"Short run," Mynx answered, mimicking his mumbling.

"Want to make a dash for it?"

Tarscenian shook his head. "There'll be no outrunning this thing. Get your fellow thieves, bring help back here. That Xam fellow is big enough to-"

"No luck, old man. They'll never come."

Tarscenian growled. "What's a gods-blasted thieves' ring good for, then, if they won't help you when you need it?" His face was pale with exertion.

"Gav calls the moves," Mynx panted. "We're the play shy;ers. And I don't think he'd risk the others for a new

man-someone who isn't even one of us, yet."

"What about for you?"

Mynx sidestepped a tree root. "I can leave here at any time, Tarscenian. Can't you tell the beast's after you?"

Tarscenian looked the hobgoblin in its tiny yellow eyes. The creature waved its sword tauntingly and leered. "Big money," the hobgoblin said. "Bounty fat on ol' funny-looking guy. Hederick plenty mad you, human."

It was still leering when Mynx landed on its back, looped her arms around its neck, and butted its helmet forward, obstructing its sight. She sliced at its shoulders and neck. The blinded creature howled but continued to slash at Tarscenian with its sword hand, thrusting its spear at him with the other. The double blades formed a whirlwind of steel. Tarscenian tried to sidle to one side, but the creature's hearing must have been acute; even without sight, it followed whichever way Tarscenian moved.

Then Mynx and her dagger found a crucial artery in the beast's neck.

"For the Old Gods!" Tarscenian bellowed, and struck at the same time.

In an instant, the hobgoblin lay on the ground. Its lifeblood pumped out of twin gashes in its neck and side.

A short time later, Tarscenian and Mynx raced into the thieves' den. Mynx threw herself, gasping, onto the green settee. "By the gods, Gav, Solace is crawling with hobgoblins!" she croaked.

The half-elf widened his eyes at their disguises, but merely rasped, "Yet you came through all right, I see."

"Sure, but we had to kill… how many beasts, Tarscen shy;ian? Half-dozen goblins and hobgoblins?"

"About that," Tarscenian said offhandedly. Even though his knees were trembling from the strain he'd been through, he forced himself to breathe slowly and deeply. He stood there, pretending he was no more winded than a young man would be, and shrugged

casually.

"It's over now," Tarscenian said. "I want Gaveley's answer. "Will you and your ring help me steal the Dia shy;mond Dragon from Hederick?"

The half-elf looked at Tarscenian across the crystal rim of a wine goblet. Gaveley was dressed with his usual flair, this time in scarlet leather breeches and black silk shirt, a white silk scarf knotted at his slender throat. He was smiling, but his tilted hazel eyes hinted danger. "I've reviewed your request, old man," he whispered. "I believe we will pass it by."

There was a short pause before Mynx exploded in protest. "Why, Gav? Stealing the thing would be a great way to get Hederick's goat! You hate him; we all do. He's killing our business. With taxes so high, no one has anything worthwhile to steal. Why not go along with Tarscenian? I'd help him steal it, and you all know I'm the best thief here. This dragon thing's worth a fortune!" She looked at each of the three thieves in turn. "We all could practically retire," she finished, trying to make a

joke.

Gaveley snarled. "It's my decision, Mynx. Accept it or leave." Xam and Snoop nodded in tandem. Tarscenian frowned, his gray gaze flicking from Gaveley to Mynx.

Mynx looked startled. "Leave? But I grew up in this ring, Gav."

"And I taught you from the start that in Gaveley's ring…"

".. . Gaveley's word is law," she finished. She pulled her helm from her head, and pushed her hand back through her newly blond hair. She looked at Tarscenian. "I'm sorry," she said simply. "I won't go against the group. I don't dare."

Tarscenian's expression didn't change. "Like the slaves," he whispered. "What did you call them, Mynx- sheep?"

"That's not fair," she flared. "It's not the same thing at all!"

"Isn't it?" Wordless, Tarscenian bowed slightly to Gaveley, then moved the statue of the harpist as he'd seen the others do, and left. He managed to look digni shy;fied despite his angry feelings and beggarly disguise.

"Go out the back," Gaveley rasped at Snoop. "Keep him in sight but don't let him see you. If the temple guards accost him within Erolydon, make as if you're delivering him to Hederick. Then at least we'll get the bounty, if not the Diamond Dragon. We can always steal that later."

"And if he gets the Diamond Dragon?"

"Steal it from him," Gaveley whispered. "Then kill him. Present the old man's head to Hederick. Then we'll still get the bounty."

Mynx leaped up. "Gaveley!" She tore at his arm. "What happened to honor? You were always so proud that you were more honorable than the rich people. Remember, Gav?"

He shoved her away. "I'm a thief, Mynx. And I'm not human. What use to me is a human idea like honor?"

"But… but elves have honor, too," she stammered.

"Neither elves nor humans recognize my noble lin shy;eage," he spat. "Better to throw in my lot with someone who at least will give me some money, if not respect."

She stared at him, then at Xam, who was watching the exchange from the back doorway. Her gaze, now dis shy;gusted, went back to the half-elf. "You've gone in with Hederick, Gav? Is that it? After we decided not to?"

"You decided not to, Mynx," Gaveley whispered. "The rest of us…"

Mynx turned to Xam. The bounty-hunter shrugged. "It's a job," he said. "Hederick's no worse than anyone

else we've worked for, Mynx." The big man's eyes took on a pleading look, like a dog's. "Honest, Mynx. It's bet shy;ter to go in with us on this."

"But Hederick is crazy," she whispered. "Tarscenian is … is good."

"Since when do thieves care about good?" Gaveley whispered. He motioned to Xam, who lumbered across the room toward Mynx.

"I'm sorry, Mynx," the large man said. "There's a reward for you, too. A small one, but every bit counts these days."

"A reward?" Her voice cracked. She took a step back shy;ward and found herself pinioned by the half-elf.

"Hederick doesn't like it when people refuse his offers," Gaveley snapped in her ear. "Xam, we have work to do. Take care of her."

Her mind screamed for her to struggle, to run, but her body refused to obey. She merely watched, stunned, as Xam raised a meaty hand. He was a bounty-hunter, skilled at subduing his quarry. The blow struck the side of her neck. Her knees buckled, and she fell unconscious to the floor.

A short time later, Kifflewit crept through the back entrance of the thieves' den, busy hands replacing his lockpicking tools in one of his pouches. "Certainly dark in here," he whispered to himself. "Maybe Mynx is sleeping."

He'd seen Gaveley, then Xam and Snoop, and finally Mynx and Tarscenian enter the den. All but Mynx had emerged. Kifflewit wanted one last look at the splendors of Gaveley's den before he left Solace. The temple guards, still failing to show any sign of humor, had been dogging his steps. He'd managed to keep away from them, but even a kender grows tired of some games.

Mynx had been adamant about keeping him out of the thieves' den, the kender remembered. But if she were sleeping . . . Kifflewit brightened. Perhaps he could sneak a peek without waking her up.

"Surely one small light won't disturb her sleep," he reassured himself. Still standing in the doorway, he felt in his pockets for steel and flint, and scraped some lint from the bottom of a pocket. The first time he struck stone and steel together, he heard an immediate groan in the darkness before him and jumped. The steel went clat shy;tering away into the darkness. Another groan. Had he awakened Mynx?