look with hersister. “One wonders why the intelligent women living here don’tleave.”

“Perhaps,” Taloncrest said, “you’d have themgo to the Kyatt Islands where they’d be kicked out if theirresearch methodologies did not fit in with the humanitarian valuesof your Polytechnic?”

“We’ll handle this,” Litya said. “Go back toyour research on your side of the lab, the lab that our goldfunded and that we are graciously letting you work in.”

Taloncrest stepped past Basilard to thrust afinger at the woman’s nose. “Don’t order me around. Youpresume-”

Metya closed her eyes briefly, then flickedher own finger. Taloncrest lurched to the side, his head crackingagainst the back of the machine he’d been leaning against. In theprocess, he bumped against Basilard.

Basilard feigned a stumble and used themovement to palm Taloncrest’s knife. The ex-officer glared at thewomen and did not seem to notice. He clenched his fists and stoodto his full height. The veins in his neck strained beneath theskin.

The twins smiled sweetly.

Basilard watched, hoping the confrontationwould elevate into a worthy distraction for an escape, butTaloncrest took a deep breath and stalked back the way he hadcome.

“Tie him up next to the assassin,” Metyasaid. “They can chat from adjoining beds.”

Basilard wriggled his fingers to remind themhe needed his hands free for talking, but Metya had already turnedaway. She stroked the globe controlling the liquid oozing intoSicarius’s veins.

The guards pushed Basilard past her. Heresisted the impulse to make their work difficult. If he cooperatedmeekly, they might be less prepared when he did strike. He kept hishand down, the knife pressed against the inside of his arm. It wasnot a small blade, and it would take luck to keep the guards fromnoticing it while they tied him. Should he strike before then? No,he would probably need Sicarius’s help to escape, and Sicariuswould need to be alert for that.

The guards pushed him back against the tablewhile it was still vertical. Its cold metallic surface pressedagainst his bare flesh. One guard bent to strap his ankles andthighs to the table. Basilard inched the knife around his side.

He wondered if he was being a fool forwaiting and letting them secure his legs. He glanced at the othertable. Metya was still fiddling with the globe, and Sicarius’s eyesremained vacant.

Basilard slipped the blade behind his buttand pressed his cheeks into the cold metal. A heartbeat later, oneof the guards grabbed both of his wrists, yanking them beforehim.

“Leave them free for now.” Litya held out herclipboard.

Basilard hesitated. Would it be a mistake toreveal that Sicarius could understand his signs? At the moment,they did not realize Basilard and Sicarius worked together. Thewriting would be slow, though, and the women would be able to readeverything he shared.

He pointed at Sicarius, touched his owntemple, and signed, He understands, figuring the women wouldget the gist.

Litya’s eyes narrowed. “The assassin knowsyour sign language? Why?”

Basilard accepted the clipboard and wrote,He’s traveled to my country. To slay people.

“I see.” Litya took the clipboard away andflipped it back to her papers. “Give him a few moments, and heshould regain a measure of cognizance. I mixed in some of my truthelixir, too. He resisted it before, but perhaps if he’s familiarwith you and doesn’t see you as a threat…” She eyed him a littletoo knowingly. “The more you can get me, the more favorably thingswill turn out for you. I want to know his parents’ names, whetherthey were distinguished warriors or athletes, and what mix of bloodis in his veins. The Turgonians are mongrels through and through,but most of them are a combination of their ancient Nurian rootsand the brawny tribesmen that roamed these lands before they came.He looks like he might have some Kendorian in him though. Find outas much as you can.”

Basilard nodded. She propped her hip againstSicarius’s table and waited. One of the guards at the head of theaisle yawned. No privacy for this chat.

Basilard waited for Sicarius to come around.Already his own toes felt numb from the straps around his legs andankles. He was conscious of the steel of the knife behind him, itsmetal warm now from his body heat. It reminded him not to squirm,lest he drop it.

His gaze drifted toward the nearest of thestrange tanks where a fleshy blob floated. Something nagged at theback of his mind, a feeling that he should have put the puzzlepieces together and figured things out by now. The women’s wordsfloated through his mind. He’s already what our clients wish usto create….This is a long-term project.

Babies? He stared at the blob. Were theycreating babies? Was that possible? Would that make thecaptured men and women the parents? Not parents. Brood-stock. Likehounds being used to whelp offspring with desirable traits.

One of Sicarius’s fingers twitched. Basilardwatched his face, waiting for a sign that the drugs were losingtheir hold. It came, not in an expressive show of recognition, butin a hardening of his features-a resumption of the stony mask healways wore. It replaced the blank stare, though his eyes were notas sharp as usual.

Basilard signed, You recognize me?

Sicarius nodded once. His eyes shifted fromside to side, taking in the woman and the looming guards.

I got captured, too, Basilardsigned.

Though Sicarius’s wrists were strapped to thetable like the rest of his body, he could manage some of theone-handed signs. The one he chose was, Obviously.

Basilard clenched his teeth, sensingcondemnation in that brief gesture. Sicarius must assume Basilardhad done something foolish to get here. He didn’t even considerthat Basilard might have been planted as part of a rescue plan fromthe team.

Basilard forced his jaw to loosen. He couldnot read Sicarius’s thoughts, and, even if his guess were close,Sicarius would be right, wouldn’t he? Basilard had beenfoolish and had gotten himself captured.

I was competing at the Imperial Games whenthey got me. How did they capture you?

Heartbeats thumped past with Sicarius doingnothing but gazing impassively. Maybe he had done somethingfoolish, too, and was loathe to admit it. The thought pleasedBasilard. Sicarius was too cursed perfect. Nobody should be soperfect that he never made mistakes. It wasn’t human. Of course,Sicarius might not be responding because he could not explain withone-handed signs what had happened and did not want to speak of itwith their captors listening.

Amaranthe is looking for us, Basilardsigned. She’s concerned about you. He did not know why headded the latter. Even as an incapacitated prisoner, Sicarius didnot look like someone who needed bolstering, and he probably didnot care if anyone ever worried on his behalf or not.

“I presume we have a limited time to talk,”Sicarius whispered in flawless Mangdorian. “Stick to relevanttopics.”

Basilard winced, both because his offering ofcompassion was being shoved aside, and because he was all too awareof the reason why Sicarius had learned his tongue.

“I’ve learned little,” Sicarius added, “onlythat we are in the lake, possibly deep enough that we’d drownbefore reaching the surface if we simply went out a hatch. Ibelieve there are forty people in the facility, half scientists andhalf guards. Have you obtained any information?”

Litya glanced at the nearest guard.

The man thumped Sicarius on the temple withthe butt of his pistol. “Speak in Turgonian.”

Sicarius leveled a cold stare at histormentor. Even though Sicarius was immobilized, the guard steppedback, shifting uneasily.

Even the dullest wolf knows it’s not goodwhen the moose and the rabbit conspire in a language foreign to thepack, Basilard signed.

It was an old saying that usually elicited asmile amongst Basilard’s people. Sicarius stared at him withoutcomment.

I’m supposed to be getting your lineageout of you, Basilard signed.

“My parents?” Sicarius asked inTurgonian.

Basilard suspected it was for the sake ofthose listening rather than a need for clarification. The guardsrelaxed at the words.

I just got here, Basilard signed.If we’re so deep, how do they travel to the surface?

“I was never told,” Sicarius said as hisfingers twitched his real response. With his hands separated andrestrained, he could not make the arm motions that accompanied manyof the Mangdorian signs, and Basilard struggled to follow thewords.

Mental sciences. No thing. Women create whenneed.

Thing? Basilard guessed he meant there was nomagical artifact or other contraption they could snatch to travelto the surface on their own.

…unconscious…don’t know how manydays… Sicarius kept speaking as he signed, “Though I wasgiven to understand it was an arranged mating, and my parents werechosen for their desirable attributes.”

Basilard caught himself listening to thewords. Were they the truth? Had Sicarius been bred like a hound?Basilard had heard what Hollowcrest said in Larocka’s mansion, thatSicarius had been trained from birth to be a tool for the empire,to obey Hollowcrest and Emperor Raumesys. Which meant he hadnot likely had a choice about the assassination mission toMangdoria.

That didn’t matter. He had still done it.

Sicarius was glaring at him, and for a momentBasilard wondered if he read minds in addition to his other skills.But, no, Sicarius signed slowly, with emphasis, and Basilardrealized the glare was for not paying attention.

Amaranthe know where we are? Sicariusasked.

Not when I saw her last, Basilardsaid, but perhaps by now. It’d be best to assume we must escapeon our own.

A few heartbeats passed without a word or asign from Sicarius. He seemed to be considering Basilard. His darkeyes appeared black in this lighting, and Basilard felt them boringinto his soul. Was he suspicious of something? Did he thinkBasilard had cut a deal with the women that would leave himstranded?

Yes, was all Sicarius signed.

You know how many guards watch thisroom? Basilard rushed to sign, wanting Sicarius’s mind onescape, not anything else.

“Yes,” Sicarius said and signed, Fourguards…split twelve-hour shifts. These soldiers worked forHollowcrest…now rogues. “A cook who used to give me balmsafter childhood punishments told me my father was an army officerand my mother a university professor.” Sicarius’s brow crinkled, asif he was surprising himself with how much he was revealing, and heglanced at the glowing orb controlling his drug dosages. Manypractitioners here…only sisters and one male…transportsurface.

Basilard signed, If we can capture one,perhaps we can force the other to-

“So,” Litya said, “you don’t know yourparents’ names?”

“No,” Sicarius said.

“But they could still be alive?”

He hesitated, and Basilard wondered if he hadever considered the possibility. Any child without parents wouldspeculate about that, wouldn’t he? Maybe he didn’t care about suchthings. Most of the time, he did not seem human.

“I was told not, but I suppose it’spossible,” Sicarius said.

“Hm.” Litya stopped at his side and laid ahand on the hard ridges of muscle armoring his abdomen. “I’ve notseen you in action, but based on your reputation and what I seehere…” Her hand roamed, and Basilard looked away. “I’d definitelybe interested in researching your heritage further,” she said. “Wehave extensive resources and could help you if you were sointerested.”

Sicarius said nothing.

“Your Commander of the Armies Hollowcrestdisappeared last winter, did he not?” Litya asked. “He’s rumored tobe dead, but there’s speculation that this may be untrue since thecurrent emperor has not appointed a successor to what must be avital position for you militant Turgonians.”

She tilted her head, watching Sicarius.Basilard wondered if she found his unreadability as frustrating asmost. She showed no sign of it. Too busy being intrigued by him, hesupposed.

“If it’s possible the man is still alive andincognito,” Litya went on, “I’d be curious to speak with him,perhaps compare notes….”

“He’s dead,” Sicarius said.

“You’re certain?”

“I killed him.”

“Ah.”

“It’s possible he left notes,” Sicarius said,surprising Basilard. Sicarius never volunteered anything,especially not to people on the other side. He must be angling forsomething.

“Oh?” Litya asked. “And you’d know where theywere?”

“In his hidden office in the ImperialBarracks.”

“I suppose you know where this office is andcould retrieve such notes if properly motivated?”

“Even if I said yes, you would be foolish tobelieve I could be trusted to do so for you,” Sicarius said.

Basilard frowned at Sicarius, wondering athis tactics. He ought to either stay silent-which suited his normalproclivities-or play along and try to get the woman to let himgo.

“Thank you for the warning,” Litya said.

“You let him off that table, and he’ll killyou,” came Taloncrest’s voice over the sucking and clanking ofequipment. “He’s killed people for daring to do a lot less thancapture him. Also, Hollowcrest hated the mental sciences, so you’dfind little that interests you in his notes. Anything he did was ofnatural means.”

“Much can be done with nature,” Litya said,though more to herself than in response to Taloncrest.

“Hollowcrest used to keep notes on mytraining,” Sicarius said. “He researched widely before I was bornand applied techniques from many cultures, current and past.” Hetilted his head slightly. “If you intend to turn your fetuses intowarriors, blood will only get you so far.”

So, Sicarius had reached the same assumptionabout what these people were doing down here. Litya did not correcthis assumption.

“Indeed,” she said.

“Litya,” Taloncrest said, “I told you yourfunds and assistance would win you my long-term advice ontraining.”

“You’re a doctor, not a legendary assassin,”she said.

“I am-I was-an officer in the Turgonian Army.I’ve been training to fight since before he was born.”

Litya snorted. “Perhaps I should let him goand you two could spar for dominance.”

Yes, that would be good. Maybe they would bekind enough to release Basilard as well.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Taloncrest said.

“You are right,” Litya told Sicarius. “Itwould be foolish of me to release you. Unless there is a price atwhich your assistance-and your word that you will offer itfaithfully-can be purchased.”

Sicarius neither offered his usual blunt “no”nor proposed a deal. He ought to promise the woman to help if shewould simply unlock him first….

Instead he remained silent.Almost…thoughtful. What could this woman have that he might want?But then, what did Amaranthe have that Sicarius wanted?Basilard reluctantly admitted that he knew the man very little,despite the six months they had worked together. If it was onlysome whim that kept him with the group, might not another comealong that interested him more?

“There is a price,” Litya guessed fromSicarius’s silence.

Sicarius’s expression never changed, but hiseyes shifted to focus on one of the tanks.

What? Did he want a child? One born in somecrazy scientist’s laboratory? If so, why? Though Sicariushad the personality of a particularly bland, pointy stick, itseemed he could find a woman to bear a child for him if he wishedit. Though maybe he did not want some random woman’s blood for achild. Not if he could get some specially selected female“ specimen” to help breed a babe who could be his equal-or perhapsmore-one day. Basilard grimaced at the idea of Sicarius as afather, training some child with the same heartless techniques thathad been employed on him.

It was hard to imagine Sicarius evenwanting a child, but he met the woman’s eyes and jerked hischin for her to approach.

Litya hesitated but leaned closer, her chestbrushing his. She tilted her head so he could whisper in herear.

The guards had stood mute through theexchange, but they tensed at this closeness.

Basilard signed, Bite her!

Nobody was watching.

Sicarius said something Basilard could nothear, and the woman leaned back.

“Interesting,” she said. “I’ll considerit.”

She snapped her fingers and the guardsclicked their heels, coming to attention.

“Fully secure the other man,” Litya said. “Wedon’t need him talking with his fingers any more, and I want to getsamples.”

The guards tromped toward Basilard. He lethis hand drop, as if in defeat, but his fingers touched the edge ofthe knife pressed behind him.

While Litya gazed speculatively at Sicarius,Metya eased past the guards and brushed her fingers across an orbnext to the head of Basilard’s table. It had been dark and dormant,but it flared to life under her touch. She considered him for amoment, judging his weight for a dosage probably. Nothing about hergaze suggested he would get a chest caress or any dealoffers.

She was close and this might be his lastchance.

A guard reached for his wrist. Basilardballed his hand into a fist and jabbed it into the man’s nose.

With half of his body secured, he did not getmuch power behind it, but his hand speed gave the blow forceenough. The guard stumbled back, grasping at his nose.

The other man raised his pistol. Knife inhand now, Basilard leaned out and slashed the blade at the guard’swrist. Though swift, the blatant attack sent the man leaping backin time to avoid it. That was all Basilard needed.

Before Metya could likewise scurry away, hegrabbed her arm. He spun her as he pulled her against his chest touse her body as a shield, and he pressed the knife against herthroat.

The guards froze, one on either side ofBasilard’s station. They raised their pistols, aiming for his head.The one with the blood streaming from his nose gritted his teeth,finger tense on the pistol. He wanted to fire. Badly.

Basilard should have been terrified, but hehad been in life-or-death situations too many times to fall apartwhen faced by one. Anyway, he did not think they would fire withMetya so close. Unfortunately, he could not bargain with his handsbusy holding the woman. Nor could he imagine one of the guardsoffering him a clipboard to scrawl a note while he held a knife totheir employer’s throat.

Sicarius watched but did nothing. Strappeddown, he could not help physically, but Basilard would haveappreciated verbal assistance. He could speak and handle thebartering. But Sicarius said nothing. Basilard lifted his eyebrowsexpectantly. Sicarius gazed back.

“What do you want, Scarred and Mute?” Lityaasked, her voice calm despite the blade at her sister’s throat.

She stepped into view behind one of theguards. Remembering the mental blast her sister had hurled atTaloncrest, Basilard tightened his grip on Metya.

“Put your weapons down,” he tried to say, butno sound came from his scarred vocal cords. Maybe the brainyscience woman could read lips.

Litya lifted her hand, palm out. Basilardwould have howled in frustration if he could. He knew what wascoming. He cut into the woman’s throat, determined to take out atleast one of them before they dropped him.

Warm blood gushed down his forearm. A wave ofenergy crashed into his head from the left, and agony ricochetedthrough his body like a lightning bolt.

The woman dropped from his hands. Dead?Alive? He didn’t know. Pain assaulted him from all directions, andhe hunched over. If not for the bindings on his lower body, hewould have fallen to the ground and curled into a ball.

With the last of his wherewithal, he threw abetrayed look at the man who should have been his ally inthis.

Sicarius’s eyebrow twitched. He knew. Even ifhe didn’t know for certain, he had to know Basilard was a threat.While Basilard had been thinking of betraying him-of lettinghim die-Sicarius must have been considering the same thing.Basilard might never wake up, and the rest of the group-hisfriends-would never know that Sicarius could have helped himand chose not to.

Darkness ended Basilard’s whirlingthoughts.

Books returned from his research trip in timefor dinner and sat down with Amaranthe and Maldynado around thefire pit of their camp. Snores wafted from the rail car whereAkstyr rested. Yawns tugged at Amaranthe’s mouth, but she focusedon Books.

“I found two possible sources for divingsuits,” he said. “A privately owned fresh-water treasure-huntingtugboat called the Tuggle has been moored in Stumps for thelast two weeks. It seems likely they’d have diving gear. Also, theImperial Saberfist is coming into port tomorrow. It’s amilitary vessel in charge of maritime rescue and salvageoperations.”

Amaranthe shook her head. Leave it to theempire to give even its rescue ships war-like names.

“During times of war,” Books continued, “theSaberfist plies the Gulf, but it’s currently stationed inthe Chain Lakes and has been working the Goldar River alongside anarchaeology team.”

“Is there a reason I should do anythingexcept dismiss the Saberfist?” she asked, surprised Bookshad bothered with all the details. Though Sicarius might findthieving from a heavily manned and well-guarded military vessel agood training exercise, she could not think of a reason to risk itwhen another option existed.

Maldynado scratched his jaw. “That shipsounds familiar.”

“The commander of the marine vessel,” Bookssaid, “is one Captain Talmuk Mancrest, elder brother of Deret.”

Maldynado snapped his fingers. “That’s right.We got a tour of it when we were children. Not much firepower-onlya couple of dozen cannons-but lots of other brilliant equipment. Wegot to swing on this crane that’s used for-”

Amaranthe cleared her throat. “Let’s savestory hour for later. This isn’t the same brother who tried toarrange my capture at the newspaper office, right?”

“No,” Maldynado said. “Talmuk’s nearly twentyyears older than Deret. Acts like he’s forty years older. Stuffyold coot. Walks around like he’s got a ramrod permanently lodged inhis-”

“Thank you, I get the picture.”

“I thought you might wish to try talking toyour Mancrest again,” Books said, “to see if he could get us onboard to requisition supplies. Perhaps, since you spared his lifein the pyramid, he’ll be more inclined to listen.”

“Depends on how long it took him to retrievethat key,” Amaranthe said.

Maldynado snorted.

“I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. Let’svisit the treasure-hunting ship. If it’s a civilian vessel, maybethere won’t be more than a guard or two on board.”

Or maybe there would be no one on board, andthey could easily borrow the suits. For once, it’d be nice ifsomething was easy and went according to plan. Somehow, she doubtedshe would be that lucky.

CHAPTER 13

No gas lamps burned near the narrow, ricketydocks at the end of the shipyard. Far south of the broad, modernpiers used for military ships and merchant vessels, these berthswere some of the oldest in the city. Moorage was relatively cheapand apparently not enough to cover the expense of public lighting.A quarter moon hanging over the lake illuminated the silhouettes ofsmaller ships, a mix of old steamers, sailboats, and combinationsof the two. Amaranthe questioned whether the vessels being tied tothe creaking docks kept them from floating away or if it might bethe other way around.

She led the men along the street, pausing ateach sign to read the numbers. One might assume Pier 173 wouldfollow Pier 172, but some docks had sunk over the years whileothers had expanded and branched out. They passed 169, 169B, and169C, followed by a skip to 171.

Clothing rustled ahead of them, near awarehouse on the far side of the street. Five or six peopleloitered in the shadows, slouching degenerately against thewall.

“Friends of yours?” Amaranthe murmured toAkstyr, knowing this was the Black Arrows territory.

“Ain’t got no friends left in the gang,”Akstyr said.

“Your rosy personality didn’t endear you tothem?” Books asked.

“Ssh,” Amaranthe whispered.

Though she could not see the eyes of thosewho lurked ahead, she felt the intensity of their attention. Nodoubt, they were calculating odds, deciding if she and her menlooked like easy targets. She doubted it-Maldynado, Books, andAkstyr wore their swords openly-but, then, superior numbers anddesperation could make a group brave.

A few muttered words reached her ears.

“…take them.”

“That one’s got an expensive…”

“…brandy for months.”

Amaranthe shook her head at Maldynado,knowing he was the only one with something “expensive” that wouldtempt thugs.

“Looks like another fight,” Books murmured, aresigned slump to his shoulders.

“Not necessarily,” she whispered, amischievous thought sauntering through her mind. “It’s notcontagious, is it?” she asked loudly.

“Huh?” Maldynado blurted.

“I touched you. We all did,” Amaranthe said.“I just want to know how contagious it is. You should have knownbetter than to sleep with that girl. Fresh out of the tropics withemperor knows what disease plaguing her.”

“How was I supposed to know?” Maldynadoplayed along, but he glared at her. “She looked all right tome.”

“Thank my ancestors I’m not male,” Amaranthewent on. “Did you hear what one of the customers said? Rumor issomeone’s peeper rotted up and fell right off after seeingher.”

Murmurs and the sound of shuffling feet camefrom the posse across the street.

“I bet it’s terribly contagious,” Amaranthesaid.

“Yes,” Books said. “A new strain of pizzlerot out of the Gesh Islands. Coitus isn’t required fortransmission. I expect we’re all doomed just from walking besidethis lout.”

The dark figures in the shadows pushed pasteach other in an effort to be the first to sprint away. One trippedand fell in his haste to round a corner. Nobody stopped to help himup. Cursing, he scrambled to his feet and ran after hiscomrades.

“That’s one way to deter bandits,” Bookssaid, a grin in his voice.

“You would approve,” Maldynado said.“Boss, it’s not right to joke around about a man’s… Did you callit a peeper?”

“Too sanitized?” She pointed down a ricketydock with missing and broken boards. A sign magnanimously called itPier 173.

“Not if your next job will be teaching smallchildren.”

“Will they be less vexatious than you?”Amaranthe led the way down the dock.

“Doubtful,” Books said.

Three ships lined the dock, none with lightsburning on the decks. She started to check the first one, butpaused. The skeletal frame of a crane rose from the deck of thelast ship, a steamer. It possessed a metal hull instead of wood andhad the sturdy look of a tug. Other equipment bristled from thedeck like quills on a porcupine, creating a strange silhouetteagainst the moonlit sky. Gear for pulling treasures off the lake orsea floor, Amaranthe guessed.

She turned off her lantern, and darknessengulfed the dock. She padded toward the salvage vessel, steppinglightly on the warped, creaking wood. In the still night, she grewaware of the sound of her own breathing and a breeze flapping aloose sail a few docks away. The air stirred the omnipresent fishyscent of the waterfront, and for a moment Amaranthe thought shesmelled something else. Something rotten. The breeze shifted, andthe scent disappeared. Maybe it was nothing-a dead fish washed upto a nearby beach.

The starlight did not offer enoughillumination to read the name on the bow, but she could not imaginethis being anything except the ship they sought, theTuggle.

“Must not be any treasure on there now,”Maldynado said. “Nobody’s on guard.”

“Some of the crew might be sleeping belowdecks,” she whispered.

They stopped beside the ship. No gangplankoffered easy access, but Amaranthe had come prepared. She unwound alength of thin rope she had looped around her waist several timesand dug out a collapsible grappling hook. She fastened it and swungthe tool, releasing it toward the ship’s railing. The hook clinkedsoftly and caught on the first try.

“You’re turning into a proficient burglar,”Books said.

“Is that a compliment or a condemnation?”Amaranthe tested the secureness of the rope.

“It depends on whether we’ll be leavingmonetary compensation for the suits we’re stealing.”

Maldynado groaned. “You’re wholesome enoughto teach toddlers right alongside her.”

“I was hoping to return the suits withoutdoing any damage,” Amaranthe said.

“Such as with the trash vehicle?” Booksasked.

She winced. “When we have our men back, I’llsee what I can do about compensating those we’ve wronged.”

“I know,” Maldynado said in response to amuttered comment from Akstyr. “They are the worst outlawsyou’ll ever meet. What criminals worry about such things?”

Amaranthe shushed them, then shimmied up therope. Before climbing over the railing, she paused to listen forvoices or movement on the deck. Only the soft lapping of the wavesreached her ears.

She slipped over the railing and landed in asoundless crouch. Nothing stirred. She glided through the shadows,skirting the crane and capstans the size of huts. A single closedhatch allowed access to the lower levels. She collected the menbefore exploring further.

“Shall we light the lanterns?” Bookswhispered.

“Wait until we’re below decks,” Amaranthesaid.

At this point, she did not think anyone wasaboard, but she did not need someone on another dock noticing theirlight and coming to investigate.

Amaranthe pressed an ear to the hatch. Again,she heard nothing. She turned the latch and eased the dooropen.

A powerful stench rolled out, smelling ofrotten meat and death. Her unprepared stomach roiled, and images ofthe dam-those eviscerated men and women-washed over her. She bracedherself against the wall.

“Ugh,” Akstyr said. “It smells like ahalf-eaten possum left to bake on the street in summer.”

“Or dead people,” Books said, his voicehoarse, as if he was fighting back the urge to retch.

“Really, boss,” Maldynado said, “is itnecessary to take us to such desecrated destinations all thetime?”

“Apparently.” Amaranthe wondered if theSaberfist might have been a better bet after all. “Books, isit possible these people brought back some sort of contagiousdisease from their explorations? Something that…killed them?”

“Pizzle rot?” Maldynado asked.

“I made that up.”

“If it helps,” Akstyr said, “it smells likemore than pizzles are rotten down there.”

“How does that help?” Maldynado asked.

“I read the dock master’s report,” Bookssaid. “These fellows have been in port for a couple of weeks, andbefore that they were working Squall Lake.”

“So whatever happened…” Amaranthestarted.

“Happened after they arrived here,” Bookssaid.

“Do you think we’re in danger of catchingsomething if we go down?”

“If it is a disease, I’d guess we’re findingthem after the point of contagion, but I couldn’t be certain.”

Akstyr lifted a finger. “How about I stay uphere and stand guard?”

“How about you go first?” Maldynado said.“You’re the youngest. The most expendable.”

“What?”

“Maybe they just brought back a treasure thatsomeone wanted and someone killed them for it.” Amaranthe musedthat it was a strange line of work she found herself in when thatwas a cheery thought.

“And maybe not,” Maldynado said.

“I’ll go,” she said. “Akstyr, you get to findout a way to heal me if I contract something.”

“Uh, I don’t know how to do diseases,” Akstyrsaid. “It’s not in the On Healing book.”

“Get a shaman then. Sicarius has found themin the city before.”

“Sicarius isn’t here,” Maldynado pointedout.

