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scheme to motivate them, which was whoever toppled the other was allowed to smack them hard on the rump. So far there were three red backsides on show and one untouched one. Despite the punishments, the girls were enjoying the lesson as they had learnt a number of ways to disable an attacker.
    “How did you do that move when you caught the guard’s sword without cutting yourself?” Ralta asked while they got their breath back.
    “None of you are ready for that,” Jalia said soberly, “It requires split second timing and a poor swordsman at the other end. If he has ever seen the move before he will twist the sword and the fight will be over as you stop to pick your fingers up off the floor.”
    “Then why did you risk it? You must have known that Daniel would be coming to help you,” Jema asked. She was the prettiest of the girls and also the most talented fighter. Jalia smiled.
    “I had one other thing going for me. He was messing about with my sword and I was very angry.” Jalia grinned at the girls as they tried to work out whether she was being serious or not. “Come on girls, I have another fighting trick or two to teach you yet.”
    Daniel walked into the room a few minutes later to find Jalia bent over and on the receiving end of an impressively smack from Jema, to the obvious satisfaction of the other two girls.
    “Have I interrupted something private?” Daniel asked as the three sisters struggled to cover every part of their bodies using hands and arms. Jalia spun around to face him, completely unperturbed at him seeing her cavorting in the nude.
    “Good morning, Daniel. I’ve been teaching the girls some unarmed combat.”
    “The move I saw looked very unorthodox. Well, for the purpose of fighting an enemy anyway.”
    “It was my penalty system…,” Jalia began, her face reddening a little, as she realized how she had looked, but Daniel stopped her by raising a hand.
    “Please don’t explain it to me. Trying to work it out will keep me warm on many a cold night.”
    This statement was far too much for the sisters, whose faces were now every bit as red as their rears. They rushed past Daniel to get back to their rooms and into the safety of clothing.
    “You certainly know how to mess up a training session,” Jalia complained as she side-stepped past him to get to her own room. She was helped on her way by a not unexpected slap from Daniel. Jalia couldn’t help but grin as she walked back to her room.
     
    They returned to the hotel before noon using the back alleys. These were easy to travel in daylight, but the problem was they were in continuous use and many people saw them.
    Patrus called to them as they entered the lobby and they went over to his desk.
    “It is the Spring Equinox Ball tonight and you must attend,” Patrus said loudly before leaning forward and whispering, “I have been ordered to tell you this by Marcus al’Tren, the senior Mine Owner in the city. He has paid for the ball and he wants a large attendance.”
    “I’ve never been to a ball,” Daniel confessed. “I’m just a humble trader and I am sure Marcus al’Tren will understand when I don’t turn up.”
    Patrus waved them into his office; first looking around the lobby to be sure no one watched them. “You have to attend. They will take you prisoner if you don’t. You’ll need special clothes as it’s a formal ball and I’ve arranged for you to see Mangus the tailor. Tren is worried about something. Things have not gone well for the Association in Taybee and Buran and he is suspicious of strangers. Two of his guards have disappeared, though everyone who knows them thinks they’re just drunk in an alley somewhere and will turn up soon.”
    Patrus was obviously a little panicked and Daniel tried to calm him. “All right, we will go to this ball. How is your son?”
    “He cannot keep solid food down and he complains of dizziness when he stands, but I think he will be all right given time. He will always