"Your sister," Fob said, eying Vivenna. "They sent the younger one into the court. Why?"

"The king's plans are his own, Fob," Denth said.

Fob looked thoughtful. Finally, he flipped the fallen muscle onto the plate of sh.e.l.ls and reached for a fresh one. "I knew there was more behind that girl's arrival than simple chance."

"So you'll harvest?" Denth asked.

"I'll think about it," Fob said.

Denth nodded. "Good enough, I guess."

He nodded to Vivenna and Tonk Fah, and the three of them left Fob eating his sh.e.l.lfish. Vivenna settled the tab-which was even higher than she'd feared-and then they joined Parlin, Jewels, and Clod the Lifeless waiting outside. The group moved away from the restaurant, pushing through the crowd easily, if only for the ma.s.sive Lifeless that walked before them.

"Where now?" Vivenna asked.

Denth eyed her. "Not even tired a little?"

Vivenna didn't acknowledge her sore feet or her drowsiness. "We're working for the good of my people, Denth. A little tiredness is a small price."

Denth shot a glance toward Tonk Fah, but the overweight mercenary had split off into the crowd toward a merchant's stand, Parlin tagging along behind. Parlin, Vivenna noticed, had gone back to wearing his ridiculous green hat despite her disapproval. What was wrong with that man? He wasn't terribly bright, true, but he had always been level headed.

"Jewels," Denth called up ahead. "Take us to the Raymar place."

Jewels nodded, giving instructions to Clod that Vivenna couldn't hear. The group turned another direction through the crowd.

"It only responds to her?" Vivenna said.

Denth shrugged. "It has basic commands to do what Tonks and I say and I've got a security phrase I can give if I need more control."

Vivenna frowned. "Security phrase?"

Denth eyed her. "This is a rather heretical discussion we're getting into. You sure you want to continue?"

Vivenna ignored the amus.e.m.e.nt in his tone. "I still do not like the idea of that thing being with us, particularly if I don't have any way to control it."

"All Awakening works by way of the Command, Princess," Denth said. "You infuse something with life, then give it an order. Lifeless are valuable because you can give them Commands after you create them, unlike regular Awakened objects, which you can only Command once. Plus, Lifeless can remember a long list of complicated orders and are generally good about not misunderstanding them. They retain a bit of their humanity, I guess."

Vivenna shivered. That made them seem far too sentient for her likes.

"However, that means pretty much anyone can control a Lifeless," Denth said. "Not just the person who created them. So, we give them security phrases. A couple words you can say that will let you imprint the creature with new Commands."

"So, what's the security phrase for Clod?"

"I'll have to ask Jewels if you can have it."

Vivenna opened her mouth to complain, but thought better of it. Denth obviously didn't like interfering with Jewels or her work. Vivenna would simply have to make a point of it later, once they were in a more private location and she could hold his attention. Instead, she just eyed Clod. He was dressed in simple clothing. Grey trousers and grey shirt, with a leather jerkin that had been drained of color. He carried a large blade at his waist. Not a dueling sword-a more brutal, wide-bladed weapon.

All in grey, Vivenna thought. Is that because they want everyone to recognize Clod for a Lifeless? Despite what Denth said about Lifeless being common, many people gave the thing a wide berth. Snakes might be common in the jungle, she thought, but that doesn't mean that people are excited about seeing them.

Jewels chatted quietly at the Lifeless, though it never responded. It simply walked, face forward, inhuman in the steady rhythm of its steps.

"Does she always... talk to it like that?" Vivenna asked, shivering.

"Yeah," Denth said.

"That doesn't seem very healthy."

Denth looked troubled, though he said nothing. A few moments later, Tonk Fah and Parlin returned. Tonk Fah, Vivenna was displeased to see, had a small monkey on his shoulder. It chittered a bit, then ran behind Tonk Fah's neck, moving to the other shoulder.

"A new pet?" Vivenna asked. "What happened to that parrot of yours, anyway?"

Tonk Fah looked ashamed, and Denth just shook his head. "Tonks isn't very good with pets."

"That parrot was boring anyway," Tonk Fah said. "Monkeys are much more interesting."

Vivenna shook her head. It wasn't long before they arrived at the next restaurant, one far less lavish than the previous one. Jewels, Parlin, and the Lifeless took up places outside, as usual, and Vivenna and the two male mercenaries walked in.

