Chapter 8

I would have liked to have had my silence spell, but I'd used up my magical energy at the Gale. Stealth would have to do. I slipped out Polenek's side door, and crept up on my quarry. One wore a hat; the other was bareheaded. Bance was balding, and a bit vain - he was the one in the hat.

Thank goodness for low-light vision. I saw Bance's gun - a short-barreled fowling piece - leaning against the wall. I kicked it away, to get their attention.

Both men whirled about.

- "I have two pistols." I said.

I didn't know who the second man was, but he took his lead from Bance.

- "Ken?" said Bance Rayner.

- "Please sit down. Both of you."

Bance was a professional. "Do it." he said, to his companion. Then he sat down himself.

- "Stretch out your legs." I said. I was still quite confident that they couldn't see me very well.

- "I wouldn't have killed you, Ken." he said. "You know that."