Since Prince Kadakithis knew that Hanse could not read, the bit of fine paper contained not writing, but clever drawings. The Governor's seal, with a hand extending from it, beckoning to a dark splotch. It was man-shaped - a shadow.

Under that was an untidy jumble of (turnip slices?) with straight lines raying up from them. Shadowsp.a.w.n's frown was a momentary thing. Then he was nodding in comprehension - he hoped.

'The P-G wants me to come calling on him, and here's a promise of reward: shiny coins. He sealed up the message in the walnut sh.e.l.l and gave it to one of his harem, with instructions. No one should see Hanse the thief receive a message from the Prince-Governor, else Hanse's name become Plague and he be avoided the same. So that girl found another, and pa.s.sed on the walnut and a coin, with her lord's instructions: "Take this to Moonflower for Hanse."'

And she had actually done it, without prying open the sh.e.l.l in an attempt to gain greater treasure than one coin! Well, miracles had happened before, Hanse mused, gazing pensively at the strange message. Had she opened the sh.e.l.l, she'd likely have discarded the note.

Or nervously pressed it back into the sh.e.l.l to scuttle to Moonflower with it.

Maybe someone does know that Hanse received a message that shows a beckoning hand from the Rankan seal, and a pile of coin. I hope she's the quiet sort!

If I knew who she is, I'd scare her into silence. But then maybe she didn't open it at all...

The point is, I hate to walk into the palace, day or night. How would that look?

Me!

Besides, someone inside probably spies for someone out here, and the word would be pa.s.sed. Hanse just walked right up and in, and he was pa.s.sed, too! Better watch him; maybe he's a spy for that golden-haired Rankan boy in the palace!

And so Hanse had thought on that, and begun to grin, and then to plan, and out he went to reconnoitre and plan, and now he had broken in, all unseen and unknown, to await his summoner in the latter's own privy apartment!

And now, sitting there waiting, Hanse reflected and contemplated the more, and his face clouded. The p.r.i.c.kling in his arms started slowly, and grew.

Unwittingly the tool of that pretty Lirain who had so cleverly seduced or 'seduced' him (with no trouble at all!), he had gained this apartment before, also by night and secretly. That time he had stolen the very symbol of Rankan power, that wand called the Savankh. Eventually all that had turned out, and governor and thief reached an understanding. By way of reward, Hanse was granted pardon for all he might have done - once he had a.s.sured the royal youth that he had never slain. (He had, since. It afforded him little enjoyment or pride.) Hanse also came out of that painful adventure with a nice little fortune.

Unfortunately it was in two saddlebags currently reposing at the bottom of a well. He hoped those saddlebags were of good leather.

Now he had broken in here twice. This time he had proven that he could enter this apartment without help from inside or out. What then, when Kadakithis gave thought to that?

Hanse had respect for the youthful Rankan's mind. It even possessed a devious quality. Hanse had seen and felt proof of that, when as Kadakithis's unwilling agent he had partic.i.p.ated in the ruin of the two plotters. Bourne and Lirain.

Suppose, the frowning Hanse mused, that Kadakithis pondered and kept thinking.

There existed in Sanctuary one who could gain his chambers and thus his royal and gubernatorial self, at will. At any time, and never mind guards and sentries! Suppose that one chose to come again, as thief? - or was hired to do, as a.s.sa.s.sin? Would such a possibility not tend to prey on Kadakithis's good mind? Might he not decide that he was less than wise to trust him called Shadow sp.a.w.n, a thief and ruthless besides? Might he not go even further in his thinking, and decide - wisely, as he would see it - that all things considered, Hanse was more dangerous than valuable?

In that case, the Prince-Governor might very well conclude, he and thus Sanctuary and thus Ranke were better off without such worries, such a possibility. In that event, it might occur to him that the world were better off without Hanse's continued presence in it. Nor would the world take heed of the timely demise of a c.o.c.ky young thief.

Hanse swallowed, blinked. Sitting stiffly on a divan in the luxurious apartment, he put it all through his mind again and chased its tail. He came to his own conclusion.