All too aware of that fact, Amaranthe pushedthe hatch further open, descended three steps, and entered a darkcorridor. Mosquitoes whined in the air. The scent of urine andfeces lingered beneath the overpowering stench of death. Shebreathed through her mouth as she turned up her lantern. Closedcabin doors lined either side of the short corridor. She glimpsedmetal and coiled rope through an open hatchway at the end.Storage?

A creak sounded from the steps behindher-Books following with a lantern of his own.

“You’ll need help collecting all theequipment and hauling the suits out,” he said, “The kits weigh overone hundred fifty pounds each.”

She gripped his arm. “Thank you.”

Her intent was to bypass the cabins and gostraight to the storage area, but, in the confining corridor, Booksbumped an elbow against one of the doors. It had not been fastenedso it creaked open. He hesitated, then eased his lanterninside.

Whatever he saw arrested his attention for hestared for a long moment.

“Body?” A few steps farther down thecorridor, Amaranthe could not see in, and she was not quick to runup and poke her head under his arm.

“Yes.”

“Throat cut?” She doubted it.

“No. It does appear to be some sort ofdisease.”

Reluctantly, Amaranthe went to take a look.If it was a contagious disease, it was probably too late forthem to avoid it anyway.

The inert male body lay on a cot, his chestbare, his blankets thrown to the floor. A rough red rash coveredthe flesh, a rash Amaranthe recognized. Maybe it wasn’t the same.Maybe the symptoms were just similar. Maybe…

“What is it?” Books asked, watching herface.

“Hysintunga,” she whispered.

“That’s one possibility, but there are otherdiseases with similar symptoms. The insects that carry Hysintungaaren’t native to this area-they prefer hot, humid climates-and it’sunlikely this man died of that malady.”

“I’ve seen it in Stumps before,” Amaranthesaid. “I’ve been infected with it here before. By thatcolonel, Talconcrest.”

Books closed the door on the dead man.“Hysintunga is always fatal, isn’t it?”

“Unless you know a shaman who can healit.”

“But Sicarius is the only one who knows whereto find one?”

“Yes,” Amaranthe said. “It looks like thesepeople are beyond help anyway.”

“If those responsible for the kidnappings arealso responsible for this…how could they have known we’d comehere?”

“Maybe this has nothing to do with us. Maybethey just didn’t want this crew poking around on the bottom of thelake. For these people to be dead now, they would have to have beeninfected days ago.”

Amaranthe continued down the corridor. Morenarrow steps led down to the storage area where spindles secured tothe deck held coils of rope and chain. Cabinets lined thesidewalls, and a low ceiling sloped down to a larger double-doorcubby. She could stand straight, but Books would have to hunch lowto keep from hitting his head on ceiling beams.

“Let’s check these,” she said.

Books took one side and Amaranthe unlatchedthe cabinet doors on the other. Hooks and chains occupied onecubby, rope another, and copper equipment she could not identify athird. No diving suits.

“Any luck?” she asked.

“Not yet.” Books had reached the larger doorsat the end. He unlatched them and tugged one open.

An angry buzz came from the darkness within.A familiar angry buzz.

“Close the door!” Amaranthe shouted,stumbling for the exit. “Get back!”

When Books tried to comply, he cracked hishead on one of the beams, and his foot caught in a coil of rope. Hedropped his lantern and stumbled to the floor. His light winkedout. The door he’d thrust shut banged against the frame and bouncedopen again.

The glow of Amaranthe’s lantern was enough toreveal a fat insect as long as her finger flying from the hold. Atail reminiscent of a lizard’s streamed out behind it. Some utterlyuseless part of her mind remembered the Kendorians called themFangs.

Wings flapped, and the insect veered straighttoward Books. His feet were tangled in the rope, and hefloundered.

Amaranthe tore her sword free and set thelantern down in one motion. She darted to Books’s side and swung atthe insect. The blade sliced it in two. Its halves splatted to thedeck, the long tail still twitching.

Before she could reach down to help Books tohis feet, more buzzes filled the silence.

“Emperor’s warts,” she cursed. She startedtoward the cabinet, hoping to shut them in, but movement near thedoor made her jerk back.

Books extricated himself and leaped to hisfeet, his blade out before he stood fully upright. Four Fangsstreamed out of the cubby.

“Back to back,” Amaranthe barked. “Slice themor squash them beneath your boots, but you’re dead if you let thembite you.”

“Understood.” Books lowered into a crouch,sword raised.

One Fang veered toward Amaranthe. She whippedher blade at it, but the insect sensed the threat and flittedupward. Her tip smacked into a beam instead, jarring her arm. Theblade stuck in the wood, costing her precious time.

The insect arrowed toward her neck. Sheducked, spinning and tearing her blade free. Books’s sword slicedin, hacking a wing off the Fang. It spiraled toward a wall.

Before Amaranthe could thank him, she spottedtwo insects flapping toward him. “Watch out!”

The wingless one bumped against a cabinetdoor near her. Fear stole finesse, and she chopped at it like alogger with an axe. Wood chipped free, and bug guts splattered.

“Got one,” Books said.

“Where are the other two?”

Amaranthe put her back against the cabinetsand held her sword ready before her. She strained her ears,listening for their buzz, but she heard footfalls instead.Maldynado and Akstyr.

“Stay back, you two,” she called, chargingfor the corridor. “The bugs are deadly.”

She darted through the hatchway in time tosee Maldynado ducking and flailing his arms. Akstyr lingeredbehind, and he backed away at her warning.

A Fang buzzed about Maldynado’s head.Amaranthe ran toward him, sword poised for a strike.

He saw her coming and dropped to the deck.She never took her focus from the bug. It drew in its wings to diveat Maldynado, but she skewered it.

“Where’s the last one?” she demanded. If itescaped into the night, it could buzz about the city, infectingcountless citizens.

“Got it,” Akstyr said in a strainedvoice.

He stood on the steps, his arm outstretched.A bug hovered in the air, inches from his open palm. The wingscontinued to flap, but it did not make any forward progress.

Amaranthe raised her blade. “Shall I?”

“Wait,” he whispered.

Akstyr’s eyelids drooped, almost as if hewere falling asleep, but Amaranthe knew better. She did not lowerher sword and debated on simply ending it, but Akstyr neededpractice to master his art.

Seconds ticked by. Though she heard Maldynadorising behind her, she kept her eyes focused on the Fang.

She opened her mouth to question Akstyr, butpaused when smoke wafted from the insect’s wings. A heartbeat laterit burst into flame. Amaranthe gaped as it burned to a crisp. Ashestrickled to the deck.

“It worked,” Akstyr blurted, a grin on hisface.

“That was…disconcerting,” Books said.

“Can you do that with people?” Maldynadoasked.

Akstyr shrugged. “Probably not yet.”

Yet? The day he could do that would be theday Amaranthe feared Akstyr.

“Let’s see what they were guarding,” was allshe said.

The large cubby in the back of the storagearea held five diving helmets and suits as well as tubing andpumps.

“Now that’s disconcerting,” Amaranthesaid.

“What is?” Maldynado asked.

“The fact that Taloncrest booby-trapped thevery equipment we need?” Books knelt to inspect the gear.

“This does lend credence to our theory,”Amaranthe said. “That something’s down there in the lake and thesepeople don’t want it discovered.”

“So they killed the whole crew?” Maldynadoasked.

“It’s possible this doubled as an experiment.When I met that colonel, he was quite cheerful about furthering hisresearch and didn’t seem concerned about deaths. Actually, he waslooking forward to dissecting my cadaver.”

“He sounds like a lovely fellow,” Maldynadosaid.

“I’m not sure how experimenting with diseasescould tie in with the kidnappings though.” Amaranthe reached up andgripped one of the beams over her head. “But if it isconnected, and if there is a laboratory or hideout on thelake bottom, it might be handy to have a tugboat specializing inunderwater operations.”

“You want us to steal a ship?” Maldynadogaped at her. “Oh, Books is going to give you an extra hard timefor that. He was whining when you just wanted the suits.”

“Actually,” Books said, “if the owners ofthis vessel are all dead, I believe Maritime Salvage Law would bein effect.”

“What?” Maldynado asked.

Amaranthe grinned. “Finders keepers.”

“You mean we get to have our own ship?”Akstyr asked. “Nice!”

“Maldynado,” Amaranthe said, “want to comefind the engine room with me? See if things are in workingorder?”

“A tour through a part of the ship likely tobe littered with more corpses? Nice of you to think of me.”

“You could stay and help Books with thesuits. Of course, I’d have to leave him in charge since he’s theunderwater adventuring expert.”

“No, thanks.” Maldynado headed for the door.“Last time he was in charge, he forced me to swim naked in glacialwater.”

A trapdoor in the center of the corridor ledinto the bowels of the ship. Amaranthe climbed down a narrowladder, descending into a tight space crowded with machinery.Nothing clanked or whirred, and the cool temperature promised thefurnaces had been dormant for some time. The air smelled less rankdown there, though a faint singed odor came to Amaranthe’s nose,reminding her of a smelter.

At the bottom, she took a step, lifted herlantern, and halted. “Uh.”

Maldynado dropped down behind her.“What?”

She pointed at a contorted lump of metal thatresembled melted candle wax. “That’s the engine.”

“It’s, ah…” He touched an amorphousprotrusion that might have been a flywheel once. “Hm.”

“A brief but sufficient description.”

Maldynado walked around the contorted mess.“It’s melted right into the deck. You couldn’t even replace it witha new engine.”

“It looks like someone wanted to make surethis ship didn’t engage in any underwater adventures while it wasin town,” Amaranthe said. “If they saw it come into port, theymight have seen it as a potential threat. Even if the treasurehunters had no inkling of what lay below, someone could havechartered the boat and used it as a base of operations forinvestigating.” She rapped a knuckle on the warped engine. “And, ifthis ship was a target, it stands to reason the Saberfistcould be one too when it comes into port. We haven’t had good luckdealing with Mancrest, but maybe we should warn him that hisbrother’s ship may be in danger.”

A clank answered. Maldynado had wandered tothe far end of the engine room and was poking at a lock on a castiron box set into the floor.

“Are you listening?” Amaranthe asked.

“Huh?”

She sighed. Maldynado or Books would call hercrazy for missing Sicarius’s company, but he always listenedwhen she rambled on, speculating about their enemy’s actions.

“Do you think we should warn Mancrest thathis brother’s ship could be in danger?”

Maldynado snorted. “I wouldn’t worry about amilitary vessel. The marines can take care of themselves.”

“Against practitioners?” Amaranthe noddedtoward the melted engine again. “I suppose it’s possible some sortof acid did this, but it seems more likely the mental sciences wereinvolved.” She thought of Akstyr’s bug incineration trick above.She had seen him create a flame to light a candle, too. There mustbe an entire field devoted to heat and energy.

But Maldynado had turned back to the lock anddid not respond.

“What’s so fascinating?” Amaranthe squeezedpast a knot of pipes and joined him.

“This is warm.” He perched on a small stoolbolted to the deck next to the two-foot-by-two-foot box. Rivetssecured the corners, steel hinges fastened the lid, and a padlockhung from a sturdy steel loop.

Amaranthe touched the cast iron. A faint heatwarmed the coarse metal. She checked to make sure the key was notdangling on a hook nearby, or something equally obvious, beforefishing her lock-picking set from her pocket. “Scoot over.”

“Ah, yes,” Maldynado said. “Books mentionedthat you’d acquired that skill from Sicarius.”

She selected a pick and a torsion wrench andbent over the lock. “Did he mention it in a tone of chagrinnedconcern for my deteriorating morality?”

“Yes, but isn’t that his usual tone for allof us? And the world in general?”

After a few minutes of wrangling the pinsinto submission, the lock clicked open. Amaranthe hesitated,thinking of Books’s advice. “It’s imprudent to open a strange boxthat may be booby-trapped with magic, isn’t it?”

“How magical can it be? It’s part of aTurgonian ship.” Maldynado removed the lock and shoved the lidopen.

No explosions threatened to sear off theireyebrows. Good. Amaranthe peered inside, almost bumping heads withMaldynado.

A bronze-and-iron rectangular device restedinside. Two small bars-handles? — stuck out from the ends, levers anddials dotted the sides, and a red, multifaceted glass knobprotruded from the top. There was no bottom to the outer box, andthe device appeared to sit on the deck, but something beneath itkept it from resting flush.

Amaranthe tapped one of the handles. Whennothing happened, she risked grabbing both sides and lifting. Acollapsible pipe linked the bottom of the device to the deckbeneath it, and she had no trouble raising it three feet. Two roundconcave pieces of glass set in the side closest to her made herthink this was something one looked into. She was about to try itwhen the knob on top flared to life, emitting a soft crimsonglow.

She dropped the device. It clunked back tothe deck, but nothing untoward happened.

“That’s definitely not standard Turgoniantechnology,” Maldynado said. He had relinquished the stool to herand crouched at her side, his shoulders fighting for space amongstlevers and gauges protruding from a control panel beside him.

“Maybe the Tuggle has been outside ofimperial waters and acquired tools to help in its trade,” Amaranthesaid. “Could this be some sort of underwater version of theTurgonian periscope? Like the ones used on army trampers for seeingover trees and brush? Only this one lets you see down into thewater?” If so, that might be just what they needed. “These knobsand levers could be controls for rotating it and raising andlowering it.”

“You’re an imaginative girl.”

“Is that good or bad?” she asked.

“Mind if I wait to pass judgment until afterwe see if you get us blown up by playing with that thing?”

After giving the glowing knob a wary squint,Amaranthe pulled the device up again and leaned her face in so shecould peer through the glass eyepieces.

Blackness greeted her. She fiddled with theknob, which she could raise, lower, twist, and push in differentdirections. The view wavered, but she still couldn’t seeanything.

“Because it’s the middle of the night anddark down there,” she realized. “Drat.”

Amaranthe started to draw back, but hersleeve caught on a small lever beneath one of the handles. Itclicked. A beam of light shot out from somewhere beneath theviewing display, and it illuminated the water.

“There we go,” she murmured. The blue-paintedhull of the ship came into view, taking up most of the rectangulardisplay. Not sure which lever or knob to push, she started with thehandles themselves. The box twisted, altering her view below.“Ah.”

Turning the periscope allowed her to see toeither side around the bottom of the ship. Nothing more interestingthan a couple of fish and the wavy green algae on the dock pilingscame into view.

“I wonder if this can go down deeper,” shemused.

“Am I supposed to respond to your mutterings,or are you simply talking to yourself?” Maldynado asked.

“It depends on whether you have an idea.”

Maldynado pressed on the glowing knob.

Bubbles of water streamed past the displayuntil the view vanished in a swirl of sand followed bydarkness.

“Crashing it,” Amaranthe said, “isn’t what Ihad in mind.”

“Oops.” He released the knob.

The darkness faded again, and the viewdrifted up from sand, to seaweed, to water, and finally back to thehull of the tug.

“Huh.” Amaranthe played with the knob andfigured out how to move the viewer, not just up and down, butlaterally as well. She had trouble fathoming how the latter wasaccomplished, but reminded herself magic was involved.

She navigated the display farther from theship and deeper as well, marveling as fish flitted through thelight. Remembering their purpose on the ship, Amaranthe angled theview toward the bottom of the lake.

Ruins-the foundations of long sunkenbuildings-protruded from the sand and seaweed. Amaranthe rememberedsome childhood trivia about the lake level being lower a thousandyears earlier and of previous civilizations that had called thisarea home and built places such as the pyramid.

Nothing more interesting occupied the floor,and she soon passed the last of the ruins. The sandy slope ended ata cliff plunging into blackness. She debated whether to back up andsearch north and south along the shoreline. Wouldn’t the kidnappersstay close to the surface for convenience? The lake was hundreds offeet deep out in the middle. While she considered her options, theviewer’s momentum, or perhaps a stray current, took it over thecliff. It dropped rapidly, and she decided to let it continue.

Maldynado shifted from foot to foot. “Can Iplay with it?”

“I’m not playing,” Amaranthe said. “I’mscouting. Our comrades’ lives are at stake. This is extremelyimportant.”

“All right. Can I scout with it?”

An orange glow emanated from somewherebeneath the viewer, and Amaranthe forgot the conversation. Herinsides twisted. Nothing natural could be making that light; thishad to be the spot.

As the device continued to drop, a greatstructure came into view, all painted metal and massive rivetsrunning vertically and horizontally on the hull. Though the wordhull came to mind, this construction looked nothing like a ship. Itsat on the floor of the lake, reminiscent of a couple of matingoctopi tangled in a tableau of passion. Tentacles-she did not knowwhat else to call them-spread out on two levels, each tube largeenough that, if they were hollow, men might walk through theinsides. Here and there, bulbous protrusions-rooms? — stuck out. Thetwo octopi “heads” were bigger, each the size of a house. Some ofthe larger protrusions had portholes, and she wondered if she couldslip in close to peep through one.

Cannon-like bristles on the ends of the“ tentacles” stayed her hand. Weapons.

Strange creatures swam about, too. Nothingshe remembered from her science classes in school. A translucentgolden fish glided into view, its sleek body pulsing with innerlight.

Something stirred in the seaweed below. Thefish’s glow increased in intensity, and Amaranthe almost had toturn her head away, but then, with a flash, a streak of lightningshot from its body. The charred husk of some innocent lake dwellerfloated away.

A shadow fell over Amaranthe’s viewer. Shetwisted the knob, pulling the device back and tilting it up for alook.

A massive purplish blue creature floatedthere, tentacles-real tentacles-waving around it. A kraken.She had read of them, but they lived in the depths of the sea, notin freshwater lakes.

A tentacle streaked toward the viewer. In theship’s engine room, Amaranthe flinched, jerking her own headaway.

“Idiot,” she whispered. She leaned back in,clamped her hand on the knob, and pulled it back as far as it wouldgo.

But it was too late. The tentacle wrappedaround the viewer, so large it easily blotted out the entiredisplay. Amaranthe did not hear a crunch or snap-not with so muchdistance separating them from the device-but she sensed it. Theview winked out, leaving only her reflection in the glass of theeyepieces.

She stepped back, lowering her hands.

“Do I get to use it now?” Maldynadoasked.

“Uh, sure.” Amaranthe rubbed her face. Shehoped the kraken could not track the viewer back to the ship.

“Wait, it’s broken.” Maldynado frowned ather.

“Yes, and it’s possible we shouldn’t stickaround. Just in case what broke it wants to visit.”

Amaranthe jogged for the ladder.

“I can’t believe you broke it before I got toplay-scout-with it,” Maldynado muttered as he followedher.

She almost gagged when she returned to thedeath stench of the corridor above. She glanced toward the storagearea where she had left Books and Akstyr, but it was dark, so sheheaded outside.

“Over here,” Books called as soon as shetrotted onto the main deck. “We hauled four suits out, and we cango down tonight. This gear is brilliant. There’s no tubing exceptto these packs, which can be filled with compressed air. They mustbe magic of some sort. I can’t imagine we have the technologyto-”

“Not now, Books,” Amaranthe said. They hadlaid everything out on the side opposite from the dock. “It’sdefended. We’re going to have to-”

The deck heaved, throwing Amaranthe intoAkstyr. She bounced off him and almost tumbled over the railing. Itcaught her in the belly, forcing an “Oomph!” out of her lungs. Thefar side of the ship rose, slanting the deck further, and shewrapped her arms around the railing, clinging like a tick lest shebe hurled into the water.

The men cursed, but the sound of woodcracking drowned their words. Everyone else had tumbled to the deckas well, and they were bracing themselves against the railing.

“The suits!” Books cried, wrapping an armaround one helmet and his legs around another.

“Blazing ancestors,” Maldynado yelled.“What’s going on?”

As abruptly as the far side of the ship hadlifted, it crashed down. Amaranthe flew from her perch and landedwith a painful thump on the deck. The ship rocked, and water surgedover the railings. A suit threatened to float away, and she grabbedit.

“Get the gear and run to the dock!” sheordered.

A tentacle thicker than a man’s body rearedout of the water ten feet away. It stretched high, towering overthe tugboat. The tentacle waved menacingly against the starrybackdrop, then plummeted. It slammed onto the deck at the front ofthe ship.

Metal groaned under the assault. A woodenship might have been destroyed right there. As it was, the tentaclewrapped around the base of the crane and snapped the metal support,as if it were breaking a pencil.

Amaranthe ripped her gaze away. The men werealready scrambling across the rocking deck, slipping and flailingin the water streaming past. She grabbed the lone remaining helmetto go with the suit, groaning at the combined weight of the twoitems. On hands and knees, she clawed her away across the heavingdeck after the men.

The tentacle lifted the crane into the airand flung it with an irritable flick.

The forty-foot metal arm flew out of sight,though Amaranthe heard it land. Wood smashed and cracked, and shefeared another docked ship had been turned into a victim.

The tentacle reared for another attack.

She hustled faster. Fifteen feet to therailing and the dock beyond. Maldynado and Akstyr were alreadythere, hurling their suits off the ship.

The tentacle smashed into the main cabin thistime. Wood shattered, and shards flew everywhere, peltingAmaranthe’s back as she continued to drag the heavy suit toward therail. The tentacle thrashed. The roof caved in, and more wavesrocked the ship. Beneath Amaranthe’s hands, the deck trembled underthe stress, and the hull quaked.

In seconds, the cabin was destroyed. Thetentacle lifted from the wreckage and swept sideways across thedeck.

Amaranthe flattened. It came so close, thebreeze ruffled her hair and cold water droplets rained onto theback of her neck. As soon as it passed over her, she sprang to herfeet and sprinted the last couple of paces.

Akstyr grabbed her helmet and tossed it ontothe dock. “What is that thing?”

She winced when the helmet nearly bounced offand into the water on the other side. “I’ll tell you about it whenwe’re safe.” She heaved the suit over the railing and gestured forBooks and Akstyr to follow.

“Whatever it is,” Maldynado said to Akstyr,voice muffled, “I’ll pay you a thousand ranmyas if you canincinerate it with your mind.” He was wearing hishelmet.

Akstyr paused, his foot on the railing.“Really?”

“No.” Amaranthe shoved him from the boat andnodded toward Books. “You next.”

The tentacle grabbed the rail on the oppositeside of the ship and pulled. The deck tilted thirty degrees,lifting Amaranthe’s side high in the air.

She hooked her elbow over the railing, evenas her feet skidded out from beneath her. Books was not as quick tograb hold. He hit the deck and started to slide away. Amaranthethrust a foot out, and he caught it.

The jolt popped something in her hip, but shegritted her teeth and hung on to the rail. She caught it with herother hand and anchored herself, so Books could crawl up her legand find purchase again.

The dock, previously ten feet below the deck,lay twenty feet down now.

“Go,” Amaranthe told Books.

Without pause, he flung himself over theside. The deck rocked. The kraken seemed to know Amaranthe andMaldynado were still on board, and it was trying to shake themfree. They pushed the last of the gear over the side.

“You go first,” Maldynado said.

A new tentacle shot up between the dock andthe ship, the gleaming purple skin not five feet from Amaranthe andMaldynado. Water sprayed everywhere and spattered her in theeye.

“Both of us,” she said. The tentacle sweptdown toward them. “Now!”

They leaped over the railing just as thekraken smashed through it. A chunk of wood hammered Amaranthe onthe back as she fell. Air whistled past her ears.

In the dim lighting, she struggled to judgethe distance to the dock. Through luck more than skill she landedwith a roll that kept her from breaking legs, but her momentumthreatened to send her tumbling into the water on the far side.

A hand clamped about her collar, hauling herback before she flew over the edge.

“Thanks,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” Maldynado said, head stillensconced in the helmet.

“I caught her, you dolt,” Books said.“You’re lucky you didn’t land headfirst wearing that thing.”

Amaranthe hustled to her feet and grabbed oneof the sets of gear. “Let’s chat later.”

The dock lacked any sort of comfortingsturdiness, and she ran for the street as quickly as she couldwhile dragging the suit and helmet. The men raced after her. Woodcracked behind them, and the dock shuddered. She did not look back.Only when they reached land and the solid cobblestone of thewaterfront street did Amaranthe feel safe enough to check.

“Emperor’s warts,” she breathed at the sight.Or the lack of a sight.

The Tuggle was missing, along withhalf of the dock. A ship that had been moored opposite the tugboatwas tilted on its side, its wooden masts broken, with water flowingthrough a hole in its hull. Tangled sails smothered the deck. Inthe water, boards, rope, and other jetsam floated, the only remainsof the salvage ship.

The tentacles were gone.

“That was a kraken?” Books shook his head.“That cannot be here. The Aracknis Kraken is adeep-sea-dwelling relative of the giant squid that’s native to theTrechara Trench, two thousand miles away. It feeds on large fish,squids, and other species found only in that environment. It’sphysiologically adapted to a saltwater habitat, and itcannot be here.”

“Thank you, professor.” Maldynado removed hishelmet, and his damp curls stuck out, creating a silhouettereminiscent of a dandelion gone to seed. “Perhaps you should swiminto the lake and tell that to Lord Tentacles out there.”

“That was brilliant,” Akstyr said. “My firstsea monster.”

“Sea monsters can’t be in freshwater lakes,”Books muttered.

“They can if they’re guarding a submergedmagical fortress full of kidnappers,” Amaranthe said.

“A fortress?” Books frowned.

“That’s what I’d call it, yes.”

He groaned.

“Does this mean we’re not going divingtonight?” Akstyr asked.

Books groaned again.

CHAPTER 14

Though darkness had fallen hours earlier,light crept beneath the door of Deret Mancrest’s flat. No lampsburned in the hallway outside.

“He stays up late for a respectable newspaperman,” Amaranthe said.

“Maybe he’s entertaining,” Maldynado said.“Though I’d expect more thumping and moaning if that were thecase.”

Books was not there to glare at him.Amaranthe had sent him and Akstyr to slip into the library andresearch krakens-specifically how to kill them-and check forinformation on underwater habitations as well, though she doubtedthey would find anything there. She did not think the technologyexisted to create something like that without the mental sciences,and the curators of the imperial libraries would never put booksdiscussing otherworldly construction on the shelves. Not if theyvalued their necks.

“Be ready. He answers the door with a swordstick.” Amaranthe knocked.

“Naturally,” Maldynado said.

Shuffling sounds came from within, along witha noisy yawn that could have woken half of the building. A momentlater, the door opened. Mancrest stood inside, leaning on his swordstick, his tall form limned by candlelight coming from behind him.Papers scattered a desk, as well as a couple of quills and anold-fashioned ink jar.

Mancrest gaped at them, though he dismissedMaldynado with a glance and focused on Amaranthe. She tensed,expecting a barrage of imprecations.

“Ms. Lokdon!” he blurted.

“Yes….” She tried to judge his tone, butcould only read the surprise. Given the hour, that was hardlyshocking.

“Hello. I didn’t expect you.” Mancrestwinced. “That’s obvious, isn’t it? What time is it? Aftermidnight?” He peered at a clock perched on a fireplace mantle. “Itis. Huh.”

“Does he seem scattered to you?” Amaranthewhispered to Maldynado.

“His shirt buttons aren’t in the wrong holes,so I don’t think he’s been entertaining,” Maldynado whispered back,then he raised his voice. “Have you been drinking, Deret?”

“What? No?” Mancrest rubbed his eyes andyawned again. “Just been up. Thinking.”

Amaranthe fought back a yawn of her own.

“Come in, come in.” Mancrest shuffled to thetable in sandals that slapped the wood floor with each step. Theneighbors below probably loved that. “Since you’re here,” he said,“I might as well…” He poked through papers. Some were empty, somehad a line or two on them, and some had more. A few crumpled ballsoccupied a nearby waste bin. “No, that’s awful. Ugh, what was Ithinking there?” He discarded those two pages and surveyed others.“No, I was closer on a previous draft. Uhm…this one isn’tentirely horrible. It’ll have to do.”

