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I take it that you can immobilize or kill one of them if he turns violent?”
    “I can, but if you want me to do much, I’ll need to eat something. Bread or cheese, but something.”
    “I’ll have some brought. Then we’ll see how much treachery we can sniff out.”
    Kharl managed not to shake his head. He just swallowed. He’d never even considered that the truth would have such far-reaching and dangerous consequences—or so quickly.

IV
    Almost half a glass had passed before the three commanders stood in Hagen’s small chamber. Kharl had choked down some bread and cheese, and a mug of ale, enough food that he was no longer feeling weakened.
    Vatoran stood in the middle, a gray-haired officer with a broad forehead, pointed chin, and perfect mustache. Casolan, to Vatoran’s right, was short and blocky, square-faced. Both Vatoran and Casolan wore the green-and-black uniforms, while on the left stood Norgen, a slender man in black and yellow, whose once-red hair had faded to strawberry and whose freckles had faded into pale splotches on a face that had seen too much sun.
    While Hagen stood behind the desk, Kharl was to the side, his back to the north wall.
    “Commander Vatoran,” Hagen began, “you were at the audience earlier this afternoon. What did you think of the chief factor’s attitude toward Lord Ghrant?”
    Vatoran squinted slightly. Clearly, the question puzzled the officer, Kharl felt.
    After a moment, Vatoran replied. “His words were polite. They were not truthful, but they have never been. He was never that truthful to Lord Estloch.” The commander coughed, several times, then stepped back, trying to clear his throat. When he finally straightened up, he was to the left of Norgen.
    Kharl could sense the falsity of the cough, but why had Vatoran moved to one side? There was a hint of chaos around the commander, but Kharl had found that many people occasionally showed such hints. While he did not know why, he had surmised that occurred because they had been near a source of chaos.
    “What was your impression of the chief factor, Commander Norgen?”
    “Guillam was always well-spoken, ser. He chose his words with care. His own interests were always more important to him than the interests of Austra, but I have found that to be true of most factors and merchants.”
    “Were you surprised to find that he was plotting against Lord Ghrant and ser Kharl?”
    “No, ser. He is the sort that believes he is superior to others. He believes that, even if they know he opposes them, they will not dare to act against him.”
    “You are charged with the safety of Lord Ghrant, Commander Norgen. One of your more trusted armsmen was suborned and tried to murder his consort and heirs. The performance of a number of your companies and their officers has left something to be desired. Under these conditions, I have to ask two questions. First, are you willing to do what is necessary to improve the personal guard? Second, are you personally completely loyal to Lord Ghrant?”
    Norgen smiled ironically. “If I were not loyal to the Lord of Austra, I would not be in this room. It is clear that ser Kharl can tell falsehoods more quickly than they can be uttered. Because I understand this, I will tell the truth as I see it. I am loyal to the Lord of Austra, and I will do all that I can to improve the personal guard. I am greatly concerned that Lord Ghrant is not the leader that his sire was, but I always felt that Ilteron would have plunged Austra into chaos and that we would have ended as either a Hamorian pawn or part of their empire. Any other leader would not have the support of all those necessary to rule effectively. Lord Ghrant, unless he is most careful, and unless he heeds your advice, may still have great difficulty.”
    Kharl could sense the truth of Norgen’s words, even to the fact that Norgen did not particularly care for Ghrant, but would be loyal.
    Norgen looked to Kharl, not to Hagen. Then Hagen nodded at