I have been a fool. I did all this for my pride, to be such a clever fellow. I am a clever thief, but a stupid fellow! Being here thus when he comes in could gain me another signature on another doc.u.ment from him - this time my death order! Oh d.a.m.n plague and pox, what have I done!?

Nothing, he thought as he rose with a great sigh, that could not be undone... he hoped. All he had to do was betake himself from here so that neither Kadakithis nor anyone else would ever know he had broken in. He glanced around and swallowed hard. It certainly was hard and against the grain not to steal something!

And so Shadowsp.a.w.n went to the window, and wearily began the process of breaking out of the Governor's Palace and its grounds.

2.

'It develops that I need help,' Prince-Governor Kadakithis said, 'and I cannot see a way to threaten it out of anyone.'

'Including me?'

'Including you, Hanse. Furthermore, if you won't help, I can't see how I can punish you either.'

'I'm glad to hear it. But I didn't know there were things a governor couldn't do, much less a prince.'

'Well, Shadowsp.a.w.n, now you know. Even Kitty-Kat isn't all powerful.'

'You need help and the h.e.l.l Hounds can't provide it?'

'That is close, Hanse. The Imperial Elite Guardsmen cannot help me with this. Or so I perceive it.'

'I sure do wish you would sit down. Highness, so I can.'

Kadakithis walked across the rich carpet of his privatemost chamber and sat on the edge of the peac.o.c.k spread of his bed. He gestured. 'Do take that divan, Hanse, or those cushions as it pleases you.'

Hanse nodded his thanks. He sank among the cushions, curbing a grin at their luxury. Last night he had sat on the divan, and only he knew it. This day he chose the luxury of the jumble of stuffed Aurveshan silk. (Quag the h.e.l.l Hound had been on duty at the gate. He had recognized the hooded blind beggar, who winked at him. Having been secretly apprised that Hanse was invited. Quag conducted the blind beggar to His Highness. The hooded robe lay on the bed beside the prince now, who had congratulated Hanse on the cleverness of his entry. Hanse forbore to tell him how much more clever he had been last night.) Now he decided that he could afford a modic.u.m of daring: 'Either I'm hearing sideways or you just told me you need me for something the h.e.l.l Hounds, I mean Imperial Elites, can't do. Or that your Highness can't trust them with? Or that you don't want them to know about.' Revelation: 'Or ... something illegal?'

'I will not affirm or deny anything that you have said.' That said, the prince merely gazed at him. The boy did a good job of looking enigmatic, Hanse mused, overlooking the fact that they were about the same age.

'If the prince will forgive me saying it... his Chief of Security is surely not one to baulk at such a ... mission.'

The prince continued to stare. One pale eyebrow rose slightly under that disgustingly handsome shock of yellow hair. And then Hanse was staring.

Tempus! It's about Tempus, isn't afl I haven't sees him for weeks.'

'Kadakithis turned his gaze on an ornate Yenizedish tapestry. 'Hanse: neither have I.'

'He is not on a mission for your Highness?'

'Just use the p.r.o.noun for me, Hanse, and we can save whole days of our lives.

No. He is not. He is missing. Who might wish him to be missing?'

Hanse was wary of being used as informant, but saw no reason not to answer that one. 'Oh, half the people in town. Maybe more. About the same number that would wish the governor to be missing. Your pardon of course. Governor. Or the Emperor. Or Ranke.'

'Hmm. Well, Empire is built on conquest, not love, however often they are the same. But I have striven to be decent here. Fair.'

Hanse considered. 'It is possible that you have been fairer than we might have expected.'

'Nicely put. Carefully chosen words. You may well become a diplomat yet, Shadowsp.a.w.n. And the h.e.l.l Hounds'! What of them?'

Hanse smiled briefly at the slim n.o.ble's calling his elite guards by the people's name for them; indeed, even the h.e.l.l Hounds called themselves h.e.l.l Hounds these days. It was a dramatic name with a romantic and rather sinister sound that appealed to their sort.

'Shall I answer that, to one from Ranke, with all the power there is? What power have I?' .

