He held the advantage of reach and strength. Shamas lowborn knife-fighting skills meant nothing unless she risked breaking through his guard and closing in with him. She was deterred by the recollection that one of the attributes the golem enjoyed was disproportionate strength. As if to confirm her thoughts, a blow of his sword reduced a sturdy oaken chair to a broken shadow of itself and she decided to try magic instead.

She began to weave a spell to cause the cloth on his body to stiffen and imprison him in its hold, but she was just an instant too slow. Lord Ven closed in and swung his sword at her throat. She managed to deflect his blow with her knife, but the force of his strike wrenched her wrist painfully.

Sham lost control of the magic shead gathered and the embroidered chair that sat by the fireplace burst into sudden flame. She took a quick step back and hit her elbow painfully against the walla"there was no more room to retreat.

Breathing hard, Sham ducked under Lord Venas second strike. As she ran under the blade he reversed his stroke, catching her brutally on the back of her wounded thigh with the pommel. The blow drove her to the ground where she hit her chin on the floor with stunning force.

Face down, she missed exactly what happened next, but there was a shrill cry and the sound of sharp metal imbedding itself in flesh. Frantically, Sham scrabbled forward and then twisted to her feet.

Lord Ven stood facing her with an oddly blank look and something dark pushed out of his chest; Kerim swayed unsteadily behind hima"though he stood without aid. Sham jumped to her feet as the Reeve collapsed to his knees, sweat beading his forehead as a tribute to the effort it had cost him to stay on his feet so long.

The demonas creature fell limply forward, and the great blue sword slipped out of its back and sang out as it hit the floor. Sham stared at the motionless body, gasping hollowly for breath.

aYouare not hurt?a rasped Kerim.

She shook her head. aNo, and I have you to thank for it. I wouldnat have lasted much longer against it.a She chose the neuter pronoun deliberately in order to remind Kerim, if he needed reminding, that the thing head just killed had not been his brother.

Nodding, the Reeve collapsed backward until he was seated on the ground with his back supported by a heavy chest. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

aShamera, would you get Dickon? His rooms are down the hall. I think we could use his help to take care of the body.a aRight,a she replied, frowning with worry as she looked at Kerimas pale face.

She didnat realize until she was halfway to the door that she still held her knife in her right hand. Shaking her head at herself, she started to set it on a table. It wouldnat do for the Reeveas mistress to run about the Castle at night with a knife.

aShamera!a The urgency in the Reeveas tone caused her to spin around.

Kerimas blue sword in one hand, Lord Venas simulacrum advanced with a stealthy gait that changed to an awkward run as she finished her turn. Almost without thought she ducked under his swing and imbedded her knife deeply into the creatureas eye.

aPlagueas spawn!a spat out Sham in revulsion as she was carried to the floor in the thingas embrace. She scrambled frantically until she was free of its convulsive movements, jerking her knife out of the body so shead still have a weapon if it came at her again. aTide take it! Why canat this thing just stay dead?a As she spoke the body, still writhing, vanished with a loud cracking sound, leaving the blue sword behind. She lunged to her feet and spat a filthy word, wiping her forehead with the back of the hand that held her knife.

aIs it coming back?a inquired Kerim in a suspiciously mild tone.

Sham shook her head, but there wasnat a lot of assurance in her voice as she said, aI donat think so. Iall go get Dickon.a aNo, wait,a said Kerim. aI think . . . I need an explanation of this nightas events before you go. I feel like I have been thrown blindfolded into a pack of wolves. You might start with what it was you did to me that allowed me use of my legs.a Sham sank wearily to the floor opposite Kerimas position. aI think I need to ask you a few questions before I understand enough of it to tell you whatas happened.a He inclined his head, managing to look regal in spite of being clothed only in sweat and the light cotton knee-length trousers that served as Cybellian undergarments. He wouldnat have been wearing that much if the trousers had been rune-marked like his robe.

aSomething amuses you?a asked Kerim.

