One of the jailers, annoyed by the captive's composure, jerked again at the chain. "Show proper respect! You stand in the presence of the king!"

The captive nodded toward King Casmir. "Good day to you, sir."

King Casmir responded in an even voice: "Good day to you, Torqual. How have you found your confinement?"

"Tolerable only, sir, and not for the fastidious."

Another person came quietly into the room: a gentleman somewhat past his first youth, stocky, brisk as a robin, with good features, neat brown hair and clever brown eyes. He bowed. "Good day, my lord."

"Good day, Shalles. Do you know Torqual?"

Shalles inspected the prisoner. "To this moment, I have had no contact with the gentleman."

"That is to our general advantage," said King Casmir. "You will therefore have no prejudicial emotions in his direction. Jailers, remove the chains so that Torqual may sit in comfort; then you may wait in the corridor. Oldebor, you may wait outside as well."

Oldebor protested. "Your Majesty, this is a desperate man, with neither hopes nor qualms!"

King Casmir showed a faint chilly smile. "That is why he is here. Abide in the corridor. Shalles is well able to protect me."

While Shalles turned the prisoner a dubious side-glance, the jailers removed the chains, then, with Oldebor, withdrew to the corridor.

King Casmir pointed to benches. "Gentlemen, be seated. May I offer you wine?"

Both Torqual and Shalles accepted cups of wine, and seated themselves.

Casmir looked back and forth between the two, then said: "You are men of different sorts; so much is clear. Shalles is the fourth son of the honourable knight Sir Pellent-Overtree, whose estate includes three farms of sixty-three acres in total. Shalles has learned the niceties of noble behavior together with a taste for good food and wine, but so far has found no means to indulge his yearnings. Torqual, of you I know little, but I would learn more. Perhaps you will tell us something of yourself."

"With pleasure," said Torqual. "To begin with, I am the member of a class which may well include a single individual: myself. My father is a duke of Skaghahe; my lineage is longer than the history of the Elder Isles. My tastes, like those of Sir Shalles, are nice; I prefer the best of everything. While I am a Ska, I care not a fig for the Ska mystique. I have cohabited freely and often with Underfolk women and bred a dozen hybrids; therefore they call me a renegade.

"The epithet is inaccurate and undeserved. I cannot be faithless to a cause which I never have endorsed. Indeed, I am absolutely faithful to the only cause I espouse, which is my own welfare. I take pride in this unswerving loyalty!

"I came away from Skaghane early, with several advantages: the strength, vigor and intelligence of the typical Ska, which was my birthright, and the expert use of weapons, for which I must take credit upon myself, since there are few, if any, who can excel me, especially with the sword.

"In order to maintain a gentlemanly style, and lacking sympathy for working up the Ska hierarchies, I became a brigand; I robbed and murdered with the best. However, there is little wealth to be had in the Ulflands, and so I came to Lyonesse.

"My plans were simple and innocent. As soon as I took enough gold and silver to fill a wagon, I intended to become a robber baron of the Teach tac Teach, and live out my life in relative seclusion.

"Through a freak of luck, I was trapped by your thief-takers. I now await drawing and quartering, though I will be glad to consider any other program your Majesty may see fit to propose."

"Hm," said King Casmir. "Your execution is scheduled for tomorrow?"

"That is my understanding."

Casmir nodded and turned to Shalles. "What do you think of this fellow?"

Shalles considered Torqual sidelong. "Obviously, he is a blackguard of the deepest dye, with the conscience of a shark. At this moment he has nothing to lose and so feels free to exercise his insouciance."

"What faith would you put in his word?"

Shalles dubiously cocked his head to the side. "It would depend upon how far his self-esteem rides with his faith. I am sure the word ‘honour' means something different to him than it does to me or to you. I would trust him better on a system of rewards after stipulated service. Still, if only from caprice, Torqual might serve you well. He is clearly intelligent, energetic, forthright, and despite his present condition, I would guess him to be resourceful."

King Casmir turned to Torqual. "You have heard Shalles' opinions. What is your comment?"

"He is a person of discernment. I cannot argue with his remarks."

King Casmir nodded, and poured wine into the three mugs. "The circumstances are these. King Aillas of Troicinet has extended his power into South Ulfland, where it impedes my own ambitions. I therefore wish to make South Ulfland ungovernable for the Troice. I intend that you two should serve me to this end, both singly, or, when occasion arises, in tandem. Shalles, what do you say to this?"

Shalles considered. "Your Majesty, may I be frank?"

"Naturally."

"The task is dangerous. I am willing to serve you in this regard, at least for a limited period, if the rewards are commensurate to the danger."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Full knighthood and a prosperous estate of at least two hundred acres."

King Casmir grunted. "You value yourself highly."

"Sir, my life, drab and insipid though it may seem to others, is the only life given me to live."

"Very well; so it shall be. Torqual, what of you?"

Torqual laughed. "I accept, regardless of risk or your distrust, or whatever the nature of the task, or whatever the reward."

King Casmir said dryly: "Essentially, I want you to establish yourself in the highlands of South Ulfland and there wreak as much disorder as possible, but only upon the forces cooperating with the Troice. You are to make contact with other high-country barons and counsel disobedience, insurrection and banditry similar to your own. Do you understand my needs?"

"Perfectly! I accept your proposal with enthusiasm."

"I thought as much. Shalles, you shall, like Torqual, visit among such of the barons you suspect of disaffection, and give them counsel and coordinate their efforts. If necessary, you may offer bribes, though this will be your last resort. You will also work closely with Torqual, and at intervals you will report to me, by methods which we will arrange."

"Sir, I will do my best in this regard, for a period which perhaps we now should define for our exact understanding."

Casmir drummed a quick tattoo on the table-top, but when he spoke, his voice was even. "Much depends upon circumstances."

"Exactly so, sir, which is why I wish to define an upper limit upon my service. The danger is very great in this game which you want me to play. In short, I do not care to roam the moors until finally I am killed."

"Hm. How long a term do you suggest?"

"In view of the danger, a year seems long enough."

Casmir grunted. "In a year you will hardly learn the lay of the land."

"Sir, I can only do my best, and, remember, King Aillas will send out his own spies. Once I am identified, my usefulness decreases."

"Hmf. I will think on it. Come before me tomorrow afternoon."

Shalles rose to his feet, bowed and departed. Casmir turned to Torqual. "Shalles may be somewhat too scrupulous for this sort of work. Still, he is avaricious, which is a good sign. As for you, I am under no illusions. You are a wolf's-head, a crafty murderer and a blackguard."

Torqual grinned. "I also ravish women. Usually they cry and hold out their arms when I leave them."

King Casmir, who was something of a prig in such matters, turned him a cold stare. "I will provide you weapons and, at your option, a small company of cutthroats. If you succeed well, and, like Shalles, desire a life of rustic gentility, I will also find for you a suitable estate. So I hope to guarantee your faith. You have reason to serve me well."