From the center of the tower, Q'yros' form rose sedately on the lifter dais, until it had come level with the observation room at the top. The trip gave him a chance to recover his breath. It was a two-staircase walk to the floor with the lift, and he was continuing to feel the drain of his magical energies.

Q'yros had hoped that being relieved of his duty as Z'haas' adviser would mean less of this foolishness of tracking down the Emperor. As head of security, however, it was becoming even more of a demand on his time, as the Emperor grew increasingly paranoid the longer the Noble Lords lingered.

Q'yros found the Emperor facing the crystal facet overlooking the courtyard, even though there was nothing to be seen at this time of the morning. The Mage inwardly sighed and stepped forward, resting his hands on his staff until he was recognized. The Emperor had been quick to point out to him that, now that he no longer held his previous high title, he was to wait until recognized before speaking.

Z'haas turned, hands clasped behind his back. "Well?"

"Approximately a third of the Lords have vacated the palace, my Emperor," Q'yros said respectfully. "I expect another good amount will leave today."

"They are not leaving fast enough to suit me."

"I understand. But there is no rushing the Nobility."

"I am sure they would be motivated to leave if I declared that anyone left after dusk was to be arrested for suspected conspiracy against the throne."

Q'yros said nothing in reply. He was no longer the Emperor's adviser and thus had no obligation to correct Z'haas' thinking.

"Do you not think that the longer they remain, the more of a danger there is?" Z'haas asked.

Now that he was asked a direct question, he could respond. "As their numbers thin, the remaining ones grow easier to guard and monitor. I would say that the threat would grow less over time."

Q'yros' logic was impeccable. It made perfect sense. Yet it would not be enough for Z'haas.

"Do not let up one bit on guarding my inner chambers, not even as they grow less in number."

"I would not even think of it, my Emperor," Q'yros said dryly.

Z'haas folded his arms. "My original deadline stands. They have two more days."

The Mage nodded. "Understood. I will remind Lord Uras of this."

The Emperor frowned. "Uras? Is he still here?"

"Indeed he is."

"I trust him the least of all."

"I am monitoring all of them, my Emperor," Q'yros said with forced patience. "I believe any threat from within is contained. You need not concern yourself with it. I would rather you concern yourself with external threats."

"Yes, yes, yes, I have taken care of that!" Z'haas said, waving a hand of dismissal. "I hope I have not jeopardized the campaign because of it."

"Begging your pardon, my Emperor, but I do not believe that one legion constitutes a severe depletion of your offensive forces." Especially against an enemy has virtually no defenses! he added in his own mind.

"Two legions, Q'yros."

The Mage stared. "Did ... did you say two, my Emperor?"

"Yes, two! Or are to tell me that you changed your mind and now that is not enough?"

Q'yros was elated. Two legions! That should be more than a match for anything Duric could have possibly assembled in less than a moon's time!

"No, my Emperor!" Q'yros called out. "Two is perfect. The safety of the Imperium is assured now."

Z'haas nodded. "I am so glad that I have finally done something that meets with your approval."

"If I may ask, my Emperor, who is the commander of the legions, so that I might coordinate interior defenses with him in the unlikely event of an assault?"

"Rithas V'honna."

The Mage paused. "V'honna? But ... was he not in charge of the two legions with the Urisi contingents?"

"Yes, that is him. Those are the two legions that I chose to defend the palace."

Q'yros would realize only later how close he came to striking the Emperor dead at that moment. In a voice of utterly forced calm, he said, "My Emperor ... forgive my boldness ... but did not the Urisi diplomat state that Urisi forces would engage only an enemy hostile to the Oceanus realm?"

"Yes, that is exactly what he said. And if this supposed army from Duric does attack the palace, this will be an obviously hostile act. I do not see the issue here."

The Mage had to take a deep breath to prevent himself from lashing out at the Emperor.

Z'haas' eyes narrowed. "Is there a problem, Q'yros?"

After a long pause and a few more deep breaths, the Mage shook his head. "Not at all, my Emperor. I am sure they will serve with distinction for your cause. I must go now, I have much work to do."

The Emperor gave him a single nod.

The Mage turned and stepped back onto the dais, which automatically began to lower him through the tower.

Q'yros closed his eyes tightly. Stupid ... incompetent ... idiotic ...