Hastily Sham rearranged her face and cleared her throat. aWhen exactly did your back begin bothering you?a His eyebrows rose briefly at her question, but he answered her without hesitation. aI was traveling and my horse slipped off a bank while we were crossing a river. I wrenched my back. Perhaps eight or nine months ago.a aTalbot told me that it has gotten worse in fits and starts, not a steady progression.a Kerim nodded. aI have a bad spell, like tonightas, and when itas over Iam worse than before. The muscles in my back ache constantly with occasional shooting pangs. My legs are . . .a he paused and for an instant there was a wild hope in his face that he quickly repressed. aMy legs were numb from mid-thigh on down. It felt like they were encased in ice. I was cold all the time.a He looked at Sham intensely. aI didnat realize how cold until now.a aNow that itas gone,a commented Sham with the dawn of an impish grin.

aNow that itas gone,a he agreed hoarsely. He closed his eyes and swallowed, clenching his hands.

She took pity on him and, looking away, she began to piece together the story out loud. aSomehow, you must have attracted the demonas attention. I donat know why it chose to attack you differently than the other victims, or what it was gaining from you, but I can tell you that the demon caused your disability.a aHow can you be certain?a Shamera glanced at the Reeve and saw that he was still fighting not to hope too much.

She sighed loudly. aI suppose, since you are a Cybelliana"a she let her tongue linger over the term as if it were an insult of the highest order, much the same way Kerim habitually said amagica aa"I shall have to begin with a basic lesson on magic. I generally use rune magic rather than casting by voice, gesture, and component. The runes are more subtle and they last longer.a There was a bare hint of amusement in Kerimas voice when he interrupted her, aWhat is a rune?a Sham sighed a second time and began to speak very slowly, as one might to someone who was very young and uninformed. aRunes are . . .a She stopped and swore. aIam going to have to go simpler than that. I always knew that there was a reason that wizards donat talk about magic to nonwizards . . . hmmm. Magic is a force in the worlda"like the sun or the wind. There are two ways a mage can harness the magic: spellcasting or runes. Spellcasting uses hand gestures, voice commands, and material components to shape the magic. As a mage gets better he can reduce what he uses.a aAnd a rune is?a aRunes are patterns that do the same thing. They take skill, precision, and timea"but last longer than spells. Unless a limit is placed upon them, runes will absorb magic from other sources so that the ending spell is more powerful than it started out to be unless the rune is triggered. When you were hurting, I drew the rune of health on your back. It showed me that there was another rune already there. The demon managed somehow to bind you to it. I broke that rune, but there was another on your robe and a focus rune on your chair.a Kerim rubbed his temples. aWhat is a focus rune?a aWizards cannot cast magic over long distances without aid. Some mages use an animal that is connected to thema"a familiar. But the more common means is the use of a focus rune, a wizardas mark. It allows the wizard to work magic someplace without being there. Both the rune and the familiar are dangerous to use, because their destruction hurts the spellcaster.a aSo you hurt the demon, and it sent my brother.a Tiredly she shifted her weight off of one bruise and onto another one. aThe demon probably sent the golem when it sensed that I was meddling with the rune on your back. As it happens my talents lay in the making and unmaking of runes, so I was able to destroy the rune before the golem came.a Kerim swallowed, but he didnat ask the question that was on his face; instead he said, aIs it dead?a aThe golem? It was never alive, remember? I suspect itas still functioninga"otherwise the demon would never have risked transporting it out of this room.a Kerimas eyes closed again; his mouth was set in grim lines and his hands lay forcibly lax on the ground as he said quietly, aI can feel my feet for the first time in months, and the coldness is gone. But I still donat have much control over my legs, and I still ache. Am I going to get worse again?a Sham rubbed weary hands over her eyes like a tired child, then managed to find the magic to cast a quick spell that would allow her to see any magical ties that still bound Kerim to the demon.

aIt has no hold on you now,a she said finally. aTomorrow Iall clear your rooms of its meddling. Until then you should find someplace else to sleep. As for the rest . . .a she shrugged, aI am no healer, but Iad be surprised if you were able to get up and walk right now. I am absolutely amazed that you were able to attack the golem. You should know as well as I that lying around waiting for a wound to heal is almost as incapacitating as the wound itself.a Kerim nodded once, abruptly. aLady, would you get Dickon and send him for Talbot? There is much to be done tonighta"and I think the four of us need to develop a plan of action.a Sham nodded and struggled to her feet. She started for the door, but belatedly remembered she was still in her nightgown. Snagging the tick off the floor where shead left it, she wrapped it around her like a robe before leaving the room.

