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； talking softly with Iome's mother； a rather somber Chancellor Rodderman； and a terrified Guildmaster Hollicks。
Fresh rushes had been strewn over the floorboards； mixed with balm and pennyroyal。 Three hounds sat before the empty hearth。 A cleaning girl was polishing the unused tongs and pokers； Iome's Days immediately crossed the room； went to stand out of the way with the King's Days； and the Queen's。
As Iome entered the hall； her father glanced up expectantly。 Sylvarresta was not a vain man。 He wore no crown； and his only ring was a signet； which he kept chained to his neck。 He preferred to be called 〃Lord〃 rather than King。 But one could see he was a king when one looked into his gray eyes。
Guildmaster Hollicks； though； was another matter。 He wore gaudy clothesa shirt with false sleeves； parti…colored pants； a vest and half cape with cowl； in a rainbow of plementary colors。 He was Master of the Dyers' Guild； his clothes advertised his wares。 Beyond this penchant for gaudy attire； Hollicks was not a bad man。 He showed unmonly good sense； and would have been likable； if not for the way his unsightly black nose hairs formed half his mustache。
〃Ah；〃 King Sylvarresta said on seeing Iome； 〃I'd thought you might be someone else。 Have you seen any of the foresters this morning？ Were they in the bailey？〃
〃No； milord；〃 Iome answered。
The King nodded thoughtfully at this news； then said softly to Chemoise； 〃My condolences。 It is a sad day for us all。 Your betrothed was admireda promising soldier。〃
Chemoise nodded； her face suddenly pale again。 She curtsied。 〃Thank you； milord。〃
〃You won't let this assassin get away with murder； will you？〃 Iome asked。 〃You should have killed him by now！〃
〃You see；〃 Hollicks blurted in his high voice； 〃you're all leaping to conclusions。 You have no proof that this was anything other than an unfortunate； drunken brawl！〃
King Sylvarresta strode to the door to the hall； looked into the courtyard a moment； then closed the door； shutting them all in。
The room suddenly became dark； shadowed； for only two small windows with wooden shutters stood open。
King Sylvarresta strode across the room； head bent in thought。 〃Despite Your pleas for leniency； Master Hollicks； I know this man is a spy。〃
Hollicks feigned an expression of incredulity。 〃You have proof？〃 he asked； as if he held serious doubts。
〃While you were off entertaining your whining cronies；〃 King Sylvarresta said； 〃I had Captain Derrow track the man's scent。 One of my far…seers spotted this same man yesterday just after dawn。 He'd been on a roof in town； and we feared he'd been counting guards to the Dedicates' Keep。 We tried to catch him then； but lost him in the market。
〃Now he shows up again today。 It is no coincidence。 Derrow said the man had not been within a hostel all night。 Instead； he followed Dreys from outside the gates by climbing the Outer Wall。 He killed Dreys because he was searching for this。。。〃 Sylvarresta pulled out a slim tome bound in tan…colored lambskin。 〃It's a book； a very strange book。〃
Hollicks frowned at that news。 It was bad enough to have the trader accused of spying。 He didn't wish to see any damning evidence mount against the man。
〃So；〃 Hollicks said； 〃is that your proof？ A drunken man is wont to do strange things； you know。 Why； my stablemaster； Wallis； climbs our apple trees every time the liquor has him。 The fact that Dreys had a book means nothing。〃
Lord Sylvarresta shook his head woefully。 〃No； the book has a note in it； addressed to me； from the Emir of Tuulistan。 He is blind； you know。 His castle was taken by Raj Ahten； and the Wolf Lord forced the Emir to give an endowment of sight。 Yet the Emir wrote the story of his life； and sent it to me。〃
〃He wrote his own chronicles？〃 Iome asked； wondering why anyone； much less a blind man； would bother when the Days watched their every move； and wrote the chronicles after their deaths。
〃Is there news of battles in it？〃 Hollicks asked。 〃Does it describe anything of import？〃
