Akkra expected the searing pain of the sword any instant, but instead, he heard an explosive cracking sound. The Guard crumpled to the ground, as a shower of bricks crashed around him. Akkra scurried out of range of the falling debris. When he realized that the Guard had been knocked unconscious, he looked up. High in the shadows of the rooftop he could see the faces of Bala and Neeri. Bala called down to the Emissary.

"We heard the commotion, my lord, and knew it must be you. Fortunate we were that this pile of bricks was readily available. Change clothes with the Guard, my lord, and follow this alley to its far end. By the time he is discovered, you will have made good your escape too!"

"Thank you, friend Bala," cried Akkra. "But it is still dangerous for you to remain in Lodar. Hasten on your way. I can manage from here on."

Neeri and Bala disappeared from view. Akkra doubted that they would be stopped at the city gates, since the Guards would be looking for a solitary culprit. Whether they would make it to one of the free city states was another issue. Akkra silently wished them well.

Meanwhile, he followed Bala's advice, quickly striping the warrior's turquoise tunic. The Guardsman was a member of the Peacock Lakari, the Imperial Guard that protected the city of Lodar, the Imperial palaces, and certain public buildings. Akkra could not clearly discern the insignia on the tunic, but he suspected that the warrior was more than a common foot soldier. The tunic was a bit loose on the Emissary's slim body, but Akkra doubted that anyone would notice in the dim light of night.

The guard was starting to recover from the crack on the head he had received, so Akkra had to take a few more precious moments to bind and gag the man. Then the Emissary had dragged the protesting body further into the shadows. Satisfied that it would be some time before the guard was discovered, Akkra proceeded towards his objective.

As he neared the palace, he began to encounter more guards of the Peacock Lakari, most of whom were still searching for the slayer of Addue. Whenever he was challenged, Akkra would mutter some misdirection that would take as many of the troops away from the palace as possible.

With his new identity, Akkra was soon outside the massive walls of Shanti Raj's palace. Unlike many of the palaces of Lodar, this was primarily a fortress and secondarily a residence. Now, however, the palace was undergoing repairs, and even at this late hour, a constant stream of laborers poured into and out of the massive front gate, carrying piles of brick, mortar, and sand into the main compound. News of the escaped murderer had not yet reached the guards at the gate, who snapped to attention when Akkra strode up and waved him on inside. As Akkra had suspected, the insignia on the tunic indicated that the warrior he exchanged garments with was an officer.

There were two more gates inside the enormous outer gate. Each time, Akkra merely gave a cursory salute and was passed on. He strode past the huge stables of the cavalry wing of the Imperial Guards, then past the parade grounds, the training fields, and the barracks. The immensity of the palace was never really apparent from the outside, surrounded as it was by the buildings of Lodar. Once inside, however, Akkra found himself astounded by the scale of the complex. Mazidaran spies had reported that the Peacock Lakari had a strength of 30,000 warriors, and Akkra could well believe that all of them were housed in this fortress.

Ahead of him was a fourth gate, separating one half of the palace complex from the other. On this side resided the Imperial Guard; on the other side was the private residences of Shanti Raj, his family, entourage, slaves, and personal aides. While on this side of the gate, Akkra had little to fear in terms of discovery, for few would question the presence of a warrior strolling around the grounds. But once past that gate, security would be very tight.

As he approached the gate, he heard a disturbance far behind him. A quick glance revealed the disrobed Guard, gesticulating wildly as he tried to convince the gate Guards that he had not been drinking. Akkra resumed his purposeful and unhurried progress towards the last gate. Four guards were posted at this gate. They waited unconcernedly for Akkra to approach. When he was within speaking distance, one of them spoke up.

"Halt, Soldar! This is a restricted area. You are required to show your pass authorization!"

Akkra walked up to the guards. "I have written orders from Shanti Raj," he said. He reached into his pouch and clutched the sack of red powder. He regretted having had to use it, since he knew that he did not have enough to affect all four of the guards. However, if he could catch them by surprise, he might have a chance.

The guard leaned forward to see what Akkra was taking out of his pouch. As his head came closer, Akkra snapped his wrist and the fine powder blew into the man's face. The guard cried in surprise, clutching his eyes, but that only made matters worse for him. Akkra already had his sword out by the time the other three guards realized that something was wrong. A quick thrust, and one guard was down, grabbing a painful wound in his side. The other two quickly took the offensive, but Akkra was now fighting with the reckless flair for which he was known. The guards fought valiantly, but they were outclassed. One did manage a quick jab to Akkra's shoulder, but he paid for it with a severed wrist. The other realized that he was no match for the Mazidaran, and both made a hasty retreat to obtain reinforcements.

Akkra wasted no time worrying about them. He opened the gate and slipped through. It could be barricaded from the inside, which he did. It would not stop them permanently, certainly, but it would slow them down.

Akkra quickly glanced around the inner compound. Directly in front of

him was the main palace, a large rectangular building decorated with the ornate carvings and statues that were common in Lodar several centuries earlier. To his left was a small round building, probably a facility used for entertaining guests. Beyond that was a more modern building, devoid of ornamentation -- probably the offices of Shanti Raj's Guards and servants. To the far right were two smaller palaces, probably for different members of Shanti Raj's family.

Akkra headed for the main palace, since that was where he expected to find the zylacam, the portion of the palace reserved for the wives and concubines of Shanti Raj.

Once inside the proper building of the palace, progress was initially surprisingly easy. Everyone assumed that Akkra had a legitimate purpose there, else he would not have been admitted. If any noticed his wounds, no one thought it serious enough to get involved. Akkra knew, however, that the apparent calm would not long remain. Sooner or later, the alarm would be sounded and all of the indifferent servants he passed would suddenly become adversaries.

Akkra had a pretty good idea of the layout of the palace. If he kept to the main corridors, his chances of being discovered would remain great. If he could get to the private portions of the palace, where there were fewer guards, he would probably live longer. The place where he would be safest would be in the inner gardens of the palace, adjoining the zylacam.

