aIt came in very quietly,a said Elsic, rubbing the animalas prominent cheekbone with one hand.

aIt?a asked Talbot intently.

aIt scared Scorch too,a added Elsic.

Kerim nodded, understanding what Elsic meant by the remark. aScorch wouldnat have been afraid if it had been human.a aIt needed another shape,a commented Sham.

aWhat?a asked Talbot, looking at her in surprise as if head just noticed her presence. She smiled grimly, removing the concealment spell. aThe golem needed another shape. It couldnat use Lord Venas again, so it found someone else.a Kerim shook his head. aThat doesnat make any sense. It must suspect we know it has a golem. Why display the stablemanas body so prominently? In less than an hour everyone in the castle will know Jab is dead. Heas been here longer than I have, everyone knows him.a aHeas anonymous enough for all of that,a commented Talbot. aHe looks not a whit different from any number of lads running about Landsend. If the demon didnat want to stay in the Castle, Jab would give him anonymity.a Sham had continued to puzzle it out. aI bet itas killed someone else by nowa"then it made certain Jab would be found. Found moreover, somewhere that would cast suspicion on an obvious suspect for the mysterious deaths. Talbot, look at Elsic and tell the Reeve what any Southwoodsman sees.a Talbot nodded his understanding, and to Shamas surprise began, softly, to sing.

a. . . Frail she stood, and fair of face, Her eyes as black as the fathomless sea, And long pale hair as all her race, She sang her song to me, to me . . .a Talbot hesitated, looking embarrassed although his tenor was in key and rich in tone. aItas an old chantey. I thought of it the first time I saw him. Iave never seen a selkie before, not even a white seal like theyare said to turn into: but Elsic looks too much like the stories for any sea-bred Southwoodsman to think he was anything else. I imagine thatas why yeave had such a hard time settling him in here.a aSelkies,a explained Shamera, to Kerim, ahave a reputation of being ruthless and bloodthirsty.a She noticed that Elsic was looking even more distressed so she added, aBear in mind that their reputation comes from people who fish and hunt the mammals of the sea for a livinga"people unlikely to be popular with a race that changes into seals. Iam surprised you havenat been asked to try him for the killings just because he is a selkie.a aSelkie?a Elsic mouthed the word softly. aI dream of the sea, sometimes.a Although his face did not change, there was a melancholy note in his voice that touched even Shamas Purgatory-hardened heart.

aI tell ye what, lad,a said Talbot slowly. aNot even the Leopard of Altis is going to make the stable a friendly place until we catch the demon. My wife and I have eight girls, and she always wanted a boya"the reason we have eight rather than six. She would enjoy yer company for a few days if ye would be pleased to stay with us until this blows over.a Kerim gave Talbot a look of thanks. aI think it would be best, Elsic.a The boy nodded, and gave the horse a final pat before allowing Talbot to lead him away.

aNow thatas just what the boy needed,a rumbled a deep voice from behind Sham in Southern. aA house full of women always makes me happier.a Sham turned to see a man sitting casually on a barrel against the back wall of the barn. He was well above average height, with a build that would credit any ladyas plaything. The velvet and silk he wore suggested he was moderately wealthy. His waving blond hair made him Southwoodsman and his large, heavy-lidded, vacant eyes hinted at a correspondingly vacant minda"an image already fostered by his size. The only thing that was really out of place was the well-worn hilt of the heavy cutlass he wore at his hip.

Kerim was probably wondering how he sneaked past them in the little barn without anyone noticing him. Sham didnat wonder, shead taught him that little trick and several others as well.

aMy Lord Reeve,a she said in overly formal tones, aif you have not met him already, I pray you allow me to present the Shark.a The Shark drew himself to his extraordinary height and made a courtieras bow. Sham noticed that he was looking even more stupid than usual, and she wondered what he was up to. aWeave dealt only through others atil now. Greetings, my lord.a Kerim nodded, giving the Lord of the Whisper an assessing look. aWell met, sir. You will forgive me if I ask you why you are here.a Kerim indicated the stable with a broad sweep of his hand.

