Im all right, I said. Just hurt my knee. I tried to stand. When I took a step the knee almost folded. Ill manage, damn it! I pushed his hands away.

The vision was gone except for a memory that it had happened.

Had it been the same with my other blackouts? Were there visions that flew away so thoroughly that I could not recall having had them? Did they have any connection with reality? Vaguely, I recalled seeing lots of familiar faces.

I would discuss it with Goblin and One-Eye. They ought to know what to make of it. They picked up a little loose change interpreting dreams.

Thai Dei started gabbling the moment we entered the Speakers presence. Ky Dam considered me speculatively, his expression deepening oddly as Thai Dei chattered.

The old man appeared to be alone when we walked in but as Thai Dei talked and Ky Dam became unusually attentive other Nyueng Bao came out of the shadows to study me. Hong Tray and Ky Gota were the first. The old woman settled by her husband. Ky Dam said, I hope you do not mind. Sometimes she is able to part the veil of time.

Gota said nothing. I suspected that that was unusual.

The beautiful woman appeared. She got right onto the tea service business. Tea is a big thing with the Nyueng Bao. Did she serve any other function in the family?

The guy in the shadows wasnt moaning and groaning today. Had he left us?

Not yet, the Speaker said, reading my glance. But soon. Again, he sensed a question. We sustain our share of the marriage vow even though he betrayed his. We will stand before the Judges of Time without stain on our karma.

I had a notion what he meant only because I was studying the Jaicuri scriptures. You are a good people.

Ky Dam was amused. Some might argue. We do strive to be an honorable folk.

I understand. We so strive in the Black Company.

Excellent.

I came because Thai Dei said you want to talk.

I did.

I waited. My gaze kept straying to the woman making tea.

Standardbearer.

I started...No, I said softly, unaware that I was speaking aloud. I had not fallen into one of those black fugues. Id just become distracted momentarily. Couldnt blame a man for that. Not with a woman like that to distract him.

I said, Thank you, Speaker. For not labelling me with one of those unappealing names you tend to employ.

I could not resist a small smile that told him I knew he wanted something badly enough to keep me in a generous mood.

He nodded in turn, acknowledging my awareness.

Damn. I was turning into an old man myself. Maybe we could sit here grinning and grunting and nodding and arrange the whole future of the world. Thank you, I said when the pretty woman presented my tea.