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right now, none of you goes out alone. You're all targets, so get used to it. You'll each be getting orders from me about exactly what you'll be doing, but for now, I just want to let you know that things are starting. You know how it goes--travel in pairs, stay at home as much as you can: the whole deal. And if any of you gets any offers from the other side, I want to hear about it. That isn't just for me, but if you turn them down, you become even more of a target, and I'll want to take that into account. And, by the way, if you don't turn them down, you become much, much more of a target. Remember that--you do not want to fuck with me, gentlemen; I'll destroy you."
    "Any questions?"
    There was silence for the moment; then Temek said, "What does he have?"
    "That's a good question," I said. "Why don't you and Narvane go find out for me?"
    "I knew I shouldn't have opened my mouth," he said sadly.
    "Oh, yeah," I said. "Another thing--your salaries just doubled. But to pay you, we need to have income. And to have income, we need to keep places open. Laris might go for you, he might go for me, and he might go for my businesses. I'm betting on all three. Any other questions?"
    There were none.
    "Okay," I said. "One last thing: as of this moment, I am offering five thousand gold for Laris's head. I think you could all use that. I don't expect it'll be easy to collect, and I don't want anybody doing anything stupid and getting himself killed trying for it, but if you see a chance, there's no need to hesitate."
    "Wym and Miraf'n, stick around the office. The rest of you, that's all. Beat it." They shuffled out, leaving me alone with Kragar.
    "Say, boss--"
    "What is it, Kragar?"
    "Does that business about doubling salaries apply--"
    "No."
    He sighed. "I didn't think so. Anyway, what's the plan?"
    "First, find four more enforcers. You have until this time tomorrow. Second, we'll see what we learn about what kind of income Laris has and figure out how we can hurt him."
    "Okay. Can we afford the extra enforcers?"
    "We can afford it--for a while. If things go on too long, we'll have to figure out something else."
    "Do you think he'll give us the two days?"
    "I don't know. He might--"
    Melestav was standing at the door. "I just got a report, boss. Trouble. Nielar's place."
    "What kind of trouble?"
    "I don't know exactly. I got part of a message, asking for help, and then the guy got hit." I stood up and headed out of the office, picking up Wyrn and Miraf'n on the way.
    "Boss," said Kragar, "are you sure you ought to go out? That sounds like a--"
    "I know. Come along behind me and keep your eyes open."
    "Okay."
    " Loiosh, stay alert. "
    " I'm always alert, boss. "

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    "You expect to be unavailable?"
    The city of Adrilankha lies along the southern coast of the Dragaeran Empire. It spent most of its existence as a middle-sized port city and became the Imperial capital when Dragaera City became a bubbling sea of chaos, on that day four hundred some years ago when Adron almost usurped the throne.
    Adrilankha is as old as the Empire. It had its real beginnings in a spot that recently (in Dragaeran terms) became a cornerstone of the new Imperial Palace. It was there that, thousands of generations ago, Kieron the Conqueror met with the Shamans and told them that they could run wherever they wanted to, but that he and his Army of All Tribes would stand and wait for the "Eastern Devils." From there, he walked alone down a long trail that ended in a high cliff overlooking the sea. It is said by those who make it their business to say things that he stood there, unmoving, for five days (hence the five-day Dragaeran week) awaiting the arrival of the Tribe of the Orca, who had promised reinforcements, as the Eastern army closed in.
    The spot was known as "Kieron's Watch" until the Interregnum, when the spells that had kept that part of the cliff from falling into the sea collapsed. I've always thought that