Gaining access to the garden was easier than Akkra expected. He hid among some shrubbery as he examined the garden for possible dangers. He noted an immensely tall tree against the far wall that looked climbable. He stored that information away in case he had to make a quick exit from here.

The garden itself was well laid out, with numerous fountains and artificial brooks. The air itself was cool, made more pleasant by the carefree melody of the splashing waters. Akkra noted with some surprise that the design of most of the fountains, with their emphasis on exotic animals of some land alien to Tandaria, were typical of what might be found in regions far to the south of Mazidar. And as he looked around him, Akkra was surprised to see other evidence of a culture transposed into Lodar. The plants, the small animals that scurried among the flower beds, the birds that flittered through the air, were all common to the strange kingdoms south of the mighty Dhelum Empire.

No matter how unexpected the sight of the garden was, Akkra knew he had to hurry. By now, the guards and servants inside the palace must have been alerted. He could not remain here much longer.

He sought out a small door, isolated from the rest of the entrances into the palace. The door led to the private chambers of the favorite concubine of Shanti Raj, an exotic beauty called Tathi.

As expected, the door was locked. Akkra, however, had opened many locks far more secure than this one, and in short order was slipping through the door. He quietly locked the door behind him, then turned to search the quarters for Tathi. He was more cautious now, for his sources of information were vague about the details of Tathi's quarters. He found himself facing three diverging corridors. Not knowing which one to take, he shrugged and headed straight ahead.

There were several doors on each side of the corridor, leading to empty chambers or closets. Akkra continued on, until the passageway ended in a large lounge area. Low couches, covered with cushions and soft furs, circled the room. In the center was a raised dais, apparently for entertaining dancers and musicians. The room appeared deserted. Akkra spotted an exit on the far side and hurried over to it. He was halfway across the room when an imperious woman's voice stopped him.

"What are you doing in here, warrior?"

The Mazidaran turned towards the woman who called to him. She was a head shorter than he and slender of build. Beneath the gauzy shirt and trousers usually worn by noble ladies for sleeping, the Emissary could see -- and admire -- the full and delicate curves of her body. Her skin was a golden brown and wondrously smooth and clear. Her long hair, perhaps her most striking feature, was the color of polished copper, so shiny that it glistened from a thousand tints. Despite the stern look of concern in her face, the Mazidaran saw a spark of curiosity and interest in her dark green eyes. She showed no signs of fear at finding a strange officer of the Guards courting death by entering her apartments.

As Akkra stared at her, he had to admit that she was even more beautiful than the rumors had indicated.

"What are you doing here?" she repeated. "You must know that these quarters are off limits to all except my personal guard."

The Mazidaran bowed. "I have come, Your Royal Highness, to enquire after your well-being and happiness."

Her green eyes opened in surprise, and for the briefest moment she lost her composure. Then she regained control over her emotions. "What nonsense is this? I am not of the royal family. What are you doing here?"

"Your Highness does not understand what I am saying?" asked the Mazidaran. Up to now, Dak Akkra has spoken the language common to all of the kingdoms of Tandaria. Now he switched to tongue common far to the south of Mazidar. "We have been looking for you for a long time, Your Highness."

The woman's face whitened. "Who are you? Tell me, who are you? Are you from Patal?"

Akkra noticed a tinge of fear in her voice. "No, Your Highness, I am not from Patal. But you are, in fact, the Princess Tathi of Patal?"

She nodded, slowly. "Yes, at one time I was the Princess of Patal. But that was two, three years ago. A lot has happened since then. Now. . . ." Her voice trailed off and her face drooped with the memories of what had happened to her. But the personal courage he had glimpsed before reasserted itself as she brushed the memories away. She stared at Dak searchingly. "You are clearly not from Patal, though you speak our language like a native. And I can tell you are not a Lodaran, despite the uniform. Then you must be from--"

"Mazidar," finished Akkra. "I come in the name of the King of Mazidar and as a personal representative of the Prince of Mazidar." Akkra bowed once more, but this time, the pain of his sword wound caused him to wince in pain.

"You're hurt!" said Tathi. "By the gods, come over here and let me see to that." She removed part of his tunic and examined the wound. "It is barely a scratch. You are lucky, sir. It must have been very important for you to get to see me."

"It was, Your Highness. I was sent here by the Prince himself." Then, as an afterthought, which he regretted saying as soon as he had said it, "The man to whom you are betrothed."

Tathi turned away from him, got up and walked slowly over to one of the couches. She sat down and was silent for some time. When Akkra came near, he saw that she was crying. "I beg of you, Your Highness, I have not come to bring you sorrow, but merely to learn of the conditions of your life in this palace." He waited for a response, but Tathi merely stared at him, wiping the moisture from her cheeks. "The Royal House of Mazidar had concluded the final particulars of the marriage contract, had delivered the bride-price, and was notified that you were being sent by caravan up the coast and across the Paphiri Desert."

"And the King of Mazidar wants the bride-price returned because he never received a daughter-in-law. Is that what you have come to tell me?"

Akkra shook his head. "No, you assume too much of me. Allow me to continue, Your Highness, and all shall be clear." Akkra sat on the couch near her. He ignored her slight start at his presumption. "The King of Mazidar at once sent word to your father regarding the dangers of the overland route, but it was too late. The procession had already left, and to ensure your safety, several decoys were also sent out. Though the King of Patal tried to inform us of your precise location, the geography of the Paphiri is so unknown that only a few desert-dwellers can be certain of landmarks.

"Mazidar promptly sent ten thousand of its warriors across the desert to meet your caravan. But all they encountered were the remains the vultures could not eat. Of you and your entourage, there was not a sign."

