“I can’t make much sense of it, really.”

“Then you are a sensible man!” Azrin laughed and poured more ale for both of them. “So, what brings you to Kouros?”

Micum gave him a wink. “I happen to be friends with Klia’s aide-de-camp and she got me a warrant to buy island horses. I hope to be the main Skalan importer in Rhíminee. Perhaps the two of us can work out some mutually agreeable relationship, eh?”

“I think we might, my friend.”

“So, how’s the political situation here? Was the transition of power a smooth one?”

“About what you’d expect. Your General Klia came with a large force, evicted the Plenimaran governor, fought any who stood against her, and drove out anyone who wouldn’t swear an oath of loyalty to Queen what’s-her-name. Quite a few chose to go to Plenimar.”

“Did many of them take slaves with them?”

“No, Klia wouldn’t allow it.” He paused, and something in the way he suddenly avoided eye contact caught Micum’s attention.

“There should be more ’faie than I’ve seen so far.”

Azrin nodded. “Some of the islanders who held slaves killed them quietly, to keep the fact from her.”

“Damnation!”

“Klia hanged the ones she caught at it. Some of us aren’t so happy to see her back again, and as governor, no less.”

“I’ve known her through her aide for some time. She’s a good woman, and fair,” Micum assured him.

“If you say so.”

“I’ve heard talk of unrest here. What do you think?”

Azrin shrugged. “I’ve heard grumbling, but given the force the new governor brought with her, I doubt there’ll be open insurrection. Still, enough of politics. The apple tart is exceptional.”

They returned to lighter topics, and soon Micum knew of the best gambling establishments, brothels, and tailors in Deep Harbor.

“What do you make of the ghost stories up at the old city?” Micum asked at last.

Azrin’s smile faded. “They’re nothing to laugh at, my friend. When I was a boy, some friends and I rode up there to see for ourselves if spirits still walk there. We went when the moon was full and saw men and women walking the streets with their chopped-off heads held under their arm! Even the dogs had no heads.”

Micum gave him a skeptical look and Azrin burst out laughing. “Those stories are for scaring little children into being good. ‘Eat your dinner or we’ll leave you at the gates of Menosi!’ ”

“So you’ve not been there?”

“I passed there once on a hunt. It’s just a ruin, or was until Governor Toneus began messing about up there.”

“What about the stories of people disappearing?”

“It’s a dangerous place, I suppose, as any old ruin is.”

“Was Toneus popular with the people?”

“What do you think?” asked Azrin. “The Plenimarans ruled here for as long as most can remember. When you see your friends and neighbors run off like that, you don’t much care for those who did it.”