There were always a few people up in the manor. The guards at the gate, of course, had to at least pretend to be awake, but there was usually someone awake in the house, too. Gilliam ran into Lord Useph on the way to his room.The desert Lord was making his way down the hall toward the kitchen and storerooms, accompanied by one of his entourage, a skinny man with greasy hair whose job had never been explained. He followed Useph around like a dog and seemed about as useful.

“Lord Useph,” Gilliam gave a deferential nod.

“Feeling peckish as well, Scribe Gilliam?” the man with Lord Useph asked, while Useph himself completely ignored Gilliam.

“Not at all,” Gilliam said. “I am headed toward my humble rooms. Unlike your exalted lord, my room is near the kitchen.”

“Ah, well that can be convenient,” the man said. “Lord Useph often craves a midnight snack. It is a long walk down many stairs.”

Gilliam was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Lord Useph was staring straight ahead even though he had matched his pace to Gilliams and was clearly paying some attention to the conversation. “You could spare your lord the trip and bring food up to him, don’t you think, Lord Useph?” he said.

Useph did not look at him. “One must exercise.”

“Ah, and here I must leave you,” Gilliam said, glad that they had finally reached his door. It seemed strange to him that Lord Useph would not either come to the kitchen himself or send a servant for him. Useph’s reason had seemed…insincere. Gilliam couldn’t help but think that the venture had nothing to do with a snack and everything to do with the illicit activities of the Thief Lord.

Before he retired to bed Gilliam went to the window to look at the stars. It had long since been a ritual of his to say a prayer each night, and it seemed somehow more real if he looked out at the stars when he did. His window was a small one, and not far from it a large apple tree stood in the gardens, bountifully laden with its spring blossoms. The canopy of flowers obscured almost all of the stars. To see any, Gilliam had to lean out the window and look nearly straight up.

Sticking his head out, he caught the sense of movement. A figure was hopping from the window ledge above his onto the low roof over the kitchen. For a moment he thought it must be the Firebrand, but there was no trademark masquerade mask. This person’s whole face was swathed in dark cloth, and he couldn’t be sure, but he felt it looked more like a man than a woman. He watched the black form until he dropped out of sight on the far end of the kitchen, but there were no clues to his identity or his mission.

~

The boat bumped gently against the dock, pushed by the never-ending current of the River Thwyne. Neal listened to its rhythmic thump...thump-thump...thump and watched Ugly Led and his small crew hauling Markus’s goods. Ugly Led was not the man’s really name, but he answered to it and never complained or corrected anyone, so Neal was happy to go along with it. Neal knew it was customary to watch the unloading to make sure the crew boss wasn’t cheating. There was indeed no honor among thieves, and all of his gains were ill-gotten, and Neal was weary of vigilance. Why not let the crew boss have his own ill-gotten share?

As the offload continued in the early dawn light the captain of Lady Sella joined Neal on the dock. He had purchased Neal’s whole load, jumping at the unbeatable price and turning a blind eye to the reasons for it, or the reasons for a lack of a full accounting of its contents (in the dockmasters ledger most of Neal’s crates were listed as containing merely commodities). He also was here to make sure the crew boss did not cheat him. All the boxes that had been unloaded from Neal’s boat were hauled into the Lady Sella’s hold under his watchful eye. Once all the work was done Ugly Led approached Neal and the captain. They settled up quickly, with no disputes. When the Lady Sella’s captain went to his boat where preparations to shove off were already underway, Ugly Led lingered at Neal’s elbow. Neal wondered if there was something he was forgetting.

“Is our business not concluded?” he asked.

“Oh, yes, yes, that is,” Ugly said, and licked his lips. “There is another matter I wanted to...” He turned suddenly to his crew, who were lingering nearby. “The rest of the morning is yours, boys. I’ll see you at noon.”

They cleared out quickly, before their boss could change his mind.

Neal cleared his throat. Presumably with the men gone Led could now tell him whatever he hadn’t wanted them to hear.

“Here it is,” Ugly Led said. “I’ve heard tell you are one of the Untouchable’s men.”

“Have you?” Neal kept his tone neutral.

“The haul from your boat says if you’re not, you bought or stole from him,” said Ugly Led. “I carried some of those crates off a boat two weeks ago, before robbers took them. Everybody knows that was the Untouchable’s work.”