Amaranthe exchanged eyebrow raises withMaldynado while Mancrest folded the selected page with care. Heplaced it in an envelope, melted the end of a wax stick over acandle, and sealed the missive with a smudge. He tugged on a goldenchain around his neck, pulling a flat, oval signet out. Mancrestpressed it into the wax, leaving the image of a soldier holding asword aloft-his family’s crest.

Amaranthe was about to interruptletter-crafting time-they had important matters to discuss-whenMancrest straightened, marched the envelope over, and handed it toher.

“Er, what’s this?” she asked.

“It’s in the letter.”

“Did you…want me to read it now?”

Mancrest glanced at Maldynado. “Maybe later.When my ego isn’t around to watch.”

“Definitely drinking,” Maldynadowhispered.

Mancrest was acting strangely, or atleast not in accordance to what she expected from him based onprevious meetings, but no scent of alcohol lingered about him.

“All right.” Amaranthe considered the creamyenvelope. It was too large to stick into a pocket without folding,and she feared it was rude to treat a missive stamped withsomeone’s warrior-caste seal so cavalierly. “Can we talk, LordMancrest? It’s about your brother’s ship, the Saberfist. Andthe missing people.”

Mancrest’s forehead crinkled-had he thoughtshe’d come about something besides business? No, he was probablysurprised to have his brother brought into things. He recovered andwaved them to seats around a gaming table.

“No soldiers waiting to jump out?” Maldynadoslid open the door of a credenza, as if a squad might be hidinginside.

“Not this time.” Mancrest smiled. “I wasn’texpecting you.”

Amaranthe slid into a seat and launched intothe story, sharing not only the information on the underwaterstructure, but everything that had led them to discover it. Whenshe admitted to the garbage vehicle destruction, Maldynado chokedand thrust an accusing finger her direction, claiming she“ practically forced me to drive at knife point.” Amaranthe swattedhis finger away and continued on. She wanted to be honest since thehead of The Gazette would have the resources to tease outany truths she left untold-especially truths that involved arsonsand collisions. Mancrest merely stared at her through therecitation.

When she finished, he leaned forward, peeringinto her eyes from different angles.

“I believe,” Maldynado said, “he’s nowwondering if you’ve been drinking. Or worse.”

“No.” Mancrest leaned back. “I just wasn’tsure… Well, I don’t know you that well, so I don’t know whenyou’re joking.”

Amaranthe resisted the urge to tell him thathe would know her better by now if he had not been so insistent ontrying to apprehend her.

“No joke,” she said. “I don’t know if they’llattack the Saberfist or not, but this is a threat to Stumpseither way, and your brother’s ship is best equipped to deal withit.”

Maldynado leaned close to her and whispered,“If they deal with it, what will we do? We’resupposed to solve the problems and get credit, right?” Whisper ornot, his aside was loud enough for Mancrest to hear.

“What’s important,” Amaranthe said, liftingher chin and meeting Mancrest’s eyes, “is that the threat to theempire is vanquished. Who gets credit is immaterial.”

Besides, her plan should let her team comeout as heroes to people who mattered-those trapped in the submergedstructure. She brushed a wayward strand of hair behind her ear,using the movement to hide a covert wink for Maldynado.

“The good of the empire,” Maldynado said.“Right, right.”

Mancrest stroked his jaw. “I’m not sure whowould believe this story, but my older brother was a younglieutenant during the Western Sea Conflict, and he’s seen magicbeing used. He knows the imperial stance is propaganda. But, youmight not get a chance to tell your story. He and all his marineswould be duty-bound to apprehend you as soon as you stepped aboardhis ship.”

“I wasn’t planning to talk to him.”She smiled at Mancrest. “I was hoping you would.”

“Oh. Yes, of course. I should have realizedmore prompted this late night visit than an interest in sharing atip for the paper.”

“I wouldn’t interrupt your sleep-” Amarantheglanced at the envelope, “-or midnight scrivener aspirations forsomething that wasn’t important.”

“Yes,” Maldynado said, “she’s not youraverage girl who shows up in the middle of the night to ply youwith wine and sex in the hopes of being impregnated with awarrior-caste scion that your family would feel obligated to helpraise, and, oh, maybe there’d be a stipend for the mother aswell.”

“Surely, that’s not your idea of anaverage girl,” Amaranthe said, though Mancrest’s ruefulsmile might have meant he had experienced similar situations. “Areyou willing to meet your brother at the docks in the morning?” sheasked. “If he’s been gone on a long voyage, he’ll doubtlessly beeager to reunite with family and hear about what’s been going on intown. And the lake.”

“Doubtlessly,” Mancrest said dryly. “Thougheven with his ecumenical background, I don’t know if he’ll believeany of this. Especially from his little brother, the writer, wholoved to tell stories as a boy.”

“He doesn’t need to accept it as fact basedon words alone. I’ll give you the location. You just need toconvince him to float over there and send divers down to take alook.”

“And get eaten by a kraken?”

“Well-trained military men know how to takesuitable precautions, do they not?” Amaranthe hoped Books wouldcome up with a tactic to use against the kraken, but she knew verywell she might be endangering lives with her request. If that waswhat she had to do to get her men back and rescue the captives, sobe it.

Mancrest sighed. “Why do I have a feelingworking with you will cause me as much trouble as trying to captureyou did?”

“That’s a given,” Maldynado said.

Amaranthe merely folded her hands on thetable and smiled agreeably. Mancrest had given in; there was noneed to cajole him further.

Her smile faded a few minutes later when shewas standing beneath a streetlamp, reading Mancrest’s note.

Ms. Amaranthe Lokdon,

I have treated you unfairly, and for that Iapologize. I had plenty of time to think over my behavior when Iwas failing to reach those keys and waiting for the soldiers towake up and…rescue me. Yes, that’s what it was, and I mustconfess it. For the second time, you left me helpless…butunharmed, though I deserved worse for trying to apprehend youwithout listening to your story or researching your situation.

I have done so now, and though I do notbelieve all the facts are out there to be discovered, I suspect youdeserve to be exonerated. Of course, I am not in a position togrant you that, but I am open to listening, if you are stillinterested in sharing. You have no reason to trust me, but if youwill give me another chance, I’d like to take you for a picnicdinner in the Imperial Gardens. I’ll understand if you bring yourbodyguard (but I hope you won’t).

To the peace after the war,

— Deret

“Guess you wooed him after all,” Maldynadosaid.

Amaranthe twitched, jerking the paper away.She had not realized he had been reading over her shoulder.

“I thought there was no hope for therelationship once you dropped the keys in the pyramid hallway andleft him locked up.” Maldynado reached over her shoulder and tappedthe page. “I agree. If we’ve got Sicarius back by then, leave himbehind. He’ll kill the sunset-picnic-mood faster than a swarm ofmosquitoes.”

“You know, people like privacy to readletters.” Amaranthe returned the page to the envelope. She had toomuch else on her mind to worry about Mancrest’s words. “Let’s checkon Books and Akstyr. We need a way to defeat that kraken.”

“You mean the plan isn’t to use the marinesas bait while we sneak in from below?”

“It is, to an extent. I do want the soldiersthere as a distraction, so nobody will notice us walking up in ourdiving suits, but I don’t want them getting mauled either. We needto kill the kraken.”

“No chance you can woo it with your tongue,huh?” Maldynado asked.

“Judging by our previous encounter, I thinkit’d be more likely to pull my tongue out, wrap it around my bodylike bacon, and swallow me whole.”

“Such imaginative imagery.”

“I get creative when I haven’t had anysleep.”

“The next few hours should be interestingthen,” Maldynado said.

“Likely so.”

CHAPTER 15

Awareness returned to Basilard slowly.Memories of dreams wafted away like smoke in the wind. A dimblurriness met his eyes, and he blinked, struggling to focus. Aface came into view.

Sicarius.

His features held no warmth or friendliness.Basilard tried to lift a hand, but bindings secured him to thetable. Sicarius was free, though still nude. He wore his brace ofthrowing knives on his forearm and held two daggers, one the blackblade he favored and the other one of Basilard’s fighting weapons.Basilard’s gaze lingered on the sharp steel, and he remembered hislast thoughts; before he had succumbed to the drugs, he had beensure Sicarius knew of Basilard’s plan for killing him.

Basilard turned his head from side to side.Other prisoners lay on the tables, some horizontal and otherstipped vertical against the wall. None appeared to be awake. Howmuch time had passed? Deep shadows shrouded the corners of thelaboratory, and the lights were dimmer than he remembered. It mustbe nighttime, though one might never know the difference downhere.

Sicarius lifted his hands and signed, Youare alert?

That he signed instead of speaking meant hehad escaped, not been released, and being quiet was important.

Had Basilard’s hands been free, he would haveresponded with “vaguely,” but, strapped down, he had fewer options,so he only nodded.

Sicarius slipped a key into the first lock,the one that bound Basilard’s wrists to the table.

As soon as his hands were free, he asked,How’d you escape?

The woman. Sicarius’s signs were asterse as his spoken words.

She released you? Because she wantedto… Basilard stopped. He had no interest in the details; hejust wanted to know if Sicarius had won her over-or forced herover-and if she could take them to the surface.

She was unable to craft the sphere.

Was? Basilard asked. She’sdead?

Yes. We have to find another way off. Onlythe other twin and a male telekineticist can make the protectivebubbles. The woman is incapacitated from your attack, and the maleisn’t on board right now. We may be too deep to swim out.Regardless, a kraken guards this place. Our blades would be uselessagainst it.

No, even firearms would be uselessunderwater. The woman told you all this? Basilard asked.

Yes. Sicarius’s cool gaze told him todrop it.

Basilard swallowed, imagining Sicariusletting that woman think they had some connection, and then turningaround, interrogating her, and killing her. True, Basilard himselfhad killed, but only in combat and only men. Not women. His eyesnarrowed in remembrance. Or children.

Sicarius unfastened the bindings aboutBasilard’s ankles, then continued with those tying his torso andthighs to the table.

Basilard tilted his head. Why come forme?

Sicarius flicked him a glance that could havemeant anything and continued to unlock the bindings.

When the drugs were overtaking Basilard, hehad not expected Sicarius’s help, indeed had thought Sicarius mighthave set him up to die. Was it possible he had imaginedeverything?

Sicarius released the final straps andstepped back.

Do you know I know… Basilard stoppedhimself. If Sicarius had not figured it out, it would be foolish toalert him.

I know, Sicarius signed.

Basilard waited for him to continue, to offersome ultimatum or say something like, “If you make a move againstme, I’ll kill you.” He still held all the knives. Sicarius did notadd anything to his comment though. Maybe he figured it was allassumed.

You could get rid of me down here with noone on the team wise to it. And maybe Basilard should not bepointing things out. What if Sicarius was only releasing himbecause he needed help escaping? And what if he planned to killBasilard on the way out? Or maybe… Do you not see me as athreat?

You are capable.

As scant an admission as that was, Basilardfound it heartening. Then why free me? Basilard askedagain.

Because Amaranthe would wish it.Sicarius flipped Basilard’s knife and extended it, hilt first.

The answer, or perhaps the honesty of theanswer, surprised Basilard. So, I’m safe around you as long asshe’s alive? He smiled, though he knew Sicarius would notreturn the gesture.

If you force me to defend myself, Iwill. Sicarius shook the knife, emphasizing Basilard shouldtake it. Right, they had to escape before anyone noticed Sicariusmissing and the woman dead.

Basilard took the knife and stepped into theaisle. He paused as one more thought occurred to him. IsAmaranthe the reason you were captured?

He thought of the way she had talked him intothe Clank Race. Her intentions had been good-maybe that was whatmade her requests appealing-but he would not be at the bottom of alake, stripped naked, and the latest specimen in some scientist’sresearch experiment if not for her.

I got closer than I should have,Sicarius signed. I sensed the Science being used, but…I did not want to return without answers to herquestions.

Huh, he had been right. Basilard was going tosign one of his grandfather’s sayings, that many a male duck hadbeen lured to its demise by the call of a female, but Sicariusturned away, as if to say, “Enough chit chat. Time for work.”

He strode to the next table and cut thetubing leading to a young man’s veins. He unlocked the bindingsthere as well, though he did not wait for the person to wake beforemoving to the next table.

Why free them? Basilard asked, notbecause he objected, but because Sicarius would not do it foraltruistic purposes.

Distraction, Sicarius signed.

While we do what?

Take this-Sicarius twitched a hand toencompass the structure-to the surface so we can getoff.

Take over the…tiller? Basilard hadno idea if something like this had a tiller-probably not-butSicarius would know he meant the navigation system.

Yes.

You know where that is?

But Sicarius had already turned back to thecaptives. Basilard helped with his own knife. Most of the otherprisoners were young, in their teens and twenties. He hoped theywould be able to escape themselves without being harmed. Moreharmed, he corrected himself, when he noticed freshly stitchedscars gouging the abdomen and groin areas of more than one.Basilard glanced down at himself and was relieved to see noincisions. Sicarius must have found him before they got startedwith…whatever it was they were doing exactly. He shuddered.

Sicarius bumped him on the shoulder andjerked his head toward the exit.

The first captive was stirring.

Wouldn’t it be better to work withthem? Basilard asked. A combined force to confront ouradversaries?

Athletes would be useless againstpractitioners.

Basilard was not certain what value he mighthave against a shaman or wizard either. He recalled the humiliationof his old owner, Arbitan Losk, plucking him from hiding andflattening him to the floor with a force he had been unable toelude.

A noise started up, a throbbing whine thatvibrated from the walls loudly enough to wake any slumberingguards.

“Alarm.” Sicarius jogged toward the exit.

Basilard remembered the invisible barrier andwondered if Sicarius had disabled it. He must have if he had comein from the woman’s quarters or somewhere that direction, but itwas up now, evinced by a strange sheen with yellow tendrilsshimmering in the air.

Sicarius plucked a thin knife off a consolenear the hatchway. A bloody ball was skewered on the tip.

Though Basilard noted the gory thing, he didnot realize what it was until Sicarius held it up to the eyeballreader. The recognition did not quite make Basilard flinch, but hedid curl a disgusted lip. Given his background, he ought not besqueamish about such things, but he could not help but find itdiscomfiting. Maybe because his putative ally was the one who hadremoved it, and it might very well have belonged to that woman.

The shield wavered and disappeared.

Sicarius and Basilard passed into the longcorridor outside, ducking their heads to dodge intermittent pipesalong the ceiling. The glow of the orbs on the wall waxed and wanedwith each pulse of the alarm. The corridor curved in angledsegments like some mechanical snake stretched along the lake floor.They passed closed hatches, but Sicarius did not pause to check anyof them.

Rhythmic thumps sounded above them.Footfalls? Was there a second floor? Basilard had not noticedladders on his previous trip, but that had been a short journey.They had already passed the cabin he had started out in.

Sicarius ran through a four-way intersection,then rounded a bend. A few feet before a dead end, a ladder rose toa closed hatch in the ceiling.

Instead of starting up, Sicarius smashed hisblack dagger into an orb on the wall. Shadows thickened in thecorridor. He darted behind the ladder and crouched, his back to thewall. Basilard joined him.

Above, the footfalls started and stopped acouple of times, and Basilard had the impression of guards pausingto collect reinforcements.

Plan? Basilard asked.

If a manageable number of men come down,we jump them. Sicarius retained the eyeball-on-a-knife, and itmade a grisly accent to his hand signs.

Would you have done that if Amaranthe werehere? Basilard caught himself asking.

He thought Sicarius might give him a frostylook or tell him to pay attention to what they were doing. Insteada faint ruefulness softened his stony expression.

Doubt I would have needed to. She would havesubverted one of the guards.

You can’t subvert one? Basilard joked,not expecting a reaction beyond a glare.

Apparently, I lack charisma.

Basilard gaped at him, not certain if thathad been a joke or not. Overhead, the footfalls clomped to a stopat the hatch, and he focused on the matter at hand. Sicarius, too,turned his attention upward.

The hatch creaked open. A pistol descendedfirst, then a guard eased his head through. Basilard held hisbreath. Attacking the guards on the ladder would be the best spotfor catching them by surprise.

Wariness stamped the man’s face, though, andhe checked both ways, aiming the pistol without stepping onto therungs. His eyes turned in Basilard’s direction and paused. Maybethe shadows weren’t deep enough.

“Hobarth.” The guard squinted and shifted thepistol toward the shadows.

The only warning Basilard had of movement wasSicarius’s arm brushing his. A throwing knife zipped between theladder rungs and thudded into the guard’s eye.

In less than a heartbeat, Sicarius darted outof the shadows and up the ladder. He grabbed the dying man by theshirt, hurling him to the floor below, then disappeared through thehatchway.

Basilard leaped out and grabbed the fallenguard’s pistol. He clenched it between his teeth, tugged thethrowing knife from the eye socket, and climbed the ladder withSicarius’s blade and his own balanced in his hands.

He pulled himself onto the next floor,landing in a fighting stance, ready to help.

Two guards were sprawled on the deck, theirthroats cut. Sicarius was patting one down for keys or weapons or,for all Basilard knew, something to eat.

Feeling useless, he took the pistol out ofhis mouth and checked the charge. With his hands full, he had tojuggle the weapons to sign a question, Should we take theirclothes?

The guards were all bigger than Basilard, buthe felt vulnerable running around nude.

To what end? Sicarius took histhrowing knife from Basilard and sheathed it.

Pockets?

Sicarius flicked an indifferent finger,picked up the eyeball knife, and headed down the corridor. Basilardstripped the fatigue jacket off the smallest guard and put it on,grimacing at the sensation of cloth sticky with blood pressedagainst his skin. He hustled to catch up.

Sicarius stopped at a barrier before anintersection to fiddle with the reader. He glanced at Basilard’snew attire but said nothing. Clothes or not, he probablynever felt vulnerable. Between the eyeball in his hand and thestreaks of someone else’s blood smeared across his forearm andchest, he looked like nobody one would want to tangle with.

You better stick with Amaranthe,Basilard signed. She humanizes you.

The barrier dropped. Sicarius looked himselfover and considered the gory eyeball before stepping through.

Agreed, he signed.

There was no time to mull over the response.More footfalls and numerous voices rang throughout the structure.The alarm continued pulsing. If all they met were soldiers,Basilard and Sicarius might be able to handle them, but Basilardexpected practitioners at some point, and who knew whatotherworldly obstacles.

The corridor sloped upward. Closed hatchesmarked the walls to either side, each with a reader set nearby ateye level. Sicarius did not slow to try any of these. He obviouslyhad a destination in mind. Or maybe their eyeball only openedcommunal doors, not private laboratories.

They passed another ladder leading down, andBasilard tried to imagine a map of the place in his mind. Theycould no longer be above the tunnel they had run through on thefirst floor, because there had been no ladders leading up beforethe one they had taken. How much of a maze might this place be? Hehoped Sicarius knew where he was going.

After the ladder, the corridor continued onin a straight line. Its riveted, gray walls offered no alcoves orniches for hiding in, should someone come out shooting at them.

The narrow passage ended at another barrier.In a chamber on the other side, the back of a large black chair wasvisible before a control panel and a horizontal, oblong porthole.Dark water pressed against the glass. It could be night or day atthe lake surface and no one would ever know down here. Around thechamber, lever- and gauge-filled panels ran from floor to ceiling.Many held multi-hued glowing protuberances, all amorphous, morelike fungi that had grown there naturally than mechanical devices.Was this the navigation area? Basilard struggled to imagine thisunwieldy ship-if one could call it that-floating up a river, but ithad to have arrived somehow. Perhaps it could become compact fortravel.

Sicarius waved the eyeball before the readeron the wall, but this shimmering field did not fade away. Heplucked a piece of lint from the floor and tossed it at thebarrier. It burst into flame and disappeared.

Basilard stepped back, far back.

The owner of the eyeball didn’t haveaccess to that room? he asked.

Apparently not. Sicarius wiggled theeyeball about in front of the reader again. He must have expectedit to win him entry.

The chair rotated, and Basilard jumped. Hehad not realized anyone was sitting in it. A tall, gray-haired manin a white coat scowled at them. The navigator, perhaps, and maybea practitioner as well. Though he bore no weapons openly, he showedno fear at the prospect of intruders on his threshold.

Back? Basilard signed, aware of thealarm still throbbing, of shouts in the distance. It sounded likesomeone had discovered the dead guards.

Sicarius decided it was the time to engage ina staring contest. Maybe he thought the practitioner would witherunder an unrelenting gaze-or at least come over and open thedoor.

The gray-haired man lifted a hand. Acrackling yellow ball formed in the air before his fingertips.

Basilard backed further. That could only be aweapon, and if it could go through the barrier…

Sicarius crouched, ready to spring. He mustbelieve the barrier had to drop for the man to launch theweapon.

Boots pounded in the corridor behind them.Basilard gripped his knife and nodded to let Sicarius know he wouldprovide time for him-if he could. He did not know how he woulddodge pistols in the tight corridor.

He ran down the passage anyway.

Before he reached the ladder, two guardsstomped into view, one behind the other. In the narrow space,Basilard almost missed spotting a gray-haired woman in ablood-spattered white coat striding after them. She toted atwo-foot-long cone, and, judging by the way she held it over theguards’ shoulders, trying to target Basilard, it was a weapon. Hehad to focus on the first problem: the two guards and the pistolsin their hands.

The first man dropped to one knee, pointinghis firearm at Basilard, while the second remained standing andaimed over the first’s head. The distance between Basilard and themwas too far to charge before they could fire.

He focused on their fingers, trying to watchand anticipate when they would pull the triggers. One tensed.Basilard hurled his knife and threw himself into a forwardroll.

Pistols fired.

One shot clanged off the metal floor, butanother hammered into the back of Basilard’s shoulder. Pain searedthrough him, as if someone had thrust a hot iron into his flesh. Hegasped, eyes clenched shut, but managed to finish the roll and comeup running. He had to, or they would have him.

The closest guard was on his knees, hunchedagainst the wall, trying to work Basilard’s knife free of his upperarm. The man in back dropped his pistol and drew a serrated daggerwith a ten-inch blade.

“Move, Fiks,” the woman barked in accentedTurgonian. “Let me-”

Basilard charged. The second guard had onefoot in the air to step past his comrade, and one ear toward thewoman. It was Basilard’s best chance, to attack before the men hadtime to plan something.

The guard wasn’t as distracted as heappeared. He slashed at Basilard to keep him at bay, then yanked asmaller pistol out of his belt behind his back.

Caught off guard, Basilard was the one whohad no time to do anything but react. He lunged in and grabbed thedowned man, yanking him to his feet. The injured guard roared insurprise and pain. Basilard punched him in the face, hoping to stunhim and keep him as an obstacle. The movements stirred fresh agonyin his shoulder, and he nearly dropped from the pain. He forced itaside and yanked his knife free from the man’s arm, elicitinganother howl.

The rearmost guard thrust his pistol over hiscomrade’s shoulder. Basilard ducked and hurled his knife around theinjured man’s ribs. The awkward position gave the throw littlepower, but it was enough to slice into his target’s thigh. The manbellowed and dropped the pistol.

Further up the corridor, Sicarius shouted,“Down!” in Mangdorian.

Basilard hesitated. To drop to the floorwould be to put himself at a disadvantage.

Light flared down the corridor, as brilliantas a sunburst. Basilard dropped to the floor, dragging the closestguard with him for cover. Heat roiled down the passage, andbrightness burned his eyes, even through the lids. The man abovehim screamed. The scent of burning hair and singed flesh floodedBasilard’s nostrils.

He expected screams from the woman and theother guard but heard nothing. Had they been quick enough to hurlthemselves to the floor?

The light blazing against his lids lessened,and he pried an eye open, hoping to find his opponents vanquished.The woman had not moved, except to fiddle with something at herbelt. A transparent barrier, the same streaky yellow as those usedin the corridors, hovered around her and the guard. Heat shimmeringin the air parted around the defensive shield like water flowingpast a boulder in a stream.

Safe behind the barrier, the guard clenchedhis knife and glowered at Basilard. Blood dripped from his thighand splashed onto the floor.

Further up the corridor, Sicarius droppedfrom the ceiling where he had hung like a spider to avoid theblast.

Basilard scrambled out from beneath thesinged-and now quite dead-man. Every movement brought fire from thepistol wound; he could feel that ball in his flesh, grindingagainst the bone of his shoulder blade, but he gritted his teethand told himself he could deal with it later.

The remaining guard charged out of theprotective barrier and slashed at Basilard’s neck with the serratedknife.

Basilard had lost his own blade when he threwit, but he skittered back from the attack without trouble. He hadfaced many knife wielders without the benefit of a weapon. Hewatched the man’s collarbone-not the eyes; the eyes could lie-andkept the blade and free hand in his peripheral vision.

The man stabbed at Basilard’s chest. He sawthe feint for what it was. The man’s body wasn’t behind it; hewasn’t committed. Three more feints came, and Basilard began towonder if the man would attack in earnest. Then he committed, legscrouched to spring and dart in close behind a swipe.

Basilard crouched low and blocked thestriking arm, knocking it upward. He grabbed the man’s wrist,pulling it toward him as he stepped closer. His other elbow swungup, pounding the underside of the guard’s jaw. The man’s headwhipped backward with a crunch.

Basilard could have finished him on his own,but Sicarius slashed the man’s throat and shoved him to the floorso he could leap over him and spring toward the woman.

Before he reached her, an invisible blastslammed him in the chest. The edge of it caught Basilard as well, astiff blast of air so rigid it had the force of a battering ram,and it sent him stumbling against the wall. It hurled Sicarius adozen feet. Despite the power of the blow, he twisted and landed onhis feet, light as a cat.

Basilard crept close to the woman and tappedthe shield with the tip of his dagger. It buzzed and hissed at him.Hadn’t Akstyr once said a practitioner could not attack and defendat the same time? The dual task certainly wasn’t bothering thiswoman. Maybe because she was using a tool to attack instead of herown mind?

Sicarius sprinted back toward Basilard andthe woman. “Go by her,” he barked in Mangdorian. “Down the nextladder.”

The woman flipped a lever on her cone.Sicarius saw the attack coming and dove to his belly this time.That had to hurt without clothes on, but it worked. He skiddedunder the cone’s field of influence, and the wave did no more thanruffle his hair.

He jumped up, inches from the shield andjerked his arms up as if to attack, but he exaggerated themovements. Trying to startle her? To break her concentration so theshield would drop?

She watched him without flinching, thenominously reached for the lever on her weapon again. He tapped thebarrier with his knife. It buzzed at him. He stalked about theshield, like a prowling tiger checking his cage for a weakness.

Basilard picked up his knife and tried topass the woman in the corridor. The edges of the barrier extendedto the walls, so he had to slither on his belly to find anunblocked spot.

A string of words came down the hall.Basilard did not understand the language, but it sounded like aquestion. Without taking her eyes from Sicarius, the gray-hairedwoman answered in the same tongue.

Basilard thumped the wall to get Sicarius’sattention, We should go.

Where to he did not know. If the navigationarea was out, what else could they try?

The woman lifted the weapon at Sicarius’schest again. Her finger tightened on the trigger, but heanticipated the attack. He leaped over the woman, barrier and all,and avoided the blast.

Sicarius joined Basilard and they ran downthe corridor.

Before they reached the ladder, twobronze-skinned men with long, thin braids of black hair came intoview. They wore white coats and toted small canvas bags that bulgedwith balls. Each carried one of the balls in his free hand, palegreen globes with the icy dark depths of a glacier.

The men were on the other side of the ladder,and Basilard thought he could reach it before they did. Heincreased his speed, running ahead of Sicarius. Had they beenguards, Basilard would have challenged them, but he wanted nothingto do with practitioners.

When he reached the ladder, he dropped down,landing in a crouch, knife ready. A pair of guards running towardthe ladder almost crashed into him.

One started to lift a pistol. Basilardknocked the arm up, and the weapon went off, the noise deafening inthe metal corridor. The pistol ball ricocheted off the walls, andthe guard flinched. Basilard feinted toward the man’s face with hisknife, drawing a block, then lowered his blade and thrust towardthe unprotected gut.

