'Is it about Luria?" pressed Carr. "About your king, perhaps?"
Breck sighed. "My lady, you may question me all night and day, but I won't tell you what you want to know. And if you have designs on Luria, then you best keep them to yourself."
Jazana Carr grinned. "Discovered."
Gilwyn sat up in alarm. "Designs on Luria? You mean to attack, my lady?"
'Oooh, someday..." Jazana Carr smacked her lips as if eating a confection. "Wouldn't that be grand?
The greatest jewel on the continent!"
'But you can't," Gilwyn protested. "I mean, how can you?"
'Why else do you think she wanted to see us, Gilwyn?" said Breck. He was remarkably casual, swirling the wine he still hadn't tasted. "She doesn't just need swords against King Lorn.
'No, my lady," replied Breck. "I'm not looking for employment."
Jazana Carr took a diamond ring from her finger and tossed it into Break's plate. "There," she spat, "a first payment. A single gem worth twice whatever rat hole you call a house. The first of many payments if you join me."
Breck didn't even glance at the diamond. "I have a family back in Luria. I'm not for sale."
'Liar. All men are for sale. Their love is like a rainstorm, here one moment, gone the next. Do not profess love for a wife over your love of money. I have seen how much love means to men, how they buy and sell it."
'Nevertheless," said Breck, picking up the diamond and tossing it back at the woman, "it is true."
This enraged Jazana Carr. She stood up and glared at Gilwyn.
'That monkey. How much?"
'What?" stammered Gilwyn.
'How much for your wretched little pet?"
'I'm sorry, my lady, but Teku's not a pet. She's a friend."
'Friend?" shrieked Carr. "Are you mad? It's not even human!"
'Still, Teku is a friend. She helps me. She fetches things for me that I can't reach with my bad hand."
'Boy, with diamonds you could buy a house full of servants to bring you things. You don't need a stinking monkey!"
Gilwyn was about to speak when a new voice rang through the room.
'You can't buy everything, my dear."
A figure crossed the threshold, a giant of a man dressed in a black leather jerkin and tall black riding boots. He had a face like granite, with a gray-speckled beard and a pair of smoldering eyes. The left sleeve of his snow-white shirt looped up to his shoulder, pinned and armless. The mere sight of him wiped the venom from Jazana Carr's face.
'Thorin," she said excitedly. "You're back."
She went to him at once, forgetting her guests and their argument, throwing her arms around the man and peppering his She needs insiders against Luria. What did I tell you earlier, do you remember?"
Gilwyn had to think for a moment. "You said that all mercenaries are scum."
At last Breck drank from his goblet, toasting, "Exactly."
The insult riled Jazana Carr. She said, "You may think what you wish of me, Sir Breck. You may mistake my ambition for treachery. But I have made a life out of fighting. I started with nothing, one small diamond mine. From that I built an empire, one that even your King Akeela cannot match. While that addle-brained whelp's been spending his money like piss, I've been amassing my riches. And waiting."
'You're indeed impressive, Jazana Carr. And I take it you have King Lorn on the run, too." 'Do not patronize me, sir," she spat. "I have spent my life in the shadows of men like you. Because I am a woman you think me weak, not to be taken seriously. I am like a whore to you, because I crave success. Well, let me tell you something. I can buy anything I wish. See these men that serve me? Dogs, all of them. I throw them meat and they beg for more. Even your precious Lukien. They are the whores, sir, not I."
'Lukien is no whore," said Breck. His voice held a dangerous edge. "If he has become one, then surely you are to blame."
'Whores," said Carr again. "Like all the men that serve me." She gestured to the lute player. "Like that useless musician. I call a tune, he plays it. Why? For money. Men are the whores of the world, Sir Breck. Every last one of them is for sale."
Breck placed his napkin on the table and rose to his feet. "Since Lukien isn't here, I think we'd better go."
'I have not dismissed you!" thundered Carr. "You will sit until I have said my piece!"
Gilwyn didn't move. Nor did Breck, who remained standing. Jazana Carr fought to compose herself, putting her hands to her cheeks.
'You see?" she said. "You see how men madden me? Well, to business, then. Sir Breck, you wish to speak to my servant Lukien. And I wish men to serve me, men who are talented with weapons and have knowledge of Luria. So we can barter, yes?"
bearded face with kisses. The man circled his single arm around her waist, drawing her near.
'Rodrik told me we had visitors from Luria," he said, "i thought I should come at once."
Gilwyn stared at the man, purely fascinated. He wasn't Lu kien, surely, yet he had the presence of a hero. His piercing eyes met Gilwyn's.
'You, boy," he boomed. "What's your name?"
Gilwyn could barely find his voice. "My name is Gilwyn Toms."
'Gilwyn Toms," the man repeated. "Well, Toms, I am-"Thorin Glass," said Breck. He was still standing, staring at the stranger. "I don't bloody believe it."
'Do you know me, sir?" asked the big man.
Gilwyn looked at Breck in amazement. "Do you, Breck?"
Breck nodded. "I think I do. You're Baron Glass."
The one-armed man grinned. "Ah, now that's a title that no longer applies." He guided Jazana Carr toward the table. She clung to him adoringly. "And you?" he asked. "What's your name?"
'I'm Breck. Baron, I thought you were dead!"
'And I very nearly was, no thanks to your king." The man studied Breck carefully. "Breck you say?"
'You know me, sir. I was a Royal Charger under Captain Lu kien."
The man nodded as he recalled the name and face. "Yes," he said softly. "I remember you."
Gilwyn was stupefied. "Baron Glass? But how can that be?
Baron Glass died on the Isle of Woe."
