In Kelvaan, it was still raining, but the stars shone bright now from among the clouds, watching the shadows which shifted between buildings and within them. Most of the townspeople were asleep, and the streets were bathed in silence. Silence occasionally broken by the rustling of the wind or the creak of wood or the chirps of insects. There were many such sounds of the night before Tara could clearly distinguish the sound of footsteps outside the tavern door. A moment later, the door was already opening. The footsteps came closer, and finally Tara could see Percy and his companion. The trader took a few steps forward while Percy barred the door, and then together they approached the table in the center of the room.

Tara tensed in the corner, hoping that its shadow would conceal her. If something were to go wrong…. But no. Percy tapped two fingers against the back of his leg in the subtle all-clear signal. She relaxed a little. The others had already prodded the entire building for any signs of unwanted visitors, and everything had come up clear. Still, she decided to remain hidden for the time being. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

"I’m glad you decided to come, Baruuk," Percy was saying. "I assume you have the payment with you."

"Of course," the other replied. "But first I want to see proof of your claim to the Talman."

"Sounds reasonable," Percy agreed. "Lai?"

Tara’s hidden confederate stepped from the secret door across the room. If Baruuk was startled by his presence, he certainly didn’t show it.

"Yes?"

Percy indicated Baruuk with a slight motion of his head. "Our friend here would like to see the merchandise."

Hostility shone in Lai’s dark eyes, but he said nothing as he turned back into the passageway and reemerged, holding the gem in his hands. Percy watched him for a few moments, then turned his eyes back to Baruuk. "Satisfied?"

Even from across the room, Tara could hear the sudden awe in the trader’s voice. "How did you…?"

"No questions, as per our agreement," Percy said, a sudden edge to his voice.

"Of course, of course," Baruuk nodded, his tone just wheedling enough to make Tara cringe in disgust. "I have the agreed upon amount with me, of course. If you will oblige me with the gem--"

Percy shook his head. "Payment first. On the table…and keep your movements slow."

Baruuk’s hurt look didn’t phase him in the least. Perhaps, thought Tara with a wry smile, because the trader used it so often. After all these years, she’d think he could have developed something more creative.

He placed the bags of gold and gems on the table, and watched with feigned disinterest as Percy sorted through them. After a short time, Percy looked up. "You’re short, Baruuk."

"Oh?" The trader attempted a look of genuine surprise. In Tara’s opinion, he failed miserably.

He apparently came to the same conclusion, because he changed his manner and voice abruptly. "Times have been hard," he whined. "Surely you would not take advantage of an old man in his poverty."

Percy raised an eyebrow and threw Baruuk a sardonic look. "Don’t expect that old man ploy to work on anyone anymore," he said. "And certainly not on me."

The trader scowled and threw a few more coins on the table. Percy glanced down to confirm that the amount was right, then beckoned to Lai, who brought the gem to the center of the room, then deposited it into Baruuk’s waiting hands. He pawed over it eagerly before slipping it into one of the recesses of his cloak. Without further conversation, he rushed from the room, anxious to be gone from the place. He was soon out of sight, and within a few moments one of the door sentries returned to inform Percy that he had indeed left the building.

Percy motioned Tara forward, and she came to where he stood. "Well, that seemed to go over nicely," he murmured. "Opinion?"

She nodded. "Have you checked that the gold is genuine?"

"Not yet," he said. "But I don’t think Baruuk would try to pull a trick like that. We know where to find him if he did."

Robin Takt threw a brief glance down the corrider before turning to his left and into the main meeting room of the Lion’s Den. Returning the proprietor’s slight nod of acknowledgement, he settled himself in a corner booth and immediately called for some whiskey, throwing a casually unconcerned look around the room as he did so. As he had thought, Percy hadn’t left any of his men to eavesdrop on the conversations proceeding around the room. Either Bayrn had warned him already, or they had parted company, or they had never actually been working together in the first place. Whatever the case, it was all too likely that Robin was back to square one.

