She broke off and stared at him again. «Is it really true, Blade? There are those who swear to it and yet I cannot believe-«

«That I grew from babe to man in a month? It is true, Hirga. Take that to your priest. Convince him. And tell him that I will be there tomorrow when the sun is high. Goodnight, Hirga.»

Her lovely face tightened. «You do not call me Princess-«

«I call you Hirga. You are not my Princess. Go now»

She glared, then softened and smiled. «You had best bid your man let me pass. I cannot expect him to piss at my convenience every time.»

Blade smiled and agreed. And determined to tighten his security. He summoned the surprised guard from beneath his window and, whilst the man came around by a postern, the Princess Hirga slipped out and was gone.

When the guard reported Blade said, «There is a secret way into these grounds. I have no clues to it and cannot help you, but I know it is there. You will take a squad and begin searching for it at once. I want no word from you until it is found. Understood?»

The guard saluted and left. Blade went to bed and for half an hour tested the crystal. No communication. At last he slept.

Ogier sulked as they rode from the palace-city south to the great Plain of the Pyramids. As they came to the first of the monuments Blade saw that the plain stretched for miles in every direction and he counted a score of pyramids at first glance. Others loomed like stone triangles on the far horizon. Some miles ahead was the huge unfinished block of the Izmir's monument.

«I do not like this,» said Ogier, «and the Izmir will not like it. Casta cannot be trusted. He is a priest, for one thing, and for another he remains out here, alone and aloof, and brews wickedness and black magic. There will be trouble.»

Blade glanced back at his escort. Ten mounted and heavily armed men. Blade was himself wearing battle armor and carried broadsword and mace, with a dagger thrust into his belt as well. He laughed at Ogier.