The meetings were becoming routine. During the last couple of weeks, they'd met with a good dozen people of varying usefulness. Some were underground leaders Denth thought might be capable of making a ruckus. Others were merchants, like Fob. All in all, Vivenna was impressed with the variety of quiet ways Denth had come up with to disrupt things in T'Telir.

Most of the plans did, however, require a display of Vivenna's Royal Locks. Most people instantly grasped the importance of a Royal daughter being in the city, and she was left wondering just how Lemks had intended to achieve results without such convincing proof.

Denth led them to a table in the corner, and Vivenna frowned at how dimly lit and dirty the restaurant was. Despite her hunger, she quickly determined that she would not be eating anything at this establishment. "Why is it that we keep switching restaurants, anyway?" she said, sitting down-but only after wiping off the stool with her handkerchief.

"Harder to spy on us that way," Denth said. "I keep warning you, princess. This is more dangerous than it seems. Don't let the simple meal conversations throw you off. In any other city, we'd be meeting in lairs, gambling parlors, or alleyways. Best to keep moving."

They settled down, and as if they hadn't just come from their second lunch of the day, Denth and Tonk Fah ordered food. Vivenna sat quietly in her chair, preparing for the next meeting. G.o.ds Feast was something of a holy day in Hallandren-though, from what she'd seen, the people of the pagan city had no real concept of what a 'Holy Day' was supposed to be. Instead of helping the monks in their fields or caring for the needy, the people took the evening off and splurged on meals-as if the G.o.ds wanted them to be lavish.

And, perhaps they did. From what she'd heard, the Returned were wasteful beings. It made sense for their followers to spend their 'holy day' being idle and gluttonous.

Their contact arrived before the food did. He walked in with two bodyguards of his own. He wore nice clothing-which meant bright clothing, in T'Telir-but his beard was long and greasy, and he appeared to be missing several teeth. He pointed, and his bodyguards pulled a second table over next to Vivenna's, then arranged three chairs at it. The man took a seat, careful to keep his distance from Denth and Tonk Fah.

"A little paranoid, aren't we?" Denth said.

The man raised his hands. "Cautiousness never hurt a man."

"More food for us, then," Tonk Fah said as the plate arrived. It was covered with bits of... something that had been battered and fried. The monkey immediately scrambled down Tonk Fah's arm and s.n.a.t.c.hed a few pieces.

"So," the man said, "you're the infamous Denth."

"I am. I a.s.sume you're Garble?"

The man nodded.

One of the city's less reputable thieving lords, Vivenna thought. A strong ally of Vahr's rebellion. They had been waiting weeks to set up this meeting.

"Good," Denth said. "We have some interest in making certain supply carts disappear on the way to the city." He said it so openly. Vivenna glanced about, making certain no other tables were close.

"Garble owns this restaurant, princess," Tonk Fah whispered. "Every second man in this room is probably a bodyguard."

Great, she thought, annoyed they hadn't told her that before they entered. She glanced around again, feeling far more jumpy this time.

"Is that so?" Garble asked, bringing Vivenna's attention back to the conversation. "You want to make things disappear? Caravans of food?"

"It's a difficult job we ask," Denth said grimly. "These aren't long distance caravans. Most of them will simply be coming into the city from the outlying farms." He nodded to Vivenna, and she pulled out a small pouch of coins. She handed them to him, and he tossed them to a nearby table.

One of the bodyguards investigated.

"For your trouble of coming today," Denth said.

Vivenna watched the money go with a crimp in her stomach. It felt downright wrong to be using royal funds to bribe men like Garble. What she had just given away wasn't even a real bribe-it was simply 'grease money' as Denth put it.

"Now," Denth said, "the carts we're talking about-"

"Wait," Garble said. "Let's see the hair first."

Vivenna sighed, moving to put up the shawl.

"No shawl," Garble said. "No tricks. The men in this room are loyal."

Vivenna shot a glance at Denth, and he nodded. So she shifted colors a couple of times. Garble watched intently, scratching at his beard.

"Nice," he finally said. "Nice indeed. Where'd you find her?"

Denth frowned. "What?"

"A person with enough Royal blood to imitate one of the princesses."

"She's no imposter," Denth said as Tonk Fah continued to work on the plate of fried somethings.

"Come now," Garble said, smiling with a wide, uneven smile. "You can tell me."

