I knew something now. The killer was a shapeshifter, the acolyte of the sorcerer Shapeshifter, whom we had destroyed the night we captured Dejagore. She got away, trapped in the animal shape.

Why just this one incident in more than four years?

I wanted to follow the panther, to discover what had become of it, but Smoke could not be coaxed to go. The comatose wizard had no will or ego I could detect but, apparently, he did have limits or constraints.

Funny, though. I felt no real emotion until I returned to the reality of the Palace. Then it hit me in a wave, hard, leaving me breathless. I asked, Is whatever I see out there true?

We havent seen any evidence otherwise. Croakers caution meant he had reservations. Always suspicious, our Captain. You look bad. You see something nasty?

Very. One-Eye was gone. And the Strangler had fouled himself. I wrinkled my nose. I can use Smoke to look anywhere?

Almost. Some places he cant or wont go. And he cant go back to any time before he went into the coma. You can catch the Annals up now, eyewitness style, if you will. But always remember to be careful about pointing him right.

Wow. The implications had begun to sink in. This is worth more than a veteran legion. Now I knew how we had pulled off some really startling coups lately. If you can perch on your enemys shoulder nothing is going to go his way.

Its worth a lot more. And thats why youre going to keep your mouth shut even around your dearly beloved.

Does the Radisha know?

No. You, me and One-Eye. Maybe Goblin if One-Eye just had to share it with somebody. And thats the limit. One-Eye found it by accident when he was trying to pull Smoke out of his coma. Smoke has been to Overlook. Hes walked around inside. Hes actually met Longshadow. We wanted to ask him some questions. We decided they could wait. You dont tell anybody. Understand?

There you go being suspicious of my in-laws again.

Id cut your throat.

I get the message, boss. Dont brag it up to my Deceiver drinking buddies. Shit. This could win us the war.

It wont hurt. As long as its secret. I have business with the Radisha. Practice using him. Dont worry about working him too hard. You cant. He squeezed my shoulder, left the room with a stride that seemed both determined and fatalistic. Must be facing another budgetary conference. Depending on whether you were the Liberator or the Radisha the military either never had enough or always wanted too much.