The musicians, having finished snacking, resumed the entertainment with “Greensleeves,” and Nayda and Bill both leaned toward me simultaneously, then glanced up, their gazes meeting. Both smiled.

“Ladies first,” Bill said loudly.

She nodded to him.

Then, “Have a chance to think about my offer?” she asked me.

“Some,” I said, “but I had a question. Remember?

“What was it?”

“It's kind of you to want to do me a favor,” I said, “but at times such as this, one must be excused for checking the price tag.”

“What if I wem to say that your good will would be sufficient?”

“What if I were to say that my good will isn't worth much at the policy level here?”

She shrugged. “Small price for a small return. I already knew that. But you're related to everybody in this place. Nothing may ever happen, but it's conceivable that someone might ask your opinion of us. I'd like you to know you have friends in Begma and to feel kindly disposed toward us if that occurred.”

I studied her very serious expression. There was more to it than that, and we both knew it. Only I didn't know what might be on the horizon, and she obviously did.

I reached out and stroked her cheek once with the back of my hand.

“I am expected to say something nice about you folks if someone should ask me, that's all, and for this you will go out and kill someone for me if I just supply the particulars. Right?”

“In a word, yes,” she replied.

“It makes me wonder why you think you can manage an assassination better than we could. We're old hands at it.

“We have, as you put it, a secret weapon,” she said. “But I was thinking that this is a personal matter for you, not a state matter-and that you might not want any of the others involved. Also, I can provide a service that will not be traceable.”

Bag of worms time again. Was she implying that she thought I did not trust all of the others here-or that I should not? What did she know that I didn't? Or was she just, guessing, based on Amber's history of intrigue within the family? Or was she intentionally trying to stir up a generational conflict? Would that suit Begma's purpose in some fashion? Or... Was she guessing that such a situation existed and offering to remove a family member for me? And if so, did she think I'd be stupid enough to get someone else to do the job? Or even to discuss such a notion and thereby give Begma a shot at sufficient evidence to have some kind of hold over me? Or...

I drew back from the view. It pleased me that my thought processes were finally working properly for the company my family keeps. (Both my families, actually.) It had taken me a long while to get the hang of it. It felt good.

A simple refusal would foreclose all of the above. But, on the other hand, if I were to string her along a bit, she might prove a tantalizing source of information.

So, “Would you go after anyone I would name?” I said. “Anyone?”

She studied my face very carefully. Then, “Yes,” she answered.

“You must excuse me again,” I responded, “but doing it for such an intangible as my good will causes me to wonder about your good faith.”

Her face reddened. Whether it was a simple blush or anger I could not be certain, because she looked away immediately. This didn't bother me, though, because I was certain it was a buyer's market.

I returned my attention to my food and was able to put away several mouthfuls before she was back again. “Does this mean you won't be stopping by tonight?” she asked.

“I can't,” I said. “I am going to be completely occupied.”

“I can believe you ane very busy,” she said. “But does that mean we will not be able to talk at all?”

“It depends entirely on how things break,” I said. “I have an awful lot going on just now, and I may be leaving town soon.”

She started slightly. I was certain she considered asking me where I was going, but thought better of it.

Then, “This is awkward,” she said. “Have you refused my offer?”

“Is the deal only good for this evening?” I asked.

“No, but it was my understanding you were in some peril. The sooner you move against your enemy, the sooner your sleep is untroubled.”

“You feel I am in danger here in Amber?”

She hesitated a moment, then said, “No one is safe, anywhere, from an enemy of sufficient determination and skill.”

“Do you feel the threat to be a local one?” I inquired.

“I asked you to name the party,” she stated. “You are in the best position to know.”

I drew back immediately. It was too simple an entrapment, and obviously she'd already smelled it.

“You've given me much to think about,” I answered, and I returned to my food.

After a time, I saw that Bill was looking at me as if he wanted to say something. I gave him a minuscule shake of my head, which he seemed to understand.

“Breakfast, then?” I heard her say. “This trip you spoke of could mpresent a time of vulnerability. It would be good to settle this before you depart.”

“Nayda,” I said, as soon as I had swallowed, “I would like to be clear on the matter of my benefactors. If I were to discuss this with your father—”

“No!” she interrupted. “He knows nothing about it!”

“Thank you. You must admit my curiosity as to the level at which this plan originates.”

“There is no need to look any further,” she stated. “It is entirely my idea.”

“Same of your earlier statements cause me to infer that you have special connections within the Begman intelligence community.”

“No,” she said, “only the ordinary ones. The offer is my own.”

“But someone would have to... effectuate this design.”

“That is the province of the secret weapon.”

“I would have to know more about it.”

“I've offered you a service and I've promised you total discretion. I will go no further as to means.”

“If this idea is wholly your own, it would seem that you stand to benefit from it personally. How? What's in it for you?”

She looked away. She was silent for a long time. “Your file,” she said at last. “It was... fascinating reading it. You're one of the few people here close to my own age, and you've led such an interesting life. You can't imagine how dull most of the things I have to read are-agricultural reports, trade figures, appropriations studies. I have no social life whatsoever. I am always on call. Every party I attend is really a state function in one form or another. I read your file over and over and I wondered about you. I... I have something of a crush on you. I know it sounds silly, but it's true. When I saw some of the recent reports and realized that you might be in great danger, I decided I would help you if I could. I have access to all sorts of state secrets. One of them would provide me with the means of helping you. Using it would benefit you without damaging Begma, but it would be disloyal of me to discuss it further. I've always wanted to meet you, and I was very jealous of my sister when you took her out today. And I still wish you'd stop by later.”

I stared at her. Then I raised my wineglass to her and took a drink.

“You are... amazing,” I said. I couldn't think of anything else to say. It was either an on-the-spot fabrication or it was true. If it were true, it was somewhat pathetic; if not, I thought it a rather clever bit of quick thinking, calculated to hit me in that wonderfully vulnerable place, the ego. She deserved either my sympathy or my wariest admiration. So I added, “I'd like to meet the person who wrote the reports. There may be a great creative talent going to waste in a government office.”

She smiled, raised her own glass and touched it to mine.

“Think about it,” she said.

“I can honestly say I won't forget you,” I told her.