As she trotted through the hall it occurred to her that Dickon could be the demon. He was very much at home in the Castle. Hadnat he been one of the ones that Kerim had said did not worship Altis? She stopped in front of his door, and hesitated before knocking.

The hall floor felt cold on the soles of bare feet, and Sham shivered. Deciding that she would drive herself insane trying to discover who the demon was if she resorted to random guessing, she forced herself to knock on the door. Wearing a dressing robe, Dickon opened his door soon after the first knock.

aLady?a he asked politely, giving no outward sign that it was unusual to be awoke at that hour by a woman splattered liberally with blood and wearing a rather large bedtick.

Sham drew the thick covering tighter, as if that would warm her feet or ward away demons. aLord Kerim wants you to collect Talbot from his lodgings and come with him to the Reeveas private chambers.a aIs something wrong?a asked Dickon, losing some of his professional demeanor.

She shook her head, aNot at the moment. But . . . you might bring a bedrobe for Kerim.a Dickon looked at her face closely a moment, before nodding and closing the door, presumably to dress.

WHEN SHAM ENTERED the Reeveas chambers again, Kerim had managed to pull himself into a chair. Balancing his chin on his fists, he looked up when she came in.

aGo get dressed,a he said waving a hand toward the covered doorway to her room. aI expect this is going to be a long night and you might as well be warm.a Sham ducked under the tapestry again and opened her trunk. She saw no need to wear a dress, so she pulled out her second-best working clothes and put them on. She pulled a brush through her hair and washed her hands.

Just before she splashed water on her face, she got a glimpse of herself in the mirror and laughed. She must have run her hand across her cheek after stabbing the golema"a swipe of blood as wide as her palm covered her from ear to chin. She was impressed anew by the mildness of Dickonas reaction when she had knocked at his door.

Clean and dressed, Sham reentered Kerimas room carrying his tick to find Kerim asleep. She set the bedding on the floor and quietly found another chair near the wardrobes. She slid her rump to the edge of the seat, propped her feet on a convenient bit of furniture, and settled into a comfortable doze.

A soft knock on the door aroused her, but before she could get up, Kerim called out, aEnter!a Dickon came in, followed by an anxious-looking Talbot. They stopped just inside the door and took in the chaos that neither Kerim nor Sham had taken the time to clean up. Chairs, tables, and broken glass lay scattered across the floor. Talbot knelt by a dark stain and ran a finger through it.

aBlood,a he commented thoughtfully, rubbing his fingers on his pant leg.

aPull up some chairs, both of you,a ordered Kerim shortly. aDickon, I would look upon it as a favor if you would clean my sword and set it back in its sheath. Iad clean it myself, but I doubt that Iad do a good job at this point.a aOf course, Lord,a replied Dickon.

He handed Kerim a neatly folded bedrobe before picking up the sword and wiping it down with a square of cloth he removed from a drawer. Talbot pulled a pair of chairs near Kerimas and sat in one, while Kerim struggled into Dickonas robe.

aI hate to admit it, Talbot,a began Kerim heavily, once everyone was seated, abut you were right; we needed a mage.a Dickon stopped polishing the sword and gave the Reeve an appalled look before turning his accusing gaze to Sham. She grinned at him and motioned to herself to indicate that she was the mage in question.

Kerim turned to his valet. aDickon, have you noticed any change in my brotheras behavior in the last few days?a aNo, sir,a came the immediate reply.

Kerim nodded, and rubbed wearily at his temples. aI thought not, but couldnat be sure. I havenat been as attentive since I found myself confined to that chair.a Talbot and Dickon followed Kerimas gaze to the fireplace where the metal remains of his wheeled chair sat forlornly in the middle of the flames.

Kerim cleared his throat, aYes, well, that doesnat seem to be a problem at the moment, does it? Let me start from the beginning so that Dickon knows as much as everyone else. You all know that Iave been concerned with the random murders that have taken place over the past months. Once the killer began to concentrate on the courtiers, it became obvious that he was comfortable in the courta"otherwise someone would have noticed him wandering through the halls.a aI thought your selkie stable lad had more to do with that determination than the killeras habits,a commented Sham.

Kerim smiled tiredly. aYes, I suppose it was good we listened to him, donat you? Talbot suggested it might be beneficial if we could search the noblesa houses as well as the apartments in the Castle itself. Although I could have done so in an official manner, it would have caused needless panic and resentment. Talbot suggested that we bring in a thief. I agreed, and he went to the Whisper of the Street to find a skillful thief who could be trusted to do no more than look.a Sham stood and bowed solemnly.