“How do they know that?”

“It makes sense,” said Led. “The way I see it, the Untouchable is shaping up to be the new man on top, at least in this part of the country. I have an interest in being close to the top myself. I could be a friend to the Untouchable.”

“What would you have to offer to a bandit chief?” Neal asked.

“I’m mighty valuable to someone looking to move goods like you did today,” Ugly Led said. “Well connected, you might say.”

“You know what?” Neal said. “I’m inclined to believe you.”

“So are you with him?” Ugly Led asked.

“I’m his right hand man.”

“What do you say then, man?” Led asked Neal. “Will the Untouchable be bringing me business again?”

Neal pursed his lips. “We don’t just need a dock crew,” he said. “We need someone who can work with the dock master. We can’t have him ratting us out to Lord Westfall, or the Thief Lord, either.”

“Gordon is an old friend,” Led said. “You’re golden.”

Neal nodded. “You’ll be hearing from us.”

The approach of running footsteps ended their conversation. A boy stood on the shore, looking nervous. He had messy brown hair and the stretched-out lankiness of a recent growth spurt. Neal left the dock to talk to the boy.

Finally. He’d been starting to think no one in that whole village was going to be any use at all. It was a relief to see now that even among the simple and honorable villagers, there was at least one who could be bought.

~

A glass thudded down on a table, sending Kiri’s heart speeding yet again. The letter from the Untouchable had left her on edge. She felt trapped in the congenial atmosphere of The Leaning Pillar’s dining room. He knew she was here, and with all this din she wouldn’t hear him coming. Every unexpected noise she imagined to be one of the bandits, stepping out of the shadows to attack. Hopefully anyone who noticed attributed her flinching to her injured foot, since this was her first day to be back up on it and waiting tables. Steeling herself after yet another innocuous sound made her duck, she set two plates down in front of an older couple

“I’m glad to see you back in here,” said the man. “But you look like maybe you should take a break.” They were regulars, and always polite.

Kiri smiled. “I’m fine, really,” she said. “But I’ll be sure to take a break soon.”

“Good,” the woman said, patting Kiri’s hand. “You should take care of yourself.”

A few minutes later the perfect excuse for a break came in the door. Gilliam nodded at Kiri and went to his favorite table by a window. He was carrying another jar of that wonderful ointment. Kiri looked a plea at Karey, who waved her off.

“Make sure he orders something,” she said. “And don’t be too long about it.”

That was really unfair. Gilliam always ordered something. He was one of their best customers.

Kiri whipped her apron off and set it on the empty chair beside her as she sat down opposite Gilliam. It wasn’t something she normally did. Today everything was setting her on edge. And it was a relief to be off her leg for a little bit.

“I see you are back to work,” Gilliam said. “Will you be able to work on the accounts again, then?” Gilliam asked.

A sound behind her distracted her, and Kiri couldn’t keep herself from turning around to check it out. It was just someone getting up from the bar. She rolled her eyes at herself at turned back to Gilliam.

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“Are you expecting someone?” Gilliam asked.

Kiri laughed at that. “Not exactly,” she said.

“What does that mean?” Gilliam asked. “Is Garon coming today?”

“No.” Kiri shrugged. “I mean, I don’t know. Maybe. We don’t have plans.”

“All right,” Gilliam said. “If he does come after I have left may I ask you to pass a message along to him.”

“You have a message for Garon?”

“Yes,” Gilliam said.

“And it is?”

“Ah, yes.” Gilliam shifted in his chair. “This is...somewhat delicate.”

Gilliam seemed to be uncomfortable. Kiri was intrigued enough to be distracted from her tense mood. She leaned forward and raised her eyebrows questioningly.

“It involves his sister,” Gilliam said. “And Lord Useph. Appparently, he found her beautiful.”

“Everyone does,” Kiri said.

“Beautiful and beguiling, were his words,” Gilliam said. “He wants to meet her again. He invites her to come join him for a private dinner at the manor.”

“Isn’t he the one you said might be an agent of the Thief Lord?” Kiri asked. “And hang on...isn’t he married?”

“No, not at all,” Gilliam said. “His wife died some years ago.”

“Oh,” Kiri said. “Then who was that woman at the party?”