The Shark raised his weaponless hands to signify his harmlessness. aI? I am simply honoring an agreement that Sham and I had concerning a tidbit of information. That I found her in your august company is simply a matter of happy chance.a Though the words and phrases the Shark used were High Court, his accent was steeped in the vowels of Purgatory, in marked contrast to the rich clothing he wore. As Sham knew he could speak with any accent he chose, switching from one to another as easily as fox could change directions, his show of coarseness could only be for the Reeveas benefit.

aYou found something on the Chen Laut?a Sham asked abruptly, irritated with his attitude.

The Shark bowed to her, without taking his gaze from the Reeve. aI found someone who says that he knows something about it, but he wonat talk unless the Reeve is there.a aWhy would he think that the Reeve is interested in the matter?a Sham kept her eyes on the Sharkas face until he finally met her gaze.

aI have no idea. The associate who found him swears the wizard introduced the condition without prompting.a She couldnat see any sign that the Shark was lying, but she knew he could cover a lot with the stupid expression he cultivated. She frowned at him, until he shrugged and lifted his hands to protest his innocence.

aOn my motheras grave, Sham, I donat know why he decided that the Reeve had to accompany you. The word of your current whereabouts is not on the street, and none of my people has been asked about you. The wizard approached one of my associates yesterday. The Whisper occasionally uses the mage; we questioned him several times about the Chen Laut, but he claimed ignorance. Now, he wants to meet you this afternoon in his workshop in Purgatory . . . with the Reeve.a Sham shook her head. aHow did he expect us to get the Reeve into Purgatory in that chair without attracting every would-be thief and ransom taker for a hundred leagues? Does he want an audience of several hundred thieves? Even if we make it in and out without getting killed in the process, every man in the city will wonder what the Reeve was doing traveling to Purgatory.a The Sharkas lips quirked at her attack, aI havenat talked to the man to ask him what he was thinking. I suppose that part of it will be up to you. I can only guarantee that the Whisper will not pass it in the winds.a aI can ride,a Kerim pointed out mildly. Sham had almost forgotten him in the heated exchange. aSince the feeling is back in my legs and the muscle cramps have abated I should be able to stay in the saddle. Once weare there, Dickon can assist me into the wizardas dwelling.a Sham aimed an assessing glance at him. aThe risk is too great. You might as well have a target painted on your back as ride through Purgatory on a Castle-bred horse.a aThis demon of yours killed my brother,a Kerim reminded her. aIf my presence will help to catch it or figure out what to do with it when we have it, by all means let us travel on to Purgatory. There are cart horses here, as well as the highbred animals. I am sure that we can find mounts to suit.a Sham turned to the Shark. aWhat time this afternoon?a aNow.a aIall get Dickon.a The two men waited until she was hidden by the Castle walls before speaking.

aSoa"a commented the Shark, rocking back on his heels, aa"she found another one.a Kerim waited politely, well used to the fighting of many kinds of battles.

aAnother puppy to mother,a clarified the Shark with a casualness that roused Kerimas mistrust. aI wondered how long it would be after the sorcerer died before she found someone else to coddle.a aI donat see any milk teeth, here,a replied Kerim, baring his own in a white flash. aAs for whom is taking care of whom, I think that the honors are about even so far.a The Shark turned away, watching the shadows gather in the corner of the barn. aBe careful what you do, Cat-lover. Those of us who live in Purgatory are good haters and we eat our foes. Sham no less than I.a aWhom does she hate?a Kerim said softly.

aAh, my Sham hates many people, but she channels and controls it. She follows rules, picking and choosing her victims. Those rules keep her sane, while the rest of us rot in our own well of hatred and despair.a When the Shark turned back to Kerim, old anger robbed his eyes of the blandness that created the illusion of stupidity. aBut I owe her my protectiona"and there are no rules to my hatred. If you hurt her, I will find you.a Kerim noticed that the thick accent had disappeared as well and the Sharkas Cybellian speech was as refined as any at court.

