"I'll do it myself," he said. "And I'll send a patrol of

Maces after those riders. I doubt we'll catch them, but I

don't want them in the city. Those Shou can be sneaky."

Tombor the Jolly went to the first horse and stood on his toes so he could reach the knots. "Perhaps we should unload. Since Ruha risked her life to bring us this cargo,

I assume it is of some importance."

"It is." The witch glanced at the cleric just long enough to nod, then stifled a yawn and dismounted. "It's the last ingredient the Cult of the Dragon needs to steal Yansel- dara's spirit-ylang blossoms. They arrived on the Gin- ger Lady with Minister Hsieh."

"Then you've saved Yanseldara!" Fowler's outburst was as much question as exclamation, but that did not stop him from folding Ruha into his arms. "Maybe now you can get me my gold."

"Not so fast." Vaerana went to help Tombor unload the pack train. "As I understand things, stopping the cult's not the same as saving Yanseldara."

"That is correct. I have bought us more time, but

Yanseldara is still in danger until we recover the staff."

Vaerana tossed a sack of ylang blossoms on the ground.

"I don't suppose you can tell us where it is?"

The witch shook her head. "I am sorry. Lady Feng's

familiar was gone. It was all I could do to return with the ylang blossoms."

Vaerana sighed wearily. "I guess I'll have to do this myself."

"I am sorry I failed you."

Vaerana shrugged. "I'm sure you did your best."

The Lady Constable probably did not mean to be insulting, but her patronizing tone vexed Ruha and made the witch burn to expose Tombor's treachery. Unfortu- nately, vindication would have to wait. Until the cleric was gone, Ruha could not tell Vaerana about his treach- ery, or about her plan to trick him into leading them to

Cypress's lair.

"What are you planning to do?" Ruha tried to sound genuinely sorry for her failure. Once she sprang her trap and exposed Tombor, it would be Vaerana's turn to apolo- gize. "Perhaps I can help?"

Vaerana rolled her eyes, but managed to make a civil reply. "Why don't you get some rest? You look like you need it, and this is better done alone."

"Then you'll try to snatch a member of the cult?" asked

Fowler.

Vaerana nodded and reached across a horse to untie another sack of ylang blossoms. "I know a couple of likely places to find one."

Tombor shook his head. "Even if you're lucky enough to catch someone who knows where the lair is, he won't tell you. If you want to make him talk, take me along."

"Sorry, Tombor. We'll be moving fast tonight." Vaerana patted the cleric's stomach. "I don't think you can keep up."

"You'll have to torture them."

Vaerana nodded grimly. "I won't enjoy it."

Somehow, Ruha suspected the Lady Constable of being less than honest.

"Vaerana, before you go, we should talk." Ruha could hardly explain why in front of Tombor, but the last thing she wanted was for Vaerana to leave Moonstorm House.

"I should tell you of some other things I learned in the

Ginger Palace."

"Then talk." Vaerana continued to help Tombor unload.

"I don't have all night."

Ruha forced herself not to look in Tombor's direction.

"First, Cypress is back."

Vaerana's jaw fell, and she let a sack of blossoms slip from her grasp.

"I saw him in the spicehouse," Ruha explained. "He was smaller than the first time I saw him. He could not speak or use his magic, but it was definitely Cypress. By kidnapping his cult members, you may be drawing his attention to you."

Vaerana turned back to the pack train. "Better to face him in Elversult than in his lair." There was not much conviction in her voice. "What else?"

"Cypress is not stealing Yanseldara's spirit so his cult can control Elversult." Ruha was frantically trying to think of something that would keep the Lady Constable inside Moonstorm House without arousing Tombor's sus- picions. "The dragon wants her spirit for himself."

"For himself?" Vaerana echoed.

Ruha nodded. "I think Cypress is in love with Yansel- dara, or believes he is."

Tombor raised his brow. "You seem to have learned quite a lot during your visit!"

Behind her veil, Ruha bit her lip and wondered if she had said too much. Her mind was as weary as her body, and she found it difficult to be subtle when her thoughts were so sluggish.

"I overheard a conversation between the prince and the dragon." Then, doing her best to sound indignant,

Ruha said, "I am not entirely inept."

"No one said you were-er, at least not lately." Vaerana motioned Fowler over to hold the wounded packhorse.

"But Cypress doesn't have any reason to love Yanseldara.

She's the one that killed him!"

"You don't know much about men, do you Lady Con-

stable?" Fowler gave her a roguish, yellow-fanged grin.

"There's a fine half-elf tavern wench over in Saerloon who slams an ale tankard against my head every time I

see her, and I keep coming back for more. What's that tell you?"

"That you let your orcish blood get the best of you."

Vaerana growled. "You ought to know when to quit."

Fowler shrugged, trying not to look hurt. "Maybe, but what I'm saying is that I don't quit. I keep wanting what will never be mine. Seems like that's what Cypress is doing. Yanseldara killed him-maybe Sharee'll kill me with that tankard someday-and now he's trying to steal her, just as he stole all that treasure that belonged to someone else. He wants what he can't have. It's part of being male."

Vaerana pulled the last of the ylang blossoms off the wounded horse. "Fair enough. Let's say I don't under- stand men-not that I'd want to-what does it matter?"

The Lady Constable dropped the sack on the ground. "It doesn't change anything I've got to do tonight."

Vaerana turned to walk toward one of the towers, and

Ruha, desperate to keep her from leaving, caught her by the arm.

The Lady Constable frowned at the witch's hand.

"What now?"

"Do you have an oil press?" Ruha asked.

"In the kitchens," Tombor answered. "Why?"

The witch hesitated. She had already baited the trap, and she worried that in her exhaustion, she would explain too much and alert Tombor to her trap. On the other hand, if she did not explain, Vaerana would not stay to see the traitor take the bait.