He fell back in his chair, allowing the disappointment to sink in. It didn’t much matter now, what anyone thought of him. He would soon be gone, tracing the Talman yet again. Unless, of course, its new owner had decided to remain in the town. In which case, perhaps he still had a chance.

His drink arrived, and he sipped the foam from the top as he pondered his next move. The drink was welcome; his short-lived work following Bayrn—until he was sure the other man was making it too easy for him to follow—had drained his energy and his throat was dry. He had no doubt Bayrn had no intention to continue North for long, but regardless of his intentions, following him any longer would undoubtedly be a waste of time. Stay in town a few more days, then, and keep alert for any news. Percy could certainly be subtle at times, but for the time being, Robin had one advantage: Percy wasn’t aware of his presence. At least not yet, though it wouldn’t take much to change that.

The door swung open, and Tara strode in. Takt looked up, identified her, then lowered his head in feigned disinterest while keeping her in the corner of his eye. She took a place on a barstool, swinging one leg over the other and leaning across the counter to tap the bartender’s shoulder. A quick gesture was the only instruction her order required, and a moment later, a cup of some simmering purple liquid appeared in front of her. She sipped slowly, closing her eyes and, in that moment, Robin guessed, ciphering through the surrounding noise to pick out any important bits of conversation. He had watched her at this game enough times to recognize the ploy. So, the long wait was over, and Percy and his group had returned.

He waited for nearly half an hour before easing out of his seat and heading for the door. Once outside, he walked around to the back alley, checked to ensure that it was deserted, and slipped into the large wooden crate he had seen there earlier. If Percy followed his usual pattern, there would be a meeting in the tavern tonight, and he didn’t want to miss a word. He waited, crouched in the crate, careful to make no sound, until finally the back door opened and one of the tavern attendants appeared. The man carried his stack of trash right past Robin’s hiding place, completely unaware of the shadowy form that slipped past him into the open door. Once inside, it was easy for Robin to find his way into the secret passage the soldier Il-Jarrik had mentioned, which led behind the bartender’s counter. Even Alchem himself probably wasn’t aware of it, standing as he was with his boots right in front of Takt’s face. It wasn’t much of a view, Takt admitted, but from his hiding place he could hear sounds from every part of the room. Though right now, there wasn’t much to listen for. Only disjointed fragments of conversations, the slap of cards against wood, and the thunk of mugs slamming on the tables. But that would soon change. He was sure of it.

"I was an idiot," Jaida said, glancing at Lai. She lay on a bed in a cramped room underground, one of several hiding places Percy retained for such purposes. There was a stale smell of smoke, and little light, but the linen was clean and dry, and the room was safe. Lai reached forward to change the dressing on her wound, and she winced slightly. "If that beast had killed me, I would have deserved it."

Lai cocked his head to one side, then nodded slowly. "Yes. But thankfully we do not always pay the full penalty for our carelessness."

She smiled. "The scar will be a long time fading."

"There are worse things than scars."

"I know."

She watched silently as he placed the old cloths in a bucket, applied the poultice the healer had prepared, and carefully wrapped new strips of cloth over the cut. Only when he had finished did he look up to meet her gaze.

"Thank you."

He only nodded.

"You were worried," she said slowly.

He raised an eyebrow.

"I’m sorry." The apology was clearly for her words, not the worry she had caused him.

"No, you’re right." He stood, wiping his hands on his trousers. "You looked like you might have had the breath of life taken from you any minute."

"You carried me all the way back?"

Lai shrugged again. "Il-Ragon also."

She hesitated. "The healer said it’s been six days."

Lai nodded.

She looked at him a moment, opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.

"The others have gone to meet with a friend, those that haven’t gone home," he said. "We’re finished." A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

How did he always know what she was thinking? "All are well?"

"Yes."

"Good." She lay back again. "I feel a fool, Lai."

This time he actually smiled. "If you didn't, I'd have worried more."