〃Many battles；〃 the King said。 〃The Emir tells how Raj Ahten broke his defenses and took neighboring castles。 I've only had time to glance at the book； but it may prove important。 Important enough that Raj Ahten's spy felt he needed to kill Dreys to retrieve the book。〃
〃Butthe Southerner's papers are in order！〃 Hollicks objected。 〃He has a dozen letters of mends from various merchants in his pouch。 He has loans to repay！ He is a merchant； I tell you！ You still have no proof against him！〃
And he has more endowments than any merchant you've ever seen；〃
Sylvarresta said； 〃and they are a warrior's mix in proportion。〃 ；Hollicks seemed deflated by this。
Iome s father mused； 〃You know； twenty years ago； when I went south to court Lady Sylvarresta in Jomateel； I once played chess with Raj Ahten himself。〃 Sylvarresta glanced at his wife； put a forting hand on Hollicks' shoulder。
Iome's mother stirred unfortably。 She did not like being reminded that she was the Wolf Lord's cousin。
〃Do you know how he opened？〃 King Sylvarresta asked。
〃King's pawn to king four？〃 Hollicks guessed； choosing the most mon opening。
〃No。 King's knight to king's wizard three。 An unusual opening。〃
〃Is this significant？〃 Hollicks asked。
〃It is how he played the game。 He left his pawns at home； and attacked with his knights； wizards； castles； queeneven brought out his king。 Rather than seeking to control the center of the board； he attacked with pieces he felt could seize control even at the far corners。〃
King Sylvarresta waited for the merchant to grasp the import of what he was saying； but Hollicks seemed oblivious。 The King put it more simply： 〃That spice merchant in the dungeonhe is one of Raj Ahten's knights。 The calluses inside his thumb e from years of sword practice。〃
Hollicks considered this。 〃Surely you don't believe Raj Ahten will e here？〃
〃Oh； he's ing；〃 Sylvarresta said。 〃That's why we've sent a thousand knights； plus squires and archers； to fortify Castle Dreis。〃 Iome's father failed to mention that seventeen kings of Rofehavan planned to meet in two months； to discuss strategies should Raj Ahten invade。 Apparently her father felt it was not the merchant's business。
Iome's mother； Queen Venetta Sylvarresta； could have told some tales to frighten Master Hollicks。
Iome's mother once told Iome how her cousin 〃Young Ahten；〃 at the age of eight； had visited her father's keep。 Venetta's father had thrown the boy a feast； inviting all the captains of the King's Guard； various counselors； and important merchants to the extravaganza。 When the tables were laid out； piled with roast peacocks and puddings and wine； Venetta's father invited young Raj Ahten to speak。 The boy then stood； turned and addressed Venetta's father； asking； 〃Is this feast not in my honor； a gift to me？〃
Venetta's father had answered； 〃Indeed； it is all in your honor。〃
The boy then indicated the hundred guests with a sweep of his hand； and said； 〃If this is my feast； then send these people away。 I will not have them eating my dinner。〃
Appalled； the guests departed in outrage； leaving the boy with more food than he could consume in a year。
Iome's mother used to say that if her father had been wiser； he'd have slit the rapacious child's throat then。
For years； Venetta had tried to convince King Sylvarresta of the necessity of striking the first blow； of crushing Raj Ahten when he was young。 Somehow； Iome's father never believed the boy would conquer all twenty…two kingdoms in Indhopal。
Iome urged her father now； 〃So you will put this spy to death？ You must insist on justice。〃
Lord Sylvarresta answered； 〃I will have justice。 Raj Ahten will pay dearly。 But I won't kill the knight。〃
At this news； Hollicks sighed in relief。
Iome must have appeared crestfallen； for her father quickly added。 〃Your idealistic solution to this matter is laudable； but hardly practical。 We can't execute the spy。〃
〃So； I'll hold him ransom。〃
〃Ransom？〃 Hollicks asked。 〃Raj Ahten will never admit that this spy is his man！〃
Iome smiled to hear Hollicks finally admit that the man was a spy。
