"What you just remembered."

She was becoming a serious nuisance.

He said,"I know you can detect a falsehood if it is spoken, but I re-fuse to believe you can read my thoughts."

"Didn't you just remember something significant about this place?"

"No."

30THE J A GU AR KNIGHTS.

P.

"You were pulling faces."

"You're trawling. I've been through here dozens of times. Of course I remember things, but it's nothing that need concern you."

Perhaps it did, because ultimately it concerned Celeste. In that stable, on the very day he was bound, he had heard the first rumble of what was to become the Thencaster thunderstorm. Athelgar had left Ironhall for Grandon at dawn.The rest of the Guard watched in amusement as the eager rookies all tried to ride as close as possible to their new ward.The King ignored them, chatting with Gar-beald, who likewise had Hengist and Viper fretting to draw alongside him.

It was there at Holmgarth, when Wolf was choosing a remount in the sta-ble-a place royal feet deigned not to tread-that a heavy hand settled on his shoulder.

"You need some help, brother," Terror said. Sir Terror was an old Ambrose man, likely to receive the Order of the Boot soon. "That's kind of you, but . . ."Wolf recalled that Terror was one of the finest horsemen in the Guard. "Thanks.This one looks-"

Terror eased him backward into the stall until they were squeezed between rough planks and a piqued stallion."This one has four white hooves.Always try for black if you can. That wasn't what I had in mind."

He spoke more softly. "We all saw what the Pirate's Son did to you last night, toying with you. Nasty, that."

"I survived."Wolf was pleased the incident had been noted.

Terror jabbed him hard in the ribs."But leave it there, boy! Some might say you earned it by lipping him the day before. Now you've sworn to die for him and he's the King.You can't win that battle. Leader said to pass the word to all the greenhorns, especially you: 'The Pirate's Son has a mean streak, ignore it.' Follow me?"

Wolf shrugged. "I find it contemptible. I'm amused he is so petty."

Pokeagain. "He can out-petty your amusement any day, kid." The awe-some black beard bristled."Listen! It's not just you. It's not even him personally, just that he was reared in Baelmark and got washed up here in Chivial. He don't know any better. Ever since mommy went home to her pirate, he's been running wild. He insulted the Speaker. He mocked the Lord Mayor and other nobs who came to present loyal addresses. Now he's given that creepy Bael buddy of his a dukedom-a royal dukedom-and that will hit the real nobs like a bucket of 31.

Dave Duncan P.

vomit. He hasn't been on the throne a month yet.You're nothing, but some peo-ple do matter."

This was a jolt of adult reality. Even Wolf was not green enough to miss the point. "You're implying I may have to make good on my oath?"

Terror dropped his voice even lower. "If he keeps on like this, anything may happen."

The novelty of being treated as one of the gang was a heady sensation. "I don't like the look of that Garbeald. Isn't it odd that the Pirate's Son's best friend didn't show up in Chivial until after his mommy had left?"

Pokebecomepunchwith an impact that made Wolf gasp.

"Stop it!Vicious said to tell you to keep your jackass mouth shut from now on.Take that chestnut over there, if you're not too proud to ride a mare. She's a little wonder."With that Terror went away.

Of course Wolf had been right about Garbeald, but things might have turned out better if Leader had never sent him that warning.The rest of his conversa-tions with the older guardsmen on that ride had concerned the latest Court scan-dals, especially the King's new mistress, the exotic Marquesa Celeste, and the way ladies' necklines were plunging to hitherto unseen depths.

At Blackwater, the sky had turned to lead and a bitter wind was lifting the fallen snow and swirling it around the horses' fetlocks. The blur of brightness marking the sun said the hour was not far past noon.

There should be time to reach Ironhall before dark.

The small post house there was run by the only fat Blade in the Order, Sir Orvil. Right after his knighting he had married the previous owner's daughter and raised the rates until Ambrose threatened to pass a law to stop him.

Orvil was slack-jawed at seeing an inquisitor riding to Ironhall, and a female one at that. If he had heard of any other raids along the coast he would certainly be babbling of them, but his ignorance of even the Quondam assault showed that news was not traveling as it usually did. He knew aboutFlint and Huntley, of course, and reported that a sec-ond pair of knights, Grady and Godfrey, had followed them the next day.That Wolf and Hogwood had missed them on the road was not sur- 32.

THE J A GU AR KNIGHTS.

P.

prising. Of course Orvil wanted to know what the fire-and-death was going on to raise so much excitement, and of course nobody was telling him.

