Hey! A shadow at that hole stared at me. I did not yell so that must have been the shadow. That you, Murgen?

I kept walking, head spinning. My course curved to the right. I banged into the side of a building. After that I had a sure means of navigation. Like a drunk I steered by keeping one hand on the wall.

Here he is! The shadow pointed at me.

Candles?

Yeah. You all right? What did they do to you?

I had little pains everywhere. I felt like I had been stabbed and cut and burned. Who? Nobody did anything... Did they? Where am I? When?

Huh?

A man leaned through the side of the building. He wore a scarf wrapped around his face. Only his eyes were visible. He studied me momentarily, popped back inside. Somebody in there yelled.

People jumped into the street. Some carried bloody weapons. All were masked. A couple grabbed my arms and took off.

We scurried through darkened streets in a nighted city and no one would answer my panted questions so for a while I had no idea when I was, or where. Then we crossed an open space from which I glimpsed the citadel of Dejagore.

That answered my most immediate questions.

But a new crop sprouted. Why were we outside the Companys part of town? How had I gotten there? Why didnt I have any memories of this? I recalled sitting with Ky Dam, secretly lusting after his granddaughter...

The men accompanying me removed their wraps and masks. They were Company. Plus Uncle Doj and a couple of Nyueng Bao sprites. We ducked into an alleyway that led to Nyueng Bao territory. Slow down, I gasped. Whats going on?

Somebody snatched you, Candles explained. At first we thought Mogaba did it.

Huh?

Shadowspinners taken his whole army off after Lady. We could walk away if we wanted. We thought he decided to take a hostage.

I did not believe Spinner was gone. Uncle Doj. The last thing I remember was sipping tea with the Speaker.

You began to behave oddly, Stone Soldier.

I growled. He did not apologize.

The Speaker thought perhaps you had been drinking before you arrived. He instructed Thai Dei to take you home. He was offended. You proved to be such a burden that Thai Dei was unable to defend himself when you were attacked. He was beaten badly but managed to get home with word. Your friends began looking for you as soon as we informed them. His tone suggested that he wondered why they had bothered. They seem more skilled than they pretend. They pinpointed you quickly. You were not in the citadel, which is where Mogaba would have confined you.

How did I get clear across town? I winced. In addition to the other pains I had a hangover-type headache. I had been drugged.

Nobody had an answer for me.

Is this the same night, Uncle?

Yes. But many hours later.