The stranger sheathed her dagger and stared down into Wess's eyes. Wess shiveredslightly and imagined spending the night with Chan on one side, the stranger onthe other.

Or you could have the centre, if you liked, she thought, holding the gaze.

The stranger laughed. Wess could not tell if the mocking tone were directedoutward or inward.

'Then I will sit here, as there is no other place.' She did so. 'My name isLythande.'

They introduced themselves, and offered her - Wess made herself think ofLythande as 'him' so she would not damage the disguise again - offered him wine.

'I cannot accept your wine,' Lythande said. 'But to show I mean no offence, Iwill smoke with you.' He rolled shredded herbs in a dry leaf, lit theconstruction, inhaled from it, and held it out. 'Westerly, frejojan.'

Out of politeness Wess tried it. By the time she stopped coughing her throat wassore, and the sweet scent made her feel lightheaded.

'It takes practice,' Lythande said, smiling.

Chan and Quartz did no better, but Aerie inhaled deeply, her eyes closed, thenheld her breath. Thereafter she and Lythande shared it while the others orderedmore ale and another flask of wine.

'Why did you ask me, of all this crowd, to sit here?' Lythande asked.

'Because...' Wess paused to try to think of a way to make her intuition soundsensible. 'You look like someone who knows what's going on. You look likesomeone who might help us.'

'If information is all you need, you can get it less expensively than by hiringa sorcerer.'

'Are you a sorcerer?' Wess asked.

Lythande looked at her with pity and contempt. 'You child! What do your peoplemean, sending innocents and children out of the north!' He touched the star onhis forehead. 'What did you think this means?'