'Correction, boy," said the one-armed man. "Nearly died."
'But how?" asked Breck. "Sir, this is a shock!"
Jazana Carr led Glass to her giant chair, bidding him to sit.
She took her own wine goblet and put it gently into his hand.
'Thorin, these two are looking for Lukien." Glass' face lost his humor. "Lukien? Why?" "We have a message for him," said Breck. "It's urgent." Then he shook his head, still reeling with astonishment. "I can't believe it. It really is you. How's that possible?"
'You have a thousand questions, I know," said Glass. "And I'll tell you my ugly tale. But first..." He put the goblet to his lips and drank its contents in a long quaff. "Fate above, I'm thirsty. More." Snapping his fingers brought a servant from the corner, who silently refilled his goblet before disappearing. Another servant brought out a chair for Jazana Carr, seating her beside Glass.
'Breck, I'm confused," said Gilwyn. He watched Glass as he spoke, studying him "I thought Baron Glass was banished to Woe."
'He was," said Breck. He, too, kept his eyes on the baron. "First Borior Prison, then the Isle." 'All true," said Glass. "I rotted in Borior for two years until my sentence was up. Then I was to swing from the gallows. Your Queen Cassandra intervened." Glass looked into his wine pensively. "A good woman. I suppose I should be grateful. She thought banishment on Woe was better than death. She couldn't possibly have known the horror on that barren rock."
'But you escaped," said Breck. "How?"
'Lukien," replied Glass. He put down his glass and took Jazana Carr's jeweled hand. The warlady smiled at him, her teeth like sunshine. "He was already in Jazana's employ by then. He heard about my banishment and saved me."
Gilwyn was astonished. "He went to Woe?"
'He did, with a handful of Jazana's men. They hired a ship and a crew that wouldn't talk, thanks to this dear woman." Glass lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. Jazana Carr melted at the gesture. "It wasn't easy but they found me," he went on. "Half dead I was, a skeleton from my days in Borior and the hot sun of Woe. Fate above, that island's a giant hearth. It ripped the skin right off me."
'And then they brought you here," said Jazana Carr gently. "To me."
'I have Lukien to thank for my life," said Glass. "He rescued me because he's loyal, and because he thought I deserved a better death than the one Akeela had planned for me."
'He always thought highly of you," added Breck with a nod. "He's a remarkable man."
Jazana Carr chuckled. "I have found that all Lurian men are remarkable." Her tongue darted out and playfully licked Glass' ear. "You'd be amazed at what a one-armed man can do in bed."
Glass cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Jazana, stop now."
'Why, sweetling?" she asked, caressing his chest. "They've already guessed we're lovers." She smiled proudly at her guests. "Lukien brought a great prize back from the Isle of Woe."
Glass hurried to change the subject. "And now you're looking for him? Why?"
'We have news for him, Baron Glass," said Gilwyn.
'News we can't share with you," Breck hurried to add.
Jazana Carr's expression turned gloomy again. "You hear? They flaunt their secrets in my face."
'Easy, love," bade Glass. He looked at Breck carefully. "You and the boy have come a long way.
Obviously your news is important. But we have trusted you with our identities. Surely you can trust us with your news."
Breck shook his head. "Sorry, Baron, no. What we have to say is for Lukien only. Jazana Carr has already told us he's on his way back here. When he arrives, we'll deliver our message and be on our way."
'And if my hospitality dries up before then?" asked Carr acidly. "What will you do? Rot in the wasteland outside?"
'Jazana, please," said Glass calmly. "No need to threaten. We'll let them stay until Lukien returns."
'Thorin..."
'I owe Lukien a debt, let's not forget. If these two have news for him, then we must treat them as his friends."
Jazana Carr began to smoulder beneath her many gems. Through gritted teeth she said, "As you wish."
Gilwyn had never seen anything like it. Glass' ability to tame her was amazing. "Thank you, my lady,"
he said, trying to appease her. "We appreciate your hospitality."
'Jazana, why don't you leave us now?" said Glass. "I'd like to catch up with Breck alone, if you don't mind."
Again the anger flashed through Carr's eyes, but only for a moment. She rose from her chair, leaned down and kissed Glass on the forehead. "As you wish."
Gilwyn watched the elegant woman drift out of the chamber without another word, astonished by Glass' power over her. Glass saw the amazement in his face.
'She loves me," he explained. The words came out in a burdensome sigh. "That's why she listens to me."
'I bet you're the only one that can talk to her like that," said Breck. Glass nodded. "Not even Lukien, though she loves him too, in a way."
'Really?" asked Breck in surprise. "She doesn't seem to care much for men."
'Oh, she's got an appetite for them."
'That's not what I mean," countered Breck.
Glass nodded. "I know what you mean. And you're right. But don't judge her too harshly. Jazana has spent her life in Norvor, remember, and Norvor is not a place that's kind to women. Men have beaten and betrayed her. She doesn't trust them."
'Yet you work for her?" asked Breck.
'In a manner of speaking. She has many men working for her, but none with my experience in military matters. I'm valuable to her, as is Lukien." Before he continued he ordered the servants out of the room, along with the lute player. As the musician retreated, Glass barked, "And close the doors."
Alone at last, Gilwyn relaxed a little. Breck continued shaking his head, still amazed by the baron's presence. Glass poured himself another goblet of wine.
'You're troubled," he said. "I can see it in your eyes."
'You work for her, and yet she plans to attack Luria someday," said Breck. "Yes, I'm sorry, Baron.
That does trouble me."
'But should it really surprise you? After what Akeela did to me? After what he did to Lukien?"