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prefer to remain anonymous, and I have the facility to do so. That will not change during the course of our discussion. As to the information, there will be an assassination tonight. A member of your Council will die, and the assassin has you as his next target. Is that information valuable to you?"
    Duke Jiardin gasped, but Duke Everich merely nodded.
    "Do you know which Council member?" questioned Duke Everich.
    "I know the time, location, and the victim's name," assured the voice.
    "Impressive," frowned Duke Everich. "You are new to the city, and you possess information so sensitive that people's lives depend upon it. I am curious how you managed to procure such information."
    "Information is my business," sighed the voice. "But of course you already know that, Duke Everich. I know that you have had the Palace staff track down the transactions that I used to buy this estate. There is little that goes on in this city that I do not know about. While you are right about me being new to Tagaret, you surely know my reputation from prior years. You are probably aware that I have agents in every major city in the world. You also know that I do not interfere with the politics of my clients. I sell and trade information like any other commodity. What you do with the information is your concern."
    "So it is true then," mused Duke Everich. "I heard that you had died many years ago."
    "Quite true," laughed the voice. "I have died many times. When it is convenient, I will die again."
    "I must admit that I am still skeptical," declared Duke Everich. "If you are who I think you are, then I will have no hesitation with your bargain. To be allied with you could only help my cause. You could be anyone though hiding behind that screen. Do you have any proof of who you are?"
    "Who I am is not important to this deal," insisted the voice. "The information speaks for itself. Why do you keep pressing this issue?"
    "Quite frankly," responded Duke Everich, "you could stage the assassination to secure the favor you ask for. The loss of your assassin would be small in return for the favor you request. Yet I know that Stafa Rakech is so wealthy that he would not stoop to such a forgery. You were reported to have died in Sordoa nearly twenty years ago and have not been heard of since. Offer me some proof of your identity."
    There was a long silence in the room and finally the voice laughed heartily. "You are a clever man," stated the voice. "I was not just in Sordoa, I owned Sordoa. The Royal Palace was mortgaged to me. The Crown Jewels were in my position for collateral. You want proof of my identity? Fine. I will supply your proof, but you are warned not to reveal my secret."
    The turbaned shadow rose and walked away from the silkscreen. He returned within moments and sat back down. Duke Everich heard a noise within the wall and suddenly a drawer popped open in the wall. The Head of the Council looked in the drawer and lifted a broach out of it. He examined the broach and noted the official seal of Sordoa on it. There was no doubt in the Duke's mind that he was looking at a piece of jewelry from the Royal Palace of Sordoa. He nodded and placed the broach back into the drawer and pushed the drawer closed.
    "You have a deal, Stafa Rakech," agreed Duke Everich.
    "Please do not use my name," responded the voice. "Even my servants are unaware of my identity."
    "I am sorry," the Duke replied honestly. "Who is being assassinated and when?"
    "Duke D'Ales will be assassinated this night," informed the voice. "It will occur shortly after the last light in the mansion is extinguished."
    "While you may be right," interjected Duke Jiardin, "what Duke Everich said before may still be true. How do we know that you are not staging this for the promised favor?"
    "You are so skeptical, Duke Jiardin," chuckled the voice. "The assassin's name is Herzel and his employer is Duke Engar. If you wish to purchase the names of witnesses that can attest to the comings and goings