She laughed despite herself. If anyone had told her, a year ago, that someday Lai would make her laugh--Lai, that dark silent shadow from whom she had not seen so much as a smile in the first three months of her training--she would have dismissed them as delusional. And now--now she almost--

She pushed back the thought with vehemence. To grow fond of anyone was a liability. The guild was everything to her--her closest friends, her family. But she could not allow herself to become too attached to anyone. This time, she had nearly died. The next time, it might as easily be Lai. Or Tara. Kent. Any of them. Jaida could not afford to forget that.

She closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. But through half-closed lids, she found herself watching Lai. And she could not help but see that his gaze was likewise fixed on her.

"Home, sweet home." Bayrn threw an uneasy glance over the room before walking to the center.

"Indeed." Percy settled himself in a chair, motioning with his right hand to Lai and Tara. They disappeared.

"Is there a problem?" Danc’s boots echoed on the floor.

"Possibly. Your sentries are in place?" Bayrn asked.

"We won’t be disturbed, if that’s what you mean." Percy shifted forward. "Why do you ask?"

"A warning between comrades, Il-Sverth. You’ve got a tail."

"Oh?"

"Or if you don’t, you will soon. When I returned to Adavna, he was already waiting."

"Who?"

"He’s a Guardian. Not quite the way the tales picture them, but close enough."

"And what did you mean by meeting us here?" Percy’s voice was calm, but his eyes glowed. "Did it occur to you he might have followed you?"

"I’m not that stupid. I led him north, on a false trail. I think he went for it—certainly he didn’t follow me back here. I only got back tonight, and I’d swear no man’s yet seen me in the city."

"And when you leave here?"

"I’ll be clear of Adavna within an hour. There’s no reason I should stay."

"Ah." Percy nodded. "What makes you think he’ll find us?"

"He found me," Bayrn pointed out. "He found me the first time I laid hand on that Stone, he found my partner who carried it, and he found the Red Briar—that he told me bluntly.—Yes, we spoke."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I have no idea of the gem’s whereabouts, naturally."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "And he let it go at that?"

"I doubt he did. Thus my warning."

"I thank you." Percy waited in silence for a few moments, then motioned with his hand. "I believe the time has come to settle accounts. Lai? Tara?"

The two stepped from their places, appearing as if by magic.

"Our contact paid us half a hundredweight of gold for the gem," Percy said. "I hope it strikes you as a fair price. I might have hoped for better, but given what you’ve told us, I am glad we were rid of it as quickly as we were."

"It’s a fair price," Bayrn said. "I won’t complain."

"Thirty percent, as agreed," Percy said, and pushed two bags across the table. "Count it. I want matters settled between us."

A wise policy. Bayrn quickly counted off the coins, then poured them back into the bags.

Percy offered his hand. "Leave with our best wishes. We never have seen you."

"Nor I you," Bayrn responded, with a small bow, a glance at the comrades he would never see again. "Farewell."

From the hidden corridor, Robin listened as Bayrn took his leave. He still half expected one of Percy's men to plant a knife in the man's back before he set foot in the streets. There was so much he did not understand about the workings of the thieves' guilds here. There were stories of brutality--but the transaction he had just overheard had been civilized, polite. What was to keep Bayrn from informing on the Guild? he wondered. Or to keep them from slaying him, now that the Talman had come into their hands? Perhaps there were rules of honor even among these thieves. But what rules of honor could allow for murder and theft? It was something Robin could not comprehend.

Nor could he comprehend with what ease he had remained hidden here. He had hidden himself in the darkness and held his sword at the ready in the long hours before the meeting began, but no one had once slid aside the grating to approach him. Either they did not realize the passage existed--which seemed a tremendous oversight--or they only guarded the ways in and out of the tavern and did not comb the entire building--which seemed to belie equally tremendous carelessness. It made Robin a little nervous, but for the moment, he simply hoped he had been lucky--and he listened carefully to every noise above.

There had been silence for several minutes now, but finally Robin heard soft footsteps and a door close somewhere to his right.

"He’s gone," Tara said quietly.

"And the better for it," Percy agreed. "Danc: what can you tell us about the Briar?"