〃Of course not；〃 King Sylvarresta said。 〃But the Indhopal merchants claim him as their own。 They'll pay the ransom to save the fair。 It's a mon practice in Indhopal。 They say a farmer can hardly go to market without ing home to find the neighbors holding his pigs hostage。〃
〃And how can you be sure they'll pay？〃 Iome asked。
〃Because the merchants want to save the fair。 And because； I believe； Raj Ahten has soldiers hiding in the Dunnwood； waiting for the information this man will give。 At least some of these merchants must know thiswhich is why they are so hasty to demand the fellow's release。 So they will be eager to ransom the spy lest we manage to torture a confession from him。〃
〃And why do you suspect that warriors are hiding in the Dunnwood？〃 Hollicks asked。
〃Because days ago I sent five foresters into the woods to find out where the largest boars are laying up before next week's hunt。 They were to report to me yesterday morning。 None have returned。 Five men。 Had it been one； I'd suspect an accident。 But these were trustworthy men。 Nothing would keep them from obeying my mand。 They've either been captured； or killed。 I've sent scouts to confirm my fears； but I think we already know what they'll find。〃
Hollicks' face paled at this news。
〃So； Raj Ahten's soldiers hide in the Dunnwood； and they need to attack within the next three daysbefore the hunts begin； lest they be discovered。〃 King Sylvarresta folded his hands behind his back； paced over to the hearth。
〃Will it be a large battle； milord？〃 Hollicks asked。
Sylvarresta shook his head。 〃I doubt it。 Only some prewar maneuvering is likely； so late of the year。 I think we have a band of assassins out there。 They'll either strike the Dedicates' Keep； seeking to weaken me； or they'll strike at the royal family itself。〃
〃But； what of us merchants？〃 Hollicks said。 〃Couldn't they as easily strike our manors？ Why； why； no one is safe！〃
The idea that Raj Ahten would strike at the bourgeois seemed ludicrous。
Sylvarresta laughed。 〃e； old friend； bolt your doors tonight； and you'll have nothing to fear。 But now； I need your counsel。 We must set a price for this 'merchant's' ransom。 How much damage shall we say he caused the King？〃
〃I would say a thousand silver hawks；〃 Hollicks answered cautiously。
Iome had listened to her father； followed his reasoning and found it both flawless and infuriating。 〃I don't like the idea of ransoming this spy。 It's。。。a form of surrender。 Certainly； you aren't considering Chemoise's feelings！ Her betrothed was murdered！〃
King Sylvarresta looked up at Chemoise； a certain sadness； a certain pleading in the troubled creases around his eyes。 Chemoise's tears had dried； yet Iome's father looked as if he could see the sadness still burning there。 〃I am sorry； Chemoise。 You trust me； don't you？ You trust I am doing the right thing？ If I am right； you'll have that murderer's head on a stick by the end of the weekplus a thousand silver hawks of the ransom money。〃
〃Of course； as you please； milord；〃 Chemoise said。 She could hardly debate the matter。
〃Good；〃 Sylvarresta said； taking Chemoise's words at face value。 〃Now； Master Hollicks； let's consider that ransom。 A thousand pieces of silver； you say？ Then it's good you're not king。 We'll start by demanding twenty times thatalong with fifty pounds of mace； fifty of pepper； and two thousand of salt。 And I'll want blood metal。 How much have the traders weighed in this year？〃
〃Why； I don't know for certain！〃 Hollicks said； all a bluster at the King's outrageous demands。
King Sylvarresta raised a brow in question。 Hollicks knew how much blood metal was available to the ounce。 Ten years before； in recognition of Hollicks' service to the King； Sylvarresta had granted the merchant a Petition to take out an endowment of wit。 Though an endowment of wit did not make the merchant any wiser or more creative or let him think more clearly； that endowment did let Hollicks remember trivial details almost faultlessly。
Taking an endowment of wit was like opening a door into another man's mind。 A man who got an endowment of wit suddenly had the ca