The guard had fast reflexes and almostrecovered quickly enough to block the attack, but Basilard wasfaster still. The blade plunged through flesh and organs before hepulled it free again.

He shoved the injured man at his comrade,eliciting a new blast of pain from his shoulder. He need not havebothered. As Sicarius dropped down, he hammered his black bladeinto the top of the man’s skull. Bone crunched, and utter shockstamped the guard’s face-his last expression ever.

“Run!” Sicarius sprinted up the corridor.

As Basilard turned to follow him, two of thepale green balls dropped down from above. Busy running, he did notsee them hit the floor, but he heard cracks like breakingglass.

He hunched his shoulders, expecting anexplosion. But it was a stench that assaulted him. He snorted,trying to expel any intrusive gas from his nostrils. After that, heheld his breath as he raced after Sicarius. He might be fast on theClank Race, but he had the shorter legs, and he fell a few pacesbehind.

The long, twisting corridor seemed to go onforever. Ahead, someone leaned out of a hatchway, a compactcrossbow poised to fire. The attacker probably thought he was safe,that he could duck back behind a barrier as soon as he made theshot, but Sicarius dodged the quarrel and surged forward withstartling speed. He grasped the crossbow wielder’s wrist and yankedhim out before he could duck back. Sicarius spun the man about, ahand going to his head, and broke his neck before he could so muchas shout for help.

Basilard’s lungs burned from holding hisbreath. Sicarius stopped to grab the crossbow and pat the man downfor ammunition. It must be safe to breathe.

Basilard opened his mouth to suck in a gaspof air, but couldn’t. His lungs were frozen. He tried again. Andagain. Nothing. It was as if he had taken a blow to the solarplexus and his system was stunned. He thumped on his chest, notsure what else to try. Panic encroached upon him. Would he die forlack of the air all about him?

Before he reached the dead body, Sicariusrose and headed down the corridor again. Basilard thumped on thewall.

Sicarius stopped and turned. For a moment, hesimply stood there. Trying to ascertain what was wrong? Or thinkingthat, despite his earlier words, he was being given a chance toleave Basilard to die and to end the possibility of a threat?

Blackness crept into the edges of Basilard’svision, and the weight of a thousand pounds of sand filled hislegs. He stumbled and pitched toward the floor.

Hands caught him. Air that Basilard wanted somuch to inhale breezed past as he was hoisted from the floor anddraped over Sicarius’s shoulder. The darkness swallowed more of hisvision, and his pulse throbbed in his ears. Vaguely, he was awareof the floor skimming past as Sicarius continued running down thecorridor. He turned at an intersection and halted.

Another barrier to pass? Did Sicarius stillhave the eye? Basilard could not see, nor could he feel his limbsor move his head.

Metal squealed and they moved again, but onlya few steps. Basilard felt himself being lowered to the floor. Itscool smoothness pressed against his cheek. He wondered if it wouldbe the last thing he ever felt.

Abruptly, a massive spasm coursed through hisbody. His lungs surprised him by coming to life, and he gulped airin so quickly he almost threw up. He was so relieved he did notcare. A temporary paralysis of the lungs, thank God.

Shots rang out nearby. Basilard rolled to hisstomach and tried to get his hands and knees beneath him so hecould help, but his body was too busy breathing to obey. He didmanage to lift his head.

Sicarius stood beside the hatch, reloading apistol. The crossbow leaned against his leg.

White-coated figures milled several metersdown the corridor. One started forward. Sicarius sensed it somehowand leaned out, firing the crossbow. The figures did not even duck.The quarrel bounced off a shield identical to the one thegray-haired woman had used.

Sicarius slammed the hatch shut and spun around wheel, causing a thick bolt to clang into place. Though itsounded sturdy, there was no way to lock it.

Basilard staggered to his feet. He andSicarius were in a chamber dominated by an engine, boiler, andfurnace. Giant pistons pumped, and a flywheel turned, and the placemight have looked purely Turgonian, but unfamiliar tubes andsinuous pipes swept and twisted about the chamber like vinesamongst trees. Domes of various sizes punctuated the dull metal atpoints, emitting orange and red pulses of light. Whatever burnedinside the furnace emitted crimson flames instead of yellowishorange.

Welcome to the engine room, Basilard toldhimself.

Sicarius strode toward the engine controls,lifted a hand, but stopped a few inches shy of touching a lever. Hegazed at it for a long moment, the way Akstyr focused when he wascalling upon his science. Then he shook his head once and backedaway. He grabbed a wrench out of a toolbox and tossed it at thecontrol panel. It bounced off an invisible field and zipped acrossthe cabin. Basilard ducked as it shot over his shoulder. It clangedinto the bulkhead and bounced halfway across the room again beforeclunking to the deck. Singe marks blackened the tip.

If Sicarius had meant to take over theengines, the possibility of succeeding was not looking good.

He tore a pipe from a wall, and steam burstforth. He shoved the pipe through the wheel on the door.

A pipe against three wizards? Basilardsigned.

“Six,” Sicarius said.

What?

“There are six practitioners out there now.At least.”

What’s the plan?

“The plan is to come up with one.”

Basilard searched his face, wondering if thatwas a joke, but no hint of humor softened Sicarius’s stonyexpression.

Amaranthe tugged at the thick water-repellentmaterial pooled around her boots, boots two inches too large. Ifthere were such things as diving suits for women, she had notencountered them yet. Maybe it would not matter. In the water, thematerial ought to float, right? Or it would cause her to becomehopelessly tangled in seaweed where she would be an easy-to-catchsnack for a kraken.

“Less pessimism, girl,” she muttered, thenraised her voice for Maldynado and Akstyr. “How are your suitsfitting?”

They were gearing up around the trapdoor inMs. Setjareth’s warehouse. Amaranthe had agreed to give the woman adiscount on future work in exchange for the use of her building fora couple of hours-a deal to which Setjareth had magnanimouslyagreed, possibly because no shipments had been due in that morning.Fortunately, she was not around to see the pile of harpoons andhand-held launchers sitting next to her trapdoor. The tub labeledSkelith Poison was probably not a typical warehouse store either.Books promised the tar-like substance, which they had smeared onthe harpoon tips, would survive the water, at least for a couple ofhours.

“This thing weighs a thousand pounds.” Akstyrtugged at the collar.

“Only one-eighty, including the helmet,”Amaranthe said, “or so Books tells me.” Saying his name prompted aglance toward the door. They were waiting on him to return withanother weapon to use against the kraken. He had rushed off beforesharing the details, and Amaranthe had a hard time not worrying.Six months later, she still had nightmares of that printing presscareening down the icy street with Maldynado riding it like acontestant in a log rolling competition. That had been one ofBooks’s ideas, too.

“My helmet is fabulous,” Maldynado said, “butthe suit binds across the chest. Whatever runty treasure huntercommissioned this piece lacked my substantial musculature.”

“And your ego, too, I’d imagine,” Amaranthesaid.

Wearing everything but the helmet, sheshuffled over to a high window facing the lake. She had to clamberatop a crate to push open the shutters and peer outside.

Early morning sun glittered on the calm lakewater. A few fishing boats meandered away from the docks, headingout for the day’s work. Given what was going on below, Amaranthethought the scene should be less idyllic.

She stuck her head out, twisting her neck forthe view she wanted. Dozens of docks away, the Saberfistfloated in its berth. Plumes of smoke rose from its twin stacks anda thrum of excitement ran through her. Had Mancrest done it?Convinced them to send divers down to investigate? Marines bustledabout on the deck, and the activity had doubled since the last timeshe took a look.

“Books is back,” Maldynado called. “And hedidn’t bring anything useful.”

Amaranthe hopped down in time to catch thescowl Books sent Maldynado’s direction. Books was carrying a woodenkeg labeled SALT into the building. Amaranthe’s earlier excitementfaded. Harpoon launchers might harm a kraken, but salt? There hadto be more to it than that.

“That’s your secret weapon?” she asked,joining the men. “Salt?”

“Actually, it’s empty,” Books said.

“So you brought a wooden keg?” Maldynadoasked. “Genius strategy, professor.”

Amaranthe frowned, aware that this might betheir only chance to retrieve Sicarius and Basilard. If theSaberfist was en route, and it found and attacked theunderwater structure, the kidnappers would flee. She couldn’timagine them sticking around once they knew they had beendiscovered. And who knew where they would go after that?

“Tell us,” she prompted Books, who wasscowling at Maldynado.

“As it turns out,” Books said, “krakens arequite difficult to kill. There are more stories of them sinkingships than there are of people slaying them.”

“How comforting,” Maldynado said.

“My idea is to fill this keg with poison,”Books said. “I tinkered with the design, so it’ll implode whensqueezed. There are also razor-sharp caltrops inside to cut thekraken’s flesh to ensure the poison enters its bloodstream.”

“How do we convince the creature to grab it?”Amaranthe asked. “And will a little poison injected at the end of atentacle really incapacitate it? It’s quite…large.”

“Ah, but we won’t target the tentacle.Squids, and presumably krakens, travel by sucking water into theirmantel cavity, then streaming it out behind them in a jet, muchlike a fireman’s hose. Perhaps if we could propel this keg towardits mantle, the creature would inhale it, so to speak, and it’d belike getting pepper up your nose.”

“Couldn’t we just use pepper?” Maldynadoasked.

“Do you want it to sneeze or to die?” Booksasked.

“Maybe if it sneezed hard enough, it’d goflying into the air, land on the Saberfist, and the marinescould hack it to pieces with their swords.”

Books threw Amaranthe an exasperated look.“Is it necessary to have these louts present during planning?”

“This mantle cavity,” she said, trying toimagine Books’s scenario, “is up under all the tentacles? I can’timagine anyone being able to get close without getting killed.”

“We could send in someone expendable,” Bookssaid, eyeing Maldynado.

“Oh, no,” Maldynado said. “When I get mystatue, I don’t want it to be an image of me going up a squid’sbutt.”

“All right, gentlemen.” Amaranthe lifted herhands, struggling not to snap at them for being silly. It must bethe lack of sleep stealing some of her patience. “We’ll go downwith the keg and harpoons. With luck, the marines will figure out away to kill the kraken through attrition, and we won’t need toimplement any of this.”

“When have we ever had that kind of luck?”Books asked.

“I don’t remember any,” Amaranthe said, “butwe ought to be due, eh?”

The men traded skeptical looks. She forced asmile. Someone had to be optimistic after all.

Basilard waited with a rag pressed to theback of his shoulder, watching as Sicarius shoved equipment againstthe hatch. Soon everything that could be moved, or torn free,blocked the only entrance. Like the pipe in the lock wheel, it didnot seem enough against wizards, but maybe they wouldn’t want torisk destroying their own engine room.

Basilard dropped his hands so he could sign,What now?

“Back up plan,” Sicarius said over thegrinding and chugging of the engine. “If we can’t steer to thesurface, we may be able to float there.”

Float? Basilard stared at him. Hecould not imagine this sprawling maze of tunnels and chambersmoving at all, much less bobbing about at the surface of thelake.

“The air you’re breathing would typicallymake us buoyant,” Sicarius said, “so this craft must have ballasttanks.”

Basilard occasionally found Books too verbosefor his tastes, but he wouldn’t have minded more of an explanationjust then. Sicarius turned his back to study symbols onpanels-writing presumably, but not in Mangdorian or Turgonian, theonly two languages Basilard could read.

He walked about, in part to see if he couldfind some way to help and in part to distract himself from themetal ball grinding against his shoulder blade.

He found a storage locker holding a pair offlintlock muskets that appeared only a model or two up from the oldmatchlocks. More weapons that would prove useless againstpractitioners who could generate shields. There were a couple ofaxes, too, and he suspected this was a supply the engineer and hismate were supposed to use to defend their station.

Which raised a question: where was theengineer?

Had he fled the room at the sound of thealarm? It still throbbed in the corridors outside, along with a fewbangs and scrapes. The practitioners up to something, no doubt.

Basilard took one of the axes-they had asatisfying heft, and he imagined smashing some of the machinerywith it. If Sicarius could not find these ballast tanks, perhapsthey could convince the structure to rise to the surface bydestroying the engines. At the least, they could make sure thisvessel never navigated into imperial waters again to harass itscitizens.

That thought made him freeze mid-step. Whenhad he come to care about the empire and its citizens? This placehad done little enough for him, and the old emperor had beenresponsible for the ruthless assassination of Mangdoria’srulers.

But Amaranthe, Maldynado, and Books wereTurgonians and they were the first friends-the first family-he hadbeen allowed to have in years. He wished he could see his daughteragain someday, but, coward that he was, he feared her reaction. Shewould see his scars, know the violence he had been involved in, andwould condemn him. She had to. That was his people’s way. It painedhim to think that he might have more in common with thesewarmongering Turgonians these days than his own kin.

He flexed his fingers around the axe haft,bringing his attention back to the moment. This was no time fordaydreaming. He prowled around the flywheel to consider an angle ofattack and almost tripped over two bodies in Turgonian armyfatigues. Their throats were slashed. Basilard glanced at Sicarius.He supposed it had been a matter of defense, but if they werealive, they might have been coerced into helping with the engines.Basilard shrugged and stepped past them.

A glint of light near the ceiling caught hiseye. A small, transparent cylinder floated in the air beneath agrate-no, a vent. It was filled with something yellow. The samestuff that had incapacitated him in the stadium?

Basilard crept closer. It hung in the air foranother moment, then dropped, as if the invisible hand holding itlet go.

He dove for it, hitting the deck chest first.A fresh wave of pain erupted from his shoulder, but he flung hisarm out and caught the vial before it smashed to the floor. Heopened his fist, worried he might have cracked the glass. Itremained intact but now what was he supposed to do with it? For allhe knew, the practitioner who had levitated it in could snap theglass with his mind.

“What is it?” Sicarius asked.

Basilard showed him the vial, then pointed atthe furnace. Should we burn it?

“That’ll release the fumes, and the furnaceisn’t airtight.”

Sicarius found a flat sheet of metal, thenfished in the toolbox again and pulled out a screwdriver. He held ahand out for the vial. When Basilard gave it to him, Sicarius slidit back into the duct from whence it had come and screwed the metalsheet across the vent to block it.

They’ll try again, Basilardsigned.

“Yes. Continue to stand watch while Iread.”

You’re welcome, Basilard signed.

“What?”

For saving you-both of us-from a trip back tothe laboratory tables.

“At this juncture, it’s more likely they’dkill us.” Sicarius bent his head over a manual he had found.

Basilard remembered how he had not thought ofhim as one of the people he considered friends or family. Nomistake there.

You’re an ass, you know that? hesigned, sure Sicarius would not see with his head bent over thebook. I can’t believe I’m planning on not killing you when youare so deserving of being killed.

Basilard scowled at himself. That didn’t evenmake sense. Before he could stalk away in disgust, Sicariusspoke.

“What changed your mind?”

Basilard froze. Er. He lifted his hands, buthesitated. Trying to explain his emotions would be futile. Sicariushad saved his life in the corridor, and possibly on the laboratorytable as well, but Basilard did not want to admit to any feelingsof gratitude, not to someone who would brush them aside. He signed,Because Amaranthe would never forgive me if I wassuccessful.

“Huh.”

With that, Sicarius went back to reading.Basilard sighed and found a spot where he could watch the duct andthe door. He wished Amaranthe were there with them. If nothingelse, she would have convinced Sicarius to find clothes by now.

CHAPTER 16

There was water in Amaranthe’s boot. Withevery step, her toes sloshed about in it. At least she couldtake steps. The size and heft of the suit on dry land hadworried her, but the air inside her pack and helmet made hersurprisingly light as she walked-sloshed-down the lake’ssteep slope. Indeed, the suits required weights to keep one fromfloating to the surface.

Maldynado, Books, and Akstyr strode at herside. Well, it wasn’t “striding” exactly. Between the swords beltedat their waists and the harpoon launchers in their arms, they werenot the most agile creatures moving about in the lake. Bookscarried his keg instead of a launcher, but that was just asawkward, and he had already stumbled twice. Each time somebodyslipped, Amaranthe’s heart jumped into her throat. If anybody cutthemselves on the harpoon tips, the poison would kill them asquickly as it would kill a kraken-much more quickly infact.

The helmets made it difficult to speak toeach other-though sometimes a muffled curse reached her ears assomeone slipped on the seaweed-slick lake bottom-but they weremanaging with Basilard’s hand signs.

When they reached the cliff, Amaranthe creptto the edge. A dark expanse yawned below. She had little feel forhow far the viewer had dropped, but no hint of the orange glow sheremembered seeped up from below. Since these suits wereself-contained, there was no tube connecting them to the surface,and the idea of stepping off and falling a hundred feet or moremade her hesitate.

Four hundred feet, Books signed.

To the bottom of the lake? Amarantheasked.

It’s a thousand at its deepest, but thisfirst ledge has been measured as a three- to four-hundred-footdrop, depending on where you step down. He tilted his head.We’ll be fine, but we should go slowly to acclimate our bodiesto the pressure change.

I was more worried about coming backup, Amaranthe signed.

Just remove the weights when it’s time, andyou’ll float up.

If there wasn’t a kraken waiting in themiddle to eat her.

Amaranthe took a deep breath and stepped offthe ledge. She kept her gloved fingers near the cliff, using therough stone to slow her descent.

Time trickled past, measured in the softinhalations that echoed in her ears. Fresh air whispered into thehelmet, brushing her cheek, while her used air escaped through anexhaust vent, creating tiny bubbles that floated away. Her earspopped, and pressure built in her sinuses. Had this been a trip formere fun or adventure, she would have turned back.

An orange glow grew visible below, and sheexhaled in relief. They were getting close.

She touched down in a bed of silt, stirring acloud of fine dust. The strange, two-story fortress waited sometwenty-five meters away. Translucent fish still swam about theperimeter, but Amaranthe did not see the kraken. With luck, it andthe crew of the vessel had turned their focus toward theSaberfist.

Something ticked against the back of herhelmet. Maldynado. He pointed overhead.

She tensed, expecting the kraken, and flexedher finger on the trigger of the harpoon launcher. No tentacleswaved in the distance though; Maldynado was pointing to diversdescending. Six of them. Two carried waterproof lanterns and woreswords. Two others bore weapons she could not name-they had theappearance of arm-sized cannons, but black powder would be uselessdown here. The final two carried harpoon launchers.

Did they believe us and come expectingtrouble? Amaranthe signed. The nearby illumination providedenough light for the hand gestures.

They’re marines, Maldynado responded.I bet that’s their typical underwater exploration gear.

She snorted, fogging her faceplate with thebreath. Probably true.

Akstyr came up between them and pointed at aschool of the guardian fish. Amaranthe grimaced, remembering howone had charred some sea critter into a blackened husk. She hopedthey lacked the firepower to harm full-grown humans.

Let’s try to find a door, shesigned.

Little seaweed grew this far down, so theirboots stirred sand and silt as they advanced. Amaranthe kept an eyetoward the ground, thinking that those fish would blend in againstthe beige surface.

Even prepared, it caught her by surprise whenone swooped up from the sand right before her. Golden scalesshimmered, and an inner light pulsed, building toward adischarge.

Figuring the poison-smeared harpoon would beoverkill, Amaranthe slid her sword free and slashed at the fish.The water drag slowed her swipe, and the foot-long creature flittedaside easily.

Maldynado lunged, his rapier leading. Pokingwas faster in the water than swinging, but the agile fish stillslithered away, undamaged. Its tail fins fluttered, and it swamback a few feet before facing them again. It started pulsing again,more rapidly now.

Amaranthe pushed off the bottom, sword raisedagain. She tried to be subtle, to hold the weapon back so the fishwould not see the attack coming, but it moved again. Or startedto-it froze in the middle of a fin flap.

Quick to take advantage, Amaranthe skeweredit. The fish’s inner light winked out.

You’re welcome, Akstyr signed.

She removed the creature from her sword andgave him a salute. You’re turning into a useful youngman.

I know. I should get more respect.Akstyr glowered, not at her but at Maldynado.

It’s hard to respect someone who can’tgrow a decent mustache, Maldynado signed.

Akstyr pointed at Amaranthe and propped hisfists on his hips.

True, Maldynado signed, hers hasn’tcome in yet either.

I imagine you’ll stop trying to set me upwith men when it does. Amaranthe continued forward. She lefther sword out, but she hoped no more trouble hid on the lake floor.She would hate to admit to Sicarius a fish had gotten the best ofher.

The thought of him sent a twinge of anxietythrough her. She had missed him more than made sense these lastcouple of days. It was not as if he were some cheery, warm presencein her life. Certainly the group had survived a few adventureswithout him, proof that, for all his skills, he was not somenucleus they could not do without. Professionally, she knew theycould go on without him, but personally… Her heart cringed at theidea of infiltrating this structure, only to learn they were toolate.

They neared one of the tunnels of thestructure, and she pushed stray thoughts from her mind. “Focus,”she told herself.

They had no trouble creeping up to the hullof the fortress, and Amaranthe worried that things were going tooeasily. She sidled over to a porthole, pushed off the ground, andrested a hand on the metal, intending to peer in.

Energy surged up her arm, thrusting her backeven as an electric jolt surged through her body. Spasms wrackedher muscles, she couldn’t breathe, and she swore her heart stopped.Panic flashed through her.

The convulsions ended as abruptly as theybegan, and her heart started beating again. She recovered with agasp, the experience leaving her shaken.

“Too easy?” she muttered. “I take itback.”

A hand gripped her shoulder. She realized shehad fallen back to the lake floor-and that she was clutching herchest as if to keep her heart from bursting out of it. She loweredher arm and nodded to Maldynado before he could ask after herhealth. Or perhaps after her sanity for presuming to touchsomething here.

I sense energy about the exterior,Akstyr signed.

Now he told her.

Amaranthe grabbed a rusty tin can sunken intothe silt and tossed it against the hull. Lightning crackled aboutit as it bounced off.

“Probably should have done that first,” shemuttered, picking up the can and tossing it again, this time at theporthole.

It clunked off without any sparks ofelectricity. She grabbed it and pushed off the bottom again. Withit in her hand this time, she prodded the clear window material-shewas hesitant to think of it as glass, since it might be somemagical creation. No lightning coursed through her body, so shedropped the can and rested her hands against the surface, kickinglightly to stay in place.

An empty, dimly lit corridor stretched ineither direction. She waited for a moment, in case a crew memberwalked through or something otherwise enlightening happened. Itdidn’t. She dropped back to the lake floor.

Maldynado had moved a few meters away and waslooking around a bend. He waved and signed, There’s a hatch overhere. Maybe we can get in.

Without getting electrocuted?Amaranthe signed.

Maybe…not.

I’ll look at it, Akstyr signed. Stillcarrying his keg, Books trundled after him.

Amaranthe popped back up for another lookinto the porthole. A naked woman darted into a nearby intersection,and her hopes rose. Was that one of the kidnapped athletes? Surelythe practitioners wouldn’t be running around nude.

She tried to press her cheek to the portholefor a better view, but her helmet clunked against it. The womanmust have heard the sound, for she crept closer. She came forwardin a slow, wary crouch. Snarls and knots tangled her hair, and herwide, wild eyes darted from side to side. Fresh scars marred herabdomen.

Amaranthe tapped on the glass.

The woman spotted her, and leaped back, eyeswide. She sprinted down the corridor and disappeared around theintersection.

Emperor’s bunions, that woman better not setoff an alarm.

Maldynado tapped Amaranthe on the shoulder.He was treading water beside her and grinning. You do look likea scary monster in that helmet.

Even without a mustache?

Oh, yes. Maldynado’s grin widened.

A tapping noise came from inside, andAmaranthe spun back toward the porthole. The woman had returned.She crouched in the corridor like a rabbit poised to flee. Narroweyes regarded Amaranthe with suspicion, but hope, too.

“We’re here to help,” Amaranthe said,exaggerating her words in hopes the woman could read her lipsthrough the face plate. “Can you let us in?” She pointed in thedirection of the hatch.

The woman sprinted away, not toward the hatchbut back toward the intersection, and disappeared around thecorner.

Amaranthe sighed and clunked her head againstthe porthole.

Maldynado patted her back. They’reathletes. They don’t have to be bright to win the races, justfast.

Several moments passed, and Amaranthe wasabout to give up and check other portholes when the woman joggedback into view with a crowbar in her hands. She nodded curtly andcontinued past, heading toward the hatch.

Amaranthe pushed away from the porthole andswam in the same direction. When she rounded the bend, she foundAkstyr sprawled on his back in the sand, a dazed expression on hisface.

Problem with that energy you sensed?she signed.

He struggled to sit up. I got a littleclose.

Amaranthe helped him to his feet. Thefive-foot-wide square hatch in the hull had a wheel-style dooropener, so it seemed one could get in if the defenses weren’t up.She wondered if the woman would be able to bypass them. Her snarleddark hair and bronze skin had appeared Turgonian, so she probablyknew nothing about the Science.

Scrapes and clunks came from the other sideof the hatch.

If she opens it, Maldynado signed,won’t water flood in?

Amaranthe shrugged. I don’t know. It’s myfirst underwater-fortress infiltration.

A shadow passed overhead. Dread sprang intoAmaranthe’s limbs, and she knew they were in trouble before shelooked up.

The kraken glided over the structure, itstentacles streaming out behind it. The creature had to be more thanseventy-five feet long from arrow-shaped head to tentacle tips. Aneye the size of one of the dive helmets rotated until it fixed uponthem.

Something that might have been a string ofcurses came from Maldynado. Amaranthe almost grabbed the wheel onthe hatch in a vain hope the woman had turned off the defenses, butshe did not need more lightning knocking her on her backside.

The kraken’s great mantle flexed, and itstentacles flared outward, allowing it to alter course towardthem.

Wait by the hatch, Amaranthe signed,then pushed off the lake floor before the men could object.

Books shouted something. The helmets and thewater made it indistinguishable, so it was doubtlessly herimagination that she heard the word “prudent.”

Amaranthe kicked and paddledone-armed-holding the harpoon launcher made her strokes awkward-tothe porthole, then treaded to maintain a position in front of it.She waved her arm, trying to draw the kraken’s attention. She neednot have made the effort. The beast had already spotted her. Hungryblack eyes bored into her soul, as if they might freeze her by themight of their stare alone. The tentacles spread out, suction cupslining the dark purple flesh, and two long limbs stretched towardher.

On the floor below, Maldynado and Akstyrraised their harpoons. Though Amaranthe knew they would not likeit, she lifted a hand, telling them to wait. She wanted to see ifher idea worked first. If not…they could fire everything they hadinto those tentacles. Each one was as thick as Maldynado’s chestand could wrap her in a grip she could never escape.

One darted toward her. Amaranthe kicked out,pushing off the porthole glass, angling down toward her men.

The tentacle clipped the fortress wall.Lightning streaked up the purple flesh, and sparks danced over thesuction cups.

A high-pitched squeal assaulted Amaranthe’sears. The tentacle jerked away. Black ink clouded the water, andthe kraken retreated.

Two harpoons flew from below. With the krakenalready swimming away at top speed, Amaranthe did not expect much,but one blade did clip a tentacle. It was hard to tell if thepoison had any effect on the creature.

She landed on the lake floor beside the men.Got that hatch open yet?

We were busy trying to protect you.Maldynado frowned at her.

Yes, Books added. Didn’t we discusshow you were going to partake only in prudent actions goingforward?

Is there a prudent way to fight a giantsquid? Amaranthe signed.

Hide behind someone tastier looking thanyou? Akstyr suggested.

Before they could discuss it further, asucking noise sounded-a seal being broken. The hatch swungoutward.

Amaranthe started for it, but Maldynadobumped her aside with his hip, gave her a pointed look, and wentfirst. Feeling protective, was he?