The Reeve smiled tiredly and continued. aAccording to the Whisper, Shamera had a personal grudge against the killer. One of the victims was a close friend and she was looking for him on her own. We decided to give her the role of my mistress to allow her easy access to me as well as the court. Both Shamera and Talbot were of the opinion the killer was a demon. Not the things we fought in the Swamp, Dickona"but a magical creature.a Dickon snorted and shook his head sadly.

Kerim smiled, aThat was my thought as well. The second night we were here she was attacked by the killer, but she didnat get a good look at him.a aThe cuts I sewed up were caused by a knife or a sword; there was nothing magical about them,a commented Dickon briefly.

Sham lowered her voice dramatically. aDemons are wholly evil, highly intelligent, and better magic users than most wizards. They do not age. They hunt humans for sustenance and pleasure, though they have been known to kill other animals as well. They come from another world, akin to the one the gods inhabit, and can come here only if summoned by a magea"and the pox-eaten thing attacked me with a knife.a aThank you,a said Kerim with a touch of sarcasm. aIam sure youare trying to be helpful, but Dickon might find this more palatable if you keep the dramatics to a minimum.a Sham tried to look repentant.

aAt the time of the first attack,a continued the Reeve, aI also thought it was a human that attacked Shamera. I saw only knife wounds and surmised that the killer had chosen his victima"it fit the pattern of one killing every eight or nine days.a aTonight, however, Shamera found proof that convinced me that she and Talbot were right.a Kerim paused, but other than that, there was no emotion in his voice as he continued. aShe found the body of my brother, Lord Ven. I examined him myself, and he has clearly been dead for several days.a aBut thatas impossible,a Dickon broke in. aI saw him this evening when I retrieved Lady Shamera.a aNonetheless,a replied Kerim, ahis body is in the meeting room next to Shameraas room. Dickon, you and Talbot have both seen enough battle to know how long a body has been dead; after we are through here you are welcome to examine it yourselves.a He drew in a breath. aAfter I saw Ven, I thought that Sham and Talbot might be closer to the truth than I thought. When the man who wore my brotheras face attacked later this evening, I was convinced. Sham thinks the thing that attacked us is a simulacruma"a creature animated by the demon that can assume the identity of its victims. Between us, Sham and I managed to drive it off.

aRegardless of the nature of the killer, we are left with several problems. The first of these is my brotheras body. We are not the only ones who have recently spoken to Lord Ven. If we turn his body over to the priests as he is, they will certainly discover the discrepancy between the time of his death and his last appearance. Last yearas riots in Purgatory will be a faint echo of the witch-slaying that will take place if word gets out that there is a killer loose who can look like anyone.a aCan the priests be reasoned with or bribed to keep the secret?a asked Sham.

Kerim shook his head, but it was Talbot that explained. aOur little priest, Brother Fykall, could keep it a secret if it were anyone but the Reeveas brother who slipped his rope . . . er died. As it is the High Priest himself will want to prepare the body, and he has bilge to bail with Lord Kerim. It would please him immensely to get the Prophet to remove Lord Kerim from office and replace him with someone more devoted to Altis. A large riot might just put wind in his sails.a Kerim leaned forward in his chair. aWe need some way to conceal how long Ven has been dead.a aWe could stage a fire,a offered Dickon.

Kerim shook his head. aWhere? My brother seldom went into the city and I doubt that there is a place inside the castle that can burn hot enough to destroy his body without hurting someone else.a aWe could leave him for a few days,a offered Talbot.

aNo,a said Shamera. aIn this climate, the body will start to rot soon. It will still be too obvious how long Lord Ven has been dead.a aBut it might work, if no one remembers exactly when the last time they saw Lord Ven was,a said Kerim with obvious reluctance at the thought of leaving his brotheras body untended for so long.

aNo,a said Dickon, but he was unable to come up with more of an objection. Sham knew that he was more concerned with Kerim than with the state of Lord Venas body.

aI wonat be able to sleep in a room next to a dead manas rotting body,a lied Sham firmly.

Dickon nodded approvingly at such ladylike sentiments.