Tathi nodded numbly. "It was horrible. We were sleeping. Dawn was just breaking, and the campfires were not even lit yet. Out of the darkness came a band of screaming marauders. They killed all of the warriors and camel-drivers. Any who put up resistance was beheaded on the spot. I remember being pulled from my tent by a horrible man with pox all over his face. At first my maidservants tried to protect my identity, but when I saw them cut off one's breast, I could not remain silent any longer.

"They were slavers, who chanced upon our caravan. How they knew I was of royal blood, I do not know. At first I thought they wanted me for ransom, but the leader -- Jhaazad -- said it was only to get revenge on Mazidar for opposing them. He had all of the women checked to see which of us were virgins. Any who were not were given to the raiders for their amusement. The pock-marked man tried to violate me. The only act of kindness I can remember was when Jhaazad killed pox-face as he tried to rape me. Since I had known no man up to that time, I was to be spared. Only later did I learn from a slave that virgins carry a higher price.

"I still have nightmares about that time. I was forced to watch as Jhaazad had the captain of my guard tortured. The torture lasted four days. They burned off his arms and his legs, one by one. Why they did that, I cannot say. Perhaps because he was in command, and they resented that."

The Emissary took her hand, caressing it gently. She seemed not to notice the effrontery, so strong was her need to talk about her past. "At first," he said, "we thought you had been taken to Dhelum. The Prince himself spent months there searching for you. But then a Mazidaran patrol captured a slave raider near Issar who remembered seeing some slaves from Patal on the auction block at Chag. That's when we turned our search to the north, to Lodar. Only in Lodar could they hope to sell a woman of your reputed beauty." He smiled at her, and she blushed.

"We learned," he continued, "that you were finally sold to Shanti Raj. At first we were not sure it was you, though the description of the slave he bought tallied with our description of you. And though we learned of your whereabouts several months ago, it is only now that we have been able to get inside the palace to seek you in person."

Tathi stared at the Emissary. "So now you have found me. What is your intention?"

The Emissary cocked his head slightly. "First, my lord required of me the answer to a question that has disturbed him for several months. Are you kept here against your will?"

"Against my will?" she repeated. "It is strange, for once I would have said yes, that as a slave, I was here unwillingly and unhappily. Over the past several years, before I became Shanti Raj's property, I was sold from one owner to another, from one heinous master to one even more depraved and unspeakable. I was sure there was no strumpet in Patal who could speak of the evil desires of men with any more authority than I could. When I was put on the block in Lodar, I no longer considered myself Tathi, Princess of Patal. She had died long ago in Chag. I was merely Tathi, maid-servant to some new master.

"The master who bought me was Shanti Raj, who bid a price that silenced all other bidders. He brought me here, installed me in these apartments, gave me servants of my own, and in all respects treated me as though I were a princess. He told me that no one would harm me, himself included. For a long time, I did not see him, until one day he did come into my apartment. He did not force himself on me, as was his right, but spoke with me as a friend. And each time that he came, we spent more time talking, laughing, becoming more than friends.

"Then one day, when he arrived, he had a strange proposition for me. He said he would give me my freedom. I could leave his palace, go wherever I wished. He would even arrange for me to go to Mazidar or even back to Patal, were I so inclined."

The Mazidaran was surprised. "You mean you are free? You can leave here any time you wish?"

Tathi shook her head. "No, not really. You see, there was another part to his offer. He offered to marry me, not as a concubine, but as a full wife."

Tathi stood up and began to walk around the room. "I thought very carefully about his proposition, for he gave me considerable time to make up my mind. I thought about my obligations to Patal. But what were they? To all intents and purposes, I was dead. Assuredly, I miss my family and friends, but can you imagine the havoc that would be created were I to return?"

When the Emissary made no reply, she went on. "And what of my intended husband, whom I had never seen? Would he have accepted a bride who had been known by dozens of other men? I think not.

"The past was closed to me, sir. Certainly not by my choice, but I had to accept the dictates of the gods as they were handed down. In the meanwhile, Shanti Raj and I had grown to love each other, so after several months of consideration, I accepted his proposal. So in that sense, while no longer a slave, I am nonetheless not free."

The Mazidaran was agitated by the news. He had hoped for a successful mission, but now those hopes were fading rapidly. "But you are always secluded in this palace. It is said that you rarely go out. And it has never been publicly acknowledged that Shanti Raj had a wife."

"Yes, that is true," said Tathi. "But there is a reason. Lodar is a strange place, where a man may publicly flaunt his mistresses before the world, yet if his wife does not meet social norms, he may find himself ridiculed and ostracized. If anyone were to learn that Shanti Raj had married a former slave, he would be ruined."

"Doesn't he know that you are the Princess of Patal?"

She nodded. "Yes, he knows, but what difference does that make? Patal is far from Lodar and has no status up here. The Emperor would look unfavorably on a marriage of state outside of the royal family. And the complications with Mazidar would be horrendous. Shanti Raj does not want to provoke a war between your country and Lodar. So we both agreed that from then on, I was no longer the Princess of Patal."

"However, the fact remains that you are the Princess of Patal, bound by treaty and contract to wed the Prince of Mazidar. What would you do if the Prince were to press for your release so that you could fulfill your marriage to him?"

Tathi shook her head. "I am married to Shanti Raj. How could he want me for a wife, knowing the kind of life I have led?"

The Emissary shrugged. "A marriage could be annulled. As for your life, that was not of your choosing. Our Prince is not fastidious about those things. And as far as wanting you, just one glimpse of you is sufficient to convince any man of your desirability."

Tathi blushed. "Your remarks are very flattering, sir, but they are not the comments of the Prince. Besides, I was not referring to my appearance, but the life-style I have led. I would hardly make a fitting thronemate for a future King of Mazidar. Far better for me to remain in anonymity in the palace of a Lodaran general."

Akkra sat silent for a moment, staring at the red-haired girl. "You really do love Shanti Raj, don't you Tathi?"

