- the banner of her brightness harries The hosts of Shadowland from off the way That she now wills to tread - for what can stay The triumph of that radiance she carries?

Yes, it was clearly going to be a rondel. Therefore the next two lines were:

My lady comes to me like break of day. I dream in darkness if it chance she tarries.

He had gotten that far when abruptly she said: 'Cappen, this is such a fineexcursion, such splendid scenery. I'd like to watch sunrise over the rivertomorrow. Will you escort me?'

Sunrise? But she was telling Jamie, 'We need not trouble you about that. I hadin mind a walk out of town to the bridge. If we choose the proper route, it'swell guarded everywhere, perfectly safe.'

And scant traffic moved at that hour; besides, the monumental statues along thebridge stood in front of bays which they screened from passers-by - 'Oh, yes,indeed, Danlis, I'd love to,' Cappen said. For such an opportunity, he could getup before cockcrow.

- When he reached the mansion, she had not been there.

Exhausted after his encounter with Illyra, Cappen hied him to the Vulgar Unicornand related his woes to One-Thumb. The big man had come on shift at the innearly, for a fellow boniface had not yet recovered from the effects of a disputewith a patron. (Shortly thereafter, the patron was found floating face downunder a pier. Nobody questioned One-Thumb about this; his regulars knew that hepreferred the establishment safe, if not always orderly.) He offered taciturnsympathy and the loan of a bed upstairs. Cappen scarcely noticed the insectsthat shared it.

Waking about sunset, he found water and a washcloth, and felt much refreshed hungry and thirsty, too. He made his way to the taproom below. Dusk was blue inwindows and open door, black under the rafters. Candles smeared weak light alongcounter and main board and on lesser tables at the walls. The air had growncool, which allayed the stenches of the Maze. Thus Cappen was acutely aware ofthe smells of beer - old in the rushes underfoot, fresh where a trio of men hadsettled down to guzzle - and of spitted meat, wafting from the kitchen.

One-Thumb approached, a shadowy hulk save for highlights on his bald pate.'Sit,' he grunted. 'Eat. Drink.' He carried a great tankard and a plate bearinga slab of roast beef on bread. These he put on a corner table, and himself on achair.

Cappen sat also and attacked the meal. 'You're very kind,' he said between bitesand draughts.

'You'll pay when you get coin, or if you don't, then in songs and magic stunts.They're good for trade.' One-Thumb fell silent and peered at his guest.

When Cappen was done, the innkeeper said, 'While you slept, I sent out a coupleof fellows to ask around. Maybe somebody saw something that might be helpful.Don't worry - I didn't mention you, and it's natural I'd be interested to knowwhat really happened.'

The minstrel stared. 'You've gone to a deal of trouble on my account.'

'I told you, I want to know for my own sake. If deviltry's afoot, where could itstrike next?' One-Thumb rubbed a finger across the toothless part of his gums.'Of course, if you should luck out - I don't expect it, but in case you do remember who gave you a boost.' A figure appeared in the door and he went torender service.

After a bit of muttered talk, he led the newcomer to Cappen's place. When theminstrel recognized the lean youth, his pulse leaped. One-Thumb would not havebrought him and Hanse together without cause; bard and thief found each otherinsufferable. They nodded coldly but did not speak until the tapster returnedwith a round of ale.

When the three were seated, One-Thumb said, 'Well spit it out, boy. You claimyou've got news.'

'For him?' Hanse flared, gesturing at Cappen.

'Never mind who. Just talk.'

Hanse scowled. 'I don't talk for a single lousy mugful.'

'You do if you want to keep on coming in here.'

Hanse bit his lip. The Vulgar Unicorn was a rendezvous virtually indispensableto one in his trade.

Cappen thought it best to sweeten the pill: 'I'm known to Molin Torchholder. IfI can serve him in this matter, he won't be stingy. Nor will I. Shall we say hm - ten gold royals to you?'

The sum was not princely, but on that account plausible. 'Awright, awright,'Hanse replied. 'I'd been casing a job I might do in the Jewellers' Quarter. Asquad of the watch came by towards morning and I figured I'd better go home, notby the way I came, either. So I went along the Avenue of Temples, as I might bewanting to stop in and pay my respects to some god or other. It was a darknight, overcast, the reason I'd been out where I was. But you know how severalof the temples keep lights going. There was enough to see by, even upwards aways. Nobody else was in sight. Suddenly I heard a kind of whistling, flappingnoise aloft. I looked and -'

He broke off.

'And what?' Cappen blurted. One-Thumb sat impassive.

Hanse swallowed. 'I don't swear to this,' he said. 'It was still dim, yourealize. I've wondered since if I didn't see wrong.'

'What was it?' Cappen gripped the table edge till his fingernails whitened.

Hanse wet his throat and said in a rush: 'What it seemed like was a huge blackthing, almost like a snake, but bat-winged. It came streaking from, oh, more orless the direction of Molin's, I'd guess now that I think back. And it was aimedmore or less towards the temple of Ils. There was something that dangled below,as it might be a human body or two. I didn't stay to watch, I ducked into thenearest alley and waited. When I came out, it was gone.'

He knocked back his ale and rose. 'That's all,' he snapped. 'I don't want toremember the sight any longer, and if anybody ever asks, I was never heretonight.'

'Your story's worth a couple more drinks,' One-Thumb invited.

'Another evening,' Hanse demurred. 'Right now I need a whore. Don't forget thoseten royals, singer.' He left, stiff-legged.

'Well,' said the innkeeper after a silence, 'what do you make of this latest?'

Cappen suppressed a shiver. His palms were cold. 'I don't know, save that whatwe confront is not of our kind.'

'You told me once you've got a charm against magic.'

Cappen fingered the little silver amulet, in the form of a coiled snake, he worearound his neck. 'I'm not sure. A wizard I'd done a favour for gave me this,years ago. He claimed it'd protect me against spells and supernatural beings ofless than godly rank. But to make it work, I have to utter three truths aboutthe spellcaster or the creature. I've done that in two or three scrapes, andcome out of them intact, but I can't prove the talisman was responsible.'

More customers entered, and One-Thumb must go to serve them. Cappen nursed hisale. He yearned to get drunk and belike the landlord would stand him what wasneedful, but he didn't dare. He had already learned more than he thought theopposition would approve of- whoever or whatever the opposition was. They mighthave means of discovering this.

His candle flickered. He glanced up and saw a beardless fat man in an ornateformal robe, scarcely normal dress for a visit to the Vulgar Unicorn.'Greetings,' the person said. His voice was like a child's.

Cappen squinted through the gloom. 'I don't believe I know you,' he replied.

'No, but you will come to believe it, oh, yes, you will.' The fat man sat down.One-Thumb came over and took an order for red wine - 'a decent wine, mine host,a Zhanuvend or Baladach.' Coin gleamed forth.

Cappen's heart thumped. 'Enas Yorl?' he breathed.