"Sir, I am a free citizen of Kushat. According to law, I may vouch for
him."
"If you scum of the Thieves' Quarter would practice the law as well as
you prate it, we would have less trouble," growled the captain. "Very
well, take the creature, if you want him. I don't suppose you've
anything to lose."
Lugh laughed.
"Name and dwelling place," said the captain, and wrote them down.
"Remember, he is not to leave the Quarter."
Thanis nodded. "Come," she said to Stark. He did not move, and she
looked up at him. He was staring at the captain. His beard had grown in
these last days, and his face was still scarred by Thord's blows and
made wolfish with pain and fever. And now, out of this evil mask, his
eyes were peering with a chill and terrible intensity at the
soft-bellied man who sat and mocked him.
Thanis laid her hand on his rough cheek. "Come," she said. "Come and
rest."
Gently she turned his head. He blinked and swayed, and she took him
around the waist and led him unprotesting to the door.
There she paused, looking back.
"Sir," she said, very meekly, "news of this attack is being shouted
through the Quarter now. If it _should_ come, and it were known that you
had the warning and did not pass it on...." She made an expressive
gesture, and went out.
Lugh glanced uneasily at the captain. "She's right, sir. If by chance
the man did tell the truth...."
The captain swore. "Rot. A rogue's tale. And yet...." He scowled
indecisively, and then reached for parchment. "After all, it's a simple
thing. Write it up, pass it on, and let the nobles do the worrying."
His pen began to scratch.
Thanis took Stark by steep and narrow ways, darkling now in the
afterglow, where the city climbed and fell again over the uneven rock.
Stark was aware of the heavy smells of spices and unfamiliar foods, and
the musky undertones of a million generations swarmed together to spawn
and die in these crowded catacombs of slate and stone.
There was a house, blending into other houses, close under the loom of
the great Wall. There was a flight of steps, hollowed deep with use,
twisting crazily around outer corners.
There was a low room, and a slender man named Balin, vaguely glimpsed,
who said he was Thanis' brother. There was a bed of skins and woven
cloths.
Stark slept.
* * * * *
Hands and voices called him back. Strong hands shaking him, urgent
voices. He started up growling, like an animal suddenly awaked, still
lost in the dark mists of exhaustion. Balin swore, and caught his
fingers away.
"What is this you have brought home, Thanis? By the gods, it snapped at
me!"
Thanis ignored him. "Stark," she said. "Stark! Listen. Men are coming.
Soldiers. They will question you. Do you hear me?"