"What do you think he's going to do with us?" she asked.

"Kill us," Caledan replied flatly.

They were interrupted by the sound of the lock once again being turned. The iron-banded door flew open, and Caledan squinted as brilliant, golden light flooded the small prison chamber. After a moment his eyes adjusted, and he saw Cormik standing before him wearing an unsavory grin. He was flanked by his two bodyguards, as well as by a lanky young man with black hair and eyes.

"I trust my retainers treated you well in my absence?" Cormik asked.

"But of course." Caledan rattled his chains, smiling facetiously. "You're too good to your guests, Cormik."

Cormik bowed his head in acknowledgment, his one eye glittering. "Nothing is too good for an old… friend."

Caledan took a deep breath. "Cormik, if you'd just let me explain-"

"Silence!" the man snapped. The bodyguards took a step forward, hands on the hilts of their short swords. Cormik held up a neatly manicured, ring-covered hand. "No, I shall deal with him in my own manner." The hand dropped casually down to the hilt of a stiletto at his belt. The knife was a delicate, beautifully crafted thing with pale opals set into the hilt. "You may leave me, gentlemen. Dario and I will attend to business here." The two bodyguards lumbered out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

"Cormik," Caledan tried again, forcing an expansive smile, "if you would just give me a chance to tell my side of the story, I'm sure-"

"Spare me your lies, Caledan. I haven't the time, and frankly neither do you or your friend here." He smoothly slipped the jeweled stiletto out of its sheath. "Be so good as to help me with this, Dario."

The dark-haired young man grasped Caledan's shackled wrist firmly. Caledan's eyes widened. Mari stared at the scene in horror.

"Cormik, please. К you'd just-"

"That's the trouble with Harpers, Dario. They never stop talking, even when you desperately wish they would." Cormik poised the blade inches from Caledan's wrist. 'That's good, Dario, hold it steady."

Caledan clenched his jaw. He was determined not to beg. Then he watched in amazement as Cormik deftly turned the knife, pressing one of the polished opals. There was a small click, and a thin piece of metal popped out of the end of the hilt. It was a key.

Caledan's jaw went slack. He stared as the man he'd just thought was going to kill him removed the shackle instead. Quickly Cormik unlocked the rest of the chains, and in moments Caledan stood free, absently rubbing his sore wrists. Cormik released Mari next, chuckling. Then he slipped the dagger into his belt once again.

"You old wolf, it's good to see you," Cormik exclaimed. He grasped Caledan's hand firmly between his own beefy palms and squeezed it warmly.

A smile slowly crept across Caledan's face.

Cormik's eyes glittered. "Come drink a cup of wine with me while I explain." His gaze turned to Mari, and a sly smile crept across his lips. "And perhaps you'll introduce me to your charming companion."

A few minutes later found them in a richly appointed chamber hung with expensive Sembian tapestries. Cormik bade them sit down while Dario poured them each a goblet of deep red wine from a crystal decanter.

Caledan swirled the ruby-colored liquid a bit suspiciously. "Nothing unpleasant at the bottom, I trust?"

"Not unless my good Dario put it there. However, I may simply be an old fool, but I believe the lad's loyal to me."

"One of his many delusions," the young man said with such perfect seriousness that Caledan was almost taken aback. Then he saw the mischief dancing in the young man's dark eyes.

The wine proved to be cool and delicious, and Caledan took the liberty of refilling his goblet as Cormik talked.

"I hope you'll forgive my rude treatment," he said, his attention directed more toward Mari than Caledan. "I'm afraid it was necessary to protect myself, and both of you as well. I couldn't let it look as if I was consorting with Harpers. It's a well-known fact that Cutter-or should I say Ravendas?-is not overly fond of Harpers. Except for dead ones, of course."

Tm afraid you're mistaken," Mari said with an expression of disarming innocence, "but I'm not a-"

"Don't be coy, Harper Al'maren," Cormik said with a low chuckle. "I'm afraid neither you nor Caledan has been terribly inconspicuous these past few days. I've intercepted reports concerning both of you that were bound for the city lord's tower, and I'm certain Ravendas knows of your presence."

"I agree," Caledan said grimly. "I had the misfortune of being too close to the Harper yesterday when a wizard probably Zhentarim, loosed a trio of magical hounds after her. We came very close to being incinerated and eaten."

"Actually, Caledan," Cormik said gravely, "I don't think that attack was directed at Harper Al'maren."

A startled look crossed Mari's face. Caledan frowned. "And what tells you that?"

"This." Cormik drew a piece of parchment out of a pocket of his voluminous embroidered silk tunic and laid it on the table. "It was posted down in the New City, in the free market, along with dozens of others like it. It's a notice offering a reward for any information concerning your whereabouts, Caledan. And the reward is not an inconsiderable sum. Surely you didn't think your duel with Cutter's captain went unnoticed the other night."

Caledan grunted.

Mari took the parchment and studied it carefully. She looked up and regarded Caledan with concerned eyes. "What would Ravendas want with you, Caledan? You've said it yourself. You're not a Harper anymore, and no threat to her."

Caledan shook his head. "I can't read her mind, Harper."

"Well," Cormik went on, "I hope you can see that I was simply protecting myself by treating you openly like enemies. Since Cutter took over the city a year or so ago, mine is one of the few businesses that's avoided any trouble. And it's not because I've been pandering to Cutter or that new lord steward, ah, what's his name?" Cormik looked to Dario, then snapped his fingers before the young man could answer. "Snake, that's it. Odd name. Odd fellow. He gives me the chills just to look at him."

Cormik sipped his wine. "Luckily, that old 'misunderstanding' of ours was public enough that folks won't think it odd if I still consider you an enemy, Caledan."

Caledan nodded. "But you're not still angry over all that, are you, Cormik?"

Cormik gave a rumbling laugh. "I know very well-and always have-that Maderon meant to kill me. He simply owed me too much money to let me live. I had everything planned and taken care of. And then you had to meddle in my affairs. How like a Harper."

"What does it matter who killed him?" Caledan asked with a shrug. "Dead is dead."

"Quite," Cormik said dryly, sipping his wine. "Except that I had devised a little scheme to relieve him of the rest of his fortune before I relieved him of his ability to go on breathing. You cost me quite a bit, you know. And don't try to tell me you only did it to protect me. It would be very touching, but it would also be untruthful. You had your own reasons for doing away with Maderon. I know that, even if I don't know what those reasons were."

"Believe me, it's a tale you don't want to hear." Caledan sighed, fidgeting absently with the braided copper bracelet on his left wrist.

"Fair enough," Cormik said, then he changed the subject. "Perhaps now you can tell me what brought you to my doorstep this time. I'd like to think it was because you've missed me, but I suppose that would be another one of my 'delusions.'" He looked at Dario pointedly. Cormik motioned his apprentice over, and whispered something into Dario's ear. After a moment the young man nodded.

"It was nice to meet you," he said, smiling as he bowed to Caledan and Man. Then he exited the chamber by way of a secret passage concealed behind a bookcase.