The Howler screamed. He waved both hands wildly. Croaker stabbed him again. The whole street boomed and rocked. Croaker was flung back against the coach, thought he felt ribs give way. The boom seemed to echo endlessly up and down a deep canyon. His last clear thought was, not again. Hed just gotten over a serious injury.

. People were scurrying around like panicky mice when Croaker recovered. The Radisha knelt over her brother. The more collected bystanders had dragged the attackers away. Two seemed to be dead, a third badly injured. Croaker got to his knees, pressed fingers against his ribs. Pain answered but it was not the pain of broken bones. Hed gotten through it with bruises. He pushed toward the Radisha, asked, How bad is he?

Just unconscious, I think. I dont see any wounds. She did not look at him. There was shouting way up the street. Belated help was on its way.

Croaker looked into the coach.

Soulcatcher was gone.

Howler was gone.

He took her?

The Radisha looked up. Her eyes widened. You! I thought there was something familiar... Soulcatchers spells had perished? He was himself now?

Where is she?

That thing that attacked us...

A sorcerer called the Howler. As powerful and nasty as the Shadowmasters. Working for them now. Did he take her?

I think so.

Damn! He lowered himself gingerly, recovered the lance, used it to support himself. You people! Get out of here! Go home. Youre in the way. Wait! Did anyone see what happened?

A few witnesses confessed. He demanded, The thing that fled. Where did it go?

The witnesses indicated the alley.

Using the lance as a crutch-he had a badly twisted ankle to go with the bruised ribs-he hobbled into the alleyway.

Nothing there. The Howler was gone and Catcher with him.

As he headed back he realized what the absence of Catchers spells meant. He was free. For a while he was free.

The Prahbrindrah Drah was sitting up. The onlookers, realizing their prince had been attacked, were turning ugly, threatening the attacker who had survived. Croaker bellowed, Back off! We need him alive. I said go home. Thats an order.

Some recognized him now. A voice said, Its the Liberator! The title had been bestowed by public acclaim when he and the Company had undertaken to defend Taglios.

Some went. Some stayed. Those moved back.

The racket of help too late drew nearer.

The prince looked up at Croaker in amazement. Croaker offered him a hand. The prince accepted it. On his feet, he whispered, Is the disguise part of some grand strategy?

Later. The prince must think he had masqueraded as Ram all along. Can you walk? Lets get off the street before more trouble finds us.

Help arrived in the form of a half dozen palace guards. They had been summoned by someone with enough presence of mind to go for them.