"Weather looks bad," he muttered, peering out the stable door at the sky and the snowy folds of the moor."Starkmoor is death after dark, my lad.We could put you up until it blows over."Again he ogled the in-quisitor with disbelief.

"We have to push on," Wolf insisted. "My assistant may have more sense."

She just shook her head, too weary to speak, her face haggard, with dark smears of pain under the eyes, but Wolf knew he might see worse in a mirror. She was certainly using some sort of Dark Chamber con-juration to keep going. Fair's fair-he was drawing stamina from his binding.

"Let me send the boy with you, then," Orvil said, all chubby and sincere. "Tam knows the moor like the back of his head, don't you, Tam?"

The gangling stableboy smiled shyly and continued saddling their mounts. Wolf knew that his dear brother Blade would charge him a month's wages for the loan of his underpaid hand and add as much again for keeping secrets from him, but he also knew how treacherous the moor could be. In his beansprout year, four candidates out riding had been caught in a snap blizzard and died. The locals had an instinct for the moors. He was a Westerther himself, but not from these parts.

"What do you think,Tam? Can you guide us to Ironhall, or is it too dangerous?"

The boy grunted the local equivalent of "Yes" while shaking his head, which meant that he was not frightened and was willing to take them. He also knew that Wolf was a generous tipper. Orvil beamed and prepared to haggle.

Tam turned out to be a wise decision.Wind raged up on the moor, hurling gritty snow in their faces and driving a fog that hid all the land-marks. He took a couple of shortcuts Wolf would not have risked, across bogs frozen by the long cold, but his main service was just to relieve Wolf of the need to do anything except stay on his horse.

33.

Dave Duncan P.

Cold and soaked, every bone throbbing with fatigue, he rode in a stupor, thinking-when he thought at all-about meeting Lynx again, after so long. Although Ironhall to Quondam was not far as the crow flew, Whinmoor and Starkmoor were separated by the Great Bog. Horses, unlike crows, must make a day-long trek around by Newtor. On many of his visits to Ironhall,Wolf could have stolen enough time to go and visit Lynx, but his persnickety conscience would not let him be ab-sent from his ward on a personal whim. In four years they had ex-changed a dozen or so letters. Lynx would have changed.

Wolf was taken by surprise when the fairytale fake battlements of Ironhall emerged from the whirling murk. There was respite from the wind in the lee of the walls, and he urged his sad horse forward along-side Hogwood's.

"We're here.You've done well, for a woman."

She peered blearily out of her snow-caked hood. "And you, for an old man."

"Are you ready to begin your investigation?"

"Your investigation, Sir Wolf."

"No. Finding out what happened is your job. Report to me every-thing you discover-who is lying, who is holding back, all your theo-ries and suspicions. If I notice or suspect anything, I will be equally open with you, I promise. I will decide what we do about it all in the end. Meanwhile I want everyone to believe you are in charge and I am just muscle sent along to protect you." He did not feel capable of fighting a dead frog.

"Why?" she demanded suspiciously.

"Do you always question orders? Are you too tired to start work at once?"

"No."

"Then do as I say. I promise you all the credit or blame you deserve. My reputation is already made.

Make yours."

"Thank you." She was puzzled, but she was supposed to be.

"Just do a good job." He eased his horse back to the rear again as they turned into the gateway.

Both the King and the Dark Chamber bore grudges against him.

34.

THE J A GU AR KNIGHTS.

P.

Somewhere on the road he had decided that this affair must eventually result in an inquiry into his inquiry, so he would find himself testifying before inquisitors.The snoops looked after their own and any restriction he placed on Hogwood would damn him, if he wasn't damned already.

When they reined in at the Main House steps, she threw back her hood and stared at him with red-rimmed eyes. "Whom do you suspect at the moment, Sir Wolf ?"

"Athelgar, but I don't know what he's up to." For the first time ever, he saw an inquisitor's smile. It was thin and transient. "Because he sends one of his own Blades to investigate?"

"Partly. Also because I can't think of anyone else with resources to storm Quondam or reason to abduct Celeste. I can't even see that the King has that. If he wanted her back he could just send for her."

"But if we discover that your ward did cause so many needless deaths, you will suppress the truth?"

"You know I will have no choice. How about you, if it turns out that the Dark Chamber is guilty?" "That is an outrageous suggestion!" Apparently the girl had not even thought of that possibility. "Why? Don't try to tell me the Chamber never arranges assassina-tions!" Wolf slid painfully from the saddle.