Kerim, for his part, shot her an impatient look. aYou were willing enough to leave Ven there when we thought that we could use the knowledge of his death to trap the demon.a Sham dismissed that with an airy gesture. aThat was different,a she said.

aWhat about magic?a said Talbot. aIs there some way that you can make Lord Venas body stiffen with rigor mortis again?a Sham tilted her head in consideration. aYes, and mask the smell of the blood as well. Iall need an hour of rest first.a Dickon looked at her. aDo you really have some way of changing the appearance of the body?a Sham grinned cheerfully at him and responded as she usually did to someone who so obviously didnat believe in magic, aI have a few tricks up my sleeve that I wouldnat expect a Cybellian barbarian to understand.a aParlor tricks,a commented Dickon in thoughtful tones.

Sometime during the past hour, Dickon had lost most of the mannerisms of a servant. Sham looked at him narrowly. Maybe she wasnat the only one here who was good at playing roles.

After a moment, Dickon shrugged. aIf it works, then it doesnat matter if itas chicanery or not. Buta"a he added with honest offense, aa"if you ever call me a Cybellian again, girl, Iall wash your mouth out with soap. I am Jarnesea"a He named another Eastern country. aCybellians are uncultured, bark-eating barbarians.a Sham lowered her head in submission, saying in a sweet voice, aIf you call me agirla again, Iall turn you into a minnow.a aChildren!a said Kerim sharply, as Sham and Dickon exchanged mutually satisfied looks. The hint of amusement in his tone faded as he continued to speak. aBack to the issue at hand. Shamera, go rest. Weall wake you in an hour to see about my brotheras body. Iall fill in the details of what we know, for Dickon and Talbot.a Sham nodded and came to her feet. As she started to duck under the tapestry, Kerimas voice followed her, aI thought that it bothered you to sleep in a room next to my brotheras body.a She gave him a sly look and continued into her room.

NINE.

Alone in the putrid-smelling room, Sham surveyed Lord Venas body. Filthy work this and nothing she relished, but it had to be done. Shead told Kerim she worked best alone, but the truth was she feared his grief would distract her. He tried to hide it, but in the short time that shead known him, she had learned how to read deeper than his public presentation. She rubbed her eyes and put such thoughts aside.

The blood first, she decided after surveying the task before her.

She could clean up the old stuff, but couldnat create new blood to replace it without exhausting her magic well before shead finished. Creating matter was extremely inefficient, and true alchemy, changing one kind of material into another, was almost as fatiguing. Sham had briefly considered visiting the kitchens and bringing in the blood of a slaughtered pig or some such, but the risk of someone noticing her was too great.

She knelt at the edge of the dark stain, ignoring the faint queasiness resulting from the rancid smell. She pulled her dagger from her arm sheath, which she had donned with the rest of her thieving garb, and opened a shallow cut on her thumb. Three drops of fresh blood joined the old.

Sympathetic magic was one of the easiest kinds of spells to work: like called to like. Using blood, though, was very close to black magic. There were many mages who would call it that even if the blood she used was her own. Even Sham felt vaguely unclean doing ita"but didnat allow that to hinder her.

Bending near the floor, she blew gently on the fresh blood, then murmured a spell. Lord Venas blood began to change, slowly, to the pattern lent by hers. Sweat gathered irritatingly on Shamas forehead as she fought to work the magic and watch the results at the same time. It was important that the blood not appear too fresh.

She stopped her spell while the edges of the largest pool were still dry. She cooled the blood to match the temperature of the room and surveyed the results. The smell of new blood added to the unpleasant mix of aromas already in the room. Rising somewhat unsteadily, Sham walked around the newly wet pool until she could view Lord Venas body.

She did not risk stepping in the mess; what she had done to the blood destroyed the traces where she, Kerim, and later Talbot and Dickon, had disturbed it. It would be disturbed again, but the mistress of the Reeve would have no business in the room with a corpse, and she wanted no questions about a womanas footprint.

What she needed to do to Lord Venas body could be done from a distance, and she had no real desire to touch the corpse anyway. It was easier than the blood, since she only had to emulate the stiffness of joints rather than duplicate it.

When she was finished with her spell, she stepped away from the scene. Wiping her hands on her clean shirt as if they were staineda"though shead touched nothing with thema"she turned and picked her way across the floor to the panel that opened into the passages and left the room.