Kerim nodded his head wisely. aYour protection includes suggesting her to us, knowinga"I assumea"that this investigation would lead her to confront a demon?a The Shark shrugged, resuming his donat-ask-me-Iam-an-idiot expression. aShe asked me to help her find the demon. Since it appeared the creature was tied to the Court in some waya"it seemed the best way to fulfill both of your requests.a THE WIZARD KEPT his workroom in a remote part of Purgatory where only the most miserably poor people lived. The land was littered with the cardhouse remnants of warehouses that a generation of the salt sea air had rotted virtually to the ground. Here and there, a few boards had been scavenged and erected into crude shelters.

A heavy sea mist hung in the air, clinging to the low places and robbing any hint of color from the area. It was a mist thick with despair and untold tragedy; Sham had never seen this place without it.

She shivered and wrapped the ragged cloak shead borrowed from the stables more tightly around her. This area was controlled by one of the most ruthless ganglords of Purgatory and she knew that in a few days his gang would sweep through here and knock the shelters down, taking the few possessions the occupants still had. On the ground, a human femur lay forsaken, a mute warning for those who cared to heed it.

It was odd, she thought, with a touch of bitterness, that people could create horrors greater than any presented by demons or ghouls. The Old Man had said that the same atmosphere prevailed in old battlegrounds even after centuries had passed. Places that absorbed too much violence had a propensity for collecting ghosts. When she let herself listen, she could hear the dead moaning in the winds. The horse she was riding tucked its head and scooted closer to the other animals from the Reeveas stable, as if it, too, could hear the echo of misery in this place.

They were a strange-looking band, but they blended nicely with the few ragged souls who scurried in the shadows. The Sharkas brilliantly colored velvets were as much a warning as clothes. Only a fool or a very dangerous man wore clothing like that here, and a fool would never have made it this far. Sham spared a thought to wonder where head learned to ride; as far as she knew he lacked the benefit being the offspring of the Captain of the Guard.

Kerim rode easily, looking every inch a warrior. The comfortable way his hand rested on the hilt of his sheathed sword would not escape someone looking for an easy mark. Most surprising to Sham was the ease with which Dickon had shed his civilized mannerisms with his civilized clothing; he looked as dangerous as either of the others. With a faint breath of amusement, she realized that she was the least imposing member of the party.

As they rode on, the buildings began to rise again, built of reclaimed lumber and brick and stuck together with slabs of mud, bits of rope, and a few rusty nails. A whore gazed at them with dull eyes, knowing that such a well-dressed party would wait until nightfall before indulging in the product she sold.

The Shark stopped the horse he rode in front of a hastily cobbled building with blankets draping the windows and a few of the larger holes. Sham felt a momentary twinge of surprise that no one had stolen the blankets before she noticed the magical warding that surrounded the building.

As the Shark swung out of the saddle, a small group of urchins broke from the safety of the shadows to hold the horses. They werenat as skinny as the rest of the children in this area, so Shamera felt it safe to assume the Shark had imported them. If he had thought that far ahead, he probably had other, more lethal minions in hidden nearby. Feeling more optimistic of their chances to make it back to the Castle without incident, Shamera dismounted.

Getting the Reeve off the horse was easier than getting him on had been. Watching his face, Sham thought that he would pay for the unaccustomed riding. With Dickon on one side and the Shark on the other, the Reeve managed the trip from the horse to the building supporting much of his own weight.

Once inside they found themselves in an earth-floored room, empty except for two chairs and a clear crystal globe that hovered waist-high in the center of the room without visible support. Shamera frowned momentarily at the chairs; she had expected nothing more than a bencha"chairs were for nobles who could afford the woodcrafteras high prices and lived where such things wouldnat be stolen.

The Reeve settled comfortably in one of the chairs, and Dickon and the Shark stood next to him. The other chair faced the Reeveas and was obviously meant for the wizard. Shamera took a step back to lean against the wall, but before she got to it, the back of her head hit something with an audible crack.

Rubbing the sore area, she turned and examined the apparently empty space behind her suspiciously. As she frowned at the wall, she noticed a subtle blurring around the edges of the rooma"she whispered a few arcane words.

The illusion of emptiness slid to the floor like so much water, leaving behind several bookcases packed with a few books and obscure paraphernalia, a bench set against one wall, and a wizard wearing a hooded robe watching them from the far corner of the room. She bowed to him and took up a seat on the bench. The hooded figure cackled merrily and shuffled out of the corner. Sham felt a brief tingle of his power as the hovering globe rose to the ceiling and began to emit light.