6.Predictable as roosters at dawn, a dozen boys had come running out to see who these snowmen visitors were.When they recognized the in-famous Sir Wolf they stood back and stared, solemn and silent as a forestful of owls. None of them would have seen an inquisitor before or would guess what Hogwood's black robes meant, but they knew the King's Killer, the worst villain in the Guard.

The young swordsman who came loping down after them was Rivers, a smarmy, unpleasant youth, but currently Second and hence a 35.

Dave Duncan P.

voice of authority with power to punish. He yapped out commands, sending guides off with Tam and the horses to see that they were all cared for, delegating other boys to bring the saddlebags, telling off one to inform Master of Rituals, and dismissing everyone else with dire threats.

He led the visitors indoors. "Sir Wolf, your brother is much im-proved. No, he's this way, in the guardroom.The infirmary is full of Lord Dupend's men."

"This is Second Candidate Rivers-Inquisitor Hogwood."

Rivers nodded as they walked. "Master Inquisitor, you are . . ."

Wolf was amused to watch "welcome" change to "a woman" and then disappear entirely as Rivers's jaw dropped. How long since a woman of her age had visited Ironhall?

"Is Grand Master still at Quondam, Candidate?" she asked.

"Yes, um, my lady."Walking sideways, Rivers continued to stare at her. "He left Master of Rituals in charge here, and he's done wonders with the healings! The Baron, Sir Lynx, and another dozen. Of course, not all ...I mean, some of them had very terrible wounds." He pulled a face. "This is a very strange and frightening event."

"When did you hear the news?"

"Just before dawn on the fifteenth, er, mistress.When the raiders left, Sir Alden sent a rider, then loaded the worst of the wounded in a wagon and drove it over here himself.There was a full moon, of course, and the Great Bog is frozen this year."

So Lynx owed his life to the weather? "Who is Sir Alden?"

"Not a Blade, sir. Lord Dupend's knight banneret. Very quick-witted for his years."

Rivers narrowly avoided walking into a red-haired swordsman wait-ing in the corridor to First House, already beaming at Hogwood.

"Dolores!"

Hogwood said formally, "Good chance to you, Sir Intrepid." She was wearing her working face, all stone and glass.

"And to you. What a wonderful surprise! Welcome to Ironhall, In-quisitor. And brother Wolf, of course."

Intrepid was unpopular in the Order. He had an abrasive manner 36.

THE J A GU AR KNIGHTS.

P.

and was reputed to have deliberately galled Ambrose until the old man booted him out of the Guard several years short of a normal term. Thereupon he had enrolled in the Royal College of Conjury and done so well there that one of Lord Roland's first acts as Grand Master had been to call him back to Ironhall to be Master of Rituals. That had shocked the Blades, but Durendal's opinion carried such weight that In-trepid was now on a sort of unspoken probation. Wolf was willing to overlook a mountain of gall if he had done so well ministering to Lynx and the other Quondam wounded.

"And where did you two meet?"Wolf demanded.

"Dolores was the most rewarding student I ever had," Intrepid pro-claimed."I take it Grand Master's letter reached the court?" He glanced inquiringly from Blade to inquisitor, wondering which was in charge.

"Yes," she said. "The Privy Council sent us to look into things." Subtly, her reply misled him.

"A commendable choice and a very impressive testimonial, Inquisi-tor. Congratulations! This business may require all your genius. There was undoubtedly some novel conjury involved." He glanced at Wolf to see how he enjoyed being nursemaid.

Wolf just shrugged, confirming the deception.

"Sir Wolf is anxious to see his brother.We will begin with him."

"Of course." Intrepid had brought them to the guardroom. "Thank you, boys. Get them out of here, Second. Leave the bags."

"How is he?"Wolf asked as the helpers reluctantly departed.

Intrepid flashed an annoying smirk."He looks as if he tried to break up a bear-baiting. If he offers to show you his scars, decline politely.To say that his guts were delivered in a separate container would be an ex-aggeration, but not much of one, and of course he was almost exsan-guinated. It is only because Quondam keeps a generous stock of conjured bandages on hand that he lived long enough to leave the cas-tle, let alone reach Ironhall. Even the healing rituals my predecessors used would have been useless against injury on that scale.We pieced him together as best we could and I tried some new Isilondian chants I brought with me last fall."

"The Guilliane Hortations?" Hogwood asked.

37.