THE THREE MEN looked up when she entered the Reeveas chambers.

aIt is done,a she said, her voice sounding as raw to her ears as she felt, abut if his laying out takes too long, someone could discover that Iave been meddling: Lord Venas rigor will not loosen for a week or more.a Kerim nodded. aIall take care of it.a Talbot called in several men to travel to the Temple of Altis for priests to attend to Lord Ven. Until they arrived, Talbot guarded the hall door of Venas final resting place while Dickon stood watch at the panel.

Sham retreated to her room to change, carefully locking the trunk after she put her thieving clothes away. After an extensive search of the closet she found a dress she could don without help.

In her guise of the Reeveas mistress, she rejoined Kerim in his room where they waited for the priests without speaking. Sham didnat know what caused Kerimas muteness, but she kept quiet because she was too tired to do otherwise. It would be a long day before the fatigue of her magic use would leave her.

Dickon entered the room and nodded at Kerim.

aTell the priests to step in here a moment before carrying out their duties.a Kerimas normal baritone had deepened to a bass rasp, either from exhaustion or from sorrow.

Dickon nodded, returning with five men in the brown robes of the lesser minions of Altis. Four of the robes were belted with blue ties and the fifth wore yellow.

Kerim addressed the man in yellow. aBlessings upon you, brothers.a aUpon you also, Lord Kerim,a responded the yellow-belted one.

aThe dead man is my brother.a aSo we were informed by Master Talbot.a Kerim nodded impatiently. aMy brotheras affianced wife is heavy with child, and already bears the death of her first husband this past year. I would spare her further grief, and Venas body is not fit for viewing in any case. It is my command that his body be shrouded immediately and a funeral pyre laid and ready for burning in the Castle courtyard at sunset.a aIt shall be done, Lord Kerim,a agreed the solemn-faced priest.

Kerim watched as they left the room. Sham turned her eyes away from the expression on his face. When she looked back he was sending Dickon to find some of the court pages to deliver messages.

He busied himself writing short notes at his desk. When Dickon returned with a small herd of young boys who looked as if they had been roused out of their sleep without a chance to do more than scramble into their clothes, the Reeve sent them to Lord Venas closest friends, to Lady Sky, and to his mother.

When the last messenger left, Dickon frowned at Kerim. aShouldnat you break the news to Lady Tirra yourself?a Kerim shrugged. aLord Ven is my brother, but he is also the latest in a number of bodies who are appearing among the courtiers. Sham may have been able to disguise the time of his death, but the mere fact of it will increase the cityas unrest. I need to meet with the Advisory Council immediately to forestall as many of the adverse effects as possible.a Sham, watching forgotten from a seat in the far corner of the room, thought the Reeve was using the meeting as an excuse to avoid taking the news of his brotheras death to Lady Tirra. Not that she blamed him; she wouldnat want to be the one to tell the Lady that her favorite son was dead either.

aDickon, I need you to send messengers with the news that the Council has been called in the Meeting Room to the counselors who live outside the Castle walls. When you are finished, go to the rooms of those who live here and tell them the same.a aYes, sir.a Dickon slipped back out.

aDo you want me to go?a asked Sham.

Kerim shrugged tiredly. aIt doesnat matter. If you stay, youall reinforce your status. Be warned, it might make you a target for bribery or threats if the court believes you are close enough to me to influence my decisions.a Sham smiled. aIf you think that I havenat been receiving bribes, you are sadly mistaken. Lord Halvokas fledglings are skilled at interfering with the courtieras attempts to corner me, but your nobles have become quite devious. Gifts and notes appear in my laundry, under my pillow, and on the food trays. Iave gotten several very fine pieces of jewelry that way; they usually come with very subtle notes. My favorite was one implying that certain grateful parties would gift me generously if I would just slip an innocent-looking powder in your drink.a aPoison?a questioned Kerim, though he didnat seem alarmed.

