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Her eyes widened. “That was my narne!” she gasped. “That was my name, Crokus-you just said my name!”

“What?” He frowned. “Sorry?”Advertisement

“Yes!” She looked away. “Only, it wasn't always my name. I don't think. No. It wasn't the name my father gave me.”

“Can you remember that one?”

She shook her head and ran a hand through her long, dark hair.

Crokus started walking, and the girl fell into step beside him. The road wound down through the low hills. In an hour they'd reach the Catlin Bridge. The panic that had filled him was subsiding, perhaps having burned itself out. He felt relaxed, and that surprised him, since he couldn't recall the last time he'd felt relaxed in a female's company.

They walked in silence for a time. Ahead, the sun sank down in a golden blaze, shimmering along a blue and green line on the horizon beyond the hills. Crokus pointed to the glistening line. “That's Lake Azur. Darujhistan lies on its south shore.”

“Haven't you thought of a name for me yet?” the woman asked.

“The only name that comes to mind,” Crokus said sheepishly, “is my matron's.”

The girl glanced at him. “Your mother's?”

Crokus laughed. “No, not that kind of matron. I meant the Lady of Thieves, Apsalar. Only, it's not good to take that kind of name, since she's a goddess. What about Salar?”

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Her nose wrinkled. “No, I like Apsalar. Make it Apsalar.”

“But I just said-”

“That's the name I want,” the girl insisted, her face darkening.

Uh-oh, Crokus thought. Better not press this one. “All right.” He sighed.

“So you're a thief.”

“What's wrong with that?”

Apsalar grinned. “Given my new name, nothing. Nothing at all. Crokus. When do we camp?”

He blanched. He hadn't thought about that. “Maybe we should just push on,” he said warily, not meeting her eyes.

“I'm tired. Why don't we camp at this Catlin Bridge?”

“Well, I've only got the one bedroll. You can have it. I'll stand watch,

“All night? What's there to watch out for?”

Crokus rounded on her. “Why all these questions?” he demanded hod, “It's dangerous out here! Didn't you see Coll's wound? And how do I know the garrison's still there?”

“What garrison?”

Crokus cursed himself. He averted his gaze. “The garrison on the other side of the bridge,” he said. “But it's a long bridge-”

“Oh, come on, Crokus!” Apsalar laughed and drove her elbow into his ribs. “We'll share the bedroll. I don't mind, so long as you keep your hands to yourself.”

Rubbing his ribs, Crokus could only stare at her.

Cursing, Kruppe glared over his shoulder at Murillio. “Damnation! Can't you urge that beast any faster?”

The mule was living up to its reputation, refusing anything but a plodding walk. Murillio grinned sheepishly. “What's the big hurry, Kruppe? The boy can take care of himself.”

“It was Master Baruk's explicit command that we guard him, and guard him we must!” Murillio's eyes narrowed. “So you keep saying,” he muttered. “Is this some favour on Mammot's behalf? Has the boy's uncle got all worried all of a sudden? Why's Baruk so interested in Crokus? You convey the alchemist's orders, Kruppe, but you don't explain them.”

Kruppe reined in his mount. “Oh, very well,” he said. “Mutiny in the ranks forces Kruppe's sly hand. Oponn has chosen Crokus, for whatever purposes the devious deity may devise. Baruk would have us keep an eye on the lad and, more, prevent any other powers from finding him.”

Murillio rubbed the bruise on his forehead and winced. “Damn you.” He sighed. “You should've explained all this from the start, Kruppe. Does Rallick know?”

“Of course not,” Kruppe replied tartly. “He's too busy, after all, unable to extricate himself from his various responsibilities. Hence,” Kruppe's expression turned crafty, “the assassin's absence on this journey. But why, pray tell, is Kruppe informing Murillio of such things? Clearly, Murillio knows more of Rallick's doings than poor, ignorant Kruppe.”

Murillio's look was blank. “What do you mean?”

Kruppe sniggered, then kicked his mule into motion once again.

Murillio followed.

“And as for our present mission,” Kruppe continued blithely, “what seems a vast failure, particularly on Coll's part, is in truth an astonishing success. Master Baruk must be made aware of the nefarious activities afoot in the Gadrobi Hills.” pqdm.com