She snorted. aWe are not all barbarian Easterners to be impressed by a magelight trick that I could do before I could talk.a aOh,a croaked the mage hoarsely, leaning heavily on his black staff as he shambled further into the light. aA sorceress. Iad heard that one was looking for the demon.a aI told you so, wizard. I donat lie,a answered the Shark in a cold voice.

aAieh.a The old manas shoulders shook with mirth and he turned to Kerim. aYou see, you see how easy it is to annoy a prideful man. Beware pride, boy, it will bring you down.a aForetelling or conversing, ancient?a questioned Sham.

The wizard moved to her; the smell of the rich-but-filthy fur robe he wore was enough to make her eyes water. aConversation, child. I get paid for foretelling. Is that why you came here? I thought you were looking for a demon.a aForetelling is a double-edged sworda"a replied Sham, aa"while trying to avoid a bad fate, itas easy to create a worse one. We have come to you for your knowledge, not your magic. I need to know what you can tell me about the Chen Laut.a aAnd youa"a the hunched figure turned to Dickon, aa"what do you come here for?a Sham thought that she caught a glimpse of confusion on Dickonas usually impassive visage, but it was gone too swiftly to be sure.

aI am the Reeveas man.a aI see.a The old one rocked back on his heels. Sham took a step forward fearing that he was going to overbalance himself and fall over backwards, but he recovered.

The wizard limped slowly to the unoccupied chair and fell back into it. He shook his head. aDemons are not pleasant company, my dear.a Sham assumed that he was speaking to her, though his gaze was focused on the wall slightly to her left. aIt chose us, we didnat choose ita"it has been using Landsend as a hunting ground. It killed the Reeveas brother as well as my master, the former kingas wizard, Maur.a aThe old kingas wizard?a The time-ravaged mage drew himself up and whispered as if to himself, aAnd you were his apprentice? I thought he had died long agoa"I havenat felt the touch of his magic since the Castle was taken.a aHe is gone now,a said Sham, though her tone wasnat as sharp as shead intended. aThe last words from his lips were a warning against a demon called Chen Laut. I need to find the demon and destroy it.a The wizard nodded, rocking a little in his seat. aThe Chen Laut is the demon of the Castle. Long before the present castle stood on its hill, the demon came from time to timea"feeding itself before wandering away for decades or centuries. The story of its origin is shrouded in the veil of time, and I know for certain only bits and pieces.a aWe are listening,a said the Shark.

aAieh, so you are,a agreed the wizard. aWell then, long and long ago, well before the wizard wars, there was a wizard, Harrod the Greya"strong in magic and weak in wisdoma"for only a foolish man would bind a demon to him as his servant, no matter what his strength. The spells are difficult and too easily lost in moments of passion or pain.a aThe demon he bound was patient, with the patience of all immortal things. It served its master well, until the man thought of it as a friend as well as a slave. When it had its chance, it killed hima"trapping itself here, away from its own kind forever. The wizard called it aChen Lautaa"which means agifted servanta in the old tongue.a aDo you know how to find it?a asked Sham aAieh.a The old man stared vaguely at the carved handle of his staff for a moment. aI think perhaps it may find you as it did Maur.a aAre there any other stories?a asked Kerim. aEvery Southwoodsman Iave ever met has stories about some sort of magical creature or the other.a The wizard snorted with surprised laughter. aHave you heard of the demon of the Castle? No? It is an obscure tale in truth; more because of the efforts of the rulers of Landsend than any lack of evidence or interest, hmm. Head have nobles leaving in drovesa"unless they were Easterners, too sophisticated to believe in such errant nonsense.a He chortled to himself for a while.

aWould there be records?a asked Sham. aIf this is something that has happened before, maybe someone has come closer than we have to solving it.a Kerim shook his head. aI donat know. When I got here, a lot of things had been destroyed. I sent what was left to the temple for safekeepinga"Talbot can have some of his people go through them and see.a aIf we find the demon,a said Sham slowly, awhat can be done with it?a aThose wizards who know of demons and such are hunted down by their own kind. I have told you what I can about the demon.a With a wave of his staff, the room filled with greasy, odoriferous smoke.

