hours and hours later he was there. He made sure no one tried to ‘help’ him;
twice he played thief, to watch his own trail. He was not followed. Wrinkling
his nose at the stench and slipping on a discarded fish-head, he resolved to get
a clean-up detail down here, and recommend a light as well.
‘I am glad you look like you,’ the shadows said, from behind and above him.
‘A god has marked me, Hanse,’ Tempus explained, without turning or looking up.
‘He helped me, in the Vulgar Unicorn. I didn’t care to be seen there,
compromising you. Did you leave the message because you have changed your mind?’
‘There will be a bargain.’
‘ I can appreciate that. Word is that you have bargained before, with my
employer.’
‘That is as obviously impossible as breaking into the palace.’
‘Obviously. I am empowered to bargain, Hanse.’ I ‘A woman was found dead on
Farmer’s Run just at the west end of the market,’ the shadows said quietly. ‘She
wore a cloak the colour of red clay.’ I ‘Yes.’ ‘ •
‘She had a walking stick. It has a … horrible effect on a man. Her killer
stole it, after she used it on his partner. He abandoned him.’
‘No thief’s corpse was found.’
‘It does not kill. Its effect is … obscene.’ A pause; while the shadow
shuddered? ‘I saw it happen. They were hooded.’
‘Do you know who they are?’
‘Not now. I canUnd out-easily. Want the stick?’
‘Yes.’
‘How many of those foul things remain in … circulation?’
‘We think two. A clever fellow has done well for himself by counting the people
who came out of the shop with a purchase, and recording the names of those he