She patted his arm. "I get that reaction."

"I thought you were sent off to an abbey of a . . ."

"More feminine order?" she finished.

"Something like that."

She said, "Women serve the Seeker After Vengeance. And Father decided if I was to be raised outside the city, it would be by someone who could teach me to defend myself." She reached out and touched his sword hilt with her right index finger. "That's a bit big for my tastes, but I could probably do some serious harm with it."

"No doubt," he said. The orders of Kahooli were primarily dedicated to seeking out wrongdoers and visiting justice upon them. At their most benign, they acted as aides to local constables and sheriffs, locating malefactors and either capturing them or pointing out their whereabouts. At their more malignant, they were avengers who ignored local laws and the King's Justice, and hunted down and executed wrongdoers. And at their worst, they refused to consider any claims of innocence by their prey. An often-stated joke about those who served Kahooli had it that their credo was "Kill them all and let Kahooli part the innocent from the guilty." Often they created more problems than they solved.

Talia smiled. "I know what you're thinking."

William blushed. "What?"

"Do I run now, or wait until her back is turned?"

He laughed. "Nothing like that. Just. . ."

"Don't do me any wrong, William, and you'll have nothing to fear."

Her smile was so open and bright he had to laugh. "I won't. You have my vow."

"Good," she said, playfully hitting him in the arm. "Then I won't have to hunt you down and hurt you."

"You're joking, right?"

Now she laughed. "I was educated educated by the Order of Kahooli, William. I never took any vows in his service." by the Order of Kahooli, William. I never took any vows in his service."

William realized she was joking, and laughed. "You had me there for a moment."

She slipped her arm back into his as they moved along, inspecting the other produce on display. "I think I have you for more than a moment," she said under her breath.

William chose not to hear the remark. Right now, he didn't know what to think. He enjoyed the warm, slightly apprehensive feeling he got when he looked at her. He admired her dark hair, fair skin, erect posture and youthful energy that seemed to impart itself to everything she touched. All he wanted to do was to keep her at his side from moment to moment, and not think about anything unpleasant ever again.

"Lieutenant!" came a familiar and about as unpleasant a voice as he could imagine.

He turned and saw Captain Treggar approaching with two guardsmen.

"Sir!" he said, coming to attention.

With a tone approaching a growl, Treggar said, "I have been sent sent to fetch you, lieutenant, and Squire James." His gaze was hostile and his manner combative, but he added, "By His Highness," and William could tell he kept some unspoken rage in check because of that admission. Glancing at Talia, Treggar said, "I realize you're to fetch you, lieutenant, and Squire James." His gaze was hostile and his manner combative, but he added, "By His Highness," and William could tell he kept some unspoken rage in check because of that admission. Glancing at Talia, Treggar said, "I realize you're busy busy, and haven't had time to stand your watch in the officers' rotation at the palace, but His Highness felt it important enough to have you join him that he sent me personally to find you and the squire."

William said, "Ah . . . I believe Squire James is back at The Rainbow Parrot."

"No, he's here," came another voice.

William turned to discover James striding toward them. James said, "What is it, captain?"

"Orders, squire. You and the lieutenant are to return with me to the palace at once."

William glanced at James, who said, "Very well." He looked at Talia and said, "Pardon us, but we must be going."

To William, Talia said, "I've enjoyed our time together, William. I hope you'll call again, soon."

William said, "Certainly." Glancing at Treggar, he added, "As soon as duty permits."

Talia turned away and continued her perusal of the market's offerings, glancing over her shoulder to direct one last smile at William.

Treggar said, "Squire, if you're ready?"

James nodded and led the way back to the palace.

William followed a step behind Treggar, followed in turn by the two soldiers. There was a growing tension between himself and the captain and he would soon have to deal with it, otherwise he would make an enemy for as long as he was in the army.

Arutha looked around the room. Captain Treggar and the two soldiers who had been sent to find James and William stood off to one side. Four Krondorian Pathfinders-a separate elite command, with trackers and trailbreakers responsible to their own captain-watched as the Prince said, "Here." He pointed to a spot on the map, indicating a location south of Shandon Bay. "If our information is correct, that's where they are hiding."

