The Hell Hound forced himself to look around the room again. ‘I see that you
genuinely believe the knowledge you seek is worthwhile,’ he said carefully, ‘but
I still feel subjecting men and women to this, even if they are slaves, is too
high a price.’
‘But it’s legal!’ Kurd insisted. ‘What I do here breaks no Rankan laws.’
‘ Ranke has many laws, you should remember that from our last meeting. Few live
within all of them and while there is some discretion exercised between which
laws are enforced and which are overlooked, 1 tell you now that I will be
personally watching for anything which will allow me to move against you. It
would be easier on both of us if you simply moved on now … for I won’t rest
while you are within my patrol-range.’
‘I am a law-abiding citizen.’ The pale man glared, drawing himself up. ‘I won’t
be driven from my home like a common
criminal.’
‘So you said before.’ The Hell Hound smiled as he turned to go. ‘But, you are no
longer in Ranke – remember that.’
‘That’s right,’ Kurd shouted after him, ‘we are no longer in Ranke. Remember
that yourself. Hell Hound.’
Four days later Zalbar’s confidence had ebbed considerably. Finishing his night
patrol of the city he turned down the Processional towards the wharves. This was
becoming a habit with him now, a final off-duty stretch-of-the-legs to organize
his thoughts in solitude before retiring to the crowded barracks. Though there
was still activity back in the Maze, this portion of town had been long asleep
and it was easy for the Hell Hound to lose himself in his ponderings as he paced