'You have influence with the Prince-Governor, Hanse, and with his Chief of Security. You uncovered the plot against me and helped break it up. You regained that awful fear-rod, and it cost you. Recently you helped Tempus in a matter, too. Now we are even in one area at least, aren't we?'

'Even? I? Me? Hanse of Sanctuary and the Emperor's brother?'

'Stepbrother,' the prince corrected, and fixed Hanse with a wide-eyed gaze, all blue. It reminded Hanse of his own ingenuous pose. 'Yes. Now we have both killed. I, Bourne. You... the night Tempus lost his horse.'

'The Prince-Governor is not without knowledge,' Hanse observed.

'Another careful, diplomat's phrasing! Now: Tempus set himself to destroying the minions of that Jubal fellow. Do you know why?'

'Maybe Tempus is a racist,' Hanse said, trying to look wide-eyed and ingenuous.

It didn't appear to be working. d.a.m.n. This golden-locked boy was smarter than Moonflower, despite her extra-human ability. Hanse sighed. 'You know. Jubal is a slaver and those weird-masked employees of his are feared. He has respect, and power. Tempus works for you, for Ranke's power.'

'Let's don't go making wagers on that. Would you say his killing of those in the blue birdmasks might be called murder, Hanse?'

'It might if it was one of us,' Hanse said, to the gleaming top of a low table.

'Surely not for him that calls us Wrigglies, though.'

The prince failed to disguise his little start. 'Strong words, Hanse of Sanctuary. And to one who does not call the Children of Ils "Wrigglies"!'

'Yes, and I really wish I hadn't said it. As a matter of fact I wish I wasn't here at all. How can I share confidences here? How can I say my mind to you, when you aren't a you, but both prince and governor?'

'Hanse: we have been through some things together.' In a manner of speaking, Hanse thought. You weren 't poked with that d.a.m.ned terror-stick, and you didn't spend half the night down a well and the other on a torturer's table!

'I might even consider myself in your debt,' Kadakithis went on.

'I am getting awfully uncomfortable, my lord ofRanke,' Hanse said elaborately.

'Will my lord Prince tell me why I am here?'

'd.a.m.n!' Kadakithis regarded the carpet and heaved a great sigh. 'I've an idea it would be a waste of time to offer you wine, my friend. So I -'

'Friend!'

'Why yes, Hanse,' Kadakithis said, all large of eye and open-looking. 'I call you friend. We are even of an age.'

Hanse erupted to his feet in a jerk that was still admirably sinuous. He paced.

'Oh,' he said, and paced. 'Oh G.o.ds. Prince -don't call me friend! Don't let anyone else hear that!'

The prince looked very much as if he wanted to touch him, and was sure that Hanse would shrink away. 'How lonely we both are, Hanse. You won't have any friends, and I can't! I dare trust no one, and you who could trust - you reject even an extended hand.'

Hanse was almost stricken. Friends? He thought of Cudget, dead Cudget.

OfMoonflower. OfTempus. Was Tempus a friend? Who could trust Tempus? Who could trust anyone wearing the t.i.tle 'governor'?

'Ranke and Sanctuary are not friends,' he said slowly, quietly. 'You are Ranke.

I am of Sanctuary, and... more. Not, uh, n.o.ble.'

'Trusted friend of the governor? The thief Shadowsp.a.w.n?'

Hanse caught himself about to say 'Thief? Who, me, Governor?' and stopped the words. Kadakithis knew. Nor was he Moonflower or that melon-pedlar Irohunda, to be taken in by Hanse's cultivated (and seldom used) boyish act. But.. .friendf It was a frightening word, to Shadowsp.a.w.n from Downwind and the Maze.

'Let's try to be bigger than Ranke and Sanctuary. Let's try, Hanse. I am reaching out. Speaking plainly: Tempus declared war on Jubal - not on my orders - and Jubal retaliated or tried to. You were there and you didn't run. Tempus lost a horse and gained a friend. You defended Tempus, helped him. More Hawkmasks died. Are you in danger for that, from Jubal?'

'Probably. I've been trying not to think about that.'

'And me?'

'The Empire's governor in Sanctuary knows to go forth armed and with guards, because he is governor,' Hanse said, not so enigmatically.