He forced himself to open his eyes as the dais reached the bottom.

There was simply not enough invective that he could think or say to cover what he was feeling. It was obvious to him now how little experience Z'haas has had in Narlassi politics. It explained so much about his disregard for protocol in his own nation. He had failed to pick up on what the diplomat had really meant.

The Urisi were looking at this simply as a means of obtaining spoils of war, perhaps even a small colony. Either way, it would get them closer to markets in which they were most interested. They were not interested in interfering in the internal affairs of Oceanus.

The reason was simple: if a civil war or revolution broke out, and they were committing forces to one side or the other, there was the risk of choosing the losing side. If this happened, it could lead to a regime that was hostile to the Urisi Nation, a regime that also commanded the most powerful navy in all of Narlass.

Their statement concerning "forces hostile to Oceanus" meant they would fight only against external foes. An attack from another part of Oceanus itself fell outside this venue. Q'yros had picked up on this meaning immediately. Why had not Z'haas?

Q'yros stepped off the dais. There was no railing against this now. The damage had been done. Now it was up to the Mage to practice damage control and salvage something manageable.

Again.

When Amanda was hurriedly awoken just before dawn, she briefly panicked that Duric had discovered the Farviewing pearl. As it turned out, Lord Duric simply needed an early start to the day.

Bath and breakfast were taken care of in short order. Amanda barely had time to give Tanyee a final hug goodbye before Duric whisked her away through the Portal. It was at the brief stop at Weton's Manor that she saw the very haggard form of Annas, who looked close to collapse.

The base camp was atop a plateau overlooking a shallow valley. Huts had been set up similar to the ones that housed the Overlords at the Conclave, though with thicker walls and weatherproof shutters for the cooler climate. Lord Duric's was larger than the others, but only to accommodate the presence of Amanda. She had her own small bed on the far side of the room, such that she would have to pass around the foot of Duric's bed to come in and out.

Duric kept her at his side at all times, so she got to hear everything concerning the plan for the campaign. There was a certain excitement to it. She felt like she was witnessing history being made. She understood the significance of it much better now after having read both her scrolls and the research she had done at the library.

He took her to the edge of the plateau, where a man in light armor and a helmet with bright plumage was looking over the valley. Amanda's eyes widened at the sight. There in the valley was Duric's army. The final regiments were forming up as she watched.

"General Yollon," Duric said.

Yollon V'ojo turned and nodded once. "Good day to you, Lord Duric." His eyes shifted to Amanda, and he smiled. "Well, now, while I am flattered at the gift, you could have come before I put all this armor on."

Amanda actually smiled. Despite the man's intimidating appearance, his voice was smooth and almost gentle, though deep. And she remembered how attentive he had been when she gave the dissertation on Selemas Keep.

Duric chuckled and clapped the man on the shoulder. "Would that I could let you have the pleasure of her company, Yollon. Perhaps that can be arranged afterward as a reward for bringing this crisis to an end."

"I will hold you to that, my Lord," said Yollon, raising a finger in reproach, though there was a smile on his face.

Duric glanced towards the valley. "Your troops are ready, Yollon?"

"The marching order is being worked out now. Once that is done, they await only your order to move out, my Lord."

"How long until you are in sight of the Imperium?"

"Four days, assuming we are not forced into a circuitous path."

"That will depend entirely on what Janna gets for us, Yollon," said Duric. "I cannot promise you anything in that regard."

There was Janna's name again. Amanda had been hearing it mentioned for the past few days.

"I will work with whatever she gives me, my Lord," said Yollon. "Here, I have already plotted out some possible advances."

Yollon led them into one of the huts. Inside, several large parchments were spread out over a large table. The General sifted through them and brought one to the top, showing the Imperial palace and its surrounding lands.

Just before Duric drew close to the table and cut off her view, Amanda had spied something that had made her curious, something that had looked familiar.

As Yollon and Duric pored over the chart, Amanda stepped to one side and craned her neck so that she could catch a glimpse. She had been right. If she were reading the map and remembering her American geography correctly, then the Emperor's palace and surrounding lands sat rather close to where Washington D.C. stood on Earth.