She followed right after, careful not totouch the outer frame of the hatchway, lest it be electrified aswell. They entered a tiny chamber full of water. Another hatch,identical to the first, waited on the inside.

Maldynado reached for the wheel-shapedopening mechanism, stopped with his hands inches away, drew backand poked it with his sword. No sparks or branches of lightning ranup the blade.

Metal conducts electricity, you twit,Books signed. If the door had been charged, thatwouldn’t have helped.

Maldynado sheathed his rapier and managed toelbow Books in the process. He tried the wheel, but it did notmove.

Maybe we have to close the outside doorfirst. Books eyed the walls. There must be a way to make thewater drain out before one enters the main structure.

Akstyr pulled the outer hatch shut. The lightfrom outside disappeared, and blackness dropped over them.

“Well, that’s lovely,” Amaranthe said.

Since the helmets and the water precludedtalking, she had to imagine the sarcastic comments from the others.It was a strange sensation, being in the dark with water swirlingabout her. Inside the helmet, her breaths echoed in her ears.Somewhere in the distance, a throbbing woo-wah noisepulsed.

A clunk sounded, reverberating from within anearby wall. Water tinkled, as if running down a drainpipe, butnothing happened quickly. When she reached up, Amaranthe found onlya two-inch-high pocket of air at the top of the chamber.

When the water lowered to chest level, sheremoved her helmet, figuring it would be better to talk to thenaked girl looking like a human being, not some mad tinkerer’sperson-shaped walking machine.

With the helmet off, the woo-wah soundrang more loudly in her ears. An alarm? And if so, was it for herteam, or for the marine ship overhead? The latter she hoped, butthere could be a squad of guards waiting with rifles on the otherside of the hatch, especially given how long it was taking thechamber to drain.

Water splashed behind her-someone elseremoving his helmet.

“Are we shooting people?” Maldynado asked,and Amaranthe imagined him hefting the harpoon launcher.

“We should save the poisoned harpoons for thekraken,” she said. “We don’t have many, and I suspect we’ll have todeal with it before this is over.”

“Are we stabbing people then?”Maldynado asked. “Or is this like with soldiers and enforcers whereit’d be bad for our image to kill them?”

Amaranthe winced at the idea that it was onlytheir image that kept her from killing people, but she knew what hemeant. “I doubt we’ll run into any enforcers down here, and we canassume any soldiers have gone rogue.” She thought of the messagethese people had sent to the enforcers, claiming they would beturning a dead Sicarius in for reward, and she had little troublehardening herself toward them. “We don’t need to go out of the wayto butcher anyone, but…we’re going to be outnumbered. Don’t letmercy get you into trouble.”

“Understood,” Books said quietly.

When the water level dropped to her knees,Amaranthe figured it was low enough. “Time to go,” she said, thoughher fastidious streak made her wince at the idea of water gushinginto the corridor, leaving the enemy’s floor in need of amopping.

Maldynado grunted a few times. “The wheel’snot budging. How do we get out?”

“Never overlook the obvious.” Amarantheknocked.

He snorted, but the hatch creaked open. Afoot of water flowed into the corridor. Though dim, the lightingwas bright after the darkness of the chamber, and Amaranthesquinted. After a few blinks, the nude woman came into focus. Shestood in the corridor, ignoring the water dampening her bare feet.She alternated glancing both ways down the passage and plyingAmaranthe with questioning looks. One of the men stirred, and thewoman jumped away, pressing her back to the wall.

Lowering her harpoon launcher, Amaranthestepped into the corridor and raised a friendly hand. “We’re hereto help.”

The men crowded out behind her. Maldynado andBooks had the maturity not to gape openly at the naked woman-evenin her frazzled state, she had a tall, athletic form with curvesenough to interest any man-but Akstyr was another matter. Amarantheelbowed him, and he closed his mouth.

“I’m Amaranthe,” she told the girl. “I assumeyou’re one of the kidnapped athletes?” The alarm going off made herwant to grab the woman by the arm and demand to be taken to theothers immediately, but they would get farther with a cooperativeguide.

“Yes, I’m Merva.”

“A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Maldynadomanaged a graceful warrior-caste bow even in the confiningcorridor, with the bulky helmet beneath his arm. “Are youperhaps-”

“Able to show us where the other prisonersare?” Amaranthe asked, giving Maldynado aplease-wait-to-seduce-her-until-later look.

“And can you let us know,” Books added, “ifthat’s an alarm? Are they trying to find you?”

“I-probably.” Merva touched her mouth withher fingers. “I think they’re after those two men though.”

Amaranthe stood straighter, eyes riveted onthe woman. “A blond man and a scarred one?”

Merva shrugged without dropping her hand.“I’m not sure. I’ve been…” She touched her head with her otherhand. “I don’t remember anything since… Two men grabbed me in mybunk at the athletes’ barracks and thrust a vial under my nose.After that… I don’t know how long I’ve slept. I woke up a littlewhile ago, like this. Someone had cut straps holding me to atable.”

Someone? That sounded too beneficent forSicarius, but Basilard perhaps? She wanted to pump the girl foranswers, but they had best find someplace less open for planningthe next step.

Merva leaned past her and pointed into thestaging chamber. “Can I get out that way? We’re underwater, right?Are we in the ocean?”

“Nah,” Akstyr said. “We’re just-”

“We can help you escape,” Amaranthe said,cutting Akstyr off before he could reveal how close to the citythey were. She did not want the girl swimming out there, only todrown trying to reach the surface. “But let’s get all the prisonersout first. Have you seen others since you woke up?”

Merva tore her gaze from the chamber. “Westarted out together, several of us, but then we ran into thosesoldiers, and one of them fired at us. Everyone scattered,and-”

A man in military fatigues jogged around thecorner and skidded to a halt. His eyebrows flew up when he spottedthe diving suits. “Intruders!” he shouted and grabbed for a pistol,but he seemed to realize he was outnumbered. Instead of shooting,he whirled for the cover of the corner.

Grimly, Amaranthe fired her harpoon launcher.They couldn’t let him run off and gather reinforcements.

The projectile zipped down the corridor andsliced into the man’s shoulder before he disappeared around thecorner. He stumbled and landed belly-first on the deck. His pistolflew free and clanged against the bulkhead, going off with anechoing bang.

Amaranthe winced at the noise.

Maldynado ran past her and checked thecorridors leading from the intersection. “No one else. Yet.”

The guard tried to crawl away. Maldynadostepped on his arm to pin him. The man scrabbled for a knife at hisbelt, but Maldynado took it from him easily.

“Want me to…?” He made a throat-slashingmotion.

Amaranthe sighed. The poison should kill theman in a couple of minutes, but she had no idea if that would be amore merciful end than a dagger to the throat.

The man twisted his neck to look at her. Fearhaunted his eyes.

“Sorry,” Amaranthe said quietly.

A part of her was tempted to ask Akstyr if hecould do anything to keep the man from dying, but there was notime. Someone would come to investigate that shot.

“Leave him,” Amaranthe told Maldynado. “Afterthat entrance, I’m sure the whole vessel knows we’re here.”

She waved for Merva to come forward. Theyounger woman gave her the same wary look Amaranthe had seen somany people use on Sicarius. Having such an expression directed ather made her uncomfortable. I’m not a monster, she wanted to say.I’m just trying to do the right thing….

“Can you take us to the navigation area?” shesaid instead. Finding the captain-or whoever was in charge of thisplace-would be better than wandering around randomly. If they foundsomeone important, perhaps they could use him or her as a hostageand avoid more bloodshed.

“I think it’s on the second floor,” Mervawhispered.

They hid the harpoon launchers in thetransition chamber, drew their swords, and headed away from thefallen guard. They passed numerous closed hatches and ducked underand around knots of pipes. Another four-way intersection came intoview ahead of them, and, beyond it, a ladder rose to a secondlevel. Voices drifted from the corridor to the left of theintersection. Agitated voices.

Amaranthe lifted a hand for silence andpassed Merva. As if by magic, the clomps of her men’s heavy bootssoftened to imperceptible footfalls. She glanced back, intending tosign an order for someone to watch their hindquarters, but Bookswas already doing it. He stalked backwards, his sword at theready.

At the intersection, Amaranthe poked an eyearound the corner. She almost yanked her head right back. Not tenfeet away, six white-jacketed men and women stood before a closedhatch marking the end of the corridor. Only the fact that all theirheads were turned away from the intersection kept her there for alonger look.

Their hair ranged from blond to black,straight to wiry and tightly curled. Representatives from severalnations and, Amaranthe feared, practitioners as well.

They were gesticulating and talking, morethan one at a time with frequent, emphatic points at the hatch.Were her men inside? Or other escaped prisoners?

Symbols were etched in a plate above thedoorway. Amaranthe waved for Books to take her spot and decipherthe language.

Engine room, he signed after apeek.

Amaranthe fingered the hilt of her sword, butshe did not want to attack practitioners. They would have far moretricks than Turgonian guards. Besides, she did not know if what laybehind the hatch was something that should concern her or not.

Let’s sneak past, Amaranthe signed,then put a finger to her lips and pointed to the ladder for Merva’ssake.

She waited until all of the practitioners’heads were turned and eased through the intersection, figuringsudden movement would be more likely to draw someone’s eye.

A clang sounded down the corridor behindBooks. Guards searching the vessel? The practitioners were tooengrossed in their argument to notice.

Amaranthe waved for Maldynado and the othersto follow, one at a time. A bead of moisture slithered down herribcage. More than nerves made her sweat; now that they had leftthe icy water, the suit kept her far warmer than she needed.

Akstyr slipped across without incident.Good.

Out of habit, Amaranthe lifted a finger toher mouth to nibble on a nail, but the gloves stopped her. Bookscrossed, and Merva stepped into the intersection. Amaranthe curledher fingers into a fist. It was working. Everyone would-

A thunderous boom erupted, and the corridorheaved.

Amaranthe stumbled back and threw an arm out,trying to keep herself from falling, but the smooth walls offeredno hand holds, and the suit affected her balance. She hit thefloor, her helmet flying from her fingers. It clanked down thecorridor, bouncing as it went, and she cursed under her breath.

Quakes rattled the fortress. Half of her teamhad fallen to the floor as well, making her glad for her decisionto leave the harpoon launchers behind; someone might have cuthimself on a poisoned blade.

Curses in foreign languages-multipleforeign languages-spilled from the adjoining corridor.

Amaranthe rolled onto her knees and grabbedher helmet. She waved and pointed toward the ladder, silentlyurging her team to hurry. She hoped the commotion had kept thepractitioners from hearing them.

Merva and the men filed up the ladder.Amaranthe went last, her oversized boots making the ascentawkward.

Clomps sounded in the corridor she wasleaving. The practitioners? No, Turgonian words punctuated thefootfalls. Those were guards coming.

Ignoring the awkward boots, Amaranthe flew upthe last few rungs. She rolled into the corridor above just as aman below demanded, “Have you seen the intruders?”

Her first ludicrous thought was that he wastalking to her, but the voice was not that close. The guards had tobe at the intersection. She was tempted to stick around to listento the conversation, and see if she could find out what was goingon in the engine room, but those men would soon move on with theirhunt.

At the top of the ladder, anotherhatch-filled metal corridor stretched.

“Which way to navigation?” Amaranthewhispered.

Merva spread her hands, palms up.

“That way.” Maldynado pointed down onecorridor. “Or that way.” He pointed the other direction.

“Twit,” Books said.

Amaranthe chose a direction at random. Thepassage angled to the left, and a well-lit chamber opened up at theend. Something shimmered in the air before it. Some sort of magicalhatch?

Books pointed to a plaque above the doorway.“Navigation.”

Amaranthe slowed as they approached. She didnot see anyone inside yet, but such an important station should bemanned.

Another boom rocked the fortress, though notas fiercely as the first, and she remained upright this time.

What is that? she signed to Books.Some kind of attack from the marine ship?

Charges dropped in a waterproofcontainer? he suggested.

Amaranthe inched closer to the chamber. Thefar wall held an eight-foot-wide oblong porthole above a consolefilled with levers, gauges, and a head-sized illuminated dome.Water pressed against the porthole, and an orange glow from thelights outside bathed the silt and rock of the lake floor. A schoolof the translucent guard fish flitted past.

One man walked into view from the side, and asecond rose out of a high-backed chair that had hidden him fromsight. They leaned over the controls and argued in their ownlanguage. One pointed at the porthole. Muskets leaned against theconsole between them.

Amaranthe used their distraction to inchcloser, though she was careful not to touch the shimmering field.Energy crackled in the air and nipped at her cheeks.

On a side wall, an open weapons locker heldcutlasses and the empty musket slots. A row of yellow vials hung ina small rack. If those contained the same concoction that hadrendered so many people unconscious, they might prove useful.

The voices of the two men grew more agitated.Outside the porthole, a metallic box floated into view. It couldn’tbe heavy since it drifted down instead of plummeting. Amaranthesquinted, trying to decipher a black stamp on the box. An oil canover crossed swords, the symbol representing the army’s engineeringdivision.

Books grabbed her arm and tried to pull herfurther back into the corridor, but too many others occupied thespace. Before they could organize a retreat, the metallic boxexploded with a blinding flash.

The force hurled her backward. Someone caughther, but they tumbled to the deck in a tangle of limbs anyway.

In the chamber, the navigators also toppled,and their muskets clattered to the floor. One man lunged to hisfeet and pointed at the porthole, curses flowing from his lips. Atleast, Amaranthe assumed they were curses. Nobody said happy thingsin that tone of voice.

She spotted the reason for their ire: ahairline crack streaked across the porthole glass.

Amaranthe climbed off of Books, and hetouched her arm, nodding for them to retreat to speak. The rest ofthe group followed.

“You know what they’re saying?” she whisperedwhen they had backed to the ladder. Voices still floated up frombelow, but she could not tell if any belonged to the guardssearching for them.

“They’re cursing the Turgonian devils outsideand the blond devil inside,” Books whispered.

Blond. That had to be Sicarius.

“They want to move this vessel,” Books wenton, “but he’s killed the engineers and barricaded himself in theengine room.”

Those were her men inside, givingthose practitioners trouble. But if they were trapped, they neededher help. Amaranthe rubbed sweat from her brow and ignored an urgeto claw off the stifling suit. They might need to flee outsideagain.

“All right,” Amaranthe said, “here’s theplan: you and Akstyr take Merva and find the rest of the athletes.Maldynado and I will get inside navigation and deal with thosetwo.” And maybe the practitioners in front of the engine room, too,if she could pilfer a couple of those vials.

Books lifted a finger, as if he meant toobject-or perhaps warn her of the lack of prudence in herscheme-but shouts came from the level below, and he dropped hishand. “Very well.”

“One more question,” Amaranthe said. “I knowthese helmets are waterproof. Are they air-proof, too? If one choseto wear them in here?”

Books’s brow crinkled. “I imagine they’d haveto be. So long as you don’t run out of the air in your dedicatedsupply, you should be fine.” He nodded to the tank on her back.

“Thanks.” Amaranthe waved for him to take offwith the others. “Be careful.”

Books, Akstyr, and Merva left, leavingAmaranthe and Maldynado alone to face the practitioners. She took adeep breath and pointed toward the navigation room. “I’m going todistract those two while you grab a couple of the yellow vials inthe weapons locker, got it?”

“Got it, boss.”

Amaranthe returned to the barrier and knockedon the wall. The two men, who had been arguing over the crack,whirled and gaped. She spoke quickly, wanting to head off anylunges for weapons-or magical attacks.

“Greetings. It looks like you gentlemen coulduse some help. Do you speak Turgonian?”

“Help!” one man yelled. He wore spectaclesthat rested so low on his nose that Amaranthe could not imaginethem offering anything more than an enhanced view of his ownpores.

“Was that a question,” Amaranthe asked, “or acall for assistance?”

“Are you with them?” He stabbed afinger toward the ceiling with such vigor that his spectacles fellthe rest of the way off his nose. He caught them with a growl andthrust the frames back over his ears.

The second man, a rangy fellow with pale haircombed over a balding pate, watched the exchange in silence. Long,bony fingers flexed at his side, as if he might be thinking ofhurling some spell at Amaranthe.

“With the marines?” she asked, her eyes wide.“No, they want us dead. I’m Amaranthe Lokdon. I run The Emperor’sEdge mercenary outfit. Haven’t you heard of us?”

The two men exchanged blank looks. That wasfine. As long as they weren’t thinking of attacking her.

“I assumed you had,” Amaranthe said, “becauseyou kidnapped two of my men.”

“Oh,” Spectacles growled. “Sicarius. You runwith his group?”

“He runs with my group.” Amarantheturned to Maldynado. “I make all the decisions and do all theplanning. Why is nobody ever aware of that?” She hoped her whiningmade her sound innocuous, like someone who wasn’t a threat, likesomeone who could be invited in to chat further….

“Because you’re friendly and nice, andhe’s…someone who likes to kill people who are friendly and nice?”Maldynado suggested.

“That must be it.” Amaranthe faced thepractitioners again, empty hands spread. “Gentlemen, it looks likeyou’re in a dungeon with few prospects for escape. Am I correct indeducing that my men are making trouble in your engine room?”

“We’re taking care of them,” Spectaclessaid.

Another boom rattled the fortress. The men’swary eyes lifted toward the ceiling. If the marines kept droppingcharges, one was bound to land on top of the vessel eventually.

“I could get them to walk out right now,”Amaranthe said, “and you people could amble in, fix up thoseengines, and escape this lake before the marines get lucky.”

“The kraken will handle their ship,”Spectacles said. “Even now, it’s attacking them. They will eithersink or flee to the docks, wetting their trousers on the way.”

“Uhm,” Amaranthe said, “you speak Turgonianvery well, but you don’t seem to understand the warrior mentalityof our people. The captain will be tickled at the idea of facing akraken. A training exercise, if you will. If they thought the beasta severe threat, they’d be too busy facing it to drop charges overthe side.” That story sounded plausible, anyway. In truth, therewere probably a couple of lowly privates up there, assigned thetask of sending the explosives down in hopes that destroying thefortress would make the kraken lose interest in defending it. “Oncethey dispatch your little pet, they’ll be able to focus all theirattention on this vessel.”

“We’ll be fine on our own,” Spectacles said.“We-”

The balding man stopped him with a raisedhand, and Amaranthe wondered if he, despite being the quiet one,might be in charge. “What are you proposing, woman?”

“Amaranthe,” she said, figuring they’d bemore likely to see her as an ally if they were on a first namebasis. “May we come in to discuss this? Some of your guards havebeen looking for us, and we’d rather not get shot in the back whilewe’re talking to you.”

The men frowned at her. Despite her attemptat wide-eyed innocence, they seemed to think she might be up tosomething. Annoying when the villains had a modicum ofintelligence.

Spectacles murmured a few words to his bossin their language. Amaranthe hoped it was something like, “They’resimple fighters and not a threat to our magical greatness.”

“Drop your weapons and kick them back intothe tunnel,” the leader finally said.

“Kick?” Maldynado said. “One doesn’tkick a Teldark and Brook blade.”

“Ssh.” Amaranthe tossed her short sword ontothe floor behind them.

Maldynado gently laid his rapier next to herweapon.

Spectacles walked to the wall to the left ofhis side of the barrier where a box emitting a soft green glowperched at face level. He lowered his spectacles and leaned forwardto stare into it. The barrier shimmered and winked out.

Amaranthe waited for the man to step back andgesture for them to enter. She eased inside, hands open and spread.Maldynado did the same, but he stepped to her side, a couple offeet closer to the vials in the weapons locker.

“Stay there,” the leader said. “What’s yourproposal?”

“I’ll get my men to leave peacefully,”Amaranthe said, “and you let us walk, or swim, out of hereunmolested.”

“Sicarius is worth a million ranmyas.”

“Yes, and if you wanted that, you should havekept him unconscious.” She assumed that was how they had capturedhim in the first place, no doubt thanks to her sending him off tosnoop. Someone must have caught him with a whiff from one of thosevials.

“Litya woke him up,” Spectacles said. “Wetold her not to. She paid for it, too. Your men have killedmany of our guards and some of our practitioners. Letting them walkaway unpunished isn’t acceptable.”

“I see. Are you two in charge?” Amarantheasked, wondering if she was negotiating with someone who had thepower to do anything.

“We’re on the committee.”

“Committee? As in shared powers? Andvotes?”

“We’re not savages like you Turgonians,”Spectacles said. “We run a democracy here.”

“Well.” Amaranthe clasped her hands andstrolled to the porthole. Their gazes followed her, leavingMaldynado unobserved. “I’m not going to talk Sicarius into walkingout if your intent is to capture-or shoot-him,” she said.

“Suppose we take you prisoner and use yourlife to barter with the assassin?” Spectacles mused.

“That’d be a gamble on your part.” Amarantheleaned her back against the console, ostensibly so she could chatface-to-face with both men, but she was more interested in checkingon Maldynado’s progress.

He was leaning on one arm that happened torest on the wall near the weapons rack, but his quick headshakesaid he had not yet palmed the vials.

“The problem for you, gentlemen,” Amaranthewent on, “is that Sicarius doesn’t care enough about anyone in thegroup-about anyone at all-to risk himself on their behalf. He’slike that kraken out there.”

She twisted and leaned toward the porthole,gazing up as if she had spotted the beast. The men leaned forward,too, no doubt worrying their prize kraken was idling about insteadof terrorizing the marines.

Amaranthe thought about signaling toMaldynado to sneak up on the men and bash them both on the backs oftheir heads, but practitioners seemed to be good at sensing bodilythreats.

“Sicarius is pragmatic and practical and outfor his own interests. He’ll crush you if you inconvenience him.”She faced the men again and, in her peripheral vision, sawMaldynado nod once. She hoped it meant he had the vials, not thathe agreed with her assessment of Sicarius. “Don’t let greed leadyou to disaster,” Amaranthe urged the practitioners. “Money isn’twhat brought you here in the first place, is it?” In truth, she hadno idea, but it sounded like a promising guess.

“Our research requires funds,” Spectaclessaid. “Ultra modern mobile labs don’t build themselves.”

“Why do you need to be mobile?” she asked,figuring the more they chatted with her, the less likely they wouldbe to hold a knife to her throat as part of a bargaining ploy.

The men’s lips grew flat.

“Your research isn’t sanctioned by yourgovernment?” Amaranthe asked, her tone not one of accusation. No,she gave them her bestbrotherhood-of-folks-beleaguered-by-oppressive-government-policiessmile.

“You could say that,” Spectacles said. “Mostof our funds won’t come through until we deliver the babies, andthat’s a long-term project, obviously.”

Babies? What were these people doingdown here?

“A project that will be more difficult tocomplete without Litya,” Spectacles added.

The quiet man whispered something in a stringof vowel-rich syllables. A warning not to reveal so much? Whateverit was, both men scowled at her. Litya must have met the sharp sideof one of Sicarius’s daggers.

“Out of curiosity,” Amaranthe said,pretending not to notice their flinty stares, “were you hired ortold to come here by a group called Forge?”

The men exchanged sharp looks.

“We have Turgonian customers, but your peopledidn’t fund our mission,” Spectacles said.

That…wasn’t quite what she had asked. Thatthey recognized the organization told her much though.

“Forge is just a client, then?” Amarantheasked.

Spectacles shrugged. “Who in Turgoniacouldn’t find a use for a child gifted enough to win at theImperial Games or excel on the battlefield? That’s the only way tojoin your archaic aristocracy, is it not?”

Amaranthe said nothing. Was that whatthe miners had been planning? If they combined funds to buya son who could one day gain entrance into the warrior castethrough merit, the parents would share the family honors: land,entitlements, access to the emperor. Though businesses had broughtcommon citizens many opportunities, no amount of money could buywhat the warrior caste received as a birthright.

Something clunked against the hull of thevessel. A flash of light appeared outside the porthole, and amassive boom coursed through the fortress.

Amaranthe grabbed the console and managed tostay upright, but Spectacles tumbled to the floor, cracking hishead on the seat. A wailing reminiscent of an injured bird startedup, creating a cacophony as it competed with the ongoing alarm. Therangy man gripped the console with both hands, and his eyes closedto slits as he concentrated on something.

Maldynado crept toward Spectacles. Amaranthenodded, thinking this might be a chance to subdue these two.

From his hands and knees, Spectacles flunghis fingers outward. An invisible force hurled Maldynado back, andhe hit the wall with a resounding thump. His helmet dropped fromhis hands, hitting the floor with a clatter. He slid down the walland onto his backside, then slumped into a stunned heap.

Amaranthe bit her lip. Maldynado looked likehe would survive, but if his crash had cracked one of the vials,they might all end up unconscious.

“I’ll thank you to keep your bodyguard by thedoor,” Spectacles growled. He had his feet under him and wasstraightening his jacket.

“That wasn’t necessary,” Amaranthe said. “Itold you we’d work with you if you release my men.”

“That brutish behemoth was going towork my face into the floor.”

“Brutish?” Maldynado had recoveredenough to manage an indignant tone. “Brutish? I’m a child ofthe warrior caste, descended from generations of noble warriors anddistinguished matrons of exquisite manners and taste. I’m nobrute.”

“I’m sure he was only coming to help you,”Amaranthe told Spectacles.

“Er, yes.” Maldynado staggered to his feet.“That’s right.”

“Stop blathering,” the rangy man said. “Thehull has been breached in the upper port wing. I’ve closed it offfrom the rest of the Areyon, but if we take on too muchwater, we’ll never be able to leave the bottom of thisAkahe-forsaken lake.”

“It’s time to accept your losses and escapewhile you can,” Amaranthe said.

The two men argued with each other in theirown tongue. Another explosion went off, this one too far from theporthole to view the flash, but Amaranthe felt its power in thetremors that rocked the vessel. The accompanying groans and creaksof the structure sounded ominous. How much damage was thefortress-no, laboratory was the better term-designed totake?

“We agree,” Spectacles told Amaranthe. “Youcan have your two men, but we will keep the rest of the testsubjects.”

If you can find them, Amaranthe thought, butshe kept her sneer inward and shrugged. “I’m only concerned aboutmy people.”

Spectacles strode to the barrier again. Heleaned into the box, and the field winked out again. “You first,”he said.

“Very well.” Amaranthe lifted her helmet andfastened it as if it were a typical Turgonian thing to do. Shecaught Maldynado’s eye and gave him a nod. He put his helmet on aswell.

Spectacles watched with a frown. “What areyou doing? We’re not going outside to get to the engine room.”

Amaranthe pointed at the ceiling. “With thosemarines dropping charges, I’m not taking any chances. What if onelands right on top of us?”

The men gave her exasperated looks. That wasfine. So long as they didn’t find her suspicious.

“Mind if we collect our weapons?” she askedbefore the group started down the corridor.

“Yes,” Maldynado said. “It’d be unforgivableto leave my fine blade on that grungy floor.”

“No weapons,” Spectacles said. “Walk.”

Though the two practitioners stood more thanan arm’s length away from her, Amaranthe felt a nudge of pressureagainst her back. The sensation sent an uneasy tingle down herspine, and she worried they could do much more than “nudge” herwith their powers.

When they reached the ladder, Amaranthe wavedfor Maldynado to descend first. The helmets made it hard to seeone’s feet, and she had little trouble feigning a clumsy climb. Atthe bottom, she deliberately missed a rung and tumbled intoMaldynado. He caught her and pressed a vial into her hand. Thankhis ancestors for hiding a brain beneath all that arrogance.

She straightened before the practitionersreached the bottom. “Perhaps donning the helmets wasn’t such a goodidea after all.”

“Nah,” Maldynado said. “This way if you tripand hit your noggin, it’ll be protected.”

“Stop dawdling,” Spectacles growled.

Amaranthe headed for the intersection. Low,excited voices came from around the corner. She imagined theforeigners saying, “We’re almost in….”

She stopped to wait for the two practitionersto pass her, but Spectacles said, “You first,” and applied anotherinvisible nudge of force.

