handful of mane, about to swing up on his horse, and thus he saw Hanse’s fingers
flicker: state it. So he did, admitting that he was lost, quite baldly, and
asking the thief to guide him on his way.
When they had walked far enough that Shadowspawn’s laughter no longer echoed,
the thief said, “What’s wrong? Like I said, I was out at the barracks. I’ve
never seen him scared of anything, but he’s scared of that girl he’s got in his
room. And he’s meaner than normal-told me I couldn’t stable my horse out there,
and not to come around-” Shadowspawn broke off, having said what he did not want
to say, and kicked a melon in their path, which burst open, showing the teeming
maggots within.
“Maybe he’d like to keep you out of troubles that aren’t any of your business.
Or maybe he estimates his debt to you is paid in full-you can’t keep coming
around when it suits you and still be badmouthing us like any other Ilsig-“
A spurt of profanity contained some cogent directions to the Vulgar Unicorn, and
some other suggestions impossible to follow. Niko did not look up to see Hanse
go. If he failed to take the warning to heart, then hurt feelings would keep him
away from Niko and his commander for a while. It was enough.
Directions or no, it took him longer than it should have to find his way.
Finally, when he was eyeing the sky doubtfully, trying to estimate the lateness
of the hour, he spied the Unicorn’s autoerotic sign creaking in the moist,
stinking breeze blowing in off the harbor. Discounting Hanse, since Niko had