Amanda thought it a curious bit of parallelism between the two worlds. It made her also wonder about the events that had brought Oceanus into being: a battle between Monarchists and Republicans that had ended in a Monarchist victory. It was almost the reverse of what had happened on Earth.

The two men straightened. "It seems the first day of travel is already laid out for you, Yollon."

"Yes, there is only one way out of the valley, and we do not reach the edge of Imperial lands before dusk."

Duric slowly smiled. "Before dusk? It sounds like you are already planning on moving out this morning."

"I would like to, my Lord. The men are ready. I've found that forcing them to wait will make them impatient and dampen their enthusiasm."

"Mind you, Janna will likely wait until dark to obtain the information on the patrols."

"Yes, but as you can see, I will not need the information until daybreak tomorrow."

Duric considered for a moment, and then nodded. "The word is given, General. Move your troops out as soon as they are ready."

Yollon smiled. "Yes, my Lord."

"Good luck to you, General." Duric turned to Amanda and gestured towards the door. "Come along, Amanda."

Once they were outside, Amanda looked up at Duric. "Master, may I ask a question?"

Duric waited until they were away from the hut and looking over the valley again. "Yes, Amanda, what is it?"

"Is Mistress Janna working for you at the Imperial Palace?"

Duric smiled tightly. "Yes, she is, Amanda. She is doing something vitally important to this effort."

Amanda nodded. She had gleaned as much from the conversation. "It sounds like something very dangerous as well, Master," she said in a subdued voice.

Duric's own voice grew a bit somber as he responded. "Yes, it is. But with luck, it will be the only thing I will need to call on her to do before she heads home. By the time Yollon's army arrives, she will be safely away from Imperial lands."

He paused, his eyes growing a bit cloudy. He reached into his tunic and pulled out a blue pearl, which he rolled around in his fingers. "If something should happen to her, I will know."

Amanda eyed the pearl. "Is that a Farviewing pearl, Master?"

Duric smiled. "I should not be at all surprised you know about such things. Yes, it is. It is bound to Lady Janna."

"But if you try to summon her, she can ignore the summons. So if she doesn't reply, that does not necessarily mean something had happened to her, does it?"

"Hmm. It seems your knowledge falls a little flat in this area."

"Sorry, Master."

"When a Farviewing pearl is bound to someone long enough, Amanda, it will react if that person dies." He held the pearl between thumb and forefinger, where the rising sun glinted off its surface, making it look vaguely purplish in color. "It will fracture or break. Or shatter completely if the death were violent enough."

Amanda had no idea that a Farviewing pearl could act in this manner. She thought it a neat idea. It meant that she could at least tell that Sirinna were still alive and well, and Jollis could tell Amanda was safe. She wondered now if it were common for Narlassi families to acquire Farviewing pearls for loved ones just for this feature.

Duric put the pearl away. "Janna is a very clever woman and very much about getting what she wants. She will pull through for me."

"Yes, Master, of course," Amanda said as brightly as she could.

But she was able to hear the hint of doubt and worry in his voice. Now she was going to be on edge herself until she learned whether or not Janna was successful.

Jollis did not get into the Manor until close to midday. He had awoken at dawn and had to spend much of the morning in deep meditation. It was the only thing that would keep him calm and focused on the present.

More and more variables now. Word had come to him late the night before that the Emperor was keeping two of his legions behind. Yet they were the ones fleshed out with Urisi soldiers. He had no idea how this affected the equation. Would Duric see two legions outmatching his forces and turn back? Would the Urisi put down their weapons and leave it more evenly matched? Would they see political gain in staying and annihilate Duric's army? Or did the Emperor have a different strategy in mind? Or was he still blind to the danger?

There was only so much his cohorts could tell him. He had no one inside the Imperial Palace, for one thing. He knew which Lords had already left simply by having his cohorts take up watch outside the palace and note the crest imprinted upon the carriages as they left. He knew that Lady Janna was still within, but had no idea if she were planning anything.

Jollis headed quickly to the Overlord's quarters. There was no time now to concern himself with these things. He could not affect the outcome with his brooding.

"Good day to you, Overlord," Jollis said with a bow as he entered.

"Good day to you, Jollis," replied Roquan.

Jollis immediately noted the tension in the Overlord's voice and eyes. He did not think anything of it at the moment. Roquan had been under a great deal of stress, and he let his normally calm demeanor slip more often.

