He shrugged his shoulders, pocketed the money and made the turn, pushing his way through a crowd of roisterers outside a tavern. As they got clear, a snatch of tipsy song came up from behind.

"-So then she jumped right out of Karnat's winder: No one could hinder The Serrelinda-"

Maia could not suppress a chuckle. "Never heard that one before."

"Nor me. They don't tell you, then, when they make them up?"

"Just as well they don't, some of 'em."

At least it had blown away the ill-feeling between them.

"I'm sorry, Maia: you're the last person in the world I'd want to fall out with. Yes, I will do this for you-for you, and because I need the money. Four thousand meld! D'you really mean it? Cran, I could start a business with that!"

"That's if you come back, Sednil. Trying to get information about a Katrian-you'll be running a risk, you know. You can get to Urtah all right, I suppose?"

"That's no trouble: I could be looking for work, couldn't I? But how about the money?" asked Sednil. "When d'you-"

"Half now and half when jou get back. That's fair, isn't it? I brought it with me: two thousand. Here it is."

"You trust me that much, then? Two thousand-I could be off with that, you know."

"No, I trust you."

"It's just that I've got out of the way of being trusted, that's all." He paused. Then, "Yes, Maia, of course I'm jealous of this Katrian."

"Nennaunir loves you."

It was his rum to flare up. "Yes, so much that she wouldn't even speak up for me about that basting ring! She could have saved me-"

"Sednil, you couldn't expect it; you really couldn't. She would have, if the queen had sentenced you to the mines or to hang. She did all she could to get you out, and what's more she's succeeded-"

"You succeeded."

"She still loves you, Sednil. She's told me as much. And

now she's rich and successful you'd be a fool to leave her."

"Well, that's my business. But I shan't tell Nan about this: I'll simply teU her that I'm leaving Bekla to look for work, and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You could go so far as to tell her you're going to Urtah. See, it's only that I don't like deceiving Nan any more 'n what we have to. She's been a good friend to me."

"I shall go to Dan first, Maia. For one thing, it's less likely to attract attention than if I were to go straight to Urtah from Bekla; but besides that, my old mother's still living in Dari-or she was-and I'd like to give her some of this money. And won't she be happy and proud to see her son with a branded hand and release token?" added Sednil bitterly.

"But can't you tell her as 'twasn't none of your fault?" said Maia. "She ought to believe you-her own son."

"Oh, yes, and then she can just explain to all the neighbors, can't she, and to everyone else who gets to hear? Poor old woman, she'll be glad of the money, though. But I won't waste any time in getting on with your job, Maia, I promise. I don't see why I shouldn't be back in under two months. You say this Zen-Kurel was brought up in Dari: well, I could have known him when we were banzis, couldn't I, and be wondering what had become of him? That's where I'll start asking around, and then perhaps move up into Urtah, or even cross the Zhairgen. I may not have to go to Suba at all."

"How will you let me know when you get back?"

"I'll watch out for your lame girl in the market and tell her."

"Here we are back at the bridge. Good luck, Sednil, and I'll pray for you. Don't forget to give Randronoth's letter to Brero, will you?"

69: AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

Randronoth's letter-which bore the Canathron seal of Lapan-was short and so simple that Maia was able- though with effort and a certain amount of inference here and there-to read it for herself. That, she supposed, was probably what he had intended. "Beloved, beautiful Maia,

"I think of you always. I long to be with you again. I am sending you a present. Entertain and hear the messenger. He is my friend. He will tell you-" (The next bit was beyond her. Well, she thought rather impatiently, if he's going to tell me, don't matter, do it?) "He is to be trusted. Sednil is free, as you asked. Your devoted lover, Randronoth."

She put it aside without reflection. The memory of the Randronoth episode was most bitter to her, not through any fault of his, but on account of its horrible and humiliating outcome. She simply wanted to forget it, and to forget him too. She felt nothing for him, and his feeling for her both alarmed and vexed her. Like most outstandingly beautiful girls, Maia had no objection to being desired where she did not desire-it was unavoidable, anyway-provided the admirer's behavior remained within reasonable bounds. But for a man in a high position to be virtually unbalanced-what she herself called "touched"- on her account was worrying, simply because one never knew whether he might not do something embarrassing or even downright dangerous. The present, being from a provincial governor, would have to be accepted, of course. She only hoped it wouldn't prove to be one which would make it more difficult to refuse him what he wanted-for to refuse him she was determined.

Unless-she suddenly thought: unless-and try as she would, her sharp little peasant mind refused to drop it- unless Sednil were actually to find Zenka. Suppose Zenka were to say "Yes, come" (for she still did not believe that his love could have altered: I was there and Sednil wasn't, she thought), then she was going to need all the ready money she could lay her hands on.

Quite apart from that, however, she was in a fair old bit of money difficulty anyway. She was two thousand meld out of pocket to Sednil, to say nothing of the thousand she had lost along with Randronoth's nine thousand to Fbrnis. And then when Sednil got back (as of course he would) there would be another two thousand to find. No doubt about it, she was running short-or she was going to run short. If she were to accept Randronoth again but no one else, it would be certain to get out. Everyone would assume that they were lovers. But suppose she were to accept three or four men-Randronoth among them, perhaps-just once apiece, just to get solvent once more? It

went against the grain, certainly; it was clean contrary to her resolve that no one else should ever drink from that bright cup which she and Zenka had drained together. Yet what else could she do? And anyway she would be doing it only so that she could be ready at any moment to join him again-a swift and secret journey, involving instant down-payments and, no doubt, bribes. What sort of journey? Whither? Ah! this she could not envisage. But when the time came, Lespa would surely point the way.

It was early one evening-getting on for supper-time and the air cooling pleasantly-when Ogma came smilingly upstairs to tell her that a stranger was below and asking to see her. "He says he's from Lord Randronoth, miss," she said with obvious approbation, "and to show you this." It was yet another imprint of Randronoth's Canathron seal.

After taking her time over changing into a fresh robe and having Ogma brush and arrange her hair, Maia came leisurely down the staircase, paused for a minute in the hall to give Jarvil a few unnecessary instructions and then strolled into the parlor.

The man, who was sitting near the window gazing out across the Barb, stood up as she entered. He was unexpectedly young-only a year or two older than herself; tall, with black hair falling below his shoulders, and eyes of so deep a brown as hardly to be distinguishable from the pupils. He was elegantly-almost foppishly-dressed in a slashed, crimson veltron and yellow silk breeches, and wore at his belt a pouch or scrip of fine, tooled leather embossed with the Canathron emblem.

"Good evening, saiyett," he said, crossing the room and taking her hands. "My name is Count Seekron, of Lapan, and I come from Lord Randronoth. He sends you this gift and begs that you will graciously permit me to talk with you for a short time."