Unwilling to walk into a den of wizardsunannounced, Amaranthe called out, “New allies coming around thecorner. Don’t shoot or incinerate us or do other unpleasantwizard-ish things, please.”

That drew snorts from the men behind her.Arms spread, and the vial pressed to the underside of her hand withher thumb, she stepped around the corner.

Six faces stared at her. Sixpractitioners’ faces, she reminded herself. Suddenly herplan with the vial seemed ridiculously simple and doomed tofailure. As soon as she dropped it, they would figure it out andraise magical defenses.

“Good morning, all,” Amaranthe said. “I heardyou could use help getting a couple of pesky escaped prisoners outof there.”

“Just talk to your men,” Spectaclesgrowled.

The practitioners parted to let her pass. Theman closest to the door held some sort of baton that was spouting astream of fire. It had burned three sides of an access panel intothe hatch, leaving smoke drifting from perforated singe marks.

Amaranthe tried to see through one of thetiny holes, but the room appeared dark behind it. Or maybesomething else blocked the door. If her men were barricaded inside,it would take time for them to come out and help if a fracasstarted. She had to assume she and Maldynado were on their own forthis.

As she drew closer to the door, she wiggledthe cork loose with her thumb. The gloves stole some of herdexterity, and she fumbled, almost dropping the vial.

Inside the stuffy helmet, a bead of sweatrolled down her nose. Too bad she had no way to wipe it.

The cork came free in her hand. Yellow smokecurled between her fingers, and she lowered her arm, swinging it tohide the evidence.

She pointed at the hatch. “Should Iknock?”

“Stop him,” someone blurted behind her, thenswitched to another language.

Cursed ancestors, they must have seenMaldynado opening his vial. Two men reached for him, and a womanstepped back, her eyes growing glazed.

Amaranthe threw the vial at her nose. Itbopped her between the eyes, breaking her concentration. The twomen had tried to grab Maldynado’s arms, but he thrust them away. Hedid tower like a behemoth over these people. Too bad itwasn’t going to be a solely physical confrontation. But if theycould keep the practitioners busy until the smoke kicked in…

A man grabbed Amaranthe’s wrist even as aprickle on the back of her neck alerted her to a magical attackfrom elsewhere. She kicked her captor’s shin and twisted her arm,yanking it free from the man’s grip. She jammed her knee into hisgroin and spun about, seeking the practitioner targeting her.

The man with the baton torch lunged at her.She ducked and whipped her arm up in a hard block. The baton flewfrom the man’s grip, hit a wall, and spun into the fray. Someonescreamed.

Nearby, a glassy-eyed male practitionerraised a hand toward Amaranthe. She lunged and launched a punch,twisting her hip to put her whole body into the maneuver. Her fistsmashed into the man’s nose with bone-crunching force. He hadn’tmade an attempt to block, and he went down like a brick. He wasn’tthe only one with slow reflexes.

The vials. They were working.

Relief welled and caught in her throat. No,not relief. Something was tightening her airway. Though the helmetprotected her neck, a force pressed in from all sides, as ifsomeone were strangling her.

Amaranthe stumbled back, fighting the urge toclutch at her throat. That would do nothing. She whirled about,searching for her attacker.

Six of the eight practitioners were sprawledon the deck. Maldynado had crumpled to his knees, his facecontorted in a rictus of pain behind his mask.

The rangy navigator stood in theintersection, his focus on Maldynado. A gray-haired woman had afist clenched as she stared at Amaranthe with fierce concentration.Neither appeared affected by the smoke that wafted from thevials.

Lightheadedness swept over Amaranthe. Lack ofair scattered her thoughts, and desperation crept in. She wheezed,groping for a plan while her body cried out for oxygen.

She tried to stalk toward her attacker, tostop the assault, but she bounced off a barrier protecting thewoman. Hadn’t Akstyr always said practitioners could onlyconcentrate on one thing at a time? That they couldn’t attack anddefend simultaneously? That was why Arbitan Losk had conjured upthat deadly soul construct to watch his back. Maybe someone downhere was working on protection tools-artifacts, that’s whatSicarius called such things-and the woman had some physical objectthat could be destroyed.

Blackness crept into the edges of Amaranthe’svision as she squinted, searching for some sign of a tool on thewoman’s person. There. A blocky square jutting against the fabricinside her jacket. Little good the knowledge did. As long as thetool was inside the barrier, Amaranthe could do nothing toit.

A tight smile curved the woman’s lips. Shehad Amaranthe and she knew it.

We’ll see, Amaranthe thought. She glancedtoward the fire baton. It had gone out when it hit the deck, butmaybe she could turn it on again. And maybe one artifact couldfight another.

She dropped to one knee, pretending defeat-itwasn’t much of a pretense-and rested her hand near the torch. Shegripped the smooth material, using her body to hide the action.

Involuntary gasps for air tore through her,but they were ineffective and nothing could pass her constrictedthroat. She did not have long. If her attack failed…

Another charge exploded near by, and thecorridor rocked. The lights flickered. For an instant, the pressureon Amaranthe’s throat disappeared.

She gasped and jumped to her feet, forcingair-deprived legs to support her. She thumbed the only thing thatfelt like a switch on the smooth baton, and a six-inch flamestreamed from the tip. Amaranthe jabbed it at the invisibleshield.

The baton didn’t pierce the barrier, but theflame flared in a brilliant flash, startling the woman. Shebackpedaled, tripped over a fallen comrade, and crashed to thedeck. Something crunched beneath her. The tool?

Amaranthe dove in, hoping the shield hadfailed. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a dark shapearcing toward her-the male practitioner’s boot.

She flung herself to her belly, but hurriedto find her feet again as soon as the kick whispered overhead. Shedropped the baton and caught the man’s boot as he was retractingit. She sprang up, heaving his leg into the air. The man tumbledonto his back.

“Maldynado,” Amaranthe rasped through heraching throat. “Keep that one busy.”

He was on his back, panting, but he rolledonto his side to obey.

The woman had found her knees and was tryingto rise. Amaranthe planted a foot on her back-the barrier haddisappeared-and forced her flat on the deck. She snatched the batonand raised it, but paused. Maybe she need not kill anyone else.

She spotted the vial Maldynado had dropped,grabbed it, and held it to the woman’s nose. Already thepractitioner’s eyes were glazing and her struggles were weak, sothe effects of the powder must not have faded yet.

A thump sounded behind Amaranthe. She leapedto her feet and whirled, baton in hand, ready to thrust the flameup an attacker’s nose.

“Easy, lady grimbal.” Maldynado raised hishands over his head. The male practitioner lay at his feet,gasping-and inhaling-the lingering odor from the other vial.“You’ll need that for getting in if Sicarius won’t answer thedoor.”

“True.” Amaranthe lowered her hand, but shedid not relax until she had ensured nobody was in a position totrouble them. The practitioners all lay prone. One was snoring.Good.

“You might want to do it before this stuffwears off and these magic-spewing people wake up,” Maldynadosaid.

“Yes, but how do we know when the air isclear? We don’t want our men to walk out and pitch over,snoring.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing Sicarius snore,”Maldynado said.

“Do you want to sling him and Basilard overyour shoulders and tote them out of here?”

“I could. I’ve carried many women on thesebroad shoulders.”

“Many women at the same time?”

“On occasion, yes.” He winked.

“Just watch them, please.” Amaranthe noddedto the slumbering people and knocked on the hatch. “Sicarius?Basilard? You can come out now. We’re pushing the unconsciouspeople into neat piles.”

The clomp of footsteps came from around thecorner, and she winced. Maybe calling out had been foolish. Ifthere were still guards around, someone must have heard thatbrawl….

The people who tromped around the corner werenot guards however. Books and Akstyr led the way, wearing theirsuits but not their helmets. Seven, no, eight nude men and womentrailed them. More than one naked body sported smears of blood, andseveral people gripped knives or pistols. Books carried a familiarblack belt full of daggers.

Amaranthe lifted a hand, intending to warneveryone to stay back, but she did need to know if the airwas still tainted. Nobody dropped to the ground and startedsnoring.

“What took you so long, Booksie?” Maldynadoasked.

“We took the tour and beat some heads in.”Akstyr grinned at one of the girls, but she showed no inclinationtoward returning it.

“Why are you wearing…?” Books started, butstopped to study the inert forms. “Should we all be wearinghelmets?”

“I think it’s worn off.” Amaranthe unfastenedher helmet. “Tie these people up, will you? No, we need more thanthat. They can use their minds to choke us-as I have reason toknow. Akstyr, is there a way to keep them unconscious?”

“Shoot them?” Akstyr said.

“You’re supposed to be a Science advisor,”Books told him, “not a Sicarius acolyte.”

Maldynado cleared his throat. “For therecord, that would have been my response, too.”

“How surprising.” Books handed Sicarius’sknife collection to Amaranthe.

She struggled to hold all the blades and thebaton, so she settled for dumping them into her helmet.

“We can strap these bastards to the tablesand sedate them the way they did us,” one young man said.

“Can we cut them open, too?” anothergrowled.

Amaranthe grimaced, wondering what manner ofexperiments the practitioners had been conducting to create thosefuture warrior-caste babies. Thoughts for another time.

One of the young women caught her eye, a tallblonde with facial features similar to Fasha’s. She must be Keisha,the athlete whose disappearance had started everything forAmaranthe and her team. Keisha would need to know about hersister’s death, but now wasn’t the time.

She knocked on the hatch again. “Sicarius, ifyou don’t come out, we’re leaving you here.”

The athletes stirred and traded whispers of,“Sicarius?”

Something scraped on the other side of thehatch. Equipment or furniture being moved? Bangs, thumps, and morescrapes followed. A light poked through the perforations in thehatch.

Amaranthe crouched and peered through only tofind herself staring into a dark eye that gazed back from the otherside. She twitched in surprise, but did not draw back. Wasthat-

“Basilard believes we should have code wordsyou could speak so we would know if you were giving us legitimateorders or talking under duress.” Sicarius spoke the words asblandly as if they were discussing the men’s training regimen, andno hint that he had missed her or was relieved to see her seepedinto his tone.

By now, Amaranthe should have known betterthan to feel stung, but the emotion encroached upon hernonetheless. She pushed it aside and conjured a smile. “Basilard isa wise fellow. We’ll schedule it for discussion during the nextteam meeting.”

The eye disappeared, metal squealed, and thehatch tottered open on wobbly hinges.

Basilard exited first, his legs and feetbare, though he wore some guard’s fatigue shirt. He grinned andstopped to give Amaranthe a one-armed hug before moving on to greetthe others. Blood stained the back of his shirt.

“Basilard, did you get shot?” she asked.

Yes. I fashioned a bandage. It is fine fornow.

The pain lines creasing the corners of hiseyes belied the statement, but they did not have time to performmore extensive first aid, so Amaranthe let it go.

Sicarius strode out, utterly naked except fora technical manual in his hands. He didn’t bother to wield itstrategically to hide…anything.

Amaranthe gaped at him. After a startledmoment of surprise, she forced herself to keep her eyes focused onhis face. Mostly. “Sicarius. I, ah…” Have always wanted to seeyou like this, she thought. No, she couldn’t say that. Waswondering if you were blond all over. No, definitely not that. “Ihope that’s not your suggestion for the team uniform,” she decidedon as she handed him his gear.

“The lack of a place to hold weapons makes itimpractical,” he said in his usual monotone.

Behind Amaranthe, Maldynado leaned close toBooks and whispered, “So many jokes the man could have made, and hegoes with that.”

Sicarius strapped on his weapons belt, which,combined with the throwing knives sheathed on his forearm, createda style that would have earned anyone else a round of mocking.Nobody made a comment.

Sicarius lifted the manual. “If the way isclear, we can adjust the ballast tanks to bring this craft to thesurface.” He opened the manual to a diagram. “They’re located here,here, here and here.”

Straight to business. No hug or, “Thanks forcoming for us.” Professional as always. But then, she was the onewho had sent him on a task that resulted in his capture. Maybe hewas holding a grudge.

“Do you know how to do it, or do you needBooks?” Amaranthe asked him.

“I can do it,” Sicarius said.

“All right. Books, do you want to take yourteam to handle the practitioners?”

“My team?” Books eyed the young,bloodthirsty athletes. “How lovely.”

“Akstyr and Basilard, go with him, please.Maldynado, you’re with Sicarius and me.”

“Double lovely,” Maldynado said after aglance at Sicarius’s nude state, or perhaps at the streaks of driedblood smearing his arm and shoulder.

“Wait,” Books said. “The plan is to go to thesurface in this? The enemy vessel? With the marines sitting upthere with all their weapons firing?”

“We’ll surrender,” Amaranthe said.

“We could swim out before we get to the top,”Maldynado said.

“With the kraken waiting out there?” Booksasked.

“Kraken?” Sicarius asked mildly.

“Er, yes,” Amaranthe said. “Did you not knowabout that?”

“I thought you’d have to slay it to get inhere.”

“No, the kraken-slaying is still on my to-dolist.”

Sicarius’s eyebrow twitched.

“Don’t worry. We have a plan. Sort of. Books,meet us back at the transition chamber once you have these peoplesecured. Sicarius, let’s go see to these tanks.”

CHAPTER 17

Basilard led the way to the laboratory fromwhich he and Sicarius had escaped mere hours earlier. Books,Akstyr, and the athletes followed, grunting and panting as theytoted the unconscious practitioners. Clunks and thumps sounded aslimbs-or heads-collided with pipes and bulkheads. Despite thedamage the vessel had taken, the barrier remained in place,blocking the laboratory entrance.

“Do you know how to get past?” Booksasked.

Basilard stared at the eyeball-readerthoughtfully. He had no desire to try Sicarius’s method.

“Akstyr, do you know how to get past?”Books asked over his shoulder.

“That work’s beyond me,” he said.

“Can we hurry up?” a man asked at the rear.“This bloke’s stirring. I think they’re going to wake up soon.”

Basilard pointed at an unconscious womanstrung between Books and Akstyr. Lift her up, pry her eyelidopen, and wave her face in front of that device.

“That’ll work?” Books asked skeptically.

The alternative is to gouge her eyeball outand wave it on a stick.

“Let’s…make the first thing work,” Bookssaid. “And please don’t tell me if you know for a fact the othermethod works.”

He and Akstyr jostled the woman into place.Basilard used his good arm to pry her eyelid back and held hisbreath. Nothing happened. The iris was rolled back in her head.Grimacing-and worried she would wake up-he used his finger to slideher eyeball downward.

The barrier winked out.

Before he could let his breath out in relief,something tinkled to the deck inside. Basilard had no idea how manyof the crew had been accounted for. Not everybody, apparently.

He drew his knife and motioned for the restof the team to wait inside the threshold.

Only tables and equipment occupied the firstaisle. Basilard tiptoed toward the second and paused at a tank onthe end.

In case someone waited around the corner witha pistol, he stuck his hand out as a decoy, then whipped it back.No shots fired. He listened but heard nothing. Knife in hand, hepeeked around the corner….

Only to find it empty. He ducked to see ifsomeone might be hiding beneath the beds. Nothing. The hairs roseon the back of his neck, and some instinct told him to look up.

A pair of black boots swung toward hisface.

Basilard dropped into a crouch so low, hisrump smacked the deck. He bounced up instantly, whirling as agray-haired soldier hanging from the ceiling pipes swung past him.Taloncrest. Before he could release the pipes and drop down,Basilard jammed his knife into the man’s kidney.

Taloncrest snarled as his boots hit the deck,and he whirled, a pistol in hand.

Basilard dropped again, this time hurlinghimself onto his back. He kicked up, sending the pistol flying withsurprising ease. Taloncrest stood there, face slack, a bulky toteslung over one shoulder, papers fighting to escape the flap.

His eyes grew glazed, and he toppledforward.

Basilard scrambled backward in the tightaisle and barely avoided having the man land on top of him. Asecond knife protruded from his back.

Akstyr stepped forward and removed it.“You’re welcome.”

Thank you, Basilard signed.

“This goon’s waking up,” someone said.

A loud thump sounded.

“Never mind,” someone else said.

Let’s get these people strapped to thebeds, Basilard signed.

Books stuck his head around the corner intime to see the message. “Do you know how to sedate them?”

Basilard pointed to one of the globes thatperched beside each table. I saw it done.

“So, that’s a yes?” Books asked.

Basilard hesitated. Not really.

“This should prove interesting then.”

After retrieving their swords, Amaranthe andMaldynado wound through the corridors, following Sicarius. Shefocused on carrying her helmet, not tripping over her oversizedboots, and watching for guards; she most definitely did not focuson Sicarius’s bare rear end as he jogged ahead of them.

“If Deret’s on board the Saberfist,”Maldynado said, “he might be able to keep the marines from shootingus when we pop up.”

“Why would Mancrest be there?” Sicariusasked, his tone as friendly as the edge of that black knife ofhis.

“His brother is the captain of the marinesalvage and rescue vessel dropping explosives on us,” Amaranthesaid. “I had to chat with Deret to make that happen.” Anothercharge blew nearby, and the corridor trembled. “Which has been aboon and a bane, I’ll admit.”

A second blast went off, this time rightoutside the wall. The floor heaved, pitching her sideways. A lighton the wall bounced out of its holder and shattered on the deck.Sicarius caught Amaranthe before she smashed against thebulkhead-nothing so mundane as a shock wave would throw him off hisfeet-and she nodded a thank you. It was good to have him back evenif the return look he gave her was on the cool and disapprovingside. She hoped it was because of Deret and not due to her ownclumsiness.

“Don’t worry about Mancrest,” she said. “Youwere right about that meeting at Pyramid Park being a badidea, but we’ve come to an agreement since then.”

If anything Sicarius’s gaze grew cooler.

“He gave me his word,” Amaranthe said. “He’snot trying to turn me over to the military any more.”

“No.” Maldynado snickered. “He’s just tryingto date you now.”

Sicarius threw a sharp look at him.

A snap sounded, and a hairline crack formedin a wall seam next to Amaranthe. A bead of water appeared at thebottom.

“We better go.” She grabbed Maldynado andSicarius by the elbows, trying to hustle everyone down thecorridor. “There’s a lot of pressure down here. I don’t want to bearound if anything implodes.”

Sicarius strode forward, breaking free of hergrip. He led them around two corners and past a massive bulkheadsealing off a corridor. Water pooled on the floor before it.

“Must be that wing they closed down,”Amaranthe said. Too bad nobody was left in the navigation room todrop more doors in case other sections flooded. “Is it possiblethese ballast tanks won’t be enough to lift us if too much of theinterior has taken on water?”

“Very possible.” Sicarius stopped before apanel filled with levers and smaller versions of the wheels thatopened the hatches. Though it looked like Turgonian technology, thewords etched on plaques were nothing she could read.

Sicarius handed her the manual, turned awheel, and twisted one of the levers in a half circle. A grindingnoise came from behind the wall, followed by a muffled hissing. Airbeing forced into the tanks? Her thoughts tangled as she tried tograsp the science-or perhaps Science-behind the system.

“It’s working.” Sicarius tapped a gauge. “Butthere’s another tank along the other main corridor, and then twomore used for leveling the ship. We may need to open the floodvalves on those, too.”

Before he finished talking, he was joggingagain. Amaranthe and Maldynado hustled to catch up.

“What happens if we’ve taken on too muchwater and this doesn’t get us off the bottom?” Maldynado asked.“Everyone without diving suits drowns down here?” He seemed torealize he was talking to someone without a suit, for he added,“And, er, just so you know, this wouldn’t fit you, Sicarius, sothere’s no need to stab me in the back for it.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Sicarius said as theyturned into another corridor.

“That’s a relief,” Maldynado said.

“It would compromise the suit.”

Maldynado grew pale, as if he were imaginingSicarius forcing him out of the suit at knife point and thenstabbing him.

Amaranthe elbowed him. “I think that was ajoke.”

Maldynado shook his head. “Given the source,I doubt it.”

They reached a set of controls identical tothe first.

“How deep are we?” Sicarius asked as hechecked the gauges.

“Books estimates three to four hundred feet,”Amaranthe said.

“I’ve studied free diving. I can make itout.”

“What’s free diving?” Maldynado asked.

“Employing mind-body control techniques tomaximize the effectiveness of the mammalian diving reflex.”

Maldynado’s brow furrowed and he mouthed,“What?” at Amaranthe.

“I think it means he’s good at holding hisbreath,” she said.

“Oh.”

Sicarius twisted a wheel, turned a lever, andthey moved on.

Amaranthe was about to ask him if the vesselshould be lifting yet when they rounded a corner and entered anoccupied corridor. Two guards stood before a set of controlssimilar to the other ones.

The men carried pistols, but Sicarius neverslowed. He strode toward them as determined as death. One of theguards reached for his firearm, but he took one good look atSicarius and backed away. Both men turned and ran.

Sicarius must have deemed them no threat, forhe stopped at the controls without bothering to hurl knives intotheir backs. Maybe Amaranthe’s influence was mellowing him. Right.Or maybe their situation was so dire there was no time for knifeplay. As far as she could tell, the vessel had yet to budge.

“How come no guards turned and ran from uswhen we were infiltrating the place?” Maldynado asked.

“Their employers were conscious,” Amaranthesaid, “and their ship wasn’t half-destroyed, so they had highermorale.”

“Oh, good. I’d hate to think that even naked,Sicarius is scarier than us.”

Sicarius finished with the controls and tookoff.

They threw the last lever in the forwardsection of the vessel and returned to the transition chamber wherethe team had first entered. Akstyr, Books, Basilard, and some ofthe athletes waited there. All of Books’s charges had foundclothing, if only the white jackets the practitioners wore, whichleft Sicarius as the soul nude member of the group. He did not seemto care.

“Are the practitioners subdued?” Amarantheasked.

“You mean those stinking wizards?” oneathlete asked with a sneer. “They’re taken care of.”

“They’re strapped down so the marines canpick them up when they board,” Books said. “We weren’t sure how tooperate the drugging mechanism, but we tossed a couple more ofthose vials into the room before we left.” He shrugged. “Best wecould do. I left a couple of women there to warn us if anyonestirs. I didn’t know if one of us should stay or if you’d need usfor the next phase of your plan.”

The next phrase of her plan. That soundedvery official and organized. If only that were the truth.

“Thank you, Books. Sicarius, how long shouldit take for air to fill the tanks and for us to rise?” Ifthey were going to.

“Soon,” Sicarius said.

Some of the athletes stirred again at themention of his name. They were probably wondering why the city’smost notorious assassin was helping them. Maybe it was time to makesure her charges could tell the journalists about theirrescuers.

“I’m Amaranthe Lokdon,” she told them. “We’rean outfit called The Emperor’s Edge. I bring this up in case youwant to mention it to someone later on.”

Books chuckled. She wondered if she shouldfurther tout their merits. There wouldn’t be a chance once theywere on the surface and the marines were swarming onto the foreigncraft. Amaranthe certainly wasn’t planning to stick around then.Just because Deret had talked his brother into checking out thelaboratory did not mean-

The floor tilted.

Amaranthe caught herself on the wall. Was itanother attack? No, she had not heard an explosion.

“We’re rising,” Books said.

The floor titled further, and Amaranthebraced herself.

“Lopsided as a drunken marine,” Maldynadosaid. “Who’s driving this boat?”

Basilard signed, Are there still people innavigation?

“No,” Amaranthe said. “We convinced them tocome out and join the others on the deck in front of your hatch. Itseemed logical at the time.”

Convinced? How?

Amaranthe twitched a shoulder. “A littlepalavering.”

Basilard lifted an eyebrow at Sicarius andsigned, No eyeball required.

Amaranthe frowned, wondering if she hadmisread a sign. Eyeball? That did not sound right.

Sicarius’s eyes glinted though, and he signedback, As predicted.

It felt strange to be on the outside of ajoke between Sicarius and someone else. More than strange-a twingeof jealousy reared its head. She stomped it down. It was good forthe men to bond, those two especially.

The vessel left the lake bottom with ascrape. Amaranthe checked the nearest porthole.

The orange exterior lights still shone, but acloud of sediment was rising with them, and dust swirled about. Astartled school of fish flitted close enough to the porthole tosee, but more than a few feet away, the haze obscuredeverything.

Amaranthe started to return to the group, buther men had come to join her. She rapped her knuckles on herhelmet. “Everyone with suits, get ready. We’ll assume the kraken istroubling the marines and take the harpoons out to help with it.We’ll exit roughly twenty feet before reaching the surface.”Assuming the dust cleared and they could tell when thesurface drew close. “Based on what I’ve seen of this place from theoutside, it’s the sort of craft most sane people would shoot at onsight and wait to investigate until it’s capsized and dragged up ona beach. Any questions?”

“If the marines are handling the kraken, wecan use that as a distraction and swim away,” Sicarius said.“There’s no need to risk ourselves against it.”

“We’ve already had a run-in with the thing,”Amaranthe said. “It may be more than the marines can handle unlessthey get creative with their thinking.”

“Like we’re going to.” Books smiled.

“Explain,” Sicarius said.

Books launched into his spiel about thepoison and how they meant to get the kraken to suck the keg intoits vulnerable core. Amaranthe checked the porthole again. Thesediment cloud still swirled about, though the density hadlessened. They were making progress, albeit slow progress. Shehoped the ship didn’t get stuck mid-ascent.

“That plan is dangerous,” Sicarius said.Though he was responding to Books, his gaze settled onAmaranthe.

She spread her arms. “They usually are.”

“What if I can’t swim?” a young womanasked.

“Find someone who can and who thinks you’recute,” Amaranthe said.

“Why does cuteness matter?” Books asked.

“Would you let a woman drown if you thoughtshe was cute and would be utterly grateful to you for saving herlife?”

“I wouldn’t let a woman drown under anycircumstances,” Books said.

Amaranthe arched her eyebrows.

“But especially not ones such as youdescribed,” he admitted.

Sicarius took Amaranthe’s arm and guided herseveral steps from the athletes. “I assume you are planning on thiscourse of action regardless of what I do or say.”

Amaranthe thought of Books’s advice. Was shebeing reckless again with this plan? “We’ll only do it if themarines look like they need help.”

“I’ll take the keg then. You’ll be clumsy andslow in that suit.”

“Thanks,” she said dryly. “Me specifically,or anyone in a suit?”

“Anyone, but you were planning on taking therisk, I assume.”

She blushed. True.

“Since I have no suit to drag at me,” hesaid, “I’ll be the logical choice.”

“So that’s why he’s insisted on runningaround naked all day,” Maldynado muttered to Akstyr.

Sicarius leveled a coolback-out-of-our-conversation stare down the corridor. Maldynadolifted his hands and turned to gaze out the porthole.

“All right,” Amaranthe said, drawing him afew more steps away, though part of her did not want to let himtake the role. Emperor’s teeth, she had just rescued him, and nowhe wanted to risk his life again. But he was her most skilled man,not some vulnerable neophyte. It made sense to use him for thedangerous work. “You’ll take the keg, but be careful, please. Don’trisk holding your breath so long that you pass out and sink to thebottom.”

“You don’t believe I’m cute enough torescue?” he asked, deadpan.

“Oh, you’re decent.” She gave him a once overbefore remembering how nude he was. Her blush belied her offhandtone. “But we’ll be busy shooting harpoons into this beast todistract it for you. At least take someone to help you.”

Sicarius raised his voice to say, “Basilard.”He pointed upward.

Amaranthe would have picked someone whowasn’t injured, but they exchanged nods of understanding. Shewondered what the two had talked about while incarcerated downhere.

Maldynado cleared his throat. “Just in caseanyone was concerned we wouldn’t get to play with the kraken, it’sstill alive, and-” he leaned closer, cheek pressed against theporthole, “-it’s got the marine ship wrapped up tighter than loverstangled in the sheets.”