If it were something meant for Jollis' ears, he would hear it soon enough.

"My merchant partners will be approaching the Manor today, if you wish to convey your needs to me so that I might hasten your goods along."

"Yes, Jollis, I have quite a list for you today."

Jollis listened as the Overlord recited the list. He thought some of the requested items were a bit odd. A few had already been recently procured, thus leaving him wondering why they were again needed so soon.

"Do you believe you can handle that, Jollis?" Roquan asked.

Jollis detected a hint of challenge in his voice. "I believe I can, though it may take a little longer, as the list is a bit large this time around."

"I have complete faith that you will obtain those goods unnaturally fast for me."

Jollis hesitated. Yes, there was something definitely amiss. Not just the Overlord's tone, but his choice of words. "I always entreat my partners to be fleet of foot and wheel, your Lordship."

"I have no doubt of that. You are perhaps the fastest procurer of goods I have ever seen."

Jollis smiled and bowed his head, accepting the compliment at face value.

"Someday, I hope you will regale me with some details of how you accomplish it," said Roquan.

"Ah, but a good craftsman will often wish to keep some of his better skills secret."

"I agree, when speaking of the competition. As an Overlord, I have no interest in becoming a merchant, so I would hope you would see your way clear to revealing some of your 'secrets'."

Jollis realized that Roquan probably thought he was being subtle. It was not the Overlord's forte. It was obvious to Jollis that Roquan knew something. "I will consider it, your Lordship," Jollis said carefully.

There was a moment of dead silence between the two of them.

"Generally, your business is your own, Jollis," said Roquan. "And if you have exotic means of moving goods, I would not necessarily be averse to them. You would not need to hide them."

Jollis considered these words carefully. It indicated to him that Roquan was making an educated guess that he was using Portals. And on the surface, the Overlord might have been right. He may not have seriously objected to Jollis using Portals.

Yet if Roquan were told from the start, eventually there would be questions about how he was able to open them so precisely and so often. The energy expenditure in opening a Portal was large, even with the new techniques of the Inonni. It would become clear that Jollis would be on the losing side financially. Roquan would suspect ulterior motives.

No, this had been the correct way to go. It was unfortunate that the arrangement was coming to an end, but it had lasted long enough to see his plan through to completion. In less than a quarter moon it would bear fruit.

Jollis gave Roquan a respectful bow. "I will give your words serious consideration, your Lordship. May I have the day to think on it?"

Roquan paused a long moment before nodding once. "You may."

"Thank you, you are most generous. I shall get started on your latest list of goods at once. If there is nothing else?"

Roquan shook his head.

"Then I shall depart. Good day to you, Overlord."

Jollis did not wait for a response from Roquan, and heard none as he left the Overlord's quarters for the last time.

Janna could do little but wait and try hard not to worry.

More Lords had left that day than they had anticipated. Janna was one of only ten left. It seemed to her now that there were more guards than ever about the Palace, though Tarras assured her this was not the case. "It is an illusion," Tarras had explained to her. "You see fewer Lords than you see guards, so it appears as if there are more of the latter."

Yet this hardly assuaged her fears.

Just as the sun began to set, Janna arrived at Tarras' quarters and let herself in.

"Tarras, we need to do this, now."

Tarras rose from his chair and set aside the book he had been reading. "It is only just the dinner hour now. I thought we might dine with the others and have a light meal before ..."

Janna shook her head. "No, I need to get this done now. I told Duric to start Farview-summoning me at dusk. This is hanging over my head and I need to get it done."

"I do not want us to move rashly. We will get only one shot at this."

"I've had all afternoon to think about this," she said adamantly. "I want to do it."

"You will be missed at dinner. We both will."

"Yes, but I thought of something else, too. At dinner, the guards will know everyone is in the cafe. They always seem to congregate in that area during mealtimes, leaving all other areas sparsely guarded."

Tarras nodded slowly. "This is true."

"Look, it's not dinner yet, not quite. If I can claim I'm going for a stroll in the gardens, then I can come to dinner late from there and just say I lost track of time. And to be honest, I have no appetite at the moment."

Tarras could see that there would be no deterring her. "All right, you are likely correct that your strategy is our best bet. But be very careful in the gardens, Janna. Don't do anything that will make a guard want to follow you too closely."

