If youâre going to be dashing pell-mell up and down the field, we canât have you tossing irons at each other.â
Jimmy seemed to lose interest in the game. Something in the crowd caught his eye. âSee that fellow over there? The one in the blue tunic and grey cap?â
The Prince glanced in the indicated direction. âNo.â
âHe just ducked away when you looked. But I know him. May I go and investigate?â
Something in Jimmyâs tone made Arutha certain this was not another ploy to escape duty. âGo on. Just donât be away too long. Laurie and I will be returning to the great hall.â
Jimmy ran off to where he last saw the fellow. He halted and looked about, then noticed the familiar figure standing near a narrow stairway into a side entrance. The man leaned against the wall, hidden in shadows, eating from a platter. He only glanced up when Jimmy approached. âThere you are, then, Jimmy the Hand.â
âNo longer. Squire James of Krondor, Alvarny the Quick.â
The old thief chuckled. âAnd that also no longer. Though I was quick in my day.â Lowering his voice so anyone else was unlikely to overhear, he said, âMy master sends a message for your master.â Jimmy knew at once something major was afoot, for Alvarny the Quick was the Daymaster of the Mockers, the Guild ofThieves. He was no common errand runner but one of the most highly placed and trusted aides of the Upright Man. âBy word only. My master says that birds of prey, thought gone from the city, have returned from the north.â
A chill visited the pit of Jimmyâs stomach. âThose that hunt at night?â
The old thief nodded as he popped a lightly browned pastry into his mouth. He closed his eyes a moment and made a satisfied sound. Then his eyes were on Jimmy, narrowing as he spoke. âSorry I was to see you leave us, Jimmy the Hand. You had promise. You could have been a power in the Mockers if youâd kept your throat uncut. But thatâs water gone, as they say. To the heart of the message. Young Tyburn Reems was found floating in the bay. There are places near where smugglers used to ply their trade; one is a place that smells and is of little importance to the Mockers and, therefore, is neglected. It may be that is where such birds are hiding. Now then, thereâs an end to the matter.â Without further conversation, Alvarny the Quick, Daymaster of the Mockers and former master thief, sauntered off into the crowd, vanishing among the revellers.
Jimmy did not hesitate. He dashed back to where Arutha had been only a few minutes before and, not finding him, headed for the great hall. The number of people before the palace made it difficult to move quickly. Seeing hundreds of strange faces in the corridors suddenly filled Jimmy with alarm. In the months since Arutha and he had returned from Moraelin with Silverthorn to cure the stricken Anita, they had become lulled by the commonplace, everyday quality of palace life. Suddenly the boy saw an assassinâs dagger in every hand, poison in every wine cup, and a bowman in every shadow. Struggling past celebrants, he hurried on.
Jimmy darted through the press of nobles and other less distinguished guests in the great hall. Near the dais a clot of people were deep in conversation. Laurie and Carline were speaking with the Keshian Ambassador, while Arutha mounted the steps toward his throne. A band of acrobats was hard at work in the centre of the hall, forcing Jimmy to skirt the clearing made for them, while dozens of citizens looked on in appreciation. As he moved through the press, Jimmy glanced up at the windows of the hall, the deep shadows within each cupola haunting him with memories. He felt anger at himself as much as anyone. He above all others should remember what a menace could lurk in such places.
Jimmy darted past Laurie and reached Aruthaâs side as the Prince sat on his throne. Anita was