"More importantly, I know when you're leaving.

Guards!"

The door openedmore politely than Rhyys had done.

The two surly guards stepped in and posed on either side of the door, arms akimbo, staring straight ahead.

For a moment, Mikhyel thought Temorii was going to resist, but then, her eyes flickered toward him, and her shoulders slumped: She stood up and faced Mikhyel. "Farewell, m'lord. And thank you for the meals and the bath, and . . . well, thank you. This creature will fry to embarrass you over my being here, and I'm sorry for that. I tried to warn you."

"Creature? I'm a creature?"

Temorii flushed. "M'lord Rhyys, please. I'msorry."

Mikhyel could tell she nearly choked on the apology.

"Let it be enough," she continued, and the defeated note in her voice ripped at Mikhyel's heart. "I was filthy and cold. Lord dunMheric offered me a bath and a place to stay"

"He has none of those things to .give! They were mine.

Not his."

"Rings, man, I'll pay you for them," Mikhyel broke in, "you unfeeling"

He caught himself, rather appalled at his lack of control.

Antagonizing Rhyys was by no means his intention.

"Don't say something you'll regret later, dunMheric."

Rhyys stared down his nose at them both. "You've no idea what this individual did."

"I'm certain you intend to enlighten me, so why not get on with it?"

"I gave this uncivilized hill creature a safe harbor for years, gave it time on the ringsout of the goodness of my heart. Just because it might be a distant relative."

"You gave me nothing, Rhyys. Nothing. I worked"

"When it suited you. When you were not off roaming the hillside like the wild goat you are. And in the end, it was all for nothing. Talent you might have. But courage, cleverness . . . those, you lack in embarrassing proportions.

I lost a great deal of money, that day, not to mention the humiliation."

Temorii just stared at Rhyys as if he'd gone mad. But to Mikhyel Rhyys always sounded rather as if he were speak- ing from a script. It would be perfectly well in character for Rhyys to have spent the past several days editing and practicing the script for this moment, particularly if Rhyys had known all along, as Temorii had accused, that Temorii was here with him.

"Money?" Mikhyel repeated. "Humiliation? Would you care to explain?"

"This individual to whom you gave safe haven, dun- Mheric, is a would-have-been ringdancer."

"Yes," Mikhyel answered. "So?"

"On the day of the trials, one after another of the com- petitors made it through the maze. Some faster than others, but all made it through. All but one. The arbiter called number thirteen. I held my breath until I nearly passed out, the suspense was thrilling, I assure you. And we waited.

And waited. And waited. Until well into darkness. But no number seventeen. All my bets lost, because this creature was too stupid and too cowardly to confront the maze.

Days later, it showed up at the Tower door, starving, de- manding entry..."

"Lies . . ." Temorii's whisper brushed the air. "I never came back here. The rings had crashed"

DunTarec's hate and scorn raked Temorii's determinedly straight figure. "After the competition was complete."

And not even you can get it for me, Barrister.

"Lies," Temorii's response was a breath deep in her throat.

"I have your petition. . . . It's in the files somewhere as if I'd ever let such an ungrateful creature beneath my roof again."

Temorii's mouth curled in a snarl, but her head bowed, and she took a step for the door, but Mikhyel placed a hand on her arm. He had all he needed to know on which side truth balanced. Rhyys had been in Rhomatum for Nikki's wedding. The web had collapsed two days later fol- lowing the Boreton Firestorm. Without Mother's help, Rhyys could not have been here for the competition.

And something told him Mother would not welcome Rhyys within her lair, even had she had been able, with the damage to the Khoratum line.

"You say Temorii showed up at your front door, not at the gateway to the arena," Mikhyel said, assuming a modi- fied court-voice. "Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"No one saw her leave the maze?"

"Of course not. As I said, it was days later"

"As I understand the arrangement you made with Tem- orii, she was to be led in once, and come through the maze and into the arena once, on her own."

Rhyys frowned impatiently. "Yes. Yes! Once. One time only!"

"And you say no one saw her exit into the maze?"

"No! Coward, I say!"

"Since no one saw Tern walk into the arena, who can say she did? And if she can enter the courtyard, without being led in, shouldn't she be allowed to dance?"

"Khy''

"It is what you want, isn't it. Tern?"

"Yes, but"

He shook his head, a quick jerk, and she shut up, but the hand she reached to ease herself into the chair was shaking.

Rhyys was watching them with narrowed eyes, taking in gods knew what. Then, in a run that had the sound of a rehearsed speech, Rhyys said: "I see why Rhomatum Council jumps to your call, dun- Mheric. You make even the impossible sound plausible.

Fine. Keep your bed warmer here. Enjoy it while you can."

He turned to leave, paused with his hand on the door, and swung back with a theatrical flourish. "By the way," he said, in a thoroughly pleasant tone, "welcome to Kho~atum,, Mikhyel. I do hope you enjoy your stay."

And then they were alone.

Temorii was shaking.

"That was your great solution?" She thrust herself from the chair and paced the room. "I can't believe I let myself trust you."

She slammed across the room and into the antechamber in which she slept. Doors slammed. Drawers did. She ap- peared moments later, wrapping a sash about the hiller clothing she wore in her outside excusions.

"Tern, please, sit down. Talk sense with me."

"No! I've listened to you too much already."

"Tern, dammit, it was too easy! We've got to talk"

She shook her head, a violent wrenching motion. Tears were streaming down her face, and shaking fingers made her movements with the sash awkward. He tried to still her hands, tried to calm her, but she jerked free, cursed at him, and fled out the door.

He stared at Raulind, who, for once, looked as con- founded as Mikhyel felt.