Stepsons, woman, I'll want you at the White Foal bridge two hours before dawn.Spread the word among the Third Commando, too; I'll need some backup on this-(/the Third's still led by Sync, and if he's not succumbed to Sanctuary's blight,I should be able to expect it."

"Old debts? Words of honor?" Kama rejoined. "Honor's cheap in thieves' world.Cheapest this season, when everyone has a power play to field."

"Will you take my message, soldier?" He gave her what she wanted-recognition,though he'd rather call her whore and take her over bended knee.

"For you, Crit? Anything." Teeth flashed, a chuckle sounded, and he heard hermutter, "Zip, relax; he's one of us," and the youth behind her grumbled a replybefore he slouched against a daub-and-wattle wall. "Before the break of daywe'll be there.... How many would that be you'll need?"

And Crit realized he didn't know. He hadn't a plan or a glimmer. What would ittake to wrest the Globe of Power from Roxane, the Nisibisi witch? "Randal'llknow-if he's still our warrior mage. Don't ask questions woman-not here. Youknow better. And Niko, find him-"

"Seh," the young tough behind her swore. 'This one's walking wounded, Kama.Niko? Why not ask the-"

"Zip. Hush." The woman stepped out a pace from shadows, smiling like her fathera show of teeth with no humor in it. "Critias... friend, you've been away toolong, doing what high-bom officers do in Rankan cities. If not for... pastmistakes ... I'd ride with you and explain. But you'll find out enough, soonenough, from your beloved partner. As for Niko, if you want him, he's in thepalace these days, playing nursemaid to kids the priesthood loves."

Before he could escalate from shock to anger, before he thought to move hishorse in tight and take her by the throat and shake her for playing women'sgames when so much was on the line, she melted back into her shadows and there