James stood next to the Prince, and his eyes followed the line from the faint scratching on the map that read, "Valley of Lost Men" in tiny letters under an older inscription in a Keshian alphabet he couldn't read. "That still looks like a fair amount of territory to explore, Highness."

With a gesture, Arutha indicated the four Pathfinders. "They leave within the hour."

"We have committed the map to memory, Highness," said one of them.

Arutha nodded. "These men will follow you within a day. Look for them-" his finger stabbed at a point some miles to the east of the general search area "-here. One of you should make contact each night."

"Yes, Highness," said the leader of the Pathfinders as he saluted. With a gesture he indicated to his companions they should leave.

After the four scouts had departed, Arutha said, "Captain, draw up a battle plan. Tell everyone who will listen that we conduct maneuvers to the southwest and northeast. Then I want you to select two hundred of our best men, ignoring any man who has not been in service for at least five years." James nodded agreement. There had been three Nighthawks posing as soldiers at the garrison at Northwarden. "Make the selection seem random, but at the end of the first day I will lead those two hundred men south. Captain Leland will take the rest to the northeast, so come up with a plausible problem that explains the spurting of my command."

Captain Treggar nodded. "Sire. If I may ask . . . ?"

Arutha nodded.

"Wouldn't it serve better to have the Knight-Marshal draw up the problem?"

"Knight-Marshal Gardan is retiring, captain. We have a parade and farewell tomorrow at noon. He is then leaving on the evening tide to return home to Crydee."

James grinned. "A farewell party, tonight?"

Arutha looked at his squire. "Yes, but you won't be attending."

James sighed theatrically. "I feel slighted, sire."

Treggar said, "I will have the problem here before the parade, Highness."

Arutha said, "No, you will have it back here before sundown tonight. An hour after sundown, you five-" he indicated the captain, two soldiers, William and James "-are leaving with a caravan heading to Kesh. At the cut-off near Shandon Bay you will turn west and find this old caravan route." He pointed to a faint trail marked on the ancient map. "You're leaving half a day behind the Pathfinders, and you'll be moving slowly." Again his finger struck the map. "You should reach this point three days after the Pathfinders. That should give them time to locate our prey."

"And you'll be half a day behind us when they do," said James.

"Yes," said Arutha. He looked around the room. "If you get word, go as fast as you can to where the Pathfinders indicate the Nighthawks' nest is located. Leave dear signs along the way. You and the Pathfinders are to eliminate any sentries and open any barriers, because this time I intend to ride in with my best soldiers and crush these murderous vermin."

James looked at Arutha and said nothing. He knew that at that moment the Prince was thinking of his Princess, in his arms, on their wedding day with an a.s.sa.s.sin's bolt in her back, hovering near death while Arutha was helpless to do anything.

James said, "We'll make ready, Highness."

He led the others out of the room, and the captain said, "Squire, why me? The Prince has never a.s.signed this sort of duty to me before."

James shrugged. "You were sent to find us, so you three already know that William and I are needed for something special. Sending you with us keeps those who know about our real purpose to a minimum. Nighthawks have the irritating habit of showing up unexpectedly in unlikely places, so keeping the number of people who know of this mission to a minimum is vital." Something flickered in the captain's expression, and James added, "And His Highness certainly wouldn't have picked you if he didn't think you up to the task." Glancing around he said, "We'll have time on the trail to fill you in, captain. But for now, you need to create a convincing battle problem for the garrison, and I need to make arrangements."

"Arrangements?" asked William.

James said, "It will be hard enough for us to sneak up on a band of a.s.sa.s.sins, lieutenant. Doubly so if we ride up in full armor with battle pennons flying. Well need disguises." He glanced out the window and said, "It's almost noon now. If we're to leave at sundown, I have scant time."

Captain Treggar nodded. "Squire." To James he said, "Lieutenant, you come with me."

William said, "Sir," and fell in behind the captain as he led the two soldiers away.

James headed off in a different direction, back toward his favorite exit, the servants' gate, where he could slip out of the palace with the least amount of notice. There were three people he needed to see before he left: the sheriffs son, and three thugs hiding in the sewer; then he had to buy quite a bit in a short time.

