Men shouted below. I turned to look.... Threw up an arm. Slam! Impact threw me a dozen feet, spinning. My Guard guide yelled. The Tower roof came up to meet me. Men shouted and ran my way.

I rolled, tried to get up, slipped in a slick of blood. Blood! My blood! It spurted from the inside of my left upper arm. I stared at the wound with dull, amazed eyes. What the hell?

Lay down, the Guard captain ordered. Come on. He slapped me a good one. Quick. Tell me what to do.

Tourniquet, I croaked. Tie something around it. Stop the bleeding.

He yanked his belt off. Good, quick thinking. One of the best tourniquets there is. I tried to sit up, to advise while he worked.

Hold him down, he told several bystanders. Foster What happened?

One of the weapons fell off the upper tier. It went off when it fell. Theyre running around like chickens.

Wasnt no accident, I gasped. Somebody wanted to kill me. Getting hazy, I could think of nothing but lime thread crawling against the wind. Why?

Tell me and well both know, friend. You men. Get a litter. He snugged the belt tighter. Going to be all right, fellow. Well have you to a healer in a minute.

Severed artery, I said. Thats tricky. My ears hummed. The world began to turn slowly, getting cold. Shock. How much blood did I lose? The captain had moved fast enough. Plenty of time. If the healer was not some butcher....

The captain grabbed a corporal. Go find out what happened down there. Dont take any bullshit answers.

The litter came. They lifted me in, hoisted me, and I passed out. I wakened in a small surgery, tended by a man who was as much sorcerer as surgeon. Better job than I could have done, I told him when he finished.

Any pain?

Nope.

Going to ache like hell in a while.

I know. How many times had I said the same?

The Guard captain came. Going all right?

Done, the surgeon replied. To me, No work. No activity. No sex. You know the drill.

I do. Sling?

He nodded. Well bind your arm to your side, too, for a few days.

The captain was antsy. Find out what happened? I asked.

Not really. The ballista crew couldnt explain. It just got away from them somehow. Maybe you got lucky. He recalled me saying somebody was trying to kill me.

I touched the amulet Goblin had given me. Maybe.

Hate to do it, he said. But Ive got to take you for your interview.

Fear. What about?

Youd know better than I.

But I dont. I had a remote suspicion, but had forced that out of mind.