in step beside Walegrin. Though this second had the manner and dress of the
city-born, his face was like Walegrin’s: lean, hard, and parched.
‘What have you learned, Thrusher?’ Walegrin began, without looking down.
‘That man Downwind who claimed to read such things…’
‘Yes?’
‘Runo went down to meet with him, as you were told. When he did not return for
duty this morning Malm and I went to look for him. We found them both … and
these.’ He handed his captain two small copper coins.
Walegrin turned them over in his palm, then threw them far ‘ into the harbour.
‘I’ll take care of this myself. Tell the others we will have a visitor at the
garrison this evening – a woman.’
‘Yes, captain,’ Thrusher responded, a surprised grin making its way across his
jaw. ‘Shall I send the men away?’
‘No, set them as guards. Nothing is going well. Each time we have set a
rendezvous something has gone wrong. At first it was petty nuisance, now Runo is
dead. I will not take chances in this city above all others. And, Thrusher…’
Walegrin caught his man by the elbow, ‘Thrusher, this woman is S’danzo, my half
sister. See that the men understand this.’
‘They will understand, we all have families somewhere.’
Walegrin grimaced and Thrusher understood that his commander had not suddenly
weakened to admit family concerns.
‘We have need of the S’danzo? Surely there are more reliable seers in Sanctuary
than scrounging the aisles of the bazaar. Our gold is good and nearly
limitless.’ Thrusher, like many men in the Ranken Empire, considered the S’danzo