‘Lying low,’ Cappen replied. ‘I’ve taken a place here in the Maze which’ll do
till I’ve dropped back into obscurity, or decide to drift elsewhere altogether.’
He sipped his wine. Sunbeams slanted through windows; dust motes danced golden
in their warmth; a cat lay on a sill and purred. ‘Trouble is, my purse is flat.’
‘We’re free of such woes for a goodly while.’ Jamie flung his length into a
chair and signalled the attendant. ‘Beer!’ he thundered.
‘You collected a reward, then?’ the minstrel asked eagerly.
Jamie nodded. ‘Aye. In the way you whispered I should, before you left us. I’m
baffled why and it went sore against the grain. But I did give Molin the notion
that the rescue was my idea and you naught but a hanger-on whom I’d slip a few
royals. He filled a box with gold and silver money, and said he wished he could
afford ten times that. He offered to get me Rankan citizenship and a title as
well, and make a bureaucrat of me, but I said no, thanks. We share, you and I,
half and half. But right this now, drinks are on me.’
‘What about the plotters?’ Cappen inquired.
‘Ah, those. The matter’s been kept quiet, as you’d await. Still, while the
temple of Ils can’t be abolished, seemingly it’s been tamed.’ Jamie’s regard
sought across the table and sharpened. ‘After you disappeared, Danlis agreed to
let me claim the whole honour. She knew better – Rosanda never noticed – but
Danlis wanted a man of the hour to carry her redes to the prince, and none
remained save me. She supposed you were simply worn out. When last I saw her,