"It's true," Vivenna said. "Being Royal is about more than just blood. It's about lineage and the holy calling of Austre. My children will not have the Royal Locks unless I become queen of Idris. Only potential heirs have the ability to change their hair color."

"Superst.i.tious nonsense," Garble said. He leaned forward, ignoring her and focusing on Denth. "I don't care about your caravans or supply offers, Denth. I want to buy the girl from you. How much?"

Denth was silent.

"Word of her is moving about town," Garble said. "I see what you're doing. You could move a lot of people, make a lot of noise, with a person who seemed to be of the Royal family. I don't know where you found her, or how you trained her so well, but I want her."

Denth stood up slowly. "We're leaving," he said. Garble's bodyguards stood up too.

Denth moved.

There were flashes-reflections of sunlight, and bodies moving too fast for Vivenna's shocked mind to follow. Then the motion stopped. Garble remained in his chair. Denth stood poised, his dueling blade sticking through the neck of one of the bodyguards.

The bodyguard looked surprised, his hand still on his sword. Vivenna hadn't even seen Denth draw his weapon. The other bodyguard stumbled, blood staining the front of his jerkin from where-shockingly-Denth seemed to have managed to stab him.

He slipped to the ground, b.u.mping Garble's table in his death throws.

Lord of Colors... Vivenna thought. So fast!

"So, you are as good as they say," Garble said, still looking unconcerned. Around the room, other men had stood. Some twenty of them. Tonk Fah grabbed another handful of fried things, then nudged Vivenna. "We might want to get up," he whispered.

Denth pulled his sword free of the bodyguard's neck, and the man joined his friend, bleeding and dying on the floor. Denth slammed his sword into its sheath without wiping it, never breaking Garble's gaze.

"People speak of you," Garble said. "Say you appeared out of nowhere a decade or so back. Gathered yourself a team of the best-stole them from important men. Or important prisons. n.o.body knows much about you, other than the fact that you're fast. Some say inhumanly so."

Denth nodded toward the doorway. Vivenna stood nervously, then let Tonk Fah pull her through the room. The guards stood with their hands on their swords, but n.o.body attacked.

"It's a pity we couldn't do business," Garble said, sighing. "I hope you'll think of me for future dealings."

Denth finally turned away, joining Vivenna and Tonk Fah as they left the restaurant and moved out onto the street. Parlin and Jewels hurried to catch up.

"He's letting us go?" Vivenna asked, heart thumping.

"He just wanted to see my blade," Denth said. He still seemed tense. "It happens sometimes."

"Barring that, he wanted to steal himself a princess," Tonk Fah added. "Either way, he won. He either got to verify Denth's skill or he got you."

"But... you could have killed him!" Vivenna said.

Tonk Fah snorted. "And bring down the wrath of half the thieves, a.s.sa.s.sins, and burglars in the city? No, Garble knew he wasn't ever in any danger from us."

Denth looked back at her. "I'm sorry for wasting your time-I thought he'd be more useful."

She frowned, noting for the first time the careful mask that Denth kept on his emotions. She'd always thought of him as carefree, like Tonk Fah, but now she saw hints of something else. Control. Control that was, for the first time since they'd met, in danger of cracking.

"Well, no harm done," she said.

"Except for those slobs that Denth poked," Tonk Fah added, happily feeding another morsel to his monkey.

"We need to-"

"Princess?" a voice asked from the crowd.

Denth and Tonk Fah both spun. Once again, Denth's sword was out before Vivenna could track. This time, however, he didn't strike. The man behind them didn't seem much of a threat. He wore ragged brown clothing, and had a dirty face. He had the look of a farmer.

"Oh, princess," the man said, hurrying forward, ignoring the blades. "It is you. I heard rumors, but... oh, you're here!"

Denth shot a look at Tonk Fah, and the larger mercenary reached out, putting a hand in front of the newcomer before he got too close to Vivenna. She would have thought the caution unnecessary had she just not seen Denth kill two men in an eye blink. The danger Denth always talked about was slowly seeping into her mind. If this man had a hidden weapon and a little skill, he could kill her before she realized what was happening.

It was a chilling realization.

"Princess," the man said, falling to his knees.

"Please," she said. "Do not put me above others."

"Oh," the man said, looking up. "I'm sorry. It's been so long since I left Idris! But, it is you!"