“Go to the Old One’s villa, and see if you can find out anything about his scheme,” said the Hawkmaster. “In return, we will put you forward as a candidate for the Outer Circle. Our backing carries great weight, you know.”
“Oh yes, and I’m honored beyond dreaming.” One thin trickle of fear-sweat ran down Baruma the merchant’s ribs, but he forced himself to smile. “And I suppose someone will be keeping track of this mysterious Rhodry?”
“We can probably learn a great deal simply by asking this Rhodry the right questions. He might be unwilling to answer, but then, we have ways of dealing with the recalcitrant.”
“You certainly do, yes.” Baruma was by now thoroughly frightened, but he knew that he had to speak the truth now rather than let the master find it out on his own later. “But Rhodry can tell you nothing. The Old One ordered me to crush his mind. I followed my orders, of course. I wish you’d come forward earlier with this proposal.”
“So do I.” The master’s tone was ironic rather than angry, and Baruma could breathe more easily. “I don’t suppose there’s any way to restore his memory?”
“None. No matter how long he lives, he’ll never remember so much as his own true name.”
“That’s a pity, but well, we’ll have to work round it. You know, my friend, you and I might be able to work very well together. What do you think of my bargain?”
“I think that it’s a crucial turning of my fate, and that Pd be a fool to refuse it.” Also a dead man if I refuse it, he added to himself. “How shall we seal it?”
“The way these things are always sealed, my friend: in blood.”
