"Go home and to bed, peasants! I have criminals to look for!" He kicked his beast and the dieren trotted off down the street, in search of the Prince of Sumo- men and a renegade Bard.
"Tightwad," Kai spat, watching the retreating sol- dier. "They get paid six hundred crowns a month, and yesterday was payday!"
Alaire remembered Gallen from the night they first went to The Dead Dragon Inn. He was one of the bar- keeps who tried, in vain, to prevent Kai from taking on the five sailors. He seemed too young to be bald Alaire guessed him to be around thirty, with a large, knobby nose and beet-red complexion, as if perpetu- ally embarrassed about something. His expression was not exactly welcoming when they reached the rear door of the inn; he glanced up and down the alley nervously, then hurried them inside.
"So this is your friend, who caused all the trouble," he said gruffly. "Well, can't be helped In for a lamb, in for a sheep. Follow me."
He took them down steep, narrow stairs into a maw of darkness. Rich odors of wet earth, and stale beer, and fermenting yeast wafted past them. There were no handrails, and Alaire tiptoed nervously on the uncertain steps. Once down, light bloomed when Gal- len struck a match, and lit a single candle.
'This is where we keep some of the premium ale, and it's also where we brew the cheap stuff. Do not disturb any of it, or you'll interrupt the fermentation.
Come on, the place I have for you is back here."
Past the kegs was another, even smaller passageway, lined with planks. It looked like an old mine. Alaire asked about it, Gallen confirmed it.
"Used to mine crystals down here, centuries ago, before the Crown made magic illegal. It doesn't go back very far, but I've got a place set up that's not very easy to find. There is a single flue connecting with the main chimney above, and it will only handle small fires. Got one going now."
They entered a hollowed-out section that looked as if it might once have been part of a cave, with a curved, rock wall. A stove glowed warmly in the corner. A row of bunk beds with hay mattresses lined one wall.
"Mac was here after you left," Gallen informed them. "Your friend the constable. Thought you might be back here. I tell you, I don't like it, Kainemonen.
This is not a safe place."
"It's the only place we have," Kai admitted sadly. "I won't be here long anyway. I'm going back to the pal- ace tonight. Last night was an attempted assassination, not a robbery. My father must know about it."
Gallen seemed resigned. "If you must. Whatever you do, please don't say anything about this! They'll execute me for treason!"
Kai nodded, an oddly adult expression on his face.
"Don't I know it," he said. "Alaire will think of some- thing for you to tell them. Something that will get you off the hook."
Thanks, Kai! But better that they got their stories straight now, he sup Alaire stowed his harp under the bottom bed, then sat on the edge. The warmth of the room acted like a weight on his eyelids.
"Kai, I need to know something," he said suddenly, forcing himself awake. "How good are the Swords in tracking magic users? When they captured those two the other night, were they led there by a snitch, or did they have some way of 'seeing' them, and where they were."
"They're not as good at that as they say," Gallen said. "Usually, someone turns the magic users in. If no one saw you, then they would have no way of knowing who was responsible. They can 'feel' magic being per- formed, but can only narrow the search down to a particular portion of town. If we can keep you under cover long enough, the traces of magic still on you from what you did will wear off, and they'll never be able to prove you did anything."
But he turned back to Kai and his face showed pure desperation. "If you would reconsider. Another part of town, on the north side, perhaps, would be much safer."
Kai set his jaw stubbornly. "I don't know anybody up there."
Gallen looked just about ready to cry. "But you Prince!"
Kai glared at him. "But all my friends are here, in the tavern district. I don't know anyone up there. And remember the things I know, Gallen."
The man's red face paled.
"If you are my friend," Kai continued, "then you will help me. Please take care of Alaire, protect him, feed him, conceal him. I will be back as soon as I can."