'Diplomatic, careful words again! - And Tempus?'

It was then that Hanse knew why he was here. 'You ... you think Jubal has Tempus!'

The prince regarded him. 'Hanse, some people don't try to be particularly likeable. Tempus seems to try not to be. I cannot imagine calling him friend.'

Kadakithis paused to be certain Hanse grasped his implication. 'Still, I represent the Empire. I govern for Ranke, subject to the Emperor. Tempus serves and represents me, and Ranke. I do not have to love him, or like him. But! How can I tolerate anyone's taking action against any of my people?' Kadakithis made a two-handed gesture while Hanse thought: How strange that I think more of Tempus - Thales - than the Prince-Governor he serves! 'I cannot, Hanse! Nor can I use the h.e.l.l Hounds to investigate, not in a really sensitive matter such as this. Nor can I launch attack on Jubal, or even arrest him - not and govern the way I wish to do.'

He really does want to do well, to be friends with Sanctuary! What a strange RankanI 'You could call him in for questioning.' Hanse was hopeful.

'I had rather not.' The young Rankan called Kitty-Kat shot to his feet with admirable use of legs alone, if not with a thief's sinuous grace. 'I had rather acknowledge his existence, can you see that?' He waved a hand in a rustle of aquamarine silk sleeve, took a pace, turned his earnest face on Hanse. 'I am governor here. I am Empire. He is -'

'G.o.ds, Prince, I'm only a d.a.m.ned thief!'

Kadakithis frowned and glanced around, ignoring Hanse's look of horror at his blurted words. 'Did you hear someone say something, just then?'

'No.'

'Neither did I. As I was saying, Tempus doesn't mean that much to me and I don't mean that much to Tempus. Tempus, I fear, serves Tempus and whatever he fancies is his destiny. I might not even miss him. Still, there are some things I dare not allow, dare not tolerate. Oh how I wish you could understand a bit of how difficult it is, being bom royal, and holding this job!'

Hanse, who had never held any job, tried. And without trying, he looked earnest and sympathetic. With a prince!

'Now I think that you are Tempus's friend, Hanse. Would Jubal torture him?'

Hanse felt himself about to develop a taste for strong drink. Looking at the other very young man's sash - an Ilsigi sash - he nodded. Abruptly he wanted to curse. Instead he felt an unwonted and unwanted prayer come cat-sidling into his mind: 0 Ils, G.o.d of my people and father ofShalpa my patron! It is true that Tempus-Thales serves Vashanka Tenslayer. But help us, help us both, Lord Ils, and I swear to do all I can to destroy Vashanka Sister-wifer or drive him hence, if only You will show me the way! . And Hanse blinked, and hurled that ridiculous and unwelcome thought bodily from his mind. Prayers indeed!

'Hanse... consider the limits to my power. I am not a man named Kadakithis; I am governor. I cannot do anything about it. I cannot.'

Hanse looked up to meet those cerulean eyes. 'Prince, if someone broke in here to kill you right now, I'd probably defend you. But I would not try to sneak into Jubal's keep for half your fortune and all your women.'

'Alone against Jubal? Lord, neither would I!' Kadakithis came to him then, and laid hands on a thief's shoulders. His eyes were intense and large. 'My only request of you, Hanse, is... I just wish you'd agree to try to learn where Tempus is. That's all. Your way, Hanse, and for a lot less reward than half my fortune and the women I brought here.'

Hanse backed from under those hands, from those staring eyes so full of sincerity. He paced to the bed, and the hooded robe of a blind beggar.

'I wish to leave by the fourth window down. Prince. That way I can let myself on to the roof of your smokehouse. If you were to call in your sentinels for review, I'd be out of here by the time they reached your presence.'

Kadakithis nodded.'And?'

'And I -I don't want any reward but don't dare ever tell anyone I said that, or remind me! You'll hear from me -' he whirled and skewered the other very young man with a gaze like an accusation - 'friend.'1 Kadakithis was wise enough to nod without smile or comment. Besides, he looked more as if he wanted to cry, or reach out.