"Not a trace, so far as I’ve heard. They’re lying low."

"Good. It won’t last." The sound of a chair sliding along the floor. "I’m thinking of another operation—just to make sure we’re occupied by the time they get their people down here. Actually, since it’s more than likely they already have their people down here, the sooner we move, the better."

"What did you have in mind?" Tara leaned back in her chair. Robin could just barely see the silhouette of her face.

"A tip Lai gave us," Percy answered. "The El-Readon house in the east quarter. Small sapphires, no distinguishing markings, supposedly from Tllinthar itself."

"A present from Renshah Hin-Vess?" Danc’s voice.

"Likely. We’ll merely be reclaiming the taxes for our people." There was a distinctive twist of irony in Percy’s voice. Renshah Hin-Vess was the governor of Adavna, and El-Readon had been one in a long string of former mistresses. The ruling class tended to flaunt their wealth just often enough to lose it.

"King’s Guard, or private protection?"

"Her own bodyguard, we think. Maybe a pair. No official guard. The main obstacle’s the house, and that’s easy enough to get round."

"Piece of cake." Danc grinned. "After the last few weeks, I think we’ll be getting bored cooling our heels here."

"Of course. But," and Percy’s voice became grave, "there’s no need for the Red Briar to know that."

"Has anyone looked the place over?"

"Lai," Percy answered. "I was thinking you could do your own assessment tonight. Give the sentries a break; they deserve it."

"Fair enough. And the operation tomorrow?"

"That or the day after. Arrange it as you like."

Captain Estte of the Ei-Jena King’s Guard studied the parchment in his hand with a skeptical frown. Finally he put it down on the desk and looked at the swarthy man standing before him. "You’ve read this, Second?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, what’s your opinion?"

"The fact that he refused to come in person does not exactly lend credence to his report."

"Naturally. Then again, the current state of affairs in Adavna does not seem to encourage civilians to report to the military. Particularly when doing so would undoubtedly endanger their own lives."

The other nodded slowly. "There is too much still unexplained. Il-Jarrik and Il-Verrin—we’ve failed to find them, which means either they’ve fled the city or they have friends within it. From what Lieutenant Il-Occen has told us, they seem to have been in the perfect position to effect the murder of an Ei-Aesharon member."

"True. It does seem a bit much to attribute to coincidence. But for our purposes, I think perhaps it is wise to investigate."

"As you command," the commander said, but he did not sound happy about it.

"Think, Second. Command will want results. It will take days, perhaps weeks to find the men if they are in the country. I do not propose we abandon the search. But if this report is true, we could have men in custody by tonight. We can send them to Command for questioning, while we pursue Il-Jarrik and Il-Verrin. Whoever killed Ilyan Bar-Sommoth will in the end be brought to justice, and if the thieves are not guilty of the Bar-Sommoth’s murder, they will merely be paying the just penalty for their past crimes."

Commander Tarkir smiled. "A wise decision, sir."

"El-Readon," the captain murmured, lifting the letter again. "Take some men with you and find the place. Take care that you are not seen."

"And you will meet this man?"

"Yes." The captain reached across the table for his own pen and ink. "We will play his game for now. And then...we will see."

"You will not walk into this Viper trap alone," Tarn said, placing a firm hand on the table.

"I will risk no other lives," Robin insisted. "Their captain will know me by signature and seal as a Guardian. There must be respect for that title, even here."

"And if you are wrong? If you mention the murder of..." Tarn lowered his voice. "Of one of them—do you realize what lengths they would go to to avenge him? They will know you’ve been in contact with Il-Jarrik, and that alone is crime. They could have you arrested on the spot. There must be another way."

"There is no other way," Robin said. "I wish there were. But there is nothing else. And time is short."

"I suppose it is," Tarn sighed. "But do you realize what you’re doing?"

"Too well."

"Then there’s nothing I can say to dissuade you, and I am only costing you time."

"Your concerns are appreciated," Robin assured him, then hesitated. "I will be cautious."

Tarn nodded slowly. "Then I must ask one boon of you."

