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To know an order is from me, the code will be “Jimmy couldn’t come; he’s taken a sweetheart.” Second, a young woman calling herself Shareena will arrive here within the next couple of days. Account to her ten golden sovereigns or whatever coin of equal worth you choose, but give it to her without question or remark. Should she ask questions, you know nothing. Lastly, she may return to you in days to come, seeking a much larger amount to establish a business enterprise. It’s on my behalf, which means it’s on Prince Arutha’s behalf, so accommodate her as quickly as you can. When you account your expenses to the prince’s chamberlain, note these expenses as “payments to James in Durbin on the Crown’s behal f ”, and all will be well. You will be reimbursed within a month with a ten per cent commission added.’ He smiled and continued, ‘And if you do well in this, in a year or two, you may be allowed to return to Krondor and live.’
    ‘Well, and good, the prince may lift the price on me,’ said Jacob, ‘but what about the Mockers?’
    ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
    James turned and left the stall, heading in the direction Jacob had pointed, content in knowing the former tax collector in Krondor – who had fled in disgrace after betraying both his royal commission and his partners in crime in the Mockers – was now his second agent in Kesh.
Who knows
, thought James,
if he serves well, some day he may actually be allowed to return to Krondor
.
    Whistling a nameless tune, he dodged through the crowds in the market.

• CHAPTER FOUR •
Arrival
    J AMES HID IN THE SHADOWS .
    A latticework of rose and amber light cut through the rapidly deepening shadows of Durbin as the sun settled behind the peaks of the Trollhome Mountains. Darkness was advancing rapidly, for the sunset coincided with some heavy marine weather rolling in over the city from the Bitter Sea. James knew there would be a sudden drop in visibility, almost as rapid as someone pulling curtains closed in a room. Soon the Nightwatch would make their rounds, lighting the city’s lampposts. Merchants were closing up their shops, shuttering windows and locking doors: the rhythm of the city was changing by the minute.
    James hung back in a deep doorway, watching the ship that was docking on the evening tide. It was a Kingdom freight-hauler, a slow coaster, and on it would be Jazhara and William.
    James wore fine garb under his cheap robe. He had luxuriated in a hot bath this morning, having grown tired of the need to look like a rag-picker to blend into the seedier districts of Durbin. On reflection, most districts of this city were seedy. He had poked about in every criminal dive and back alley, even haunting the edges of the slave pens for an afternoon. He had been less intent on finding specific information (though should something material come his way, he would welcome it) than gauging the rhythm of criminal activity in Durbin.
    Every city has its own structures, James had learned since joining the prince’s service. He hadn’t realized that he intuitively understood the criminal organization of Krondor: the Mockers and the independent criminals the Mockers tolerated, as well as the criminals who came to the city to do business with the Mockers. He even understood the relationships between the criminals and some legal enterprises, as well as those members of the city watch who were ‘on the arm’ – paid a regular stipend to look the other way at key moments. But in dealing with the Crown’s needs, James was afforded a perspective from the other side of the ledger, trying to ferret out corrupt officials, to determine which legitimate businesses were fronts for the Mockers’ criminal activities. He had quickly learned where to focus his attention and what was worth being concerned about.
    Even as a boy he had spent time outside the city, once for a few weeks dealing with some odd doings down in Land’s End, and several times up in