“That was his sister-in-law,” Gilliam said. “She joined his household to look after his young son when his wife died.”

“But she’s not his wife?”

“No.”

“Fine, then,” Kiri said. “But I don’t like the idea of Mala having dinner with someone who might have something to do with the Thief Lord.”

“She should be reminded of that when the invitation is passed on,” Gilliam said. “He most likely isn’t an agent of the Thief Lord, Kiri. It is wise to be cautious, however. In any case it is difficult not to pass on the invitation. And difficult to refuse.”

“Sure,” Kiri said. “Who wants to offend a nobleman, or for that matter an agent of the Thief Lord?”

Gilliam didn’t respond to that.

“Look,” Kiri said. “I have to get back to work? What do you want? The usual?”

“That sounds perfect, Kiri,” Gilliam said, giving her a winning smile that made her roll her eyes as she got back to her feet and tied back on her apron. It itched.

Manners dictated that Mala be accompanied to her dinner, but luckily not that her escorts stay for the meal. After exchanging a few tense, painfully polite words, Useph made the customary offer of food, and Garon the customary excuse. Kiri was glad to get out of the room.

“So, you said you were going to show me the gardens. Is that true?” Kiri asked, once they were well away from the dining rooms.

“I could,” Garon said. “If I knew where they were.”

“Outside,” Kiri grinned.

Garon looked around the maze of doors and shrugged. Of course he didn’t know which way to go.

“Come on, this way,” Kiri said. “I’ll show you.”

Kiri had only passed along the edge of the gardens before, where the long manicured hedges marked the boundaries. They formed a wall of nature tamed to act like it was built by man. The interior of the garden was the same, it seemed to have been built or carved as much as grown. The colors of the flowers described patterns in their beds. In great urns stood trees that weren’t trees, but carvings made of leaf and branch, shaped as animals or sweeping spirals.

“How do they do that?’ Kiri said, standing before one of these carvings: a great green bear.

“Cutting, I guess,” Garon said. “Like carving.”

“But it’s all leafy on the outside,” Kiri mused. “If I cut up a bush it wouldn’t look like this, even if I knew how to get the right shape. It would be messier, with bare sticks jutting out.”

Garon stared a while, head cocked to one side. “They must do it while it grows.”

Kiri shook her head. “Wow. That would take forever.”

Garon shrugged.

“Oh, look at that!” Kiri said, pointing. “A fountain.”

They could see the top of the fountain over a row of rose bushes that were not yet in bloom, but it took a while turning back and forth through the maze of paths before they broke out into the cobbled stone circle where the fountain stood.

The simple fountain in the village did not belong in the same category as this fountain. It featured a grand statue of a fish, mounting a stone carved wave to spray water with a pleasant splashing spluttering to the water gathered below. Behind the fountain curved a wall of lilac bushes, laden with cascades of delicate flowers. In front of the lilacs was a small stone bench, its legs curved to match the fish in the fountain.

Kiri took a deep breath, inhaling the rich scent of the lilac. She closed her eyes. “That smells wonderful.”

“Then let’s sit,” Garon said, taking Kiri’s hand and leading her toward the bench.

Eyes snapping open, she hesitated only a moment before clasping his fingers back and letting him pull her along.

The sun had set while they walked. The sky was lit now by its lingering rays, painting the undersides of the clouds in streaks of pink and orange. In the east, night waited to stretch its dark fingers across the sky. Kiri’s eyes were drawn to it, the darkness that waited only for the sun’s watch to end to envelop all of the valley.

“Kiri,” Garon said. His tone was soft and serious. The sound of it was enough to make Kiri feel fluttery and nervous. It spoke of confession, and she wasn’t ready, wasn’t decided, not for sure. She could feel Garon’s eyes on her. Reluctantly, she turned to meet them.

“Kiri,” Garon said again. “I know your life has changed. So much. But I hope that I am...I have been...someone you can depend on.”

“You are,” Kiri whispered, forcing herself not to look away from his burning eyes.

“To be with you,” Garon said.