"They haven't done so yet. I took a long stroll out there last night so they got used to me being there."

Tarras smiled. "Clever. Though you could have told me. I couldn't find you last night and grew concerned. You were a bit cryptic when you came to bed."

Janna grinned. "I have to have some secrets, don't I? I thought we already had that discussion."

Tarras chuckled softly. "Very well. Now, you best leave first, as you have a ways more to go than I do."

Janna headed to the door. "I just hope we have the timing right."

"I am going to try and let you get into position first, so you can wait until you hear that the guard has left."

"All right." She opened the door and paused. She looked back at him. She felt the words form in her head. She felt them on her tongue. She needed only to open her mouth and they would come out.

No, it was all wrong. The wrong time, the wrong place, the wrong setting. She would hold it until this was over, until she could rest easy knowing she had done her part. Then there would be time for her true feelings.

"Good luck, Tarras," she said instead.

Tarras smiled weakly, letting his version of the same words fade away for now. "Good luck, Janna."

Janna opened the door and headed out into the corridor, leaving Tarras alone again.

The last sliver of sun disappeared over the ocean to the west. The fading rays illuminated the clouds in a ruddy glow that gave the Manor a surreal touch of crimson.

Roquan stepped up to the two guards. "Do not give him a chance to negotiate or plead for his life," he said in a dispassionate voice. "Nor give him a chance to break for the forest. Get in fast, knock him down, and hold him."

"How much force are we to use, your Lordship?" asked one of the guards.

"As much as necessary to prevent his escape," replied Roquan with a touch of venom in his voice. "He will fight. He is not to get away."

"Deadly force, Overlord?"

Roquan gave a simple, curt nod. "If needed, yes. I prefer him dead rather than allowed to escape. Is that understood?"

Both guards acknowledged him in the affirmative.

"Very well. Let's go."

The two guards fell into step before the Overlord as all three walked towards the Manor Gate.

"Your Lordship! Wait! Stop!"

Roquan glanced to the side and frowned. "Hold!" he snapped to the guards, who came to an immediate halt. He stepped away and folded his arms, facing the approaching Healer. "Vanlo, I do not have time. I have some business to take care of."

"Your Lordship ... please ... don't ... do this ... oh my goodness ..."

Vanlo placed a hand on Roquan's shoulder, wheezing as he fought to catch his breath. The Overlord threw an arm around his waist. "Vanlo, please, do not do this."

"Vanlo! Vanlo, wait! You ... " Lanno skidded to a halt before the two of them. "Ah ... good day to you, Overlord."

"This is not the time for amenities, Lanno." Roquan transferred Vanlo to his care and stepped back. "I have a duty to perform."

"Yes, and I know what it is," Vanlo cried hoarsely, still panting. "The guard you assigned to me told me. You're a fool if you do this, Roquan."

Both Roquan and Lanno were startled by the bluntness of Vanlo's statement.

Roquan felt anger rise up in him, but he quelled it. "All right, explain yourself, then, but make it quick."

"I am all right, Lanno!" Vanlo said indignantly, waving him off. He turned to Roquan. "Your Lordship, he is much more skilled at combat than any of us, even your two guards there. If he wished, he could make short work of them and you as well."

The guards exchanged a look but said nothing in response or reacted in any other way. Though now they were a lot more interested in the conversation.

"I cannot just let him go and get away with what he has done!" Roquan thundered.

"And what do you intend to do once you catch him? Kill him? Be judge, jury, and executioner?"

"I am surprised you do not want to do so yourself."

"My feelings are not important here."

"Hellfire, Vanlo! That's why I am doing this! You don't seem to care what he has done! That means I have to, as you are under my protection. And I will not tolerate such things being done in my Manor! No more, Vanlo! I will see justice done!"

"But by whom? I ask again, what will you do with him if you catch him?"

"Turn him over to the merchants," Roquan said darkly. "They have a known history of dealing with fellow merchants, even clanless ones, very harshly when it comes to things like this."

Roquan turned away.

"Your Lordship ... Roquan!"

"Move out!" Roquan ordered the guards. They again fell into step before him.

Vanlo sighed. Lanno looked on in confusion. "I guess I don't understand either, Vanlo."