Tathi looked into his eyes, searching for the source of insight that the emissary displayed. "Yes, I do. I had never expected to find love in a marriage. I had been raised with the understanding that I would marry for political reasons. When my father told me that I was to wed the Prince of Mazidar, a country so far from my home, I convinced myself that trade between our nations was more important than my personal happiness. And who knows, I might have developed a fondness for the Prince.

"But when Shanti Raj and I became husband and wife, it was not for political reasons, but for personal reasons. He truly loved me, and I love him." She tried to hold back her tears, but was unable to do so. "If I had to divorce Shanti Raj. . . ."

Akkra tried to comfort her. She felt comfortable in his arms, and for the briefest moments, he envied the Lodaran general who claimed the love and loyalty of this woman. "Tathi, do not fear. If you want to stay here, we in Mazidar will not do anything to jeopardize your happiness. We only had to make certain that you were not here unwillingly."

She looked up, her face hopeful. "You mean the Prince will not demand that I return with him to Mazidar? I can stay here?" She threw her arms around his neck and tried to hug him.

It was the Emissary's turn to blush. "Tathi, please, someone--" But it was too late. He was interrupted by a young female slave rushing into the room.

"My lady! My lady!" She stopped abruptly when she saw Tathi clinging to the warrior. A stern look from Tathi silenced any outcry the girl might have made. Akkra was impressed with the loyalty that Tathi, a foreigner and former slave, was able to command from the servant.

"What is it, Sachim?" she demanded.

"My lady, there are warriors all over the palace. They are searching all over, even the harem, my lady! There are hundreds of them. They are looking for -- for someone dressed as a Lodaran warrior!" She stared wide-eyed at Akkra, who calmly returned her stare.

"Yes, Sachim, they are looking for this man. He is someone who came from my homeland to see if I was all right. He is not going to harm anyone, do you understand? Good. Now, I do not want the guards to find him, so we must do two things. First, we will find a place to hide him until morning. Second, you must tell the guards that you saw a stranger in the garden, trying to get over the wall. There are some vines over there that may be climbed, so they will believe you. Do you understand all of that?"

Sachim nodded. "Yes, my lady. I will make sure that they search elsewhere." She bowed, and hurried off.

"Can she be trusted?" asked Akkra.

Tathi laughed. "Of course, Mazidaran! You still think of me as a prisoner here, but the truth couldn't be further. However, we have to clean that wound and find you a place to hide. It would not be wise to try to escape tonight."

Tathi led Akkra further into the sanctuary of the harem. For the most part, the rooms were vacant. Tathi explained that Shanti Raj had not adopted the custom of having several wives and numerous concubines, an ancient custom that was undergoing a faddish revival among the Lodaran nobility. They found a room that was vacant of furnishings. Tathi headed for a side wall and adjusted a tile in a small recess. There was a dull clicking sound. She pushed against a portion of the wall, and it slid back. She gestured for Akkra to follow her.

Inside, Tathi lit a candle, revealing a small guard chamber. A cot was propped against one wall and a small footstool was tucked in one corner. A layer of dust testified to the lack of use of the chamber.

"This palace used to belong to the family of Prince Nodar Kor who married a woman, Princess Suni-dar, far younger than he and, it was said, much too beautiful even for a prince. In any case, she was admired by all the young men of the time, so much so that Prince Nodar was insanely jealous. He built this secret room for spying on his wife. He suspected Suni-dar of infidelity and so wanted to catch her in the arms of her lover." She showed Akkra the hidden spy-hole. "Night after night, Prince Nodar would maintain a vigil in this room, sleeping on that cot when his wife retired. Otherwise, he kept his eye on her at all times.

"Needless to say, this was not a good arrangement. There are those who maintain that the wife was unfaithful from the very beginning. There are those who say she grew bored and restless, since her husband was never by her side during those lonely evening hours when a woman's heart turns to passion. Whatever the story, after many months, Nodar was rewarded for his diligence. His wife brought a lover into the room with her, and just before they could embrace, Nodar forced his way into the room with his sword flailing. Unfortunately for him, his wife's lover was one of the best swordsmen in Lodar. The prince was cut down with a fatal thrust. The wife and lover tried to escape, but they were apprehended and disemboweled. Their execution was done right in the room where they committed their sins of passion. Now it is said that their spirits roam these corridors, seeking out the soul of Prince Nodar so that they can get their revenge. I tell you this so that you may be assured that no one is likely to come searching here, since all fear the ghosts."

"By all the gods of Tandaria!" exclaimed Akkra. "You want me to stay in such a room as this? Suppose those spirits come seeking me out?"

"You need not fear, since they seek the blood of a prince. You they would pass over with no concern. On the other hand, Prince Nodar's spirit might take you for another of his faithless wife's lovers." Tathi smiled. "Of course, you could take your chances with the far more tangible guardsmen of the Peacock Lakari."

Akkra nodded. "Yes, I quite agree."

"Good. Then I will return to you in the morning, when you might effect your escape." She left abruptly, leaving Akkra to wonder if he were being set up for capture or indeed being treated as a friend. It had occurred to him that Tathi merely had to contact the Guard, and his life would be forfeit. She would be safe from the possible entangle- ments with the Prince of Mazidar. The reputation of the man she loved would remain intact. All it took was one brief word to the guard....

On the other hand, Akkra trusted Tathi. He could not put his finger exactly on what made her seem so reliable. Perhaps he was caught up in some illicit infatuation with the Princess. After all, he had helped to search for this woman for three years. Although he had never met her, he felt as though he did know her. While the logical part of his mind told him to beware of betrayal, the emotional side argued in favor of proving Tathi's reliability. After all, but for a quirk in fate, this woman would have been the future Queen of Mazidar.