"What?"

"Don’t tell Daeril until you have returned."

Robin smiled. "I wasn’t planning to. I don’t want her involved any more than you do."

"Fortune go with you, then."

"I will return soon," Robin said, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of farewell before he turned towards the door.

He found the place easily, an upscale inn near the center of Adavna. He was two hours ahead of schedule, as he had intended. If the Vipers had planned anything untoward, he hoped to spot it well ahead of time. It felt strange, skulking about like this; there was a certain irony involved in using his training to protect himself from those who enforced law, rather than those who broke it. But whatever its application, the training was there, in his body and mind, and it threw him back around a corner even as two Viper guards came in sight. They continued down the street without pausing, and when they had passed, Robin turned and followed, casual and silent as their own shadows.

"Are you certain, Captain?" the taller of the guards was saying. "With all due respect, we have no way of knowing whether this offer is genuine. I have heard several stories from the Guard of this city. There are many who would kill the king’s soldiers on sight if fear did not prevent them."

"The same fear should prevent them even if I am alone," the other man said easily. "A public place—and far from the Outskirts—there are better places a man could choose for murder." He turned and looked at the other man, and Robin ducked behind a corner.

"Besides, your perimeter will be in place within the hour?"

"Of course, sir."

"Then we have nothing to fear. The first sign of danger and you will simply step in and apprehend the man."

"What of the rebels?"

"I fully intend to question him on that matter." They were moving again, now, and Robin missed a few words before he got close enough to hear them again. "...will see."

"And if he does not cooperate?"

"Arrest him. You know the sign."

"I’m sorry to interrupt," Robin said, stepping forward and raising a hand in greeting, "but I don’t suppose you know the way to the Black Rose Inn?" As the two men’s heads snapped up, he opened his fist to reveal the Guardian pendant.

The commander stiffened slightly and put a hand on his sword; the captain chuckled softly. "You’re early."

Robin’s eyes gleamed. "So are you."

"Indeed. Leave us, Second."

"Sir?"

The captain nodded, and the commander saluted and left. "I hope you understand my caution."

"As I hope you understand my own," Robin said. "But now I believe we can speak freely?"

"In the Black Rose?"

"Let us choose another location. A gesture of good faith."

The captain nodded slowly, and Robin could see the man gauging him, probing his intention. Doubtless the captain had suggested the inn for a reason, and his men would expect him to be there. "First, some more proof of who you are," he said finally.

Robin nodded. The request was a fair enough one. He withdrew his seal and handed it to the captain, who inspected it briefly, before returning it, then nodded. "All right. I hope you’ll forgive the precaution, but we do have to be careful."

"Of course."

The captain gestured down the street. "Shall we?"

Robin nodded his assent. The commander would be tailing them; Robin had seen him cross into an alley not too far down the street, and he had also seen the captain’s glance behind him. But it was not unexpected.

"Your note left us with many questions," the captain said, then paused. "Excuse me, I did not bother to belabor you with introductions. I am Captain Estte, and the man you saw me with earlier was Tarkir, my second in command."

"And I am your anonymous informer," Robin said, "and will remain nameless, for both our sakes."

"If you wish to begin our talk with threats—" the captain said, but Robin cut him off.

"I wish nothing of the sort. For my own safety, I consider it better that you not know my name. And if you are at all interested in the information I have offered you, I think you will find it beneficial to have me alive."

"I see." A mirthless smile tugged at the captain’s lips. "Then I suggest you tell me what you know."

"And how I know it?"

"Otherwise the validity of such information would be very much in question."

"Very well." Robin kept a casual eye on the street as they walked. Tarn had said Vipers very rarely operated in street clothes—evidently, they enjoyed showing off their uniforms. Nonetheless that didn’t mean there might not be men undercover—and if they were there, Robin wanted to have some warning before they stepped out of nowhere to arrest him. "Just over a month ago, a man of the King’s Guard was murdered when two fugitives made their escape from an inn, the Harvest Moon. The fugitives were never apprehended, and so far as I know, no official efforts have been made to uncover their identities. I am, as you know me by pendant and seal, a Guardian and Seeker of the Stone. For my own reasons and those of my order, I have been seeking out certain thieves in Adavna. My trail led directly to the Harvest Moon."