Coughing, Sham ran for the door and tugged it open, allowing the smelly fog to escape the malformed little cottage. When it had cleared, the mage was gone and illusion once more cloaked the interior of his workshop.

aWELL,a SAID SHAMERA, as Dickon and the Shark helped Kerim onto his horse, athe good news is that we know something of the Chen Laut. Unfortunately, if the mage was correct, it has survived at least a thousand years during times when mages of my strength were as common as church mice in Landsend. We still donat know how to find the thinga"or kill it when we do.a aDo you think he told us all he knew?a asked Kerim.

It was the Shark that answered with a wry grin. aHavenat been around Sham long, have you? Getting a straight answer out of a wizard is like waiting for a fish to blinka"it wonat happen. He probably knows quite a bit more that heas not telling youa"but youad need a rack to get it out of him.a Dickon had been riding quietly behind the Reeve, staring at the ground. He cleared his throat and said, aIsnat anyone else surprised to find that Lord Halvok fancies himself a wizard?a aWhat?a asked Kerim sharply.

aI saida"a repeated Dickon slowly, as if to someone who was extremely slow of thought, aa"donat you think itas odd that Halvok thinks heas a wizard?a aYou believe the old wizard was Halvok?a asked Shamera.

The servant frowned at her. aI admit that his impersonation of an old man was good, but under the hood of his cloak he was clearly Lord Halvok.a Kerim looked at Sham. aI didnat see Lord Halvok.a The Shark had begun to smile, looking at Dickon. aAn Easterner? How strange, I thought that the magic had been bred out of you all.a Sham, ignoring the Shark, muttered a few words and held out her hand, aWhat am I holding, Dickon?a The servant frowned at her, but he answered. aA stone.a She looked at the frog resting on her hand, it blinked lazily twice and then disappeared, leaving a small rounded stone in its wake.

aWhat does that mean?a asked Kerim thoughtfully.

Sham shrugged, putting the stone back in her pocket and urging her horse back toward the Castle. aI suppose that it means that Lord Halvok is a wizarda"a clever one.a aAnd?a asked Kerim, while Dickon looked uneasy.

The Shark chortled. When Sham cast a stern look at him, he straightened his face, but his shoulders still shook with mirth.

aWho would have thought it,a he said. aAn Eastern-born wizard.a aMaur,a said Sham softly, aa"always maintained that Easterners or Southwoodsmen, all are the same beneath the skin. It seems he was right. Dickon is mageborn, my lord, and it seems he has a talent for illusions.a

ELEVEN.

Sham opened the door to her room cautiously, but it was empty. Breathing a sigh of relief she stepped in and shut the door behind her; she had not been looking forward to explaining her dusty tunic and trousers to Jenli.

She stripped rapidly out of the filthy garments, stuffing them in the trunk. The ever-present ewer of water near the bedside took care of the grime on her hands and face, then she searched unsuccessfully for another dress she could don without help. After the second time through the wardrobe, she pulled one out randomly and tugged it over her head.

Struggling and contorting she managed to button all but the top few buttons. Sham surveyed the result in the polished bronze mirror dubiously. Made of pale yellow silk, the gown resembled a shift rather than a dress. Fine lace, made for a childas gown edged the neckline and shoulder straps. It wasnat the gown that bothered her, but the body it covered.

She set an illusion to cover the healing wound on her shoulder and several bruises she didnat remember receiving. After twisting around for a minute or so, she decided shead covered the worst of the contusions and any left were bound to be attributed to rough play rather than disassembling furniture and chasing wizards through Purgatory. Dickon had promised to bring dinner to the Reeveas room, and since she had missed breakfast and lunch, she wasnat about to miss dinner.

As she was running a brush through her hair, her gaze fell on the trunk lid, and she realized shead forgotten to lock it. Frowning, because securing her possessions was second nature, Sham quickly took care of it before entering Kerimas room. Still puzzling over her unusual oversight, she forgot to make certain Kerim was alone.