Amaranthe darted to the porthole. Thesediment cloud had disappeared, and they were thirty or forty feetfrom the surface. The depth did little to mute the brilliantmorning sunlight, and she had no trouble making out the black hullof the Saberfist. It had to be a substantial ship to do itsjob, but the tentacles curled along the bottom of it made it appearinsignificant. To the side of the vessel, more tentacles swirledabout like live snakes in a pit.

The current brought something large in tothump against the porthole. It must have bumped the hull, too,because lightning streaked out, surrounding it and illuminating itall too well.

Amaranthe’s stomach curdled. It was a body ina marine diving suit, one leg torn off.

“Ew,” Akstyr said. “That one’s a krakensnack.”

Annoyance flared within Amaranthe, and shealmost snapped at him to show respect. But she bit her lip. Thoughshe had arranged this “distraction” and felt-was-responsiblefor any marines who died down here, Akstyr had no reason to careabout them.

“Ready your suits. We’re going out.”Amaranthe plunked her helmet over her head and started screwing thefasteners together. “Everyone who’s not on my team, stay here andwait for the marines to get you. And don’t forget. When they askyou who came down to help you, I’m Amaranthe Lokdon, that’sSicarius, and we’re The Emperor’s Edge. You can tell that to anyjournalists who happen by, too.”

Maldynado cleared his throat, probablyplanning to deliver his own parting words, words that touted hiscopious merits. Amaranthe opened the hatch to the transitionchamber and pushed him inside. She handed him a harpoon launcherand grabbed one for herself. The rest of the men piled in behindher. Helmets clanked against each other as everyone squeezed to fitinside. It had been tight before, with the four of them, and nowthey had two more men squished amongst them.

Sicarius stood next to her, holding the keg.Maybe she should offer some heartfelt parting words, in case…

“Be careful,” was all she could manage withso many witnesses around.

He gazed into her faceplate and gave her asolemn nod. He understood.

“Basilard,” Amaranthe said, “open the doorwhen you’re ready. The water will come in fast.”

He nodded and squeezed between Maldynado andBooks.

“Easy,” Maldynado told him. “Watch whatyou’re grazing with that harpoon.”

“He doesn’t have a harpoon launcher,” Akstyrsaid.

Maldynado stared at him.

“Oh,” Akstyr said. “I get it.”

With his dagger clenched between his teeth,Basilard gripped the wheel to the hatch. He took a few deep breathsin preparation. Beside Amaranthe, Sicarius took a differentapproach. He stood still, body relaxed, eyes hooded, like someDaikon mystic deep in a meditation routine.

Basilard opened the hatch, and water floodedinto the chamber. Amaranthe waited, making sure Sicarius andBasilard slipped out before she maneuvered for the exit.

Sunlight filtered through the water fromabove. Their rate of ascent had slowed, and they were still twentyfeet from the surface. Another of the thick, dark purple tentacleshad snaked beneath the Saberfist. Even as she watched, oneof the free ones thrust out of the water. From her viewpoint, shecould not see what it did on the deck, but two men flew overboardon the opposite side of the ship.

Amaranthe hefted her harpoon launcher andgestured for her team to fan out around the laboratory. They wouldhave to convince the kraken to leave the Saberfist and swimfor Books’s plan to work. Sicarius and Basilard were alreadyangling toward the surface. Maldynado, her strongest remainingswimmer, headed in to make the first shot, to lure the beastdownward. Books, Akstyr, and Amaranthe treaded water near the topof their vessel and waited, harpoons ready.

CHAPTER 18

Cold water streamed past Basilard. Hefollowed Sicarius toward the surface, kicking and stroking with hisgood arm. For the moment, he carried his dagger clenched betweenhis teeth. Clear water surrounded him, but, without a mask, imageswere blurry and indistinct, though he had little trouble making outthe kraken’s massive form.

Someone-was that Maldynado? — was swimmingtoward its underbelly. He stopped ten or fifteen feet below thekraken and lined up a shot. He ignored the tentacles-though he wascareful not to swim too close to them-and fired at the creature’sgiant mantle.

The harpoon streamed toward it and sank intothe purple flesh. Though it appeared small next to thecreature-like a toothpick protruding from a bear’s hide-the krakenmust have noticed it, for it whipped a tentacle up and batted atthe intrusion. The harpoon fell out and sank, disappearing into thelake depths.

Another tentacle dropped away from the bottomof the ship and snaked toward Maldynado. On land, he could havedodged the attack, but Sicarius was right. The water and suits madepeople slow. Despite Maldynado’s quick kicks and strokes to theside, the tentacle clipped him on the shoulder. He spun backward ina clumsy somersault.

Basilard grabbed his dagger, thinking to goin and help, but Amaranthe and Books were kicking towardMaldynado’s position. Sicarius tapped Basilard and pointed to thesurface.

Basilard grimaced. His lungs were starting tohunger for air, but he hated to leave if his teammates neededhelp.

Sicarius saw his hesitation and stroked forthe surface himself. Thinking he had some plan to share, Basilardwent after him. They were deeper than he realized, and he gasped ina great lungful of air as soon as they broke the surface.

A cannon boomed, the sound pummeling hiseardrums. They had come up less than ten feet from the bow of theship. A broken wooden rail floated by, scraping Basilard’s injuredshoulder. Fresh pain flared, and he gasped, almost dropping hisdagger.

Fortunately, the marines were too busy tonotice him. To their credit, the men shouting to load guns andbring the ship about sounded calm and competent rather thanterrified.

“I’m going in,” Sicarius said. “Watch myback.”

That was all he said before taking a deepbreath and submerging again.

Basilard inhaled, tipped his legs up into theair, and dove.

Below the kraken, Maldynado had recovered andwas loading a new harpoon. Amaranthe, Akstyr, and Books fired theirown launchers, timing it so the weapons releasedsimultaneously.

Akstyr’s harpoon skimmed a tentacle and didno damage. Books’s projectile flew wide, but Amaranthe’s sank intoone of the creature’s eyes.

The body reared back, and the tentaclesreleased the Saberfist and stiffened. Ink clouded the water,obscuring the ship and the creature.

Basilard watched, hoping Amaranthe’s shotmight prove the killing blow.

The kraken dropped below the ship, tentaclesstreaming out behind it as it dove.

Sicarius was already swimming toward it. Thiswas their chance.

Basilard hurried to catch up. What he coulddo with his insignificant dagger, he didn’t know, but he had to tryto help.

The mantle flexed, and the kraken shotforward on a stream of water. Sicarius stroked after it, but thepowerful creature outpaced him. It swam straight for Amaranthe.

Basilard cut across. He couldn’t catch upwith the body of the thing, but maybe he could slice into atentacle and distract it.

Suction-cup-covered flesh streamed past. Hetried to grab the tentacle, but the slick rubbery flesh offered apoor handhold. Nonetheless he managed to thrust his dagger into itnear the tip.

The tentacle moved past so quickly, it nearlytore the weapon from his grip. As it was, his blade ripped afoot-long gouge into the flesh.

The tentacle flicked, an annoyed gesture thatcaught Basilard in the chest. Despite the off-hand nature of theattack, it thumped him hard, and precious air escaped his lips.Bubbles streamed upward before his eyes. At least he had kept thedagger.

Basilard debated on going up for air again,but the kraken slowed as it neared the laboratory vessel. He didnot see Amaranthe. Sicarius was weaving through the tentacles,avoiding them instead of attacking them. He approached the holewater shot from, and Basilard could see the current pushing againsthim, making the swim difficult.

Forgoing air, Basilard swam downward.

The kraken wouldn’t cooperate and hold still.Apparently incensed by the eye wound, it whipped about thefortress, seeking the one who had struck the blow.

When the beast switched from blowing outwater to sucking it in, Sicarius dove in, aided by the current.Basilard swirled through the tentacles, trying to swim closerwithout letting the kraken know he was there, and could easily becaptured-or killed.

Sicarius reached the interior of the mantleand thrust the keg into the dark orifice. Basilard thought that wasit, that they had accomplished the mission, but the keg gushedright out again on the kraken’s next burst of forward motion. Itbounced off a tentacle and dropped, unharmed.

Sicarius dove for it. Another tentacleclipped Basilard in the back, stirring pain again, and he swam awayfrom the writhing limbs. He worried the kraken would turn on them,but it was still intent on its prey-Amaranthe.

With quick efficient strokes, Sicariusretrieved the keg before it disappeared into the depths below.

Basilard paddled down to join him. Even here,underwater, Sicarius maintained his neutral facade with no hint ofdisappointment stamping his face. He had to be surprised or annoyedat the least. Hadn’t the keg been designed to implode?

Above them, the kraken swooped beneath thelaboratory. Amaranthe was swimming there, hiding beneath thecorridors and rooms of the vessel. The rest of the team appeared tobe out of harpoons. Maldynado was chasing after the kraken with hissword. Basilard’s gut clenched. They had to stop the creature soon,or it was bound to catch Amaranthe.

Basilard’s lungs called out for air again,but he swam closer to Sicarius and waved his knife. He pointed atthe keg and made a hammer motion. If they pierced a hole in it, thepoison might flow out when the kraken sucked it in next time.Enough of the poison to affect something.

Sicarius nodded and held out the keg.Basilard rammed his dagger through the wood. He started to pull itout again, but Sicarius stopped him.

He mouthed something but swam away beforeBasilard realized what. The dagger hilt stuck out of the wood, andhe left it there. Ah, cork. Yes, he could pull it out at the lastmoment.

Basilard wanted to stay and help, but heneeded air. Maldynado and Akstyr swam past as he headed upward. Hehoped they would survive without him.

Amaranthe circled the vessel and swam beneathits belly, following one of the corridors. Its ascent had slowed toa crawl, and she wondered if it would ever break the surface. Alltoo aware of the kraken weaving after her, she stayed in thecraft’s shadow. She was out of harpoons and had dropped thelauncher. She still had her sword, and, though it made swimminghard, kept it in hand.

She hoped she was giving Sicarius andBasilard the time they needed.

Something batted her ankle. One of thetentacles. It moved in to get a grip, but she bent double and sankher short sword into it.

It jerked away and bumped against the hull ofthe laboratory. Streaks of lighting ran up its length, dancingbetween the clear cups on the underside of the tentacle.

The kraken jerked that limb away, but anothersnaked in from the opposite side. Amaranthe pulled her legs up,barely evading the grasping tentacle. She tried to spot Maldynadoand the others, but couldn’t see anyone. Ink and blood-all thekraken’s, she hoped-muddled the water. With the creature soobviously targeting her, she dared not swim out from beneath thevessel. Besides, with the electrified hull so close, the craftoffered more than a hiding spot.

A tentacle swooped in five feet ahead, andshe reversed her strokes to halt herself. The two sinuous limbs hadher trapped; she could not evade them without swimming into theopen.

Amaranthe gripped her sword, a notion ofmaking a stand in her head. She stroked forward, eyes focused onthe tentacle blocking her route. It swept back and forth like acat’s tail, though it was careful not to touch the hull this time.She timed the movements and stabbed the rubbery purple flesh. Toobad she did not have poison on the tip. The tentacle did not seemto notice her attack.

She tugged her sword free, intending tosearch for a more vulnerable target.

Something wrapped around her leg. The othertentacle. She’d taken her eye off of it for too long.

Amaranthe tried to yank her leg free, but thegrip tightened, applying bone-crushing force that smothered herfrom calf to thigh. Her knee creaked, and she hissed in pain.

An image flashed through her mind of ashattered knee with her unable to walk for the rest of her life. Ifshe had a rest of her life. Where was the rest of herteam?

She twisted and slammed her sword into thetentacle. Though her blade sank in a few inches, the krakentightened its grip instead of releasing her.

Maldynado swam into view, but he carried onlythat thin rapier, not a harpoon launcher. What would thatdo?

He stabbed gamely at the creature, but thetentacle ignored him. The kraken pulled her from beneath thevessel, its movements slow, almost leisurely.

Amaranthe hacked at the appendage, no graceto her movements. She was like a logger hewing at a tree. A treethat wanted to kill her.

Something snapped in her knee, and shescreamed, the noise half pain, half rage. She tore into thetentacle with even more vigor.

Her breaths came in short gasps. She couldnot get enough air.

Under her rain of blows, the tentaclestiffened, then loosened. Had the creature finally had enough? Ormaybe it was only shifting its grip.

Amaranthe looked up, trying to spot thekraken’s eyes, hoping she would find defeat there.

It hovered, ten feet below theSaberfist. Her harpoon still protruded from the right orb,and the tentacles on that side of its body floated limply. Basilardand Sicarius were weaving between them, approaching the undersideof the creature. The keg was still in Sicarius’s arms.

Hurry, she urged.

He swam the last few meters, yanked somethingout of the keg, and thrust the poison into a dark orifice.

Amaranthe hoped that was it, the death blow,but a spasm coursed through the tentacle restraining her. Ittightened about her leg, and she gasped as fresh pain erupted fromher knee. She fought back tears of frustration. What if Sicariushad delivered the killing blow, but the kraken ripped her in halfin its death throes?

She hacked at the tentacle with renewedvigor, determined to free herself or die trying. Inside her helmet,sweat dribbled down her face, stinging her eyes. Dozens ofperforations marred the tentacle, and blood clouded the water, butstill it would not release her.

Finally, the limb relaxed. Amaranthe shovedat it to pull her leg free. She stroked away from it and almostlost her sword as lightheadedness overcame her. She was breathingtoo hard, sucking in more air than the suit was designed todeliver.

But the tentacle remained limp andunmoving.

Two suited figures and one naked one weretreading water a few feet away.

Problem? Amaranthe signed, cheekswarming with sheepish chagrin, knowing Sicarius had observed herwild hacks. Mercenary leaders were supposed to remain calm andrational during a crisis, not descend into an animalisticfrenzy.

It’s dead, Maldynado signed, but ifyou want to keep at the blade practice, we can wait.

She checked Sicarius’s face, wondering howlong it had been since he had taken a breath. He appeared fine, ifmore serene than usual with those hooded eyes.

No, she signed. That wassufficient.

Amaranthe started to swim toward the men, butthe first attempt at a kick sent fire flaring from her knee.Someone gripped her upper arm. She lifted a hand to sign that shecould make it on her own, but it was Sicarius, so she stopped. Nodoubt, he wanted to go up for air, not discuss her independentstreak.

She stroked with her arms, letting herwounded leg hang limply, and he helped her toward the surface. Heangled away from the Saberfist as they rose. Good idea. Noneed to tempt any marines by popping his million-ranmya head up inthe middle of the activity.

The top of the laboratory vessel was creepingout of the water. That ought to keep the marines busy for awhile.

When she broke the surface, sun blazed intoher eyes. Morning sun. It seemed as if they had been underwater allday, yet it must have only been a couple of hours.

Amaranthe squinted and tried to lift a handto shield her face, but, with her left leg dangling uselessly, sheneeded both arms to stay afloat. Her eyes adjusted, though, and shemade out the marines scurrying about on the deck of their ship,preparing their salvage crane and dinghies for boarding. The krakenwas floating on the surface now, too.

She struggled with the fasteners for herhelmet. She wanted the thing off, so she could breathe fresh airagain.

Sicarius caught her by the armpit with onehand and unclasped her helmet with the other. He had no troublestaying afloat using just his legs, but then both of his legs wereworking. As soon as her head was free, she flung the helmet aside,not caring if it floated away. She had had enough of suits andkrakens and underwater practitioners. Though she could not complainabout the outcome, she decided not to put subaqueous activities ontheir official list of mercenary services.

“Your knee?” Sicarius asked, his gaze rovingthe deck of the ship and the surrounding activity.

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll be joining you for amorning run anytime soon.”

“Akstyr can fix it.”

“Surely, I’ll need to rest it for a couple ofweeks.”

“Days.”

Amaranthe spotted Maldynado, Akstyr, Books,and then Basilard closer toward the shore. She waved for them tohead inland. It was time for her team to disappear.

“Aren’t I entitled to a vacation now andthen?” she asked. “Look, there’s a nice beach over there. If weswim that way instead of meeting up with the men, we could enjoythe summer day.” She nodded at Sicarius’s bare shoulders. “You’redressed for it.”

“You are not.”

“True.” She plucked at the heavy suit. “ButI’ve been wanting to get out of this. Whether that’s back at thedocks or on a secluded beach doesn’t matter to me.” She smiledplayfully.

He did not answer promptly, and she thoughthe might actually be considering it. Until he said, “With Akstyr’shealing, two days should be sufficient rest for your knee. Thenyour training can commence again.”

Amaranthe sighed. “You’re an unrelentingtaskmaster.”

“Yes.”

A wave washed over them, and he wiped hisface. She eyed him, half-suspecting him of using the movement tohide the barest hint of a smile. But surely that would be toojovial for him.

“Ready to go?” she asked.

Something on the Saberfist caught hisattention, and he did not answer. Someone on the ship leanedagainst the railing, someone in civilian clothing and a hat.

Amaranthe lifted a hand toward Deret, thebest “thank you” she could manage at this distance. He started towave back, but glanced at marines jogging past behind him and kepthimself to a nod.

“Ready to go?” Amaranthe repeated.

“Yes.” Sicarius’s humor had evaporated, andhis unreadable facade returned.

CHAPTER 19

Amaranthe straightened the crimson,braided-hide band across Basilard’s chest. Following in theTurgonian style, he wore it diagonally across a crisp white shirtwith silver piping. According to imperial lore, the band wassymbolic of the across-the-back sword scabbards the originalconquerors had worn, a throwback to the days when the size of aman’s sword had indicated…well, no man had dared carry one anyless than five feet long.

How do I look? he asked when shestepped back.

“Maldynado picked out your clothes anddressed you,” Amaranthe said. “How do you think you look?”

Fabulous?

“Correct. How’s your shoulder?” They hadtaken him to a surgeon to remove the pistol ball, and Akstyr hadapplied his healing fingers, but she was still surprised he hadbeen able to compete in the final Clank Race. Compete and win. He’dsaid he had realized his purpose-or perhaps remembered it-down inthat laboratory and had been motivated to kill himself, if that’swhat it took, to earn dinner with the emperor.

Basilard rotated his shoulder. Goodenough. How is your knee?

Amaranthe grimaced. “Also, good enough.Unfortunately. I was hoping for more of a vacation from ourtraining regimen.” She glanced toward the doorway of the rail car,though she doubted Sicarius was anywhere nearby. He had been scarcethe last three days, and she wondered if there was something he hadnot told her about the events below.

Sicarius does not know what a vacationis.

“I’ve noticed.” She could use one though.Earlier that day, she had talked to Keisha about Fasha’s death, andthe weight of that failure, along with so many others, hung heavilyabout Amaranthe’s shoulders.

When I get to talk to the emperor,Basilard signed, what should I say about the team?

Everything, Amaranthe wanted to blurt.Basilard should tell Sespian how much they’d done for the empire,that they were responsible for stopping his assassins, for fixingthe water supply when it was poisoned, and for saving the athletes.And he should let the emperor know Sicarius wasn’t the demon heonce knew.

Amaranthe exhaled slowly. “Don’t say anythingabout us. That’ll get you thrown in the dungeon. You didn’t enterthe Imperial Games using the name you go by now, so, with luck, hewon’t know you’re part of a team of criminals. Wrongfully accusedcriminals, but criminals nonetheless. Just talk to him about what’simportant to you.”

Basilard held her gaze for a long moment,then nodded. I understand.

Amaranthe waved to Books, who was sighingdramatically and repeatedly as Maldynado fiddled with his clothes.Since he no longer had a bounty on his head, Books would go withBasilard to act as a translator. Sending two members of her team tosee the emperor was risky, but this was Basilard’s dream. Besides,they were the quietest and least notorious of her crew.

What if we get thrown in the dungeon?Basilard asked, as if he had been reading her thoughts.

“We’ll rescue you, of course.” She patted himon his good shoulder and debated a moment before voicing her nextthought. “I’m glad you chose…to set aside the past to try toimprove the future.”

He stared at her. You know? That I meantto kill…

He did not finish. He didn’t need to.Amaranthe knew.

“You’d been glowering suspiciously in hisdirection for months,” she said quietly, so the others would nothear, “and then suddenly you were avoiding looking his way at all.And spending an inordinate amount of time with Akstyr.”

Oh.

“You don’t have to forgive people for theirpast crimes, but if you believe they can do future goods, perhapsit’s worth helping them along that path.”

Perhaps. It’s hard for one man to makethose kinds of choices. Normally a priestess would advise….Basilard grimaced. It doesn’t matter. No priestess will adviseme any more. Even if I avenged our people, it wouldn’t make adifference. Not for me. I have no chance at redemption.

Amaranthe blew out a slow breath. What couldshe say to that? “I’ve noticed…every culture has a differentnotion of what the afterlife entails, which makes me think nobody’sall that certain. Maybe your best bet is to find fulfillment here,in this life.”

Basilard raised a single eyebrow. Youthink I can find fulfillment with Sicarius?

Amaranthe smirked. “Perhaps not himspecifically, but if you can get him on your side, he’s prettyuseful for helping achieve goals.”

Basilard stroked his chin, and she left himlike that. Considering her words, she hoped, and not dismissingthem as the ravings of a Turgonian heathen.

Amaranthe headed for the doorway, butMaldynado stopped her with, “Don’t go far, boss. We’ve got to getyou into your outfit and do something with your hair.”

“My outfit?” She cringed and wished she hadnot mentioned that she was meeting Deret that evening. She onlyintended to tell him her team’s side of the story, but Maldynadobelieved that, because this discussion was taking place in theImperial Gardens and involved a picnic basket, it should be treatedas a tryst.

“I picked out something tasteful for you,”Maldynado said.

“Tasteful?” Books said. “You? That’sdoubtful.”

“You doubt my fashion sense?”Maldynado asked. “You who, most days, wear the same rumpled clothesas you slept in? And who…”

Amaranthe left them to bicker. Maybe shecould sneak out of camp before Maldynado finished with Basilard andBooks.

When she hopped out of the rail car, sheturned and almost stepped on Sicarius’s toes. He stood by the door,his back to the rusty metal siding.

“Something you wish to discuss?” Amaranthecould not imagine him eavesdropping on a conversation aboutclothing.

“We should move the camp tonight. If Basilardis recognized and interrogated, he could lead the imperial guardright to us.”

Always the positive-thinking pragmatist.

“We have been here for a while,”Amaranthe said. “We can move tomorrow.”

“Tonight would be better.”

“I don’t believe Basilard would give us up,even if he were taken prisoner. Besides, tonight everyone’sbusy.”

“Busy,” Sicarius said.

“Sorry, but after the last week, I think afew days of relaxing and recuperating are in order. You’re welcometo do so, too.”

“Relax.”

“Yes, it’s something most humans need to do.It involves getting one’s mind off one’s troubles, putting awayone’s extensive knife collection, and not stalking about in ahyper-alert state all the time.”

“Sounds like a way to get killed,” Sicariussaid.

Amaranthe pointed toward the rail cardoorway. “Maldynado and Akstyr do it at brothels all the time, andnobody’s bothered to stick daggers in their backs yet.” Sherealized how that might be construed and winced. “Not that you needto visit brothels to relax. I mean, unless that’s what you prefer,because it’s not my business if you do, but you could, uhm, take anice moonlit stroll on the beach.” Oh, sure, like any man wouldchoose that option. “Or play Tiles or gamble a bit, or, uh…” Dearancestors, she could not imagine what he might do for fun orrelaxation. Practice throwing knives? “Well, you should dosomething you’d like to do tonight, as the rest of us are, andwe’ll worry about moving in the morning.”

Sicarius, as usual, regarded her with theblandness of a particularly featureless rock, then walked away.

The dress Maldynado had chosen wasn’tentirely appalling. The V-neck and sleeveless nature left more skinshowing than Amaranthe was wont to do, but it was summer.Though the sun floated low over the horizon, it still beat againsther shoulders, and the faint breeze felt good whispering across herbare arms. She enjoyed the rustle of the silk swishing about herlegs, too. She never could have afforded such a garment on herenforcer salary. No doubt Maldynado had wheedled it from somebusinesswoman for free.

For once, she wore her hair down, though abraid on either side of her temples pulled the locks away from hereyes. Pleasant evening at the Imperial Gardens or not, one had tobe prepared should one need to defend oneself. She could kick offthe sandals if she needed to run away-or drive a heel intosomeone’s crabapples.

Amaranthe chuckled sadly at herself. “Turndown the boiler, girl. Relax.”

As she crunched along the park’s main gravelpathway, she vowed to enjoy the summer evening. She inhaled thefloral scents that wafted from flower baskets hanging fromlampposts alongside the path. She passed a group of teenage boyscompeting at draftball in a sandy arena while younger childrenplayed hide-and-seek amongst the tall, dense shrubs of theEmperor’s Maze.

Deret had suggested they meet at LookoutVista at the center of the park, but she spotted him beforereaching the base of the hill. He leaned against the waist-high lipof a fountain. Above him, Vlem the Valiant held a sword aloft, anda curtain of water streamed from the granite blade. Amaranthesmirked, thinking of Maldynado’s concern about a statue being madeof him swimming up a squid’s hind-end. That wouldn’t likely makecenter stage in an imperial park.

“Good evening, Ms. Lokdon.” Despite havingthe sword stick in one hand, and a bulging canvas tote in theother, Deret performed a graceful bow. He wore a sleeveless tunicthat accentuated muscular arms, which he managed to display nicelyduring the greeting. “You are looking lovely this evening.”

The suave greeting was somewhat diminishedwhen the head-sized draftball from the boys’ game sailed into thefountain, sending a splash of water into Deret’s face. He steppedaway and awkwardly rearranged his belongings so he could wipe hisspectacles with his shirt. A nervous boy trotted up to retrieve theball amongst numerous utterances of, “Sorry, my lord.”

“Good evening, Lord Mancrest,” Amaranthe saidto rescue the boy from any backlash, though Deret did no more thangive the lad a faintly peeved glance.

“Please, call me Deret. Now that you’ve hadme at your mercy a couple of times, I feel you’ve earned the rightto call me by my first name.” He winced. “That sounded arrogant,didn’t it?”

“Yes, but I’m used to that from warrior-castetypes. I’ve been working with Maldynado for several monthsnow.”

“He’s…not exactly someone to whom I’d wishto be compared.”

“Because he’s disowned?”

“Because he’s Maldynado.”

“Ah.” Good answer.

“May I call you Amaranthe?” Deret looped thetote over his opposite wrist, eliciting a clinking of glasswarewithin. He gripped his sword stick with the same hand and offeredAmaranthe his free arm.

“Yes, though you’ve been particularlytroublesome, and I’m not sure you’ve fully earned the rightyet.” She smiled to let him know she was joking and accepted hisarm. Sadly, she could not remember the last time a man had offeredher his arm. Though she appreciated the gesture, a twinge of guiltran through her, as if she were betraying Sicarius. But this wasjust a dinner related to work. A chance to further their cause.Besides, it was not as if Sicarius had given her reason to hopeanything might happen between them.

“You’re most kind.” Deret guided her towardthe path leading up the hill to Lookout Vista. “I’m glad you came.I wasn’t certain you would after you read the article in TheGazette. I’m sorry it said so little about you and so muchabout the bravery of those on the Saberfist. I could onlyreport what I witnessed with my eyes. I know you and your team weredown there and may have been the ones responsible for destroyingthat strange ship, and the kraken as well, but…”

“It’s fine,” Amaranthe said. “You mentionedus, and you didn’t imply we were behind everything.” It was nothingshort of their most visible triumph yet.

“Still,” Deret said, “I’d like to hear yourstory and about everything that happened. Maybe we could do aninterview for the paper.”

“I’d be happy to tell you about it, butperhaps it’d be better for us-and your health-if you didn’t comeout too openly in favor of my team.”

“My health?” He frowned.

“You’ve heard of a group called Forge?”

Deret’s jaw tightened. “Yes.”