"Ah." Estte smiled again. "Do you have any better evidence for this...association?"

"I’ve spoken with several witnesses. Although it is difficult to adequately describe a person seen fleeing for a fleeting moment in the dark, I believe the descriptions I have gathered match too well to be coincidence."

"I see." The captain turned a corner, leading them closer to his men, Robin guessed. "In that case, I’m sorry to inform you that we’ve already found the men responsible, and a search for them is currently underway."

"The renegade soldiers, yes," Robin said. Playing his cards right was going to be key here, and he could already see the guarded surprise on the other man’s face. Now it was time to bluff—and see just how many rumors of the Guardians’ power lived on in the southern lands. "It should not come as a surprise to you that I am aware of the goings on within the body of the King’s Guard, Captain. The Guardians have many sources of information in these parts—more, I suspect, than you know of."

The captain took it in stride. "And does one of these sources of information happen to be the two fugitive soldiers?" he asked easily.

"My people have not yet discovered their whereabouts," Robin said. The statement was actually true. He had no idea where Kalan and Darren were currently hiding.

"And if you did come upon such knowledge," the captain said, "What would you do with it?"

"They are of little use to me," Robin answered. "It is the thieves who are my concern."

"Which brings us back to your report." The captain stopped, and studied Robin’s face. "Why did you come to me with this information? What do you stand to gain?"

"I believe that I can help you to arrest these outlaws, Captain. There is some aspect of reward in knowing that the streets of Adavna will be safer, if only by a small margin. But more to the point, I already told you that I am seeking these people for my own reasons. I have yet to apprehend them, and the Guardians do not wish to become too overtly involved. I think, Captain," he said finally, "that we may both be of some use to each other, if we choose to work together in this matter."

The pitch was made, and now it was time to see if the captain would take the bait. He waited a long moment, and then continued to walk forward. Robin matched his stride. Finally, the captain said, "Do you know where to find them?"

"Yes," Robin said, and he knew that he had won. "I do."

There was little light left outside, but the candle on Daeril’s table flickered cheerfully. But Tarn’s face, and Robin’s, showed anything but merriment. Daeril’s expression revealed nothing.

"I will leave tonight," Robin said. "I cannot promise that I will return."

"You’ve found it, then?" Daeril looked up to meet his gaze.

"I’ve found the trail. And I think it leads away from here."

"What about the Vipers?" It was Tarn who spoke.

"They have laid a trap for the guild. They have given me their word that if they succeed, I will be given access to the prisoners."

Tarn snorted.

"The word of a Viper—" Daeril began, but at Robin’s look she stopped.

"I trust these men," Robin told her. "I have trusted them thus far, and they have given me no reason to doubt their word. I understand," he continued more softly, "what they have done to you and your people, but remember that these two men may not be judged by the deeds of all the others."

"It is true," Tarn said, and nodded slowly. "And you do well to remind us of it."

"Besides," Robin added, "I will be there."

Daeril lowered her eyes, but said nothing. Tarn only nodded.

"There is no thanks I can give you—both of you—for your kindness," Robin said. "I cannot repay the debt I owe you, but what I can do for you, I will." He laid a pouch of money on the table.

"You owe us nothing," Daeril said quickly, but Robin shook his head.

"I owe you everything. With Adavaan’s blessing, soon I will travel home. I will have no need of purse or coin in the Northern Lands." Daeril opened her mouth again to speak, but Robin continued. "Please let me do this for the two who have done so much for me."

"I would not have asked anything of you," Tarn said, finally, "but your gift is welcome, and it is honored here. Thank you."

Robin nodded.

"Then you will continue on alone?" Daeril asked.

A smile pulled at the corners of Robin’s lips. "I have followed the gem alone until now. I have no reason to despair just yet."