She nodded and watched without interest as he cast his filthy tunic aside andpulled another one over his head.

"You should wash first," she told him. "You shouldn't stink before the Prince.You won't win any bargains."

Walegrin glared at her, dropping the second tunic to the floor as he stormedtoward the stream where they washed.

"I wasn't always like this," she shouted after him.. "I know better ways."

Dripping, but clean, Walegrin returned to the room to find his tunic lyingneatly on the mattress. Somehow the girl had gotten the extra wrinkles out. Hisbronze circlet had been given a quick polish and some of the mud was gone fromhis sandals. But Cythen herself was gone from the shed, the courtyard and thevilla. Coming on top of the loss of Illyra and Thrusher it was almost more thanhe could endure. Had he found her right then he would have cheerfully beatenher.

But the girl had been right, damn her. He felt better clean. His few menstraightened up as he assembled them in the courtyard. He told them what he'dtold Cythen. They grumbled and he doubted they'd wait more than a day beforegoing their separate ways if he did not return. He looked for Balustrus too, andfound only his share of the swords. The ore, the necklace and the metal-masterhad vanished. He was getting used to that.

Knots ofpeople ducked out of his path once he was on the streets. He wasrecognized, but no-one stopped him. With eyes fixed forward, he walked past thegallows, not chancing a glance at the corpses. The gatekeeper took his namewithout ceremony and a lad appeared to conduct him to the Hall of Justice.

He was left alone there in the echoing chamber. Kadakithus himself was the firstto enter, accompanied by two slaves. The young prince dismissed the slaves andtook his place on the throne.

"So, you're Walegrin," he began simply. "I thought I might recognize you. Youhave been no small amount of trouble."

Walegrin had intended to be quiet and meek-to do whatever was necessary to freeThrush. But this was Kittycat and he invited disrespect. "Finding your clotheseach morning must be equal trouble. You've got my man in your dungeons. I wanthim freed."

The Prince fidgetted with the ornate hem of his sleeve. "Actually I don't haveyour man. Oh, he's been taken all right, and he's alive-but he's Tempus'prisoner, not mine."

"Then I should be talking to Tempus, not you."

"Walegrin, I may not have your man-but I have you," the Prince said forcefully.

Walegrin swallowed his reply and studied the Prince.

"That's better. You're entitled to your opinion of me-and I'm sure I've earnedit. There's a lotto be said for playing one's part in life. Now, you'll talk toTempus after you've talked to me-and you'll be glad of the delay.

"I've had gods know how many letters from Ranke about you-starting before youdisappeared. I got my most recent one with the recent delegation from thecapital. Zanderei-as cunning an assassin as they could find. I know how muchmoney you got from Kilite. Don't look so surprised. I was raised in the ImperialHousehold-I wouldn't be alive at all if I didn't have some reliable friends. Thechief viper in my brother's nest is always asking for you. He seems to thinkyou've discovered Enlibar steel; I assure him that you haven't, though I knowyou have. I know how much he said he'd pay you for the secret; so I know you'renot in Sanctuary looking for a better price. But then, I also know whatBalustrus said about your progress with the steel. Does any of this surpriseyou?"

Walegrin said nothing. He was not truly surprised, though he hadn't expectedthis. Nothing was truly surprising today.

The prince misunderstood his silence. "All right, Walegrin. Kilite's factionfound you, paid you, pardoned your absence and then tried to have you killed.I've run afoul of Kilite a few times and I can promise you you'll never outsmarthim on your own. You need protection, Walegrin, and you need protection from aspecial sort of person-the sort of person who needs you as much as you need him.In short, Walegrin, you need me."

Walegrin remembered thinking the same thing once, though he'd envisioned thisinterview under different circumstances. "You have the Hounds, Tempus and theSacred Bands," he remarked sullenly.

"Actually, they have me. Face it, Walegrin: you and I are not well-equipped.Alone with only my birth or your steel, we're nothing but pawns. But, put mybirth with your steel and the odds improve. Walegrin, the Nisibisi are armed tothe teeth. They'll tie up the armies for years before the surrender-if theysurrender. Your handful of Enlibar swords won't make any difference. But theEmpire is going to forget about us while they're fighting in the north."

"Or, you want my men and my steel here instead of on the Wizardwall?"

"You make me sound just like Kilite. Walegrin, I'll make you my advisor. I'llcare for you and your men. I'll tell Kilite we found you floating in the harborand make sure he believes it. I'll keep you safe while the Empire exhaustsitself in the north. It may take twenty years, Walegrin, but when we return toRanke, we'll own it."

"I'll think about it," Walegrin said, though actually he was thinking ofIllyra's visions of an invading fleet and her warning that he would not gonorth.

The Prince shook his head. "You don't have time. You've got to be my man beforeyou see Tempus. You might need me to pry your man loose."

They were alone in the room and Walegrin still had his sword. He thought ofusing it; perhaps the Prince thought the same thing for he sat far back inthe throne, playing with his sleeve again.

"You might be lying," Walegrin said after a moment.

"I'm known for many things, but not lying."

That was true enough. Just as much of what he'd said was true. And there wasThrusher's safety, and Illyra's to think of. "I'll want a favor, right away,"Walegrin said, offering his hand.

"Anything in my power, but first we talk to Tempus-and don't tell him we've madean agreement."

The Prince led the way along unfamiliar corridors. They were in the private partof the palace and the surroundings, though crude by capital standards, dazzledWalegrin. He bumped into the Prince when the latter stopped by a closed door.

"Now, don't forget-we haven't agreed to anything. No, wait-give me your sword."

Feeling trapped, Walegrin unbuckled his sword and handed it to the Prince.

"He's arrived, Tempus," Kadakithus announced in his most innane voice. "Look, hegave me a present! One of his steel swords."

Tempus looked around from a window. He had some of the god's presence to him.Walegrin felt distinctly outclassed and doubted that Kitty-cat could do anythingto help him. He doubted that even the metal boss in his pouch could help himfree Thrusher or Illyra.

"The steel is Sanctuary's secret, not Kilite's?" Tempus demanded.

"Of course," the Prince assured him. "Kilite will never know. The entire capitalwill never know."

"All right, then. Bring him in," Tempus shouted.

Five Stepsons crowded into the room, a hooded prisoner with them. They sent theman sprawling to the marble floor. Thrusher pulled the hood loose and scrambledto his feet. A livid bruise covered one side of his face, his clothes were tornand revealed other cuts and bruises, but he was not seriously hurt.

"Your man-I should have let my men have him. He killed two last night."

"Not men!" Thrusher spat out. "Whoresons; men don't steal women and leave themfor the rats!"

One of the Stepsons moved forward. Walegrin recognized him as the one who hadoverturned Illyra's table. Though he felt the rage himself, he restrainedThrusher. "Not now," he whispered.