"I am still learning about the Beysib," Jubal said. "Specifically, about howthey think. For example, it occurs to me that the fishing clan of Setmur hassuffered few casualties in the street wars when compared to the lossesexperienced by the royal clan Burek. 1 am therefore surprised that the requestfor my protection comes from you rather than a representative of the clansuffering the most from the current civil upheaval. Perhaps you could enlightenme as to this seeming contradiction?"
Monkel was taken aback. Apparently it had never occurred to him that he wouldhave to explain his motives to Jubal.
"Could ... could it not be that the loss of any countryman concerns me? Thatclan Setmur stands ready to pay the price for the good of all?"
"It could be," Jubal acknowledged. "Though it would mean that your people areconsiderably more noble than mine ... particularly when the poorer stand readyto pay for the protection of the richer. I had thought that the reason mightpossibly be that you suddenly had reason to be personally interested in thesafety of clan Burek ... say, specifically, the safety of one member of thatclan? A guardswoman, perhaps?"
Monkel simply gaped, unable to respond. As a relative newcomer to Sanctuary, hehad not expected Jubal's information network to include his own personalactivities. As head of one of the two clans of invaders, he should have knownbetter.
"If that were indeed the case," Jubal continued smoothly, "we might yet worksomething out. The safety of one person I could guarantee."
"... At a reduced rate, of course," Hakiem said, risking Jubal's wrath butunable to hold his silence.
"Of course," Jubal echoed without releasing the Beysib from his gaze. "Well,