Vanlo paused a moment to catch his breath completely. He straightened up and tried to put on a renewed air of dignity as he turned to Lanno. "Do no harm. That is what I swore to do when I first become a Healer. I understand that it is a common refrain in the multiverse from Healers of many worlds. I take that to heart. Do no harm."

And this, in Vanlo's mind, made another decision for him, one that he had been wrestling with for a long time.

"Let's go back to the Healer office, Lanno. Our day may not be over yet."

Janna slowed her pace and maintained an air of dignity and aloofness as she stepped into the gardens past the courtyard. There were a few of the other Lords present, though most appeared to be headed back into the palace proper as the evening meal approached. She wanted to send a signal that she had no interest in casual banter.

To her relief, there was only a single guard in the courtyard. Yet the guard eyed her the whole time she strolled across the courtyard and into the gardens.

She had to resist the urge to look behind her. Nothing would look more suspicious to a guard than someone looking specifically for where the guard was at the moment. She tried to make her gait look like nothing more than a casual stroll into the foliage.

The last of the sun had set, only a ruddy glow to the west remaining. There were some heatless torches in the gardens, but not many. It could almost be considered romantic had this been any other context.

She finally had to turn and look. The guard had not followed her. She leaned to one side and saw him standing at his post, his back to the gardens. Janna let out a small sigh of relief.

She followed a winding path that led her in deeper towards the south side. It was a bit overgrown, branches of several bushes stretching out over the stones. She hoped it would work to her advantage by better concealing her.

She came to the end of the path. She could see the stone railing that formed the southern edge of the gardens, but she would have to traverse some thick foliage to get to it.

Janna felt her heart thump as she glanced around once more before wading into the bushes and flowers. She winced at the loud rustling noises that her movements made and glanced behind her several times, each time expecting the guard to demand what she was doing.

She made it to the fence and looked past it. The ground was a bit rough. Gravel and loose stones littered the ground. It looked as if a new path had been planned but never finished. It wound down towards the river that ran along the south side of the palace.

She glanced behind her one last time and undressed. She winced as the foliage gave her tiny scratches across her legs and waist. She blushed as the last of her clothes came off. She folded them as neatly as she could and tucked them under one of the bushes.

Janna stood, feeling her breasts bounce a bit against her chest. "Well, here goes nothing," she said softly.

She climbed over the fence and side-stepped down the slope.

Tarras glanced out the window. The last rays of crimson dusk were fading from the clouds. He figured that Janna would have at least entered the courtyard by now, if she remembered to move at a slow, casual pace.

He took a moment to smooth out his attire and check his hair. He wanted to give the impression that he was heading to dinner. The trick was going to be getting close enough to the base of the tower before a guard decided to stop him. He was going to take the long way around to it.

Tarras left his quarters, taking the time to close the door gently behind him. A guard in the corridor glanced at him. Tarras turned, smiled slightly, and nodded in polite greeting. The guard did not respond, and simply watched the Noble Lord.

Tarras headed down the corridor. He did not need to look behind him. He knew the guard's eyes were following him. He did not pause or hesitate. He continued down the corridor as he would be expected to do if he were heading to dinner.

He turned at the corridor intersection. Two more guards now. Both watched him carefully. He ignored them, as he always did. But now came the test. He needed to take the side passage just past one of the guards. Were they watching specifically for him to head to dinner, this would be a significant deviation.

Tarras did not try to disguise his intentions. He turned and walked with purpose down the side passage. After taking a few steps in, he waited and listened.

He heard no indications that the guards were interested in him any further. He heard neither leave his post, nor begin to speak to his cohort or to another over Farview. Tarras was relieved. All was well so far.

Tarras continued down the corridor, his footsteps now careful and quiet.

The door to Jollis' quarters smashed against the wall when it was kicked in. It rebounded a short distance and fell off one its hinges, eventually coming to rest at a drunken angle. One guard burst in immediately, sword drawn. The other slipped in behind him, raising his cocked crossbow and sweeping it around the room.

The one with the crossbow furrowed his brow and looked at his cohort. The swordsman re-sheathed his weapon as he turned. "He's gone, your Lordship."

Frowning deeply, Roquan entered. The one armed with the crossbow began walking around the periphery of the room. "Hellfire," Roquan growled.