“I-” Kiri couldn’t keep looking at him. Her eyes turned down to her hands, bunching her skirt between her fingers. She couldn’t decide! She wanted to say yes, to ask him to stay with her, but how could she, when he didn’t even know about the Firebrand? She stared across the garden, at the manor silhouetted against the moon. Movement caught her eye, distracting her from her inner turmoil; there was someone up there! He was crawling, inching, along the low kitchen roof. “I...don’t know...” she said slowly, slipping her hand out of his and standing up. “I’ll be right back.” She walked toward the figure on the roof, moving as fast she could without running.

“Kiri!” Garon yelled. “Wait!”

~

The garden was such a maze! Kiri was forced to double back twice as she tried to find the quickest path to the kitchen wall. Many of the paths ended in little alcoves, romantic, no doubt, but frustrating when one wanted to get out of the garden fast. By the time she reached the wall she had lost sight of the figure. There were no signs of anyone on the roof, but there was a window nearby. Thinking he might have gone inside, Kiri slipped along the wall to the window and peered around the edge.

She was surprised to find that it was Gilliam’s room. He was there, sleeping, stretched out on the simple cot. The room was in perfect order, just as Kiri would have expected of Gilliam. There was no one else in the room, and Kiri doubted that Gilliam could have been on the roof and switched so quickly to making a good imitation of sound sleep. The man must have gone somewhere else.

There was a tall tree near the window. It took Kiri only a few seconds to assess before she was scrambling into its upper branches. She caught her skirt on a twig, tearing it, but paid it little attention.

From the tree, Kiri could now see that the intruder was crawling on his belly along the roof. Maybe he had seen her spot him and tried to hide. But she had made too much noise climbing. He looked back over his shoulder at her, then, seeing that hiding was no longer useful, he sprang to his feet and started to run. The tree was close to the wall, but it would take a leap to reach the kitchen roof. Kiri didn’t hesitate. The jump was almost too far. Her lower body slammed against the wall, but she managed to catch the roof with her arms. She hung there for a moment, adjusting her grip and preparing herself to swing up onto the roof.

“Kiri?”

She had to twist to look at him, but she already knew It was Garon. He was standing in the courtyard right below her, staring up looking both confused and concerned.

“Um, hi,” Kiri said.

“What are you doing?” Garon asked.

“Right now?” Kiri said. “I’m trying not to fall.”

“Here,” Garon said, reaching up. “Let go, I’ll catch you.”

It wasn’t all that far down to the courtyard. Kiri didn’t know how to explain that she could probably catch herself better than Garon could catch her. She still wanted to follow the intruder on the roof, but whoever it was no doubt was long gone. With a sigh she let it go. “Get ready.”

“I’m ready,” Garon said.

Kiri dropped.

He did catch her...mostly. She slipped right into his circled arms and he gripped her tight, but he didn’t have sure enough footing to take her weight and they both tumbled to the ground, her on top with her skirts askew. Garon groaned.

“Are you okay?” Kiri asked, hastily moving away from him. She sat back on her heels and tried to rearrange her clothing into a semblance of decency.

Garon sat up. “I’m fine,” he said breathily. “Just had the air knocked out of me.” He looked at her with furrowed brows. Kiri looked down at her skirt and smoothed a fold.

“What were you doing up there?” he asked. “Trying to run away from me?”

Kiri sheepishly raised her eyes. He was smiling, but she could tell he was trying to hide that his feelings were hurt. “No. No, no, I wasn’t.” She crawled close to him and laid her hand on top of his. “I don’t want to run away from you.”

His eyes were fixed on hers, so close now. Kiri could feel a blush creeping up into her cheeks.

“You don’t want to run?” he whispered.

“No,” Kiri looked away from the intensity of his eyes. “I just...I saw someone up there.”

“And you were going to chase them?” Garon laughed. “You’re crazy, Kiri.”

Kiri’s mouth twisted into half a smile. “I know.”

“Hey,” Garon said. He hopped to his feet surprisingly quickly. “Do you think it was the Firebrand?”

“Well,” said Kiri. “They do say she runs around on rooftops.”

“How did you get up there?” Garon asked, looking carefully at the wall. He seemed to be considering trying it himself. “Was it hard?”

“Who’s crazy now?” Kiri asked. “He-or she is gone by now, anyway.”

“You’re probably right,” Garon agreed. “Let’s go back.” He held out his hand to Kiri to pull her up from the ground. When she was on her feet again, she did not let go. They walked back into the gardens hand in hand.