Akkra awoke early the next morning when he heard the quiet shuffle of slippered feet across the stones of the palace floor. He was immediately on the alert, his knife drawn and ready. It was only Tathi and Sachim, who bore a tray of food. Tathi carried a cloth bag. Akkra was surprised at how pleased he was to see Tathi. It wasn't just her beauty that affected him, but her entire spirit. For one so young, she had a maturity and self-assurance that was refreshing. The trait that most impressed him was that she had sufficient confidence in herself that she could show genuine concern for others. Most of the young ladies of nobility that Akkra had met were too preoccupied with themselves to ever interest him.

"Did you see any ghosts?" inquired Tathi.

"Not a one," replied Akkra. "However, Prince Nodar sure left an army of bed bugs to protect his cot! Unless that is the revenge that his wife and her lover took on his spirit."

Tathi laughed. "It may well be. Here, you must eat something, then we shall see to helping you escape from here. Sachim's ploy last night worked perfectly. The guards are still searching the city for the mysterious intruder. Once you are safely out of here, however, I must inform Shanti Raj of the true circumstances."

Akkra frowned. "Do you think that wise? Won't he try to apprehend me?"

"To what purpose? You have not harmed me. If he brings you out into the open, it will become public about my past. Shanti Raj does not want that, even if no one believed your wild tale. It is far easier to say that you were a thief who tried to rob the palace. That will strike appropriate fear in the hearts of the Lodaran nobles, who will insist that the Emperor spend more money to strengthen the Peacock Lakari." Tathi began to clean up the utensils after Akkra had finished eating. She handed the tray to Sachim, with instructions to return it to Tathi's chambers.

"Now sir, let us see to your escape." She placed the cloth bag in front of Akkra. "Inside this are some clothes, which I hope will fit not too badly. You could hardly appear in public in that outfit. It would also be best to change after you get to the other end of the tunnel, since it might be flooded or muddy down there. Are you ready?

Good, let's go."

She led him down several corridors, a flight of stairs, more passageways, and another set of stairs. As they walked along, Tathi leading and Akkra following a few paces behind her, the Mazidaran kept thinking that he would probably never see Tathi again. The thought disturbed him, and he silently cursed a cruel fate which robbed Mazidar of such a jewel as Tathi.

By now, they were in chambers cut out of the very bedrock itself. Though unused recently, the chambers had all the appearance of being dungeons and rooms of torture. Tathi stopped before a heavy, slime-encrusted door.

"On the other side of this door is a tunnel. It leads towards the Imperial Palace," she announced. "This tunnel is known only to the Emperor and Shanti Raj, so do not reveal your knowledge of its existence or my lord will be in danger. Also, beware, for after some distance the tunnel splits into two parts. You must take the left hand side. If you take the right hand side, you will find yourself under the river. The tunnel may be flooded there."

"Whereabouts in the Imperial Palace does the tunnel emerge?" asked Akkra.

Tathi shrugged. "That I do not know. I have never had reason to use this tunnel. Shanti Raj only told me about this in case I had reason to escape from or to the Imperial Palace." She handed him a torch, which he lit from one he was carrying. "May the gods favor you," she added.

Akkra bowed. "The gods would favor me all the more if you were accompanying me, Your Highness. On the other hand, it's good to know that there is another route into the palace in case I want to see you again!"

"Sir, you are forgetting yourself! Do you think the Prince of Mazidar would approve of you flirting with his former betrothed?"

"He would be terribly envious," laughed Akkra. "But never fear, Your Highness. You will not be disturbed by Mazidar as long as you are happy here." Akkra pulled open the door to the tunnel and peered cautiously down its dark length. The light only stretched a short distance into the tunnel, but it did reveal a damp, unused passageway.

The passageway looked fairly safe, but Akkra could envision weakened walls collapsing under the river and torrents of water rushing in to drown him like a rat. "Are you sure this is safe?" he asked nervously.

Tathi laughed. "Afraid of ghosts last night and now damp tunnels this morning! Are all of Mazidar's warriors as bold as yourself, sir?"

"Fortunately for Mazidar, I am unique. But that is why I propose to live longer than most of them. However, I now see that the honor of my country is at stake, so I shall boldly traverse this corridor of unknown doom, blissfully ignorant of all its unsuspected dangers. Fare thee well, Your Highness!"

"Fare thee well, brave soul! And remember, if you do die in the tunnel, at least your ghost will have the companionship of the beautiful Suni-dar to console you."

As she closed the door on him, Akkra was not certain if she was serious or not.

Akkra held the torch in front of him, trying to illuminate the corridor. The light extended only a few feet in front of him, though he was sure the corridor extended straight in front of him for a considerable distance. Akkra began to walk ahead, attempting to keep track of the paces he took so that he would know how far he had come. The bottom of the tunnel was slippery, even covered with pools of water at times. The air remained fresh, however, convincing Akkra that the passageway was not blocked.

As the tunnel headed closer to the river, the materials of the walls changed from rock to earth. The possibility of blockage became profoundly greater. Several times, Akkra encountered portions of the tunnel which had collapsed. Piles of debris would fill the bottom half of the tunnel. He saw some evidence of attempts to shore up the walls, though none of the work looked recent.

After almost six hundred paces, he encountered a branch in the tunnel. He veered left, continuing his count. The passageway was somewhat drier now, and the earthen walls were often held in place with heavy timbers and supports. Another four hundred paces after the split in the tunnel, and Akkra was standing at the foot of a brick stairway. He had apparently arrived at the terminus of the passageway.

He climbed the stairs, which twisted and turned several times before ending in a small chamber. At first it looked like a barren room, devoid of any door or gate. However, after Akkra hid the torch on the stairs and allowed his eyes to adjust to the gloom, he found a crack of light in one wall. Using his knife, he was able to pry and loosen a large flat stone, which he pulled into the room. He looked outside, but the only thing he could see was thick shrubbery.

