For the first time, the other seemed to hesitate. "Falken? You mean Falken Blackhand?" !1 Travis started to nod, then sucked in a breath as the knife pricked his skin. "Yes." The stranger studied him, then in one smooth moyour eyes that you speak the truth. You must forgive me. So many of my order are dead now. I feared you stole the cloak from one who had fallen."

Travis rubbed his throat. "Your order?"

The stranger said nothing. Travis lowered his hand, then he remembered the man they had encountered at the border of Perridon, the man with 545 the Burning Plague-who bad worn a gray mistcloak just like Travis's.

"You're a Spider!" he said.

The man raised a slender eyebrow. "I would be within the rights granted me by the monarchy of Perridon to kill you for that knowledge."

For a reason he couldn't name, Travis felt suddenly bold. "So why don't you?"

The man bent and slipped the dagger into his boot. "There has been enough death in this castle of late."

"What do you mean? Has the plague reached the castle?""No. Not yet, at least. We know it's coming, but that's all. Some of the Spiders ventured from Spardis to investigate. None of them have returned." The man turned his silvery eyes on Travis. "And they won't, will they?"

Travis shook his head.

"I thought as much."

"I saw one of them," Travis said. "At the border."

"And did he have it?"

Travis hesitated, then gave a shallow nod. The Spider turned his head away. He was silent. Finally he turned back.

"So you came here with Falken Blackhand's Party."

"That's right."

The Spider gave a rueful smile. "There was a time not long ago when I would not have had to ask for Adt information, but I fear we have been .

. . disen- 546.