Sand and dust blew across the plateau, as a small band of travelers, two donkeys, a camel, and a tiny herd of goats huddled around an overburdened cart. Nomads, perhaps, to the casual eye, or a family on their way to a distant village, avoiding tolls and border guards on the patrolled highways.

William hunkered down in his desert-style robes, the hood pulled forward to keep the stinging sand out of his eyes, ears, nose and mouth as much as possible. Over the noise of the wind he shouted, "Captain, are we being watched?"

Captain Treggar shouted back, "If they're out there, we're being watched!"

Three days earlier they had left a camp near the southern end of Shandon Bay. Prince Arutha followed behind by two days, leading two hundred mounted soldiers. Out there somewhere in the blowing sands of the plateau country was a handful of Pathfinders, seeking the ruins of the ancient Keshian fortress.

James said to William, "You look lovely, dear."

"What?"

James raised his voice over the wind. "I said, "You look lovely, dear.'"

Being the shortest man in the company, William was dressed in the robe of a Beni-Shazda woman. The other two soldiers, also dressed as women, laughed at William's checked irritation at James's remark. The squire had been joking at William's expense on and off since the young lieutenant had been handed women's robes on the first day of the journey. William had made the mistake of voicing his complaint, while the more experienced soldiers had simply put on the robes without comment, and James had shown him no mercy since.

William had now come to realize the futility of complaint, and shook his head as he sat back on his haunches. "Just a few days ago I was strolling through the market with the prettiest girl in Krondor on my arm, gold in my purse, and a bright future ahead of me. And now I have . . . you scruffy b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Of course, I also have all this lovely scenery." He waved his hand around him at the barren landscape.

Treggar said, "I'm going to hit you. Fall down and crawl away when I do."

Suddenly his hand lashed out, glancing offWilliam's shoulder. William fell over as Treggar rose up over him. "They can't hear us, I think!" shouted Treggar. "Just the sound of my voice, but not the words."

James remained seated. "Where are they?"

"On the second ridge to the west, squire. Slightly to the north of the trail. I caught a glimpse of movement against the wind. Then I caught it again."

James said, "Everyone, you know your parts."

The other two soldiers hurried around, as if ensuring everything in the camp was secured against the wind. Treggar yelled, "Crawl away, bow toward me on your knees, then get to your feet and see to the goats!" William did as he was instructed. Treggar walked over to the cart, one arm holding a voluminous sleeve as a shield against the wind. He reached the cart and took down what from a distance would appear to be a full wineskin and made a show of drinking from it. He then sat with his back to one of the wheels, in the wagon's lee.

"Now come over here and look as if you're begging forgiveness, and while you're doing that, look up on that ridge and see if you can catch a glimpse."

William did so, bowing and lifting his hands in a gesture of conciliation. "I don't see anything, captain."

"Bow again!"

William did so, and James sneaked around to a position at the edge of the wagon, and while he appeared to be getting something out of the wagon he studied the ridge. After a moment he saw it, a faint movement that was out of rhythm with the wind. "They're watching," said James.

Treggar said, "You can stop bowing, lieutenant."

William did so and said, "I'll get some food and pa.s.s it around."

"Make sure you give it to me and the squire first, then the other 'wives'."

The soldiers didn't laugh as they scanned the ridges to the west while they went through the motions of working.

"Tonight one of the Pathfinders should find us, and if we're lucky, we'll find out exactly where those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are hiding out."

Throughout the rest of the evening they played the part of a small family of travelers. The wind died out an hour after sundown, and they built a fire and cooked a modest meal. Then they turned in and waited.

At first light the next morning, the Pathfinder still hadn't come.

TWELVE - Improvisation

Treggar stood up and shook the dust off of his robe.

The eastern sky had lightened and the dawn was fast approaching. As the others stirred, the captain gestured toward the rising sun. He then turned north and made another gesture.

"What are you doing?" James asked.

"Looking for our friends," the captain answered as he turned to the west. "I hope this looks like some sort of morning ritual." He finished with a gesture to the south, and said, "Go get the 'women' working."

James feigned a kick at William and said, "Stoke the fire and start cooking. They'll expect us to be on the move by the time the sun's cleared the horizon."

William cowered for a moment, he hoped convincingly, then hurried to obey. He fed dried dung into the flames and soon it was hot enough to cook over.