Confident that he could get out, Akkra removed the clothes from the sack that Tathi provided. He took off his clothes and tried to clean himself up as much as circumstances permitted. He put on the clothes, which were too large for him. However, tucking here, pulling there, he managed to create an appearance that was not too comical or extraordinary. Akkra doused the torch and crawled out through the hole, pulling the stone after him. It was shaped in such a way that he could just get a hand hold on each side. By carefully rocking the stone back and forth, he managed to get it to fit fairly well. A close inspection would reveal the disparity between the stone and the rest of the wall, but Akkra doubted that many people came behind the shrubs to examine stones in the palace walls.

He began to crawl through the underbrush and shrubs, ever vigilant for guards or passers-by. He could tell that he was in a large garden or a park. If Tathi's information was correct, he was inside the Imperial Palace. But where was a different matter. Most of the information he had been given about the Palace was sketchy at best, though his informants had told him of a tall tree near the south wall of the Imperial Gardens that could be scaled to get out of the palace grounds. He reasoned that the secret passageway would not be too far from the main parts of the Imperial quarters, else it would not serve its purpose as an escape route. He decided to stay as close to the wall as he could. He headed in a direction that he chose at random, since he could not see any sign of the palace. Within a few minutes, however, the brush and undergrowth gave way to well-manicured beds of plants and flowering bushes that surrounded a cupola. A pathway, consisting of hexagonal stones, each of a different hue -- red, green, black, white -- began at the northern edge of the cupola and continued northwards. Akkra began to follow it, knowing that it was taking him away from his safest escape route.

The path meandered slightly, but for the most part paralleled the wall. The garden's plants hid most of the wall on the west side, while the east side was equally thick with growth. He had gone almost one hundred paces when he heard voices. They came from the east, beyond the growth of plants. Akkra could not understand the words, but he could understand the high-pitched laughter of young women. Akkra realized that he should ignore the women and get out of the palace as quickly as he could, but a part of him yearned for the danger of encountering some of the Lodaran nobility on the palace grounds. He started to climb through the thick shrubbery to locate the source of the laughter.

After considerable difficulty, for the undergrowth was quite thick, he found another pathway. The voices were much louder now, and closer. A path similar to the one he found near the eastern wall materialized when he pushed his way through the final growth. He only had to go a short ways down the path before he found the source of the laughter. On a low rise, a large pool, almost fifty paces long and twenty paces wide, enclosed with porticoes on three sides, functioned as a bath house for approximately six maidens. Akkra quickly hid in the bushes, embarrassed by his lewdness, yet too fascinated to avert his gaze. The girls were mostly young, about fifteen to twenty years old. Their nude bodies sparkled in the morning sun as they playfully tried to push one another into the water.

Akkra spied a tree closer to the pool, from which he would be able to obtain a better view. He worked his way around to the tree and was able to scale it without being noticed. Climbing out onto a branch, past the roof of the portico, he was able to get an unimpeded view of the frolicsome girls.

They continued their game for some time. Akkra noticed that one girl, perhaps the most attractive of the lot, was treated quite differently than the rest. While she was able to dunk anyone of her choosing, Akkra noticed that no one dunked her. Once, she tried to dunk one of the older girls, who put up too much resistance. The special one began to have a tantrum, claiming the other wasn't playing fair. Akkra whistled to himself, as he realized that he was getting a rare glimpse of the Imperial Princess, Nest-kor, only child of Emperor Mith Cor III. He watched her first in fascination, then with growing distaste, as he realized what a spoiled brat she was.

Nest-kor finally tired of her bathing, and she got out of the water. The others promptly followed, though Akkra could tell from some of the scowls and muttering that a couple of the others wanted to stay in the water. They went under the portico, where Akkra had problems seeing them. He caught only an occasional glimpse of one of them, as they moved about, putting on their silky blouses, gauze pantaloons, brocaded belts and slippers. Once they were dressed, they came to the edge of the portico and sat down on a cluster of benches. They were almost directly beneath Akkra's position.

He found himself staring at Nest-kor, fascinated in spite of his instant dislike of her. She was indeed beautiful, with delicate facial features, a small, upturned nose, large, pouty eyes, and dark, flowing brunette hair. She wore a green-tinted blouse, embroidered on the edges with gold designs. Through its gauzy transparency, Akkra could see the firm youthful line of her breasts. She wore yellow pantaloons, not as sheer as was common in Lodar these days, but still thin enough that the shadow of her legs was apparent. She wore a jacket heavily brocaded with jewels and gold. Gold bangles adorned her wrists. She wore rings on several fingers, and chains of gold on her waist.

Akkra found his interest increasing dramatically when he heard Nest-kor ask about him. "Now, Darla, you can tell us what you heard about this emissary," Nest-kor was saying.

Darla beamed at being able to share her gossip. "I heard from one of Jachi's maidservants that when the emissary and Jachi came back from the village the other day, Jachi's gown was all covered with straw, Your Highness. Everyone has been accusing her of seducing him in a cowshed, just like a peasant wench!" Darla paused to giggle, then was urged to continue by the others. "Thuska, Jachi's old husband, was absolutely furious. He swore by all the gods of Tandaria that he would challenge the Mazidaran to a duel and kill him for certain."

"But everyone knows that Thuska is almost as blind as a bat!" protested one of the other maidens. "What chance of success would he have?"

"Perhaps more than one might suspect," replied Darla. "They say the Mazidaran is more adept with the sword between his legs than with the one on his hip!"

"For shame, Darla!" cried Nest-kor. "How can you utter such things? But what happened? Did Thuska challenge him?"

"Alas, no. Shanti Raj and Balder Khan tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail. Thuska put on his sword and armor and started over to the Emissary's quarters. Shanti Raj finally had to lock him in Thuska's own palace, with Guards from the Peacock Lakari to ensure that he did not get out."

"This is preposterous!" cried Nest-kor, hitting her hand with her clenched fist. "That upstart coming into our city and creating such havoc! Causing our own nobles to be locked in their own palaces like common criminals! We are disgraced!"

