‘I’m flattered.’ He reached into his pocket, took out a gold coin, and gave it to her. She stared at him in amazed gratitude. ‘I’ll slip out of the front door before Krager’s friend gets ready to leave,’ he told her. He went to the door.

‘Come back sometime when your mind’s not so occupied,’ she whispered.

‘I’ll think about it,’ he promised. He tied the bandage over his eyes again, opened the door, and stepped quietly into the hall. Then he went on down into the dimly lit lower hall and back out to the street.

Talen was leaning against the wall beside the door, trying to stay out of the rain. ‘Did you have fun?’ he asked.

‘I found out what I needed to know’

‘That’s not what I meant. Naween’s supposed to be the best in Cimmura.’

‘I really wouldn’t know about that. I was there on business.’

‘I’m disappointed in you, Sparhawk.’ Talen grinned impudently ‘But probably not nearly so much as Naween was. They say that she’s a girl who likes her work.’

‘You’ve got a nasty mind, Talen.’

‘I know, and you’ve got no idea how much I enjoy it.’ His young face grew serious, and he looked around cautiously. ‘Sparhawk,’ he said, ‘is somebody following you?’

‘It’s possible, I suppose’

‘I’m not talking about a church soldier. There was a man at the far end of the street – at least I think it was a man. He was wearing a monk’s habit, and the hood covered his face, so I couldn’t be sure’

‘There are a lot of monks in Cimmura.’

‘Not like this one. It made me cold all over just to look at him.’

Sparhawk looked at him sharply. ‘Have you ever had this kind of feeling before, Talen?’

‘Once Platime had sent me to the west gate to meet somebody Some Styrics were coming into the city, and after they passed, I couldn’t even keep my mind on what I was supposed to be doing. It was two days before I could shake off the feeling.’

There was not really any point in telling the boy the truth about the matter. Many people were sensitives, and it seldom went any further. ‘I wouldn’t worry about it,’ Sparhawk advised. ‘We all get these peculiar feelings now and then.’

‘Maybe,’ Talen said dubiously

‘We’re finished here,’ Sparhawk said. ‘Let’s go back to Platime’s place.’

The rainy streets of Cimmura were a bit more crowded now, filled with nobles wearing brightly coloured cloaks and with workmen dressed in plain brown or grey. Sparhawk was obliged to grope his way along, swinging his blindman’s stick in front of him to avoid suspicion. It was noon by the time he and Talen descended the steps into the cellar again.