'Sanctuary?' Kilite frowned.

'A small town at the southern tip of the empire. I had a bit of trouble findingit myself - it's been excluded from the more recent maps. Whatever reason therewas for the town's existence has apparently passed. It is withering and dying, arefuge for petty criminals and down-at-the-heels adventurers. Still, it's partof the empire.'

'And they need a new military governor,' Kilite murmured softly.

'The old one's retiring.' The Emperor shrugged. 'Which leaves me with a problem.As a garrisoned empire town, they are entitled to a governor of some stature - someone who knows the empire well enough to serve as their representative andgo-between with the capital. He should be strong enough to uphold and enforcethe law - a function I fear where the old governor was noticeably lax.'

Without realizing it, he began to pace again.

'My problem is that such a man could be better utilized elsewhere in the empire.It seems a shame to waste someone on such an insignificant, out-of-the-wayassignment.'

'Don't say "out-of-the-way", Your Excellency,' Kilite smiled. 'Say "far from thehotbed of intrigue".'

The Emperor looked at his adviser for a long moment. Then both men began tolaugh.

2 THE TOWN

Hakiem the Storyteller licked the dust from his lips as he squinted at themorning sun. It was going to be hot again today - a wine day, if he could affordwine. The little luxuries, like wine, that he allowed himself were harder tocome by as the caravans became fewer and more infrequent.

His fingers idly seeking a sand-flea which had successfully found its way insidehis rags, he settled himself wearily in his new roost at the edge of the bazaar.Previously, he had frequented the large wharf until the fishermen drove him off,accusing him of stealing. Him! With all the thieves that abound in this town,