I sat back in my chair, glancing around me, taking a deep draught of chelan. I could feel it hit as I swallowed, feel the borrowed wakefulness shiver through me. Goddess knows I needed it. We had all of us walked all day and as far into night as a safe descent would allow, sleeping as little as we could, on the way down from the hills.

The early afternoon sun fought its way through the small windows of the pub. Rella had told me the unlikely one to go to, where the members of the Silent Service met to exchange information— "Though you'd never know it," she had warned me. "Its a quiet place, and Hygel himself will be the one your eye passes over most easily."

I hadn't asked miracles of my poor weary horse, I'd ridden as gently as I could, but Verfaren was a good ten miles from the field where the dragons had landed and I had need of speed. The creature was too tired even to complain when we had finally reached the gates of the town at midday. I'd found The Brewer's Arms without difficulty, and the stabling was good enough to satisfy me. I left the bay covered in a decent stall, with a good warm mash and a promise of rest.

Lucky creature. I couldn't see any rest for myself.

I'd not been in the common room long ere I began to see what Rella meant. The conversations around me were held in normal voices, and the speakers might as well have been discussing the weather. I tried to concentrate on one pair near me, but when I finally managed to distinguish their speech from the others, it made no sense at all.

So, the Silent Service had its own cant. I should have known.

The landlord came up and refilled my mug, then made to turn away.

"Hygel?" I asked quietly.

He glanced down at me, disinterested. "Hygel's not here."

"Shame. I've news for him."

One comer of the man's mouth turned up. "You and all the world. You tell me, then, and I'll pass it on when he gets back."

"Sorry, friend, can't do that. Rella would skin me."

"Rella, is it? I know a Rella. Tall lass, red hair, sassy walk."

I wondered if I really looked that much of an idiot. "Hells mend you for a liar, friend," I said, gulping more chelan. "Hard to walk sassy with her back, truly, and if you think she's tall you must be walking on stilts." I glanced at him. "I'll not speak to the hair, though. Alchemists have nothing on a woman who's tired of her looks."

The man put his jug on the table and sat down. "Is she well?'

"She is. My name's Jamie. I've come on business."

He leaned his arms on the table. "What business?" He lifted an eyebrow. 'You're not in the Service, that's plain."

I replied in mercenary cant. "No, I'm on my own. But a little co-operation could be profitable for both sides, if you're who I think you are."

"Enough of that," he replied in common speech. "I'll admit you're not just some idiot walked into the wrong place." His seeming-casual gaze was taking in every detail of my appearance. You don't get eyes like that being a landlord.

"Kind of you to say so, Master Hygel," I muttered.

"Yes, yes, fine," he said, brushing at the air with one hand as if to shoo away all such nonessentials as his name. "I'm Hygel. What are you after?"

"Not what, who. I'm after him they call the master of the College here. He's taken something from me and I want it back."

Hygel let out a short bark of laughter. "Ha! That one!" He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms and gazing at me through narrowed eyes. "Old son, let me give you a word or two of advice, and because you're a friend of Rella's I won't even charge you for it. First, don't say his right name this close to the place, because he'll bloody well hear you. And second—whatever it is you want to do, don't try. Don't even think about it. You might as well call yourself a goose and pick a spit, because sure as life you're roasted before you start."

I shot out an arm, grabbed his shirtfront, and pulled his face close to mine before he could react. "He's got my daughter, you bastard," I growled. "Do not dare to laugh."

I could feel the silence behind me, likely barbed or at least pointed, in the sense of several silent blades drawn and aimed. I ignored it—though truth to tell, there was a part of me that was howling at my own reaction. I shoved Hygel away and stood up. "She's just a girl," I snarled. "I thought we might exchange information, for I surely to all the Hells know things you don't, and I need to know how to get in there and find her. Fast. Before anything worse happens."

Hygel stared at me. I stared back, my fury at Berys beating time with my pulse.

He gestured, and I felt the pressure behind my back melt away. "Sit down, friend Jamie," he said quietly. "Perhaps we need to talk after all."

I took my seat again.

"You first, and make it good," he said, very quietly. "What you need to know is worth a by-our-Lady fortune."

"Would it surprise you to learn that there are dragons here?" I said, lowering my own voice as much as I could and still be heard. "Not the little ones. The real ones."

Hygel snorted. "I heard that one two days ago. A True Dragon, one of the big ones. I'd always thought they were legend, and I wouldn't have believed it if my best local man hadn't told me. Seems it went into the Sulkith Hills and hasn't been seen since."

"Oh, yes, that one did," I replied, sitting back a little. "Though it's come down again, not ten miles from here as we speak. But it's the other hundred and eighty-some you need to know about."

Give him credit, he never changed his expression, and he swore impressively in a calm voice no different from his normal speech. Finally he calmed down enough to say, "Hells' teeth and Shia's toenails, where did you hear that? And do you trust the source?"

"I saw them land. I was there. Dawn this morning." I smiled crookedly. "And don't blaspheme the Goddess's toenails, we're going to need all the help we can get."

"Is it conquest, then?" he asked, still in a tone of voice that you'd use to discuss the weather. "Do we need to get away?"

"I doubt it, from what I've seen. Though surely the world is changed forever. They are here to stay, Master Hygel, but they are reasonable creatures, and from what I've heard they truly want to live in peace. Well, most of them do. Assuming we let them," I added. "And I don't care what you've heard, or who told you— they're bigger than that."

"Well, light my toes and call me a match," he said, staring at me long and hard. "That's news and no mistake."

"News enough for you to tell me how to get to the Archim-age?" I asked quietly.

"I told you already, it can't be done," he said crossly. "Him over there is no fool, mores the pity. He's been right cagey with his wrongdoing. There's those at the College know he's corrupt— Magister Rikard for a start—but until they have proof there's damn all they can do about it." He snorted. "Rikard's been looking for years, but Be—Himself has kept his head down. If you can prove he's taken your daughter against her will, Rikard will have him dead to rights and thank you for it." Hygel grinned briefly. "And likely thank me as well." He shook his head and leaned forward, dropping his voice. "Problem is, that one's got demons protecting him, has had for years, and it's got a great deal worse in the last few days." He took a draught from my mug of chelan. "Like a stirred ants' nest that place has been, this last se'ennight. Word has it two of the students went rogue and murdered two of the Magistri."

"Damn fine students, then, if they could overcome those who taught them," I said dryly.

"Right enough. But the place is closed in on itself. The main gate is locked, as it hasn't been since I can recall. Even All Comers is closed. That's never happened in all my years here." Hygel lifted an eyebrow. "If you can tell me what's happened, I can surely get you inside. Undetected, if you're careful."