Demok stood beneath a faded silk awning and waited for Kehrsyn to reappear. The awning sagged beneath its burden of rainwater, and periodically the level of the water rose to a point where a sudden cataract dumped over one side. The regular purge was as good a marker of time as any.

From his vantage point across the boulevard from the building Kehrsyn had entered, Demok could not make out the seal that hung over the main entrance; the rain was too heavy. Even though the thin pedestrian traffic offered cover, he chose not to move closer and check. Kehrsyn had no idea she'd been shadowed, and he didn't want to give either her or the occupants any chance to discover they were being watched.

Not that Kehrsyn had taken particularly good precautions. To a seasoned stalker like him, her subtlety rang with furtive intent. Still, he rationalized, she was cautious, and that was probably more than enough in weather like that against what he presumed was an unsuspecting target.

He'd watched her study the building, moving in a circumspect circuit around it. He'd seen her study the figure that sat near one window. He'd watched her bump a massively built matron of a resident, presumably to cut her purse or some such. Though the acting was contrived, she had fast hands. He had to give her that-very fast hands, and a light touch. The matron had left, none the wiser.

The front door of the building opened again, and a group of people stepped out. They walked in roughly his direction, hunkered down against the rain. He glided out of his cover along an intercept course, hoping to glimpse a clue to their affiliation as he passed. And, as he asked them for unneeded directions, he did: they were dressed in scarlet and black, and he caught a glimpse of the dragon-heads sigil that marked the bearer as a follower of Tiamat, the Dragon Queen.

Demok touched the brim of his rain-soaked hood in thanks for their assistance and watched them shuffle off into the cold winter rain.

Tiamatans, he thought. How interesting. My masters will be most interested to hear of her escapades here.

Demok crossed back to his watch post and waited for Kehrsyn to reappear.

I only hope she is of the proper temperament to be recruited, he reflected. If not… such a weapon cannot be allowed to fall into other hands.

He saw a shadow exit the building from the upstairs window. It was Kehrsyn. His heart skipped a beat as he caught a glimpse of her. The excitement of the hunter when he sees his prey, he told himself.

He watched the lithe, expert fashion in which she climbed back down the building, and one corner of his mouth pulled up appreciatively. She moved away, unrolling her cloak against the rain. She never noticed him slide from the shadows and begin stalking her again.

"Well, fancy meeting you here," said Kehrsyn, her smile a bright oasis in the grim, gray rain that drenched the stalls of the bazaar.

Demok pressed his lips together in an expression that Kehrsyn suspected was as jovial as his scarred face ever got.

"Massedar sent me to look for you," he said.

"Why, Demok," said Kehrsyn with mock astonishment, "I do believe that's the longest sentence I've yet heard you say."

To her surprise, he actually laughed, a single coughing snort that showed teeth.

"I'll work on that," he said.

He stepped aside and gestured chivalrously. Kehrsyn nodded and winked at him, and the two of them walked side by side through the soggy streets of Messemprar, the dense city mud unable to stick to their boots in the face of such a rain.

After several moments of silence, Kehrsyn finally said, "Is there some kind of problem? I mean, I'm surprised that someone as important as Massedar would trouble himself for someone like me."

"Explain."

"I mean, I'm just a juggler who-"

Demok raised his hand so sharply that Kehrsyn thought he was going to strike her.

"No," he said, 'You're not."

"Yes, I am," she said. "Call it what you like, but-"

"A juggler you are. You are not a 'just a' juggler," said Demok, glaring at her.

Nervous, Kehrsyn returned his gaze and said, "If you didn't look so angry, I'd say that was maybe a compliment."

"You have exceptional skills," Demok said, dropping his eyes.

"Well, I don't know if-"

"Good with people, too."

There was a long pause.

"Thanks," said Kehrsyn.

She glanced at Demok, and perhaps he nodded, but that was all the acknowledgment he gave.

They walked a ways farther.

"Does he think that?" she asked, a guilty lilt in her voice.

"Who?" asked Demok.

"Massedar," said Kehrsyn with a smile. "Does he think I have 'exceptional skills'? Is that why he sent you out to find me?"

"In part," said Demok.

"Why else?" asked Kehrsyn.

She glanced at her companion, but she couldn't see his eyes for the hood he wore. All she received for an answer was a resolute set to his jaw.

"Is he…?" she pressed. "Does he think I'm…? That is, I know it's business, but…" She couldn't bring herself to say it, so instead she gave up, exasperated. "Oh, you wouldn't know," she sighed. "Just forget about it."

Demok stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.

"I will," he said, "if you will."

"What do you mean?" asked Kehrsyn, but Demok had already turned and was heading on, his long gait even faster than before, and Kehrsyn had to trot to keep pace. "Tell me! What do you mean?"

"Forget about it," said Demok. "Good advice."

Kehrsyn grumbled at his curt behavior but said nothing further for several blocks, though she refused to keep trotting and started to trail behind her escort. Gradually Demok's pace slowed to allow her to catch up.

They walked a while farther in peace, listening to the rain on their hoods, before Kehrsyn broke the silence again. "I hope I didn't offend him," she said, a little too loudly to be talking to herself.

Demok did not appear to hear her statement.

"Do you think I upset him?"

He glanced at her and said, "You stole his staff."

"No, I mean about saying I expected him to… you know, well, have his… his way…"

Demok slowed just a bit.

"Why did you give that answer?" he asked, his eyes boring into Kehrsyn's.

"Well, because I'm poor, and he's powerful, and my mother was poor, and it happened to her when she attracted the attention of a powerful man. And I've got her good looks, or so people say, so I've always just figured it was a matter of time before it happened to me."

Demok nodded and resumed at his brisk pace.

"You didn't answer my question," Kehrsyn said, but to no avail.

"Well," she puffed under her breath, "if he wants to avoid talking, he should quit asking questions."

"I understand thee not," said Ahegi. "Why dost thou not search the maid straightaway?"

"Dear advisor," replied Massedar, "thou hast the subtlety of a flatulent camel. Heed thou my words, and all shall be reckoned well with the maiden."

"I shall obey thee," said Ahegi, though he bridled speaking the words, especially after such a comparison. "Just rest stalwart that this wench stealeth not thy heart as well as thy treasures."

Massedar narrowed his eyes just a shade and said, "Thinkest thou that I remain not in control of all within this house?"

In response, Ahegi studied his lord. Ahegi knew all about lusts. He had, in fact, spent his whole life indulging his own, and, while he might never admit his own ruled him, he could tell when lust ruled others. He knew Massedar was a man of lust, though he had never quite figured out what its object was.

"Think I that thou dost protest overmuch," answered Ahegi at last, measuring the words evenly.

He bowed and left the audience hall, shutting the door quietly behind him.