nded safely； gave Isgrimnur a chummy； gap…toothed smile。 〃And women； too。〃 His smile grew uncertain as he surveyed Isgrimnur's face。 〃…Or boys； if that is more to your liking。〃
The duke forced a great hiss of air between his teeth。 He reached into his cloak and pulled out a gold Imperator； then placed it gently on the rowing bench beside Sinetris' skinny leg。 Isgrimnur next moved to the bottommost stair。 〃There is your thievish payment； as I promised。 Now； I have a suggestion for how you might spend your evening。 〃
Sinetris looked up warily。 〃Yes？〃
Isgrimnur drew down his eyebrows in a horrible frown。 〃Spend it doing your very best to make sure that I do not see you again。 Because if I do；〃 he lifted his hairy fist； 〃I will roll your eyeballs around in your pointy head。 Understood？〃
Sinetris dropped his oar…blades and backed water hastily； so that Isgrimnur had to quickly swing his other foot up onto the stairs。 〃So this is how you monks treat Sinetris after all his favors！？〃 the boatman said indignantly； puffing up his thin chest like a courting pigeon。 〃No wonder the church is in bad repute！ You 。 。 bearded barbarian！〃 He splashed off into the darkened canal。
Isgrimnur laughed harshly； then stumped up the stairs to the inn。
After several fitful nights in the grasslands…nights in which he had been forced to keep a careful watch on the treacherous Sinetris； who had several times tried to slip away and leave Isgrimnur standed on the bleak； wind…swept coast of Firannos Bay…the Duke of Elvritshalla took his sleep in full measure。 He remained in bed until the sun was high m the sky； then broke his fast with a manly portion of bread and honey acpanied by a stoup of ale。 It was nearly noontide before he obtained directions to Pelippa's Bowl from the innkeeper and was out on the rainy canals once more。 His boatman this time was a Wrannaman； who despite the bitter wind wore only a loincloth and a broad…brimmed hat with a red； drizzle…soaked feather drooping from the band。 The boatman's sullen silence was a pleasant change from the ceaseless carping of Sinetris。 Isgrimnur settled back to fondle his new…sprouted beard and enjoy the sodden sights of Kwanitupul； a city he had not visited for many years。
The storm had obviously cast a pall over the trading city。 Unless things had changed greatly since his last sojourn； there should be many more boats out on the water at midday； many more folk wandering Kwanitupul's exotic byways。 Those who were about seemed to be hurrying to their destinations。 Even the ritual cries of greeting and challenge that rang between canal boats seemed unusually muted。 Like insects； the residents seemed chilled almost to immobility by the snow that melted in patches on their wooden walkways； and the wind…borne sleet that stung exposed limbs and filled the canals with circular ripples。
Here and there among the sparse crowds Isgrimnur saw small gatherings of Fire Dancers； the religious maniacs who had gained their notoriety by self…immolation。 They had bee a familiar sight to the duke since he had first reached Nabban。 These wild…eyed penitents； uncaring of the cold； stood on the walkways near busy canal intersections and shouted the praises of their dark master； the Storm King。 Isgrimnur wondered where they had heard that name。 He had never heard it spoken south of the Frostmarch before； even in a children's bogey…story。 It was no coincidence； he knew； but he could not help musing on whether these robed lunatics were the pawns of someone like Pryrates or true visionaries。 If the latter was the case； then the end they foresaw might be real。
Isgrimnur shuddered at this thought and made the sign of the Tree on his breast。 Black times； these were。 For all their shouting； though； the Fire Dancers did not seem to be engaging in their familiar trick of setting themselves aflame。 The duke smiled sourly。 Perhaps it was a little too damp today。
The boatman stopped at last before an unprepossessing structure in the warehouse district； far from the centers of merce。 When Isgrimnur had paid him； the little dark man reached up with his gaff hook and pulled down the rope ladder from the dock。 The duke was scarcely halfway up the swinging ladder before the boatman had turned around and was coasting out of sight down a side…canal。
Huffing and cursing his fat belly； Isgrimnur at last made his way up onto the more trustworthy footing of the dock。 He rapped at the weather…worn door； then waited a long time in the freezing rain without answer； growing increasingly cross。 At last the door swung open； revealing a frowning woman of middle age。
〃I don't know where the half…wit is；〃 she told Isgrimnur as though he had asked。 〃It's not enough that I have to do every other lick of work here； but now I have to answer the door as well。〃
For a moment the duke was so taken aback that he almost apologized。 He struggled with his impulse toward chivalry。 〃I want a room；〃 he said at last。
〃Well； e in； then；〃 the woman said doubtfully； opening the door wider。 Beyond lay a makeshift boathouse that stank of tar and old fish。 A couple of hulls were laid out like casualties of battle。 In the corner； a brown arm protruded from a huddle of blankets。 For a moment Isgrimnur thought it was a corpse that had been carelessly thrown into the doorway； when the arm moved； pulling the blankets closer； he realized that it was only someone sleeping。 He had a sudden premonition that he might not find the acmodations here up to the best standards； but he forced the thought down。
You're getting fussy； old man； he chided himself。 On the battlefield； you've slept in mud and blood and the nests of biting flies。
He had a mission； he reminded himself。 His own fort was secondary。
〃By the way；〃 he called after the innkeeper； whose brisk steps had taken her almost the entire length of the dooryard； 〃I'm looking for someone。〃 Suddenly he could not recall the name Dinivan had told him。 He stopped； running his fingers through his damp beard； then remem… bered。 〃Tiamak。 I'm looking for Tiamak。〃
When the woman turned； her sour expression had been supplanted by a look of greedy pleasure。 〃You？〃 she said。 〃You're the one with the gold？〃 She opened her arms wide as though to embrace him。 Despite the dozen cubits that separated them； the duke took a step backward； repelled。 The bundle of blankets m the corner began to wiggle like a nest of piglets； then felt away。 A small and very thin Wrannaman sat up； eyes still half…closed from sleep。
〃I am Tiamak；〃 he said； trying to stifle a yawn。 As he surveyed Isgrimnur； the marsh…man's face seemed to show disappointment； as though he had expected something better。 The duke felt his annoyance returning。 Were all these people mad？ Who did they think he was； or expect him to be？
〃I bring you tidings；〃 Isgrimnur said stiffly； uncertain of how to proceed。 〃But we should talk in private。〃
〃I will show you to your room；〃 the woman said hastily； 〃the finest in the house； and the little brown gentleman…another honored guest…can join you there。〃
Isgrimnur had just turned back to Tiamak； who seemed to be dressing awkwardly beneath the blankets； when the inside door of the inn thumped open and a horde of children barged through； whooping like Thrithings…men at war。 They were pursued by a tall； white…haired old man； who grinned from ear to ear as he pretended to stalk them。 They fled him with shrieks of delight； and crashed through the door leading out to the dock。 Before he could pursue them any further the landlady stepped before him； fists on hips。
〃Damn you for a simple ass； Ceallio； you are here to answer the door！〃 The old man； though considerably taller； cowered before her as though expecting a blow。 〃I know you are addled…pated； but you are not deaf。 Did you not hear someone knocking at the door？〃
The old man moaned wordlessly。 The landlady turned from him in disgust。 〃He's as stupid as a stone；〃 she began； then broke off； staring； as Isgrimnur dropped to his knees。
The duke felt the world tilt； as though giant hands had lifted it。 It took long moments before he could speak； moments in which the landlady； the little Wrannaman and