The Reeve had also taken the time to change his garments, and he bore little resemblance to the rough warrior who dared cross the heart of Purgatory. He sat regally imprisoned in his chair, staring coldly at the Eastern nobleman who confronted him. Neither of them seemed to notice Shamas presence.

aDo you always listen to gossiping stableboys, my lord?a Kerim sounded irate.

aOf course not,a replied the noble in fussy tones, abut my man reports that there was indeed a body discovered in the stables with that weird, blind boy of yours.a aThe stablemanas body was in several piecesa"not something a boy of Elsicas age would be capable of doing.a Kerimas voice lowered to a warning purr that caused the nobleman to take a step backwards. aI suggest you be careful what you repeat in public; lest you find yourself looking a foola"or worse. It might, for instance, become known that your coffers arenat as golden as they appear. Odd how tradesmen attend to such rumors so closely.a Without looking away from the other man, Kerim held out his hand toward Sham. aCome here, my dear, Lord Arnson was just taking his leave.a She hadnat been aware head noticed her, but she recovered quickly, stepping forward with a bright smile. aKerim, would you finish buttoning this for me? Jenli wasnat there, and you ripped the shoulder of the dress I was wearinga"itas positively indecent.a She shrugged slightly so the unbuttoned gown hung even lower, giving the flustered nobleman a wide, empty smile.

She didnat bother looking at Kerim for his reaction to her lie. After the servants had discovered the mess the demon had made of her room in its first attack, Kerim had begun to enjoy his newly enhanced reputation; she had no doubt that head follow her lead.

aOf course,a answered Kerim in a voice that made Shamera shiver involuntarily, and not from fear. That man wielded his voice as well as he did his sword. aCome here and Iall take care of that. You were leaving, my lord?a The nobleman started, and took his eyes off the neckline of Shameraas dress that was sagging even further as she knelt before the Reeve. aYes, of course.a Kerim finished the buttons and waited until the door shut behind the nobleman before dropping his loverlike manner.

aI cannot abide fools,a Kerim growled. aI canat fathom how an idiot like that managed to win as many battles as he did.a aBeing ruthlessly brutal can sometimes be as effective as intelligence,a commented Sham, idly staring at the closed door. She hadnat recognized his face, but Lord Arnson was well known in Southwood for ordering the slaughter of children in several northern villages. Perhaps she could arrange to meet him in a dark corner somewhere. One more victim of the demon . . .

Kerim eyed her speculatively. aI think Lord Arnson will be called back to his estates. He has a large holding in Cybelle and the return might be beneficial to his health.a Sham wasnat used to being so easily read and found it disconcerting. She batted her eyes at him, and with artificially thick accents said, aDoes the poor man find our climate unhealthy?a Before Kerim could reply, Dickon opened the door for a pair of servants bearing a large and aromatic tray, covered to keep the food hot, as well as an assortment of dining-ware. Dickon looked around and found a table that had survived Shamas cleansing of the room. He pulled it forward, and directed the servants to set it for dining.

Sham rose to her feet and gathered a pair of chairs while Dickon ushered the kitchen helpers out the door. She set the tray cover on the floor and snatched a thick, crusty slice of bread. She buttered it and took a large, satisfying bite, ignoring Kerimas amused glance with the same insouciance she accorded Dickonas disapproval.

Kerim pushed his chair forward to one of the place settings and cut a slice of the roast off with his eating knife and placed it on his plate opposite Shamas.

aLady,a said Dickon hesitantly, taking a seat after he made certain all the plates were set properly.

Sham smiled at him and continued chewing as she sliced some meat.

aWhat did you mean when you said I was mageborn?a He spoke in Southern, and mispronounced the last worda"as if that would make it mean something other than what he thought it meant.

aWella"a she said, when she was sure she wouldnat laugh, aa"only a mageborn person could have broken through an illusion as strong as the old wizard had. Nine-tenths of the magic most wizards work are illusionarya"like this frog.a She held out the little frog again.

aWhat frog?a asked Dickon.

