- "What do we do now?"- "You keep silent, and stop interrupting me. Then I will dispel the wards." Taliesine didn't even bother to look my way, but Kima was grinning.The glow on the door vanished. The wizard stepped back, and waved a hand at me. A quick check confirmed that there were no mundane traps. I had my lock picking tools ready, but I barely needed them. It was child's play to open the door.I entered first, and led the way, followed by Taliesine, with Kima acting as rearguard. We had decided not to use a candle or lantern, because the light might show through a window, when no one was supposed to be home.I wasn't the only one with low-light vision. Taliesine had it, too - courtesy of a spell. Kima simply told me not to worry about her.Once inside, the wizard insisted on casting her detection spell again.- "Clear."There was no need to go near the kitchen, as far as I was concerned. Jerian's room, or study was a better go

- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been to me. She gree

"I didn't want to put you in danger." I said. "I think you already are, though. I'm sorry about that." She took my hand in both of hers. - "What's the alternative, Ken? To live at the Narimac, and never go outside? Or to cut yourself off from everyone you know, so that no one but you is in danger?" She was remarkably perceptive; I'd been thinking along those very lines, only a few nights ago. It sounded sillier when she said it that way. "Your friends would rather support you, and help. You can't expect us to let you face your adversaries alone." We sat in silence for a moment. Then I remembered something she'd said earlier. - "You said that you'd been thinking, too." - "Yes." I didn't press her. I did reach over, with my free hand, to stroke her fingertips. Other than that, I just waited. Aressine was not an impetuous person; more often than not, she was very deliberate, taking her

 Syrava's spell was broken as she fled. I lurched forward, off-balance. There was no sign of Samadar now, either. He had crawled away, and then melted into the shadows. The gargoyles dropped the dead crossbow-woman to the ground. Thaak stood for a moment, admiring his handiwork. Aacah loomed up beside me. - "Help." I got out. "Help me carry Aressine. Careful -" Aacah bent over, and scooped my girlfriend up in her arms. Aressine screamed as the shattered bones in her hip ground together. Then she passed out. The two gargoyles helped me carry my injured companions to the Narimac. We created quite a stir when we entered through the front doors. Sylvia was there. Thank all the Gods - my partner took charge of us. The gargoyles took us upstairs, where Sylvia had a look at Taliesine. Then she switched her attention to Aressine. Neither woman was making any noise. - "Crossbow bolts.

No such luck. Cremyne was a crazy bitch - but she'd make all of us suffer if I pushed her too far. - "If ... if I tell you what the problems are ... you'll give them a quick death?" I whispered. - "Absolutely." said Cremyne. Another lie. She was already angry. Boutan and Naomi, Kima ... and Aressine were going to endure torment before they died - all because of Cremyne. I'd been wrong again. All these weeks, I'd been wondering why Syrava hated me so much, and how she could turn, so viciously, on her former friends. But the fey wizard was only part of the picture. Cremyne was just as bad - or even worse. Plan C, then. Three pathetic little spells, and a slim blade in my boot. That's when I saw the shadow on the stairs. Aressine might have noticed it. Boutan and Naomi probably couldn't see, from where they were. Nor could Samadar, who was still standing next to them. Kima, of course, was facing t