"Aye, he's gone," said the swordsman. "Cleaned the place out, except for that bit of parchment on the bed."

Roquan raised an eyebrow. He turned to the other guard. "Search the area around the hut. If you see him, shoot immediately. Bring him down."

"Yes, your Lordship!" the guard declared as he dashed out of the room.

Roquan watched him go and sighed. He did not expect that Jollis would be found. He silently cursed himself for not acting sooner. "Bring me the parchment," he ordered.

The swordsman fetched the hand-written parchment from the bed and handed it to Roquan. The Overlord recognized the neat, cursive script as his former Tradesman's immediately.

My esteemed Overlord, the note read, You are to be complimented on having a Healer of such skill and aplomb. He has rightly unmasked me as someone working to ulterior motives in your midst. I cannot reveal what those are. My humble apologies for this. Be assured that I have removed myself from your Manor. I will seek no vengeance, as that is not my way. The last goods you have ordered from me will be delivered and left outside the Manor gate. I ask but one thing of you: if you have chance to speak with Lord Duric again, please inquire as to a man named Rallas and what was allowed to happen between him and Amanda.

Roquan's fury had been growing steadily as he read the missive, seeing it as Jollis' way of gloating over having made his escape. When he got to the last part, however, his look of anger turned to one of puzzlement and concern.

What did Jollis know of Amanda's contract to Duric? Did he have some sort of spy in Duric's Palace? If so, why come out and admit such a thing?

Roquan knew that Duric was with his army now and should not be disturbed unless it was an emergency. He knew Duric's clan had a solid reputation when it came to treating slaves well. Duric himself was a relative newcomer, but he had never let a slave come to harm. Certainly Tanyee had never suffered under his care.

"Your Lordship?"

Roquan turned towards the guard, quickly rolling up the parchment. "It is nothing. Or nothing that will tell us where Jollis has gone."

"I am sorry, your Lordship, that we did not get here in time. Perhaps if the Healer had not delayed us ..."

Roquan shook his head. "Hold your blame. I suspect Jollis was gone long before we set out from the gate. Go and find your cohort. There is no point in searching any longer. It is over. Justice will have to be served another time."

"Yes, your Lordship."

The guard stepped out.

Roquan looked out of the window. Dusk had deepened to twilight, and the brightest stars began twinkling overhead. He wondered if he had delayed his response purposely without realizing it. He was loathe to admit it, but Vanlo had had a point. How would he have handled Jollis once he caught him? If the merchant-spy could even be caught in the first place.

Roquan was frustrated. So many things had happened within his Manor that he had been powerless to stop, and little more power to bring those responsible to justice.

There will be a final reckoning, Jollis, the Overlord thought. And for you as well, Z'haas. I will live to see justice done.

Roquan turned and left the hut.

By the time she reached the portico, Janna was wet and shivering. The river had been deeper than she had thought. Even close to shore, it rose to her waist, and she had to wade through it a fair distance before the path reappeared. Even then she had had to pick her way through underbrush, and had more scratches to show for it, several of which itched fiercely.

Now it was growing darker, as there was little illumination from the palace itself on this side. The cold night air touched her bare skin and sent another chill through her body.

The only good thing was that her nudity had made her much more mobile than she would have been in her underthings, petticoats, and dress. Once she got used to it, she enjoyed the sense of freedom that it imparted.

She stopped at the edge of the portico. It loomed higher than she had thought it would. It thrust out from the bottom level of the palace, but the land under it sloped steeply away, leaving the end of it soaring over her head.

Janna stepped back a bit, trying to discern it in the failing light. She saw that the moon was rising, but it would not be up soon enough to do her any good.

It was larger than the one that Tarras had traversed when he had tried to approach the training legion. Two columns were located at the outer corners and one in between them. One rose from the center of each side. She craned her neck and spotted a sixth in the center, forming two rows of three. Between the outer columns ran a banister, encrusted with vines and climbing roses.

Oh great. Thorns, she thought .

Janna moved as close to the palace wall as she could before the ground became too steep for safe footing in bare feet. This allowed her to reach the portico, but did not allow her to peer over it before she attempted to pull herself up. She had no idea if anyone was there.

Janna swallowed and steeled herself to drop and run, then hauled herself up to the railing. She quickly scanned the area, ready to let go and bolt as soon as she hit the ground. The portico was empty.