Akkra was pleased that Nest-kor was upset at his antics. He had tried to arrange a meeting with Nest-kor several times during his visit, but the Imperial myrmidon had flatly refused him each time. Akkra's interest had been purely political, since Nest-kor's name had come up several times as a possible mate for the Prince of Mazidar. That had been dropped when the arrangement with Tathi had been decided. Now, Akkra was pleased that the suggestion had gotten no further than casual discussion. Compared to Tathi, Nest-kor would have made a poor queen. Even Isma would be preferable to Nest-kor.

Although, she was very beautiful. . . .

"Well, did he seduce her?" asked one of the other girls.

Several of the women giggled. "Jachi swears nothing happened, so of course everyone assumes that everything happened," replied Darla, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "You should bring her here, Your Highness, and force her to tell us all about it!"

Another girl took up the recitation of Dak Akkra's exploits. Akkra found himself leaning forward expectantly to hear what strange interpretations were made of his antics. "This happened just the other day, Your Highness," she began. "He was introduced to Salamati, the youngest daughter of Terawar Kahn."

"Isn't she the one who was introduced to court a month ago, Su-su?" asked Nest-kor.

"Yes, Your Highness. A mere child, only fifteen years, but quite developed for her age. For the rest of the morning, he recited poetry to her, of the most suggestive kind. But that's not all, Princess! In the afternoon, he took her to a most strange place." Her voice lowered, as though she were about to reveal the secrets of Att to a novitiate.

Nest-kor leaned forward excitedly., "Yes, where did he take her, Su-su?"

"To the riverfront!"

The others exclaimed and gasped in disbelief. Akkra could almost understand their surprise. The junction of the Papil and Otarand Rivers was usually dry in the summer months when the rivers were at their lowest. Then the vacant apex of land that was revealed was used by the lower classes as a meeting place -- fairs, bazaars, and frequently, plays put on by traveling bands of actors. The plays invariably were satires of the rich and nobility, allowing the less fortunate of society a brief moment to laugh at the fate the gods had dealt them. It was harmless fun, but many of the nobility resented this simple pleasure. The bands of actors were hounded from city to city throughout Tandaria. In fact, Mazidar was perhaps the only place where they were not ill-treated. But that was, reflected Akkra, probably because Mazidar did not have a large enough noble class to resent the actors' barbs.

"Yes, Princess, to the riverfront. Down where all sorts of ruffians and slaves gather. There was a dramatic play there, put on by those illegal actor troupes who are always inciting the slaves and peasants to be dissatisfied with their lot."

"He took Salamati to such a place!" exclaimed Nest-kor.

"And that is not all, Your Highness!" added Su-su excitedly. Her face beamed with anticipation at the choice bit of gossip she had. She did not see the surreptitious gestures of her companions to hold her tongue. As the words tumbled forth, she began to realize her mistake. "The play was about the Mazidaran emissary, and it showed him chasing and seducing--" She fumbled for the right word, but her mind was suddenly blank, as she found herself unable to complete her statement.

"Go on, Su-su," demanded Nest-kor impatiently. She was known for her quick-tempered nature, and Su-su was putting it to a test. "Seducing who?"

Su-su tried to move away from the Imperial Princess. "Oh, Your Highness, I cannot say!"

"You will say, or I will have the guards rip out your tongue with pinchers! Now tell me what you were about to say!"

Su-su was terrified. She looked to the others for assistance, but they all back off from her. She had only her own stupidity to blame for being the one to tell the Princess. They had all known about the play, but chose to remain quiet. If Su-su did not know her princess well enough by now, well then she deserved any lessons that were due to her. "Your Highness, the play showed him seducing you!"

An awkward silence greeted Su-su's revelation. At first Su-su thought she had escaped Nest-kor's wrath, but that hope was short-lived. Nest-kor stood up angrily, the veins on her throat darkly prominent. She swung her hand and caught Su-su on the side of the face. The sound of her hand slapping against the girl's face exploded on the tranquil silence of the garden. Su-su fell to the ground, more surprised than hurt. None of the others dared to move, and no one came to Su-su's aid.

"I cannot believe it!" screamed Nest-kor. "Why did you not tell me about this sooner? Where were the Imperial guards? Why didn't they put a stop to this insulting behavior?"

One of the ladies spoke up. "The guards did not know the play was going on, Your Highness. By the time they learned of it, the actors and the audience had disappeared into the bazaars. Only Att knows how the Mazidaran learned the play was to be put on, for assuredly he claimed to Salamati aforehand that they were to see a play about him and a notable Lodaran lady. I have heard it said that he frequents the lowest taverns in Lodar. Perhaps he heard of this perfidious play in such a place."

Nest-kor stomped her foot in unreserved fury. "I'm sure he had something to do with it," she cried. She paced anxiously around in a circle, oblivious of her handmaidens scurrying out of her path. "He must have put the actors up to it, just to insult me and Lodar. I will have him thrown in prison! I don't care if he is the emissary from Mazidar, he will not insult me like that. And for Salamati to see that too! By the gods of Lodar, I wish he were here now! I would tell him what I think of his boorish manners and insulting conceit!"

Akkra's eyes gleamed mischievously. Loosening his hold in the tree, he allowed himself to fall to earth, barely missing the Princess. He landed painfully on his backside and was unable to restrain a spontaneous string of epithets.

Nest-kor and her maidens cried out in surprise. Fortunately for Akkra, they were quite secluded in the garden, else the guard would have come running at once.

"Who are you?" demanded Nest-kor, when she regained from her surprise. "How did you get into these gardens?"

"A very good question, I must say," replied Akkra. "I believe I have been victimized by a wizard or perhaps a witch! I was in my apartments, about to go to the local bazaar for a bit of entertainment, when poof! I find myself mysteriously falling through the air to land -- say, young woman, where am I?" The Emissary stared dispassionately at the Princess. "Are you the demon that has brought me here?"

