Kehrsyn's clothes lay spread before the fire, slowly drying. Her bag, dagger, and rapier stood nearby. The decoy staff lay buried at the bottom of the bag, placed there when Demok had left the room to allow her to change in privacy. She sat wrapped in several warm blankets staring at the fire.

"Can't go back tonight," Demok said. "Too dark. Dangerous. We'll go in the morning."

"That's probably best," said Kehrsyn.

"Important news?"

Kehrsyn looked up at Demok's face, illuminated by the fire.

She hesitated, then said, "I know I can trust you, but I mean can I really trust you? This is big. I mean, you have to keep it secret. Really, really secret."

In answer, Demok clenched his fist and held it in the flames. Kehrsyn gasped. She saw the hairs on his arm ignite and flare into nonexistence. The smell of burned hair quickly spread.

"A'right a'right a'right, I can trust you," she said. "Please just take your hand out!"

He did so, flexed his hand, and blew on it.

"Right back," he said, took a dishcloth, and stepped outside.

When he returned, the cloth was soaked with chilly rainwater and wrapped around his hand.

"I hope you didn't hurt yourself," said Kehrsyn. "We may need your sword."

"I'm always ready to fight," said Demok. "Tell me."

Kehrsyn took a deep breath and said, "Well, first of all, Ahegi is actually Ekur."

"I grew up in Sespech," said Demok. "That name means nothing."

"Oh, right…" said Kehrsyn. "Ekur used to be a high priest of Gilgeam."

"Gilgeam I know," said Demok.

"Ekur was in charge of Shussel, which was the town where I grew up. I knew I knew him when I first saw him, but last time I saw him was over twelve years ago, and it took me until now to figure out who he was. I'm glad I finally recognized him. Anyway, I found out that he's working with the Zhentarim, and I think he was behind me stea-uh, behind the theft of the Alabaster Staff, and I think either the Tiamatans have hidden it somewhere or, more likely, the Zhents have it."

Demok looked genuinely surprised.

"He's a Zhent?" he asked, leaning forward. "How?"

"Well, the, uh, people who made me… you know… they had this map of Wing's Reach. They said they got it from the city archives, but it had all the recent additions, so it was a new map. And it had the location of the Alabaster Staff marked on it. That meant someone was a traitor. And they said as much, but they didn't know who it was, because it was this 'friend of a friend' sort of thing."

Kehrsyn bit her lip as she considered what to say next.

"I figured it was the Zhentarim," she continued. "From everything I've been hearing, they're working hard to worm their way into Unther, and despite what I said back in Wing's Reach I can't see anyone selling out to the pharaoh. The question was, who? I figured it was someone high, because they knew about the staff's hiding place. That meant it was you or Ahegi, most likely. I chose to try Ahegi first, because I figured it'd be harder to get something past you. And to be honest, I wanted it to be Ahegi, because he'd been giving me butterflies every time I saw him.

"So I find out. I write this note like I think maybe the Zhentarim would write it, and I sneak in and leave it on his bed. And for some reason he goes to talk to Massedar first, maybe to tell him he's leaving the building or something, and he goes all the way across town in a real hurry to a ship."

"A ship," echoed Demok, unable to follow Kehrsyn's train of thought.

"Don't you see? When the people came here and took all the bodies away-oh, wait, you weren't here. See, this used to be where the thieves' guild was, and-never mind, it's not important right now. But these Tiamat guys came in the middle of the night, and they took away all these dead bodies, and the guy in charge said they were going to leave them on the Zhentish ship. So these guys gave the Zhents all kinds of dead bodies! So that's why I think either Tiamat is helping them or the Zhents are using them, too."

Demok narrowed his eyes and asked, "Did they say which ship?"

"They said it was called the Bow Before Me."

Demok nodded again, running a thumb across his lower lip, and said, "It's in port, all right. It's tied up at the Long Wharf."

"Yes!" said Kehrsyn. "That's where Ekur went when he read the note. He went to the ship on the Long Wharf."

"When he got back, he ordered you killed," concluded Demok. "Makes sense."

"Yeah, maybe he spotted me shadowing him. I'm not as good as you are."

Demok ignored the comment, causing Kehrsyn to wonder if he thought anyone was as good as he was.

"So Ekur," said Demok, "an ex-Gilgeamite, has embraced Bane, Lord of Darkness."

"That sounds bad," said Kehrsyn.

"Worse," said Demok. "Devoted my life to fighting them. Had a hunch they were holing up here. Wondered if they were in Wing's Reach, the way the house rose to prominence."

"Is Massedar in danger?" asked Kehrsyn.

"Only if Ahegi finds out we know. I'll speak with Massedar directly." He rose and grabbed his swords. "You wait here."

"Please be careful," said Kehrsyn. "And tell him I'm fine."

Demok left, heading into the rain without acknowledging her request.

Demok recovered his horse and rode back to Wing's Reach, taking a circuitous route in hopes of avoiding the house guards. The horse balked at galloping in such dim light, but Demok's continued prodding kept its pace high. He was concerned that Ekur, thinking his cover blown, might try to assassinate Massedar.

He reached Wing's Reach, left his horse in the stable, and struck the stable boy to awaken him.

"Saddle," he barked, and strode into Wing's Reach.

He vaulted up the stairs three at a time to the third floor, where he went directly to Massedar's quarters. He pounded loudly on the doors.

"Whatever it is, it shall await the morning," came a sleepy and very irritated voice. "I have had my fill of interruptions."

"Demok, sir," said he. "Important!" he added, then pounded again.

Massedar muttered as he arose, the emotion, if not the exact words, clearly audible through the doors. At last the door creaked open and Massedar's face, at least a vertical quarter of it, appeared at the door.

"Speak thou thy tidings," he commanded.

"Ahegi, sir," said Demok, in a low, urgent voice. "Kehrsyn has proof he's a Zhent. The traitor we've suspected."

Massedar's sleepy eyes awoke at once, burning with fires of indignation. He pulled the door open wider and looked as if he was going to shout but fought back the impulse. Instead, he closed his eyes, clenched his fist, and drew in a deep breath through his nose.

"Ahegi…" he said, in a voice of resignation.

"Kehrsyn says he's Ekur of Shussel. Ex-Gilgeamite overlord."

"Truly is she more… more valuable than pearls."

"Where there's one priest, could be others."

"No," Massedar said, "there are no others."

"Certain?"

Massedar nodded and said, "Ahegi hath been in my employ these… thirteen, fourteen years… from the beginning. The others have I myself recruited, and none be so lettered as he."

"Best to keep quiet, anyway," said Demok.

"Well spoken, for perhaps he hath adherents of his own." Massedar shook his head, clenching and unclenching his fist. "He, a traitor. That provideth how the thief so well knew where to uncover the Alabaster Staff. Surely the black hand holdeth it now. Would that I knew what other poison and slander he hath spread amidst this house. He hath betrayed everything. The memory of his deity incarnate, the future of his people, and the trust of his benefactor. All these hath he yielded up to the hunger of a foreign god. Such bitter news must I endure. Where is Ahegi at this hour?"

"Hunting Kehrsyn."