Kerim frowned warningly. aDonat play games with him.a Sham shook her head. aIam not. Look at it closely, Dickon.a She muttered a few words, increasing the power of her spell. aTell me when you see a frog instead of a rock.a She was perspiring with the effort of her spell weaving before Dickon sat forward and drew in a swift breath. aI see it.a Sham closed her empty hand. aIllusiona"a she managed finally, with only a hint of amusement, atakes on the appearance of something that it is not. There are three ways to penetrate the spell. One is by magic. The second is by touch; there are very few mages who can create illusions that are real to more than one sense at a time. The third method is simple disbelief. Anyone can break an illusion that way, you donat have to be a wizard to do it. But most illusions set by a wizard of any power are miserably hard to dispel by disbeliefa"unless you are a wizard yourself.a She glanced at Dickonas discomfited expression, feeling a surprising amount of sympathy for him; it wasnat easy to find your long-held beliefs crumpling at your feet. aYour disbelief in magic is so strong that when you walked into the magicianas cottage you didnat even see the illusions. I have never heard of such a case before; the only possible explanation is that you are mageborn.a Dickon muttered a foul word that indicated his disbelief in graphic terms.

Shamas eyebrows climbed at the vocabulary the fastidious servant had used, and she commented with interest, aIave never heard of it done that way before, I wouldnat think it possible.a Dickon looked at her with the expression of a cornered boar.

Deciding he was still too shaken for teasing, she sobered and touched his sleeve lightly. aThere is sleight-of-hand, Dickon, but magic is real, too. Illusion is only part of it. Herea"Iall demonstrate.a There was a fingerbowl full of water near her plate. She pushed the plate aside and pulled the bowl in front of her.

aWater is a common means of scrying, because itas easy to use. The important thing to remember is that water is a liar, easily influenced by thought. If I expected the demon to look like a giant butterfly and I asked the water to show me the demon, I might see a giant butterfly, possibly I would see something really related to the demon, or I might see a kitchen maid cleaning vegetables. It isnat illusion though, so you should be able to see something.a Sham looked into the bowl and muttered a soft spell, waving her hand three times over the water.

When she was done, she set the fingerbowl before Kerim and said, aWeall let Kerim try it first. I have called the water to show the person you hold most deara"probably, it will only show you the face of the person you think you care about most. Donat take it too seriously.a Kerim leaned forward until he looked directly into the bowl; he nodded thoughtfully and shifted it across the table to Dickon. With a doubtful look at Sham, Dickon leaned forward in his turn. He looked in the bowl, then tensed. A white line rose on his cheeks as he clenched his teeth, staring into the pool of water.

aRemember,a she cautioned him, because he seemed so distressed, awhat you see is what you expect to see.a Dickon shook his head and said softly, aItas not that. My wife was killed in a bandit raid shortly after we were married. I havenat seen her face for ten years; Iad forgotten how beautiful she was.a Dickon drew in a swift breath through his nose and looked away from the water as if with great effort.

aThis is magic?a he questioned warily.

aYes.a Sham pulled the table back to its original position and dipped her fingers in the watera"cleaning them and dispelling the magic.

Dickon eyed her cautiously, but he seemed to be considering the matter, which was the best that she could hope for under the circumstances.

aWith that done,a said Kerim, cutting the meat on his plate with his eating knife. aI need your thoughts on the wizard we met this afternoon, Shamera.a He had plainly decided that Dickon needed some time to think about magic alone. Well, enough, she didnat mind changing topics.

She frowned thoughtfully. aYes, Lord Halvok. That was . . . interesting.a aWhy would he work so hard to keep his identity a secret?a asked Kerim.

She raised her eyebrows. aHow would the Eastern lords react if they knew they were negotiating with a wizard? It would destroy his credibility with those who do not believe in magic. Those who do believe in magic would distrust him even more, fearing his power.a aHalvokas personal ambitions aside,a she continued, aa"I imagine it would be difficult to find another noble who was not consumed with bitterness toward you Easterners and still commanded the respect of the other Southwood nobles. It is only his singlehanded defense of the northern reaches at the end of the war that allows him to negotiate at all without being named a traitor and losing the support of the Southwood factions.a aSo you think Halvok was trying to help?a Kerim sounded as if that were the answer he was hoping for.