"Your Highness, that is the Emissary!" cried Su-su.

"Tell me, Mazidaran, before I summon the guards, what you are doing in the Imperial Gardens and how did you get here?"

Akkra looked around curiously. "The Imperial Gardens, eh? What they say about them is evidently true. They are indeed beautiful. As for how I got here, you yourself summoned me."

"I did no such thing!" protested Nest-kor.

"But my lady, you did," said one of her maidens. "You swore by the gods of Lodar that you wished he were here!"

Nest-kor didn't know at whom to glare, the Mazidaran or her own hand- maiden. She finally settled on the Mazidaran. "Well perhaps I did, though it is very strange that the gods choose this one request to grant when so many of my other requests go unanswered!"

Akkra nodded in agreement. "Yes, my lady, the ways of the gods are indeed strange, though perhaps not so strange as the ways of humankind. For instance, if you wanted to speak to me, why ask the gods to bring me here, when a simple invitation would have been quite sufficient?" Akkra shrugged off her reply. "No matter, friend lady, no matter. I am here, and that is all that matters. Well, then, if you be not a demon, tell me what or who you are?"

One of the handmaidens tried to get Akkra to bow. "Don't you recognize the Princess Nest-kor?"

Akkra feigned amazement. "Nest-kor? No, this can't be Nest-kor, the daughter of Mith Cor, Emperor of Lodar! No true princess would ever strike a handmaiden! You are trying to trick me with impersona- tions! This must surely, then, be a demon!"

Nest-kor's temper lost all restraint, as she began to stamp her foot in fury. She searched the grounds for guards, but she had long-standing orders that the guards were not to patrol the gardens while she was in them. "You impertinent dog! You shall pay for your insolence! I will personally see that you are put to death by the most painful means possible!"

Akkra nodded knowingly to Nest-kor's ladies. "Yes, perhaps that is really the Imperial Princess. She does have a reputation throughout all of Tandaria as being an inconsiderate termagant!" He bowed quickly. "Forgive me, Your Highness, that I failed to recognize you right away. I should have been able to tell from the bruises on your servants that you are a true leader of the people of Lodar!"

Nest-kor's face whitened. A couple of her servants, hidden from her view, tried to hide their smiles. "Sir, that is a horrible accusation. You could have your tongue ripped out for such statements."

Akkra nodded. "That is true, Your Highness, but silencing me would not make the statement any less true. The sad fact of the matter is that it is so pointless. As a leader, you should be able to accomplish your desires by leading, not by coercing!"

"Don't be foolish, Mazidaran. A leader is born to lead. If a leader did not have power, he could not force the people to do what is right for them." Nest-kor gestured towards the distant wall. "Surely you are not one of those wild insurgents who believe the people know what is best for them."

Akkra laughed. He was pleasantly surprised that Nest-kor even had any ideas. "Of course not, Your Highness, but I do believe the people know what is not good for them. Coercion is not good for the masses. They tend to resent it, and at some point, they often do something about it. The whole history of Tandaria shows that most people prefer to control their own lives. That is why kings and monarchs tend to have such short reigns."

Nest-kor shook her head. "You misinterpret history, Emissary. Those monarchs who have short reigns simply did not maintain sufficient power to ensure their security. A monarch's first obligation to the people is to guarantee stability. That is the lesson of history of Tandaria."

"Do you think that Lodar is able to guarantee stability, Your Highness?" asked Akkra.

Nest-kor looked down her nose at Akkra, as if the very question were repulsive. "Of course, Mazidaran. We have more warriors than all the rest of Tandaria. Our Magars and Lakars are the most competent strategists and military leaders in Tandaria. What has Lodar to fear, other than invidious foreigners who come into our country to wreak havoc and mayhem?"

"Lodar has a lot to fear, Your Highness, and the dangers are not from without, but from within. Your troops are not happy, since the Imperial coffers are not sufficient to pay them at the rates they have become used to. The religion of Att sits as a festering wound, ready to consume the heart of Lodar, sending its poisonous message of hate to every corner of the Empire. And your nobility is more concerned with increasing its power, be it at the expense of the people -- or the Emperor."

Nest-kor was shaking her head throughout all of Akkra's comments. "No, Mazidaran, these are all lies. These are ideas designed to foment dissension and distrust. It is people like you who are the disease in the body, people like you who turn peasant against noble, lay person against priest, noble against Emperor. I don't know why my father tolerates you in his Empire. If I were in charge, you would have been forced to return to that sin town you hail from. How dare you come into my palace and make such deleterious remarks about Lodar, when you are merely a guest in our country? What manner of Emissary is it that frequents brothels, taverns, and illegal plays? What manner of Emissary is it that spends more time seducing the wives and daughters of the nobility --"

"Not fair, Your Highness!" interrupted Akkra. "It must be known that I appreciate the flowers of the common classes as much as I appreciate the more noble blossoms. I try not to show favoritism, Your Highness. I do believe that an Emissary must show impartiality to the host country's populace." Akkra smiled. "Maybe that is why you called me. You wanted me to spend some time with you, so that I can enjoy the pristine presence of Lodar's third social tier!"

Nest-kor's anger flooded back. "You despicable cur, how dare you think that I would want anything to do with you? Begone, get out of my sight, before I really become angry and invoke a war between our two countries. Though I doubt even Mazidar would go to war over your demise. They probably sent you here to get you out of their presence, so obnoxious you are!"

Akkra bowed. "As you wish, Your Highness. However, if ever you do want to see one of those illegal plays, send for me. I would be delighted to attend one with you. I am sure you could learn a lot from one or two of them." Akkra turned abruptly and walked towards the palace.

Nest-kor watched him depart, at once angry and surprised. As much as the Mazidaran had infuriated her, he was the first person she had ever encountered who seemed concerned about what she thought. And she was thinking that it might indeed be nice to see one of those illegal plays, at least just once.