or some place, he’d send a message back, anonymously informing Kadakithis that
Lirain was a traitor. Hanse smiled at that pleasant thought. Perhaps he’d just
go up to Ranke and tell the Emperor what a pair of incompetent agents he had
down in Sanctuary. Hanse saw himself richly rewarded, an intimate of the Emperor
…
And so he and Lirain met again, and made their agreement and plan.
A gate was indeed left open. A guard did indeed quit his post before a door of
the palace. It did indeed prove to be unlatched. Hanse locked it after him. Thus
a rather thick-waisted Shadow-spawn gained entry to the palatial home of the
governor of Sanctuary. Dark corridors led him to the appointed chamber. As the
prince was not in it, it was not specifically guarded. The ivory rod, carved to
resemble rough-barked wood, was indeed there. So, unexpectedly enjoying the
royal couch in its owner’s absence, was Lirain’s sister concubine. She proved
not to have been drugged. She woke and opened her mouth to yell. Hanse reduced
that to a squeak by punching her in the belly, which was shockingly convex and
soft, considering her youth. He held a pillow over her face, sustaining a couple
of scratches and a bruised shin. She became still. He made sure that she was
limp but quite alive, and bound her with a gaiter off her own sandal. The other
he pulled around so as to hold in place the silken garment he stuffed into her
mouth, and tied behind her head. He removed the pendant from one ear. All in
darkness. He hurried to wrap the rod of authority in the drape off a low table.