Sham shrugged. aI donat know. I donat know him very wella"I only know what I have seen and heard. Although he apparently likes you, his first loyalties seemed to be given to Southwood. I donat think he would jeopardize his position to help you, but as long as you are no threat to his goals he shouldnat go out of his way to harm you either.a aSo he was just trying to give us information? Couldnat he have sent word through the Whisper?a asked Dickon.

Sham sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. aI donat know.a aWhat else would he be doing?a asked Kerim.

aI can think of one other reason Halvok could have called us there,a she said reluctantly. aThe quality of Lord Halvokas illusions make him a master sorcerera"perhaps better than I am. Black magic is proscribed and punishable by the most dire consequences if the Wizardas Council finds out. In the last two decades Iave heard of only three wizards discovered using it anyway.a aMeaning?a asked Kerim when she hesitated.

aMeaning there are almost certainly more black mages,a Sham answered. aIf Lord Halvok is such a one and summoned the demon himself he might have told us the story to concentrate our efforts on the demon, rather than looking for a human summoner. Lady Tirra said the men who died all opposed your protection of the native Southwood lordsa"certainly Lord Halvok would have seen them as a threat.a Kerim sat for a moment, before shaking his head. aThe wrong men died, Shamera. The men who died were petty lords for the most part; none of them, my brother included, had much power.a aMaybe Halvokas purpose was just what it appears,a said Shamera. aIall visit his house tonight and see what I can find.a Kerim nodded, saying, aIam not all that anxious to find out that one of the few Southwood lords willing to consider the good of the whole country rather than trying to recapture the past is involved with a demona"but Iad rather know as soon as possible either way.a aWouldnat it be better to wait until tomorrow, when you know heall be at court?a asked Dickon.

Sham shook her head. aThis is the night he spends with Lady Fullbright, to get information about her husbandas business. The servants have the night off.a She grinned at them. aI see that hasnat made it to the rumor mill yeta"itas nice to know the Shark hasnat lost his touch.a THE NIGHT WAS dark, the moon hidden by drizzling clouds. Sham hoped the rain would take care of the dust that Purgatory and Kerimas room had left on her working clothes.

Lord Halvokas mansion was in a quiet area of town some distance from the Castle. The shortest way there brought her past the Temple of Altis. Although it was still under constructiona"and would be for several more decadesa"it was already an impressive edifice.

Dickon was not the only one finding his beliefs altered abruptly. Since she had taken up her role as the Reeveas mistress, Sham had found herself in danger of forgetting her hatred of Easterners. It felt odd not to be angry all the timea"she felt naked and defenseless. That vulnerability made her resent Altis all the more. Things were changing, and very few changes in Shameraas life had been for the better.

aYou do not belong here,a she said to the god.

Great windows on either side of the massive entrance glistened darkly against the light-colored stone like two large eyes. As she resumed walking, she could almost feel someone watching her until she was well away from the temple.

Lord Halvokas residence was a modest manor to be the home of an influential noble, but Sham was suitably impressed by the amount of gold he must have spent to buy two hundred rods of land in the middle of the city. She had plenty of time to view the lawn as she walked completely around the building to make certain there was no light that would suggest a servant was up and about.

As she stepped onto the grass, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end: if shead had any doubts that Halvok was a wizard they were clearly resolved. She hadnat tripped any obvious warding, but the tingling sensation strongly suggested there was one nearby.

She inched forward until she found it. It was a simple spell, designed to warn Lord Halvok if a thief was about, but not to keep out wizardsa"such a spell would be too taxing to sustain, even with runes. Carefully, gently, Sham stepped across leaving the spell undisturbed.

The lower floor windows were shuttered, but those on the second floor were open. Scrambling up the native rock face and through a parlor window gave her little trouble. She stood in the darkness in the small room and pulled a sliver from her thumb with her teeth.

Places where magic was worked frequently began to collect a certain aura about them. Even people who couldnat normally sense magic would begin to feel uneasy, as if they were being watched or followed. Such places tended to get the reputation of being haunted. Chances were good that Halvokas workroom was in an isolated area of the house to avoid driving off the servants.

Sham closed her eyes and whispered a scrying spell to find where the workroom was. The return information was immediate and strong. Hastily she pulled the shutters on the window and lit a dim magelight to look around.

aPlague take him,a she muttered irritably.