"Well, when I told my old mother what I was up to- she sends you her blessings, by the way. She was more than grateful for the money-she said she knew there were some Katrian prisoners in the fortress and why didn't I check on them for a start, before I went to Urtah. I couldn't see there was any danger in asking straight out, so I went there and asked to see one of the captains of the fortress. The man I saw was Durakkon's younger son. He's no sort of a soldier at all, but he's a very decent, kind-hearted sort of fellow. Just as well-a real dyed-in-the-wool officer would probably have thrown me out. I told him my story about having known this Zen-Kurel when we'd both been banzis in Dari, and he told me at once-well, what I've already told you. Zen-Kurel's reasonably well, as far as I can make out-as well as anyone can be in that place-and Bayub-Otal too."
"Then-then surely they'll all be let out, won't they, as soon as things have quietened down? I could send him a letter, couldn't I, 'specially if you say this son of Durakkon's is so nice? Or-oh, Sednil, I could ransom him myself, surely?"
"You might have tried, perhaps." He gazed at her somberly.
"What d'you mean?"
He took her hand. "Maia, there's something more, and this is the bad bit, I'm afraid. Fornis is in Dari."
"Fornis? Well, I know she is. What about it?"
"She's got the whole of Paltesh under her control, and it's rumored that Han-Glat, who's in command of the fortress, has become her lover. That's what she intended all along, I dare say: Han-Glat's about the one man who
"Her
"Well, whether he is or not, no one's in any doubt that he's ready to do anything she wants him to. She's got Paltesh, she's got the fortress and she's got the prisoners. No one knows for certain what she's planning, but when I left, people were saying that she was in touch with some of the runaway slave bands in Belishba."
Maia shook her head uncomprehendingly.
"Well, you probably know more about Fornis than I do, Maia: I only know she's a woman who's ready to stick at nothing; and very bold and cunning, too. I think what she may really be trying to do is to make Kembri so nervous that he'll tell Durakkon to invite her to come back and confirm her as Sacred Queen again. And if he won't, she's perfectly capable of seceding from the empire and putting Paltesh at Karnat's disposal. At the least that would worry the Leopards very badly, but at the best-from her point of view, that is-she could hope to return to Bekla with Karnat and his army. That's to say, she could
"Oh, damn the empire!" said Maia. "The prisoners! The prisoners, Sednil-"
"Why, the prisoners are one of her strongest bargaining counters, don't you see? She's got Bayub-Otal and something like sixty or seventy Katrians and Terekenalters, including two or three of Karnat's best officers. She means to sell herself and them-and Paltesh-to- her own best advantage, that's certain."
Maia, white-faced, fists clenched, stood up, staring out over the parapet of the roof across the lower city. "I don't care! I don't care for basting Fornis, or Han-Glat or the whole damned lot of them. Now I know Zenka's alive I'm going to get him out if it's the last thing I do!"
There was a long pause. "Maia," said Sednil at last, standing up and coming over to her side, "would you think about marrying me? I've loved you, you know, ever since- ever since that morning in the temple. Do think about it seriously. A man of your own sort-someone you understand and who understands you. We could get down into Chalcon together before anyone missed you, and you'd be safe there. I know we might have a bit of a struggle to begin with, but I'd look after you and keep you safe-"
Turning, she laid a finger on his lips.
"I'm sorry, Sednil! I really am, because I like you and respect you. But it's not-well, it's just not what the gods say in my heart, that's all. Anyway, I told you before- Nennaunir loves you sincerely and you couldn't do better." She paused. "I must go downstairs now. Do you see-oh, careful! He might look up!-do you see that man waiting down there in the garden? I'm going to refuse Aim, too, even if it costs me my life; and I reckon-I reckon it probably will. Can you please wait up here until Ogma comes for you?" Embracing him, she kissed him warmly on the lips. "Dear Sednil, thank you for helping me: I'll never forget it. I know what I'm going to do now: I didn't before; I only thought I did. So that takes care of everything between us-except for this." And she handed him a small, plain wooden box..
"What's that, then?" he asked, in the dulled, heedless tone of someone upset and preoccupied.
"The other two thousand meld. Had you forgotten?"