“We’ve irked them a couple of times, and itsounds like they had an interest in this venue, too.” They hadreached the crown of the hill, offering a view of the lake beyondthe trees and warehouses, and she nodded toward the sunset-streakedwater to indicate the laboratory vessel. It had sunken back to thebottom as soon as the athletes were pulled out. She had thought theSaberfist might want to salvage it, but the marines hadseemed happy to have it disappear. It would be hard to continuedenying the existence of magic with a ship full of evidence to thecontrary. She wondered what Sespian thought of the whole event.

“I’m not one to run from a threat.” Deretthumped his sword stick into the gravel path and grimaced at it.“Or hobble from a threat either.”

“But if you have a facade of neutrality, oreven come out in favor of business in the capital, then you won’tlikely be targeted, and you’ll have an easier time gettinginformation from various enemy sources. Perhaps you could evenshare some of that information.” She gave him her best winsomesmile.

“Ah, so you want your own personal spy atThe Gazette?”

“Are you offering to work for me?” Her smilebroadened.

“Er, no. I mean…” He poked at the gravelwith his sword stick. “You’re good, you know that, right? Since theday I met you, it’s been hard for me to think of you as an enemy tothe empire.”

“That’s because I’m not an enemy tothe empire.”

They reached the top of the hill where stonebenches waited for those wishing to watch the sunset. A meditationpit and a pair of wrestling rings occupied the area too.

“No, it’s because you don’t seem like… Youknow those sexy, dangerous women who you can tell just want tomanipulate you to their own ends? You don’t seem like that atall.”

Amaranthe raised an eyebrow at him.

Deret stopped. “What?”

“You said I wasn’t sexy. I hope you weren’texpecting a kiss tonight.”

“Oh! I didn’t mean, uhm…” His bronze skintook on a suffused hue that matched the crimson warblooms in theplanters framing the benches. “I just meant you seem nice. Andwholesome.”

“Wholesome?” This time both of hereyebrows flew up. “That’s what my father used to say aboutbroccoli.”

“Wholesome isn’t bad,” Deret said. “Ilike wholesome.”

“Hm.”

He set the tote on a bench, withdrew ablanket, and spread it on the sand of the meditation pit. Deret wasavoiding her eyes, and his cheeks were redder than ever. He removeda bottle of apple wine, glasses, a covered dish, and slices offlatbread for dipping in oil.

He cleared his throat. “This kiss, was thaton your mind for tonight?”

“Uhm.” Amaranthe had only blurted it out as ajoke. She could easily see liking Deret, but more? Maybe thatwouldn’t be so bad. Being with someone who would take her onpicnics to parks and share laughs with her…. It was not as if shecould see Sicarius ever doing those things. Dear ancestors, she hadnever even gotten a true smile out of him. “Let’s just see if wecan make it through the evening without you trying to turn me overto some marines.”

“That sounds like a good start.”

Deret maneuvered himself onto the blanketwith a faint wince, and she sensed irritation in the stiff way heset the sword stick aside. Though war wounds were common in thebattle-seeking empire, he was young to have to deal with apermanent disability. He converted the wince into a smile andlifted a hand, inviting her to join him.

She sat cross-legged beside him.

“So,” Deret said as he dug out a corkscrew,“are you going to give me the full story of what happened downthere, or am I going to have to go into aggressive interviewermode?”

“Does an aggressive interview involve threatsand punches?”

“Usually only with prospects that are maleand criminal.” He poured two glasses of wine and handed herone.

“And female criminals?”

“I have to bludgeon them into talking usingmy wit.” He grinned, and she found herself responding in kind.“But,” he went on, “I’m told it’s not-emperor’s warts!” He gaped atsomething on the other side of Amaranthe.

Sicarius stood there, hands clasped behindhis back. Her first thought was that he had been running andstopped by to check and make sure Deret wasn’t up to no good, buthe was freshly shaven and had also combed his hair, though tuftsstill stuck out in spots, a result of him choosing to cut it on hisown…with a knife. He wore his typical fitted black with his shirtneatly tucked in. No red dust from the lakeside running trailsmeared his soft boots. He was as tidy and presentable as ever, ifone ignored the throwing knives adorning his arm.

“Problem?” Amaranthe asked.

Deret had sloshed wine on his arm, and hewiped it while he glowered at their intruder.

“Yes,” Sicarius said.

“Back at camp?” she asked.

“No.”

Amaranthe waited for him to explain hispresence. He simply stood there, watching them. He hadn’t decidedshe needed a bodyguard, or, emperor forbid, a chaperone, hadhe?

“What is the problem?” she asked.

“Besides his presence?” Deret muttered.

“I wish to speak with you,” Sicarius said,ignoring Deret. Wish? Not “will” or “must?” Thatwas…polite for him. Yet, if it wasn’t an emergency, surely itcould wait.

“Now?” she asked, pointedly tilting her headtoward Deret.

Sicarius flicked a dismissive glance towardhim, but said, “I can wait until you finish here.”

He made no move to leave. Did he intend towait right there?

“I didn’t bring enough food for three,” Derettold him.

“I am not hungry.”

Amaranthe never would have consideredSicarius the type to be deliberately obtuse, but he certainlyseemed to fall into that category tonight. She sighed and toldDeret, “I better see what he wants.”

“Aren’t you in charge of the group? Can’t youtell him to run along and sharpen his knives?”

For the first time, Sicarius turned his gazeon Deret, and it was an icy one. Amaranthe did not think he wouldattack someone simply for annoying him-surely, Maldynado would bedead thirty or forty times by now if that were the case-butSicarius might decide Deret represented a threat, and do away withhim the callous way he did away with other threats.

“My wholesome charms don’t work that well onhim,” Amaranthe said, climbing to her feet as she spoke. Best toseparate the two men before Deret sent any more jabs atSicarius.

“You’re coming back, right?” Deret asked.

“Yes,” Amaranthe said at the same time asSicarius said, “No.”

“I’ll be back,” Amaranthe said with a coollook of her own for Sicarius, then she followed as he led the waydown the hill.

The sun had dropped below the horizon, andtwilight darkened the park. Gas lamps glowed, but Sicarius avoidedthe paths they lit, striding across the grass toward the toweringhedges of the Emperor’s Maze. Amaranthe’s heart sped up, and anuncertain flutter of anticipation danced through her gut. If thiswere any other man, she’d assume he was leading her into the hedgemaze for a private tryst, but this was Sicarius. He’d bemore likely to lead her off for a private evening of weaponspractice.

Though her sandals and dress made her gaitslower than usual, he was careful not to outpace her. He wound hisway into the maze. Giggles and low conversations drifted from thealcoves. On such a lovely summer evening, it might be hard to finda private spot anywhere in the park.

They padded down a long aisle of lush grasssurrounded by the smell of freshly watered hedges and flowers, andhe seemed to find a spot he liked. He turned into an alcove with abench and a small fountain tinkling softly.

“Romantic spot,” Amaranthe said. “Are youbringing me here to seduce me?” She kept her tone light, so hewould know she was joking, but that nervous flutter teased herinsides again. What if she wasn’t? Or he wasn’t? Or-erg, she had tostop thinking.

“You’re dressed for it,” Sicarius said,surprising her.

Her first thought was that he was implyingdisapproval at her bare-armed attire-he certainly had beeninsulting about the last dress Maldynado picked out forher-but his tone lacked any sort of edge, and he looked back andnudged her when she drew even with him.

Ah, that was teasing, if one could call itthat. He was quoting her line from the lake.

“You’re not,” she said, quoting his line.

“No?” Sicarius stopped before the bench andexamined his clothing. He smoothed a non-existent wrinkle andbrushed an imaginary fleck of dust from the hilt of one of hisdaggers.

Actually, the black, however unimaginative,did accentuate everything nicely, and he’d have littletrouble stirring a woman’s fantasies in that outfit…or anythingelse. But that was far too honest to admit aloud. “In myexperience,” she said, “seductions usually involve fewerknives.”

“Huh.” Something in that single syllable madeher believe that hadn’t been his experience. She supposedanyone with the guts to proposition him…liked that it took gutsto proposition him and found the blade collection an appealing partof the package.

Sicarius sat on the bench and held a handout, offering her the seat beside him.

Amaranthe ought to tell him to hurry up andsay what he had to say because Deret was waiting on her, but shecouldn’t bring herself to mention him. She didn’t want to go backto Deret, not when she actually had Sicarius in a romantic spot,and he wasn’t discussing work. Well, he wasn’t discussing anythingyet. She didn’t know what to expect. It was bizarre of him even tosit on a bench; usually, he’d nod for her to sit while he remainedstanding and alert, surveying their surroundings as they spoke.

It was not a large bench, and when Amarantheslid onto it, her leg touched his. The tall shrubs must haveprotected the stone seat from the afternoon sun, for its coolnessseeped through her dress. It made her hyperaware of the heat fromSicarius’s thigh.

“You mentioned a problem?” she asked,cringing when her voice cracked. She cleared her throat.

“Yes.”

Someone giggled in another alcove. A smallcreature rustled through the undergrowth beside them.

“And that problem would be…?” Amarantheprompted.

“Your plans to kiss Mancrest.”

Amaranthe bolted up from the bench. Hertongue tangled under the assault of words that flooded into hermouth. Part of her wanted to deny any such thing, and part of herwanted to berate him for eavesdropping. All of her felt like achild caught reaching for a forbidden bag of candies. She hadnothing to be guilty over though. She hadn’t betrayed Sicarius.They had no agreement of fidelity. And besides, she hadn’t said shewas going to kiss Deret. She’d only been in the earliest stages ofthinking maybe he might be someone with whom shecould see having a relationship.

She settled for crossing her arms over herchest and saying, “How long were you skulking about the gardens,spying on us?”

He gazed up at her. The deepening twilighthid the nuances of his features, and she couldn’t tell if anythingother than his usual mask occupied his face. “What do you consider‘long’?”

“A period of time during which a normal,considerate person would feel ashamed for listening in onsomeone else’s conversation.”

Sicarius did not answer.

Amaranthe sighed and dropped her hands. “Whatare you doing out here? Checking up? Do you still believe Deret isa threat to me?”

“No.”

Crickets sang to each other in the shrubswhile Amaranthe waited for him to explain further.

“I do not like you seeing him,” he finallysaid.

“Because…?”

“You know why.”

She spread her arms. “With any other man inthe world, I’d be positive, but this is you. Lord GeneralUnreadable.” Besides if it was what she thought, she wanted to hearhim say it.

His sigh was so soft she might have imaginedit. “It makes me jealous.”

Dear ancestors, she might have wantedhim to say it, but she had not truly expected him to admit it. “ButI’ve told you how I feel about you, and you chose not to doanything about it.”

“I told you why.”

Amaranthe was torn between rolling her eyesin frustration at him and being tickled it bothered him to see herhaving dinner with another man. She took a few steps to thefountain and leaned her hands against the damp stone rim. “Let mesee if I’ve got this. You’re not willing to have a relationshipwith me, but you don’t want me to have a relationship with anyoneelse either.”

“Yes,” Sicarius said. “Is thatacceptable?”

She snorted. “No, it’s not.”

Sicarius joined her by the fountain. “Ithought not, but you raised my hopes.”

Amaranthe rubbed her face to hide a smilecreeping onto her lips. She ought to be furious, but thiswas progress for him. Incredible to think it from a man overthirty-five years old, but he had probably never been jealous ofanyone in his life, nor told a woman he cared. “I wouldn’t havethought you were the type to do something so frivolous ashope.”

“A recent development.” Sicarius extended hisarm, a hand out to her.

She stared at it, not sure what he wasoffering. She tried to read his face, but the darkness hid what fewcues he gave. A warm breeze whispered through, ruffling his shorthair.

Amaranthe stepped toward him, and he drew herinto a hug. At first, she could only stand there, shocked. Despitethe chiseled muscles beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, hisembrace was gentle. She grew aware of his scent, of shaving soapand weapons cleaning oil, and inhaled deeply. Closing her eyes, sheleaned into him and slipped her arms around his waist. Her knucklesbumped against the hilts of knives, and she smiled in bemusement.Only Sicarius would bring all his weapons to the smooching cornerof the Imperial Gardens.

He lowered his head and rested his cheekagainst her temple. His soft exhalations warmed her neck, and heatcurled through her body. She wanted to see if he might beinterested in a little more than a hug, but she didn’t. He alwaysseemed like a feral animal in moments like this, and she feared anyshow of enthusiasm would send him stampeding back into his denwhere he’d hide behind a wall of emotionless stoicism.

“You’re the only person who’s ever wanted togive me happiness,” Sicarius said.

That puzzled her until she remembered whenshe had said that, in her talk with Basilard the week before. “Doyou eavesdrop on every conversation I have with othermen?”

“You can’t call it eavesdropping just becauseyou don’t notice me in the area.”

She snorted again. He sounded like he wasenjoying himself. Probably because he had gotten away with stealingher from her evening with Deret, and she was not giving him a hardtime about it. “You’re stealthier than a cat’s shadow. You can’tpossibly expect me to notice you when you’re lurking.”

“Perhaps you have not been assiduous enoughwith your training.”

“I can’t believe you’re blaming me for thefact that you’re a chronic eavesdropper.”

“What did you expect from an assassin?” heasked, tone teasing-or as close to it as he got.

Sicarius drew back, and Amaranthe caught hiswrists before he could step away completely.

“We haven’t resolved anything, you know,” shesaid.

He extricated one hand and pointed to thebench. He probably wanted to sit and discuss the situation, as ifit were some battle plan they were concocting. Shaking her head,she returned to her seat.

“Just to be clear,” Amaranthe said, “thisjealousy of yours, it arises from the fact that you’d like tobe…uhm…” She groped for a word. With anyone else, she would saylovers, but that implied emotions she doubted he would ever admitto-if he could feel them at all. “…Bed friends,” she said, thenrolled her eyes. Lovers would have been better. “It’s not just someterritorial dog-peeing-on-a-lamp-post thing, right?”

“Bed friends?”

Yes, he probably thought she was sillybecause she didn’t simply say what she meant, but, curse him, hewasn’t saying what he meant either.

“Are you voting for that one or mocking theterm?” Amaranthe asked.

“Yes.”

Someday she was going to learn not to givehim those sorts of questions. “Somehow, I think things would begoing easier for me if I’d stayed on the hill, drinking Deret’swine.”

“You like a challenge.”

She grew aware of the warmth of his thighagain. “Would it truly be so detrimental if we…were a we? If it’sabout the men being jealous that two out of the six people in thegroup get to have…bed friends, that’s not really a problem whenwe’re in the city, right? They can go off and find their ownpartners. They wouldn’t even need to know. You’re about asdemonstrative as a rock, and I think I can manage to keep my handsoff of you while the others are around.”

“Really,” he said dryly.

Though she doubted Sicarius would fail tomiss spies in the bushes, she lowered her voice to a whisper tosay, “If it’s about Sespian, I can understand you not wanting moreobstacles between you two, but it would be my choice. Evenif he does still have feelings, which is unlikely.”

“You might decide he’s a better choice.”

“Oh, I’m certain he is.” Amaranthe grinned,though the deepening darkness probably hid it. “But, as you pointedout, I like a challenge. Why would I want to spend time with someadoring, warm youngster when I could have a stiff, aloof assassinwhose idea of romance involves throwing knives and running upstairs together?”

“That’s not romance; that’s training.”

“Is there a difference for you?”

“Slight.”

Sicarius stood, breaking the contact betweenthem.

Amaranthe sighed. Cool evening air whisperedpast her arms, and dew-touched grass flicked at her bare toes. “Iguess this means you’re not going to demonstrate what thatdifference might be?”

“Not until this is over.”

“This being our…exoneration? And youhaving a chance to talk with Sespian?”

“The latter in particular.”

Amaranthe fought down a grumble. So, she gothim if she found a way to put him and Sespian together, sohe could have his chance to explain everything to his son. Settingthat up had always been her intent, but she was not sure how longit would take.

She supposed she ought to find it encouragingthat Sicarius cared enough about righting things with Sespian notto want to steal his girl, but, cursed ancestors, she wasn’this girl. And he had surely gotten over that fleeting infatuationby now anyway. He had been drug-addled at the time after all.

“In the meantime,” Amaranthe said, “I get tospend my nights sitting chastely in the team hideout?”How…wholesome.

“We could add an evening training session toyour regimen.”

She groaned and dropped her head in herhands. “You have a disturbing sense of humor.”

A long moment passed before he said, “Offer aproposition.”

“I don’t know.” Amaranthe shruggedhelplessly. “I can wait. I just need to know…. Well, we’ve nevereven kissed. How am I supposed to know if all this is worthit?”

She winced as soon as the words came out. Shehadn’t meant to imply that he wasn’t worth waiting for, justthat she didn’t know if they’d actually have a physical connectionwhen they actually-

“Worth it?” Sicarius asked, sounding,for the first time she could recall, offended.

Amaranthe groaned. She was making a mess ofthis.

She stretched out an apologetic hand.Sicarius took it and pulled her off the bench. Her feet tangled,and she stumbled into him. His other arm came around her, and hepulled her against him with none of his earlier gentleness.

He wouldn’t hurt her-at least she didn’tthink he would-but her heart quickened, a jolt of concerncoursing through her. Maybe she had pushed him too far. The armwrapped around her tightened, mashing her against his chest. Thefabric of his shirt did nothing to soften the ridges of granitemuscle beneath it, and the thought crossed her mind that if sheever truly did anger him, all her training would be no use.

Amaranthe swallowed and opened her mouth tospeak, though she was not sure whether she meant to apologize orblurt some sort of bravado. It didn’t matter. His mouth found hers,open, demanding, and she forgot about talking. And breathing.

The kiss crackled with intensity, and shethought of the hull of that fortress, its electrical chargeknocking her on her backside. She wriggled her arms around him andreturned the kiss.

His fingers tangled in her hair, caressingthe back of her neck. An ache grew inside, and her toes curledaround the edges of her sandals. She thought of kicking them off,of kicking everything off and-

Sicarius released her and stepped back,leaving her stunned and breathless, her heart galloping in placebehind her ribs. Then, without a word, he strode away.

Amaranthe, legs wobbly, collapsed on thebench. “He’s right,” she croaked. “It is different thantraining.”

EPILOGUE

Basilard told the nerves fluttering in hisbelly to be still. The stubborn things refused to obey.

Tall, broad-shouldered imperial soldiers inblue uniforms with gold trim strode along the brick paths of theOakcrest Conservatory, their boots so polished they reflected theflames of nearby gas lamps. The men’s expressionless faces remindedhim of Sicarius, and so did those dark, cool eyes as theyscrutinized the civilians and servants who crossed their paths.Youths carrying trays of lemonade, iced tea, and wine paid thesoldiers no mind. Of course, they had no reason to worry aboutbeing detained, captured, or killed.

Basilard sucked in a deep breath, grateful anumber of overhead panels were open, letting in fresh air. Withsweat already trickling down his spine, it would have beenunbearably stifling without the evening breeze. He adjusted hiscollar. Maldynado’s outfit was far more constricting than the loosegarments his people favored.

“Problem?” Books asked.

There are as many soldiers as athletes,perhaps more.

“I don’t think you need to look soconcerned,” Books said. “We made it past the phalanx of vehiclesand soldiers outside, and the door guards let us in, despite mucheyebrow raising over the fact that you brought a man as your onepermitted dinner companion.”

Basilard smiled. I didn’t think the empirehad issues with that sort of thing. Are you sure it wasn’t thatthey were surprised a victorious athlete wouldn’t have a younger,prettier man for an escort?

“I’m going to forgive you for that because ofall that time you recently spent with-” Books glanced around, “-acertain disreputable sort. You probably feel the need to unleashyour sense of humor.”

Or distract himself. Basilard feared theiradmittance had been too easy. Though Books had received a fewquestions about Basilard’s need for a translator, another soldierhad jogged up during the interview and whispered something in theguard’s ear, resulting in Basilard and Books being waved inside.Could the soldiers have recognized them and let them in as a trap?Were they even now waiting to see if Amaranthe and Sicarius waitednearby?

Basilard and Books walked toward a longwooden table with sixty or seventy place settings laid out.Athletes and their companions chatted in pairs or small groups neartrellised vines and citrus trees potted along the way.

“There he is,” Books said.

A glass door beyond the table had opened withtwo soldiers in black entering, the emperor’s personal guard.Sespian came next in blue, quasi-military attire. Unexpectedly, agray-haired woman in a sapphire dress strode beside him. Notexactly beside. Basilard had the impression Sespian was trying tokeep space between them.

“She’s old to be his escort,” Books murmured,also watching the woman. “A chaperone?”

Four more soldiers trailed after thepair.

The emperor gazed about alertly. Though hisposition must cause him a great deal of stress, he appeared noolder than his nineteen years, perhaps even younger, and Basilardwondered how much power he commanded around the Imperial Barracks.Could Sespian do anything about the empire’s underground slavetrade? About the fact that Mangdorians were often targeted?

Though the cadre of guards about him couldhave made the emperor seem unapproachable, he strode up to thefirst group of athletes and greeted everyone with a friendly smile.After the three young men managed flustered bows, Sespian startedasking questions.

“This may be a good time to talk to him,”Books said. “Before he grows weary of people pestering him.”

Let’s meander that way, Basilardsigned.

The other athletes seemed content to wait.They probably lacked his agenda.

As he and Books strolled over, the nervestormenting Basilard’s stomach redoubled their flutters. If this wasa trap, the soldiers would spring it before Basilard got close tothe emperor.

Books plucked an iced tea from a server’stray. He was either more comfortable here than Basilard, or he wasdoing a good job of hiding his nerves. Basilard took a drinkwithout looking to see what it was; ice cubes clinked in theglass.

The emperor moved to a second group ofathletes, this one made up of young ladies. He was courteous andprofessional, and Basilard did not get the impression he wassearching for bed partners-a vibe warrior-caste men often exuded,whether they were married or not. The emperor’s older chaperonenever said anything, and Basilard had the feeling she was thereonly to keep an eye on Sespian.

“Think that’s someone from Forge?” Booksmurmured.

Would they have someone here so openly?

Amaranthe had mentioned her belief that Forgehad a toehold in the Imperial Barracks, but Basilard had notrealized it might run so deeply.

“If so, that’s…a concern,” Books said.“They might restrict his access to information and certainly hisability to take action.”

So, he might not be reading the papers and beaware of our heroics?

“If so, all our work would be fornaught.”

Sespian looked over the women’s heads, hisgaze coming to rest on Basilard and Books.

Basilard twitched, flushing guiltily. Had theemperor overheard Books’s half of their conversation? They werespeaking quietly. He shouldn’t have, but who knew?

His first instinct was to look away andpretend no interest, but that might appear more suspicious. Heforced himself to hold the gaze and nod.

After finishing his conversation with thewomen, the emperor strode toward Books and Basilard.

Basilard glanced left and right, expecting alegion of soldiers to stampede them at any moment. Books thumped afist to his heart and bent at the waist, his sword arm stretchingwide with the palm open.

“A pleasure to speak with you, Sire,” hesaid.

Basilard mimicked the bow and signed, Mostrespect, Chief. He hadn’t worked out hand signs for honorificsfor emperors yet. Books would know what he meant though.

Oddly, when Books translated, he left theword for chief instead of correcting it. Perhaps he wanted Basilardto sound quaint-and unthreatening-thanks to his Mangdorianvernacular.

“Good evening.” Sespian pressed his own fistto his chest in response. “Temtelamak, isn’t it?” His eyebrowtwitched.

Basilard swallowed. The emperor recognizedthe name for a pseudonym and possibly knew Basilard had somethingto hide…. Curse Maldynado for picking out something silly.

“Congratulations on your victory,” theemperor went on.

Thank you, Chief.

The woman glided over to join them, andBasilard signed, Evening, ma’am.

“This is Ms. Rockvic,” Sespian said, his facedifficult to read. “She’s…trying to find me a wife, I think.” Hearched an eyebrow at the older woman. Her lips thinned, but shesaid nothing.

Basilard exchanged concerned looks withBooks. Amaranthe would need to know about this new development.

I’d hoped to talk to you about something,Chief, Basilard signed. Sespian would not chat forever, so hehad best make his request.

Sespian blinked. “Yes, of course. Goahead.”

I escaped slavery here in Stumps last winter.I was one of hundreds taken out of Mangdoria and sold in yourunderground market, where business owners in particular save moneyby buying slaves instead of using day-paid laborers or paying forexpensive machines. Some slaves, like myself, are forced into thepit-fighting circuit where they must battle for their lives everynight.

He paused so Books could translate, and hewatched Sespian’s face, trying to judge whether this was newinformation for him or something he was aware of and had dismissed.The emperor’s eyebrows climbed as Books spoke, and more than oncehe glanced at his chaperone. The woman’s face was closed and hard.If she was a member of Forge, Basilard hoped he was notmaking trouble by revealing these facts in front of her.

I’m particularly concerned for mypeople, Basilard went on. I believe they’re targeted becausethey’re pacifists and not strong Science practitioners.

For the first time, Books edited thetranslation, leaving off the last few words.

“I see,” Sespian said through a tense jaw. “Iwasn’t aware of this problem. My ignorance is not an excuse, and Iapologize for the ruthless way you were brought to the empire. Iwill look into this slavery as soon as I’m able.” He glanced atRockvic, and his lip twitched in a brief grimace. He was being openabout his displeasure at having this companion. Was it possible hewanted Basilard and Books to know? That made no sense.

Thank you, Chief, he signed. He wishedhe could do more-elicit a promise of some kind-but the emperor didnot seem to be in a position to promise much right now.

Sespian extended his arm and claspedBasilard’s hand. The action surprised Basilard because thestandoffish Turgonians did not make physical contact during theirgreetings. Maybe the emperor knew Mangdorian hunters claspedforearms as a gesture of friendship? But it was Sespian’s hand thatpressed against his, not his arm, and something poked intoBasilard’s palm. Paper?

When Sespian withdrew his grip, he left theobject in Basilard’s hand.

“Have a peaceful evening,” the emperorsaid.

Basilard pressed his thumb into his palm tokeep the object in his hand and dropped his arm to his side. Itfelt like a piece of paper folded numerous times into a smallsquare.

“I don’t know if he’ll be able to do anythingfor you right now,” Books said after the emperor had moved onto thenext group, “but perhaps someday. If not, maybe our teamcould tackle the slave trade.”

Basilard barely heard him. He was searchingthe conservatory, looking for an empty but lighted place where hecould unfold the paper, but two soldiers were frowning in hisdirection. He ended up waiting through dinner and a theater showduring which university students reenacted some of the greatmoments from the Games, often with amusing asides. All too aware ofthe note in his pocket, Basilard had a hard time conversing orenjoying the festivities. He let out a deep breath when they exitedthe conservatory without any guards accosting them.

“Something wrong?” Books asked. “You’ve beenquiet all…”

Basilard strode toward a winding but litpath. Books hurried to catch up. When they were out of sight of thesoldiers, guards, and other dinner-goers, he stopped, finallyunfolding the message.

“What is that?” Books asked. “Did the emperorgive it to you?”

Basilard already had the note open, and,after another check of their surroundings, he held it out so theycould both read it.

Amaranthe Lokdon:

I wish to hire your outfit to kidnap me. Ican offer 100,000 ranmyas.

No signature marked the page, but there washardly a need, not when the emperor had personally handed themessage to Basilard.

Books let out a low whistle. “This couldchange everything.”

Or get us all killed, Basilard signed,thinking of all the security they would have to get through toabscond with an emperor. If it were easy to elude those guards,Sespian would have escaped on his own.

“Yes, it could be a trap,” Books said,“designed to rid the empire of Amaranthe and Sicarius. For all weknow, that woman might have forced Sespian to slip this toyou.”

Either way, this autumn should beinteresting.

“Indeed so,” Books said. “Indeed so.”

Content

Lindsay Buroker
Deadly Games

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

EPILOGUE