Janna let go a sigh of relief. Carefully, she scaled the railing, trying to avoid the thorn-laden climbing roses. She moved so slowly that she realized a guard happening on her now would get quite a view of her intimate areas as her leg swung around.

Janna finally landed both feet onto the cold stone of the portico floor and looked around. Through the dimness, past the opposite railing, she could see where the wall curved outward and then around the southeast corner of the palace.

She was somewhat alarmed to find that she was that close to the tower. When she heard a faint noise off to the side, she quickly rushed over to the center column and hid behind it.

The sound grew louder. It was footsteps.

She swallowed and tried desperately to keep her breathing under control despite how hard her heart was thumping. She heard booted feet emerge from the opposite direction of the tower into the corridor that ran along the portico. They stopped about halfway, paused, then turned and went slowly back the other way.

Janna leaned over in time to see a guard disappear from view.

Dammit, that's not the tower guard, Janna thought. She listened until the footsteps had retreated a good distance. She came out from behind the column and crept over to the edge of the corridor. She peeked around the corner and watched the retreating back of the guard, until he turned at a side passage and disappeared from view.

Janna waited a few moments to see if the guard would reappear. She then quickly crossed over to the other side. She peeked around the corner again but had to lean into the corridor before she spotted the other guard, standing near a doorway with his back to the palace wall. She quickly pulled back. THAT was the tower guard, she thought.

She understood the arrangement now. The tower was tucked into the southeast corner of the castle. There was a small open area before it. Two corridors came together at that point. The east-west corridor was the one Janna was looking at, the one that ran alongside the portico. The north-south one was the main corridor. She assumed Tarras would create his diversion somewhere in that direction.

Janna realized that she had gotten there before Tarras. She hid behind the center column. After a few moments, she again heard footsteps approaching as the second guard patrolled the east-west corridor.

Hellfire! Tarras didn't tell me about the second guard! Janna thought desperately as she made herself as small as possible.

In the reception area of the Healer Office, Vanlo poured out the wine he had purchased from Jollis and handed the goblet to Roquan.

The Overlord brought it to his lips and paused, then lowered it again. "I am not so sure I wish to have anything that was procured by that man," he said bitterly, holding the goblet out to Vanlo.

Vanlo pushed the goblet back. "It matters not how it got here. It matters only that it is here, and that you need it."

Roquan sighed and took a long drink from it. "I should learn to listen to you more often," he muttered.

"Hmm. Yes, you should."

Roquan regarded the Healer with a measured look before shifting his gaze to Lanno. "Vanlo is one that speaks his mind. It would do you well to remember that."

Lanno smirked as he grabbed a goblet and took the bottle from Vanlo. "Oh, yes, your Lordship, I am very well aware of that," he said as he poured out the wine.

Vanlo glanced at Lanno with a tiny smile before turning his attention back to his Overlord. "I am simply glad that you were not hurt, your Lordship."

"So just what was he, Vanlo?" Roquan demanded, though in all respects he knew that this was really an unanswerable question. "He openly admitted he was a spy of some sort."

"He said he had ulterior motives. Those were his exact words. We do not know if he was spying."

"What else could it be?"

"Then I put it to you: for whom was he spying?"

Roquan had no answer. He took another long drink of his wine instead.

"He is not an Imperial Agent," Vanlo declared. "I am almost sure of that."

"And being an agent for his own people, the Inonni. That makes little sense."

"Hmm. It would seem so, wouldn't it?"

"It is so. I was a willing trade partner. Even if this were a ruse to gain information about the political crisis in Oceanus, it would hardly be of any use to him. It will be over before his people could act upon it. Hiding the fact that he was using Portals to transport his goods hardly seems like it was worth the effort."

Vanlo considered this for a moment, stroking his beard. "I fear, your Lordship, that it will be some time before we know exactly what was going on."

Lanno made a face. He was as anxious as the Overlord to know the reason.

Roquan nodded, looking subdued. He worried about Amanda. What did Jollis know that the Overlord did not?

Vanlo went quiet as well. The decision he had made earlier came to mind again. He wanted to tell Roquan, but not now. This was not the appropriate time or place.

For a long time, the three sat in silence.

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