“Personnel,” Ruald said flatly. “You mean thieves. I have heard of Sword Bearers presiding over a trial or helping to put down some civil unrest in a village, but I have never heard of one commandeering an entire city’s worth of criminals to satisfy some agenda.”

“It was the quickest, most efficient way to gain the necessary resources and people with the Skills I require. They were doing nothing of value, anyway, so I am not causing any respectable citizens undue hardship.”

“But who does that? No one can take over a city’s criminal element in less than two days, and you are only one man!” Ruald said. “Who would even consider such an ambitious and fool-hardy endeavor? Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to imply that you are a fool. Obviously, you are not, and you somehow did manage to accomplish just such a task.”

Rezkin paused in his thoughts. Had it been ambitious? It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now that he no longer had the strikers to feed him information, he needed a new spy network. The thieves, with their Skills and connections throughout the kingdom, seemed like the perfect candidates. And, it was accomplished easy enough. He had barely killed anyone, only a little over a dozen corpses to show for it. It had not seemed as complicated as Ruald was making it out to be. Perhaps if the man had mastered some of his Skills and followed the Rules, the task would not seem quite as daunting.

“Back to the subject at hand, Ruald. You will keep what you know of me to yourself?” Rezkin asked.

“Of course. If you order it, then so shall it be, Sword Bearer,” Ruald stated formally.

Ah, this was much easier. “Then, I order it to be so. What will you do about the letter?” Rezkin asked.

Ruald looked down with a heavy breath as if he had just remembered its contents. “I … I will have to inform the Marquis DeWinter. It is only right. I do not know what will come of it, though. My house could be ruined.”

“DeWinter is a reasonable man, if not a kind one. He has long sought closure in his daughter’s disappearance, and the fact that she disappeared while a guest here was already a black mark on your house. If you reveal the truth before anyone else, and do so with sincerity, I think it will do more good than harm—especially since your father will be dead.”

“About that …” Ruald started.

“I told you, that is nonnegotiable. If he lives, and this information is revealed, your house with be disgraced and very likely dissolved. Your father will continue his lecherous exploits, possibly doing the same to another young lady, and last but not least, he will get in my way,” Rezkin stated.

Ruald winced and said, “Yes, I understand, but how will you …”