Sham grinned. aNo. Someone has access to a real wizard; it was a love-philter.a aA what?a Sham laughed at his outragea"outrage that had been absent when he thought it was poison. aDonat worry. Love-philters are very temporary and are simple to resista"not that the person who sent it would necessarily know that. To be safe, if you find yourself suddenly lusting after someone, just wait a few days to approach the lady. If it persists, it isnat magic.a Kerim raised his eyebrows. aWhat did you do with the powder?a Sham looked at him innocently and smiled.

aShamera.a aCalm yourself,a she advised. aI threw it in the fire, though I was tempted to find the biggest, nastiest man in your personal guards and give it to him. I thought finding out who you were supposed to fall in lust with could be useful, but Talbot wasnat certain you would approve.a Kerim brought one hand up to his face, and bowed his head, his shoulders shaking with weary laughter. aYou would have, wouldnat you. I can just see it. Karson, all fifteen stone of him, chasing after some nobleas daughter.a aIs Karson the one missing his front teeth?a aThatas he.a aNah,a Sham said, aI wouldnat have picked him: heas married. I talked to Talbot about the first few treasures that I found in my water glass.a She displayed the diamond solitaires in her ears. aHe said to keep them, and eventually theyad give up. He said thatas what Dickon did, and Dickonas long since ceased to receive gifts from anonymous sources.a Kerim raised an eyebrow and asked again, aHave you had any threats?a She shook her head. aNot yet. I suspect it will come in due time.a When he looked worried, she laughed. aMy lord Reeve, I have lived half my life in Purgatory. I assure you it is much more dangerous than court.a After a momentas thought she added, aEven with a demon hunting here.a WHEN DICKON RETURNED, he began sorting through Kerimas wardrobe for clothing. When he brought them to the Reeve, Sham stopped him and examined each garment closely. When she was finished, she tossed the tunic into the fire.

aMy lord,a protested Dickon.

Kerim shook his head. aFind another tunic.a Dickon frowned, but he found a second tunic and presented it to Shamera with a bow. When she handed it back to him, he mutely pointed to the covered doorway. With a faint smile, Sham left while Dickon saw to the Reeveas dressing.

BECAUSE THE WHEELED chair was in the fireplace, Talbot and Dickon carried Kerim to the meeting room next to his chambers. It was undignified, but only Sham was there to see. By the time the council members began to filter in, Kerim was settled in a high-back chair facing the door with Sham standing behind him.

Except for Halvok, the lone Southwoodsman counselor, the Advisory Council ignored Shamas presence. It might have been because the rather plain cotton gown she wore was remarkable only for being ordinary. More probably the death of the Reeveas brother was of more moment than his unorthodox mistress. Lord Halvok smiled when he saw her.

Kerim waited until all the counselors were seated before speaking. Tired and grieving, he was very much the Leopard.

aGentlemen,a he began, awe have a problem. As you have already been informed, my brotheras body was discovered this evening. He was killed in much the same manner as Lord Abet and the other nobles these past months. As his body is in no fit state for viewing, I have ordered him shrouded, and set the pyre for sunset. I need your suggestions, my lords, as how to best stem the fear yet another such death will cause. To make sure you are all thoroughly aware of the entirety of the matter, Master Talbot will tell you what we know.a Sham approved the smooth delivery that directed the inquiry away from the unseemly need for haste.

The Reeve nodded at Talbot who stood up and gave a brief summary of who had been killed by similar means and a partially fictitious account of what was being done to catch the murderer. By the time that a carefully worded eulogy and public announcement were drafted, to be delivered by the High Priest to the court at large, the skylights overhead were beginning to lighten.

After the others had left, Talbot and Dickon carried the Reeve to Dickonas room for a few hours of sleep. Sham wouldnat let him occupy his own room until she had a chance to search it more carefully.

She retreated to her bed and dreamed fitfully of dead bodies and blood before she lapsed into a deeper slumber that lasted until just before dinner. Her sleeping schedule had never been particularly regular, and she woke up refreshed when Jenli knocked at the door. She hastily covered up the new bruises and old wounds with an illusion before she called out an invitation.

aI am sorry to disturb you, Lady,a said the maid, abut the Reeve sent me to make sure that you are ready for the state dinner that precedes Lord Venas pyre.a Sham gave the woman a sharp glance. Exposure to Jenlias uncle had given her a healthy respect for the intelligence that could be hidden under a bland facade. Jenlias large, brown, cow-like eyes blinked back at her and Sham turned back to her wardrobe, shaking her head.

She rummaged, ignoring Jenlias moans as she shoved dresses left and right, and pulled out another black gown. She hadnat chosen it for mourning, but it would work well for that as well.

As Jenli began working on the myriad tiny buttons that closed the narrow sleeve, her brows twisted in puzzlement. aLady,a she said hesitantly.