regarded the other, and the two women exchanged a hearty laugh. Tazi pursed her lips and turned away. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her mug fiercely.
Slavery, she thought with great disgust.
Closer to the bar, a group comprised mostly of humans had commandeered a large oak table. Piled on top were various supplies. Tazi could see some mountaineering equipment in addition to spelunking gear laid out. A young woman with thick, golden braids and an upturned nose was arguing heatedly with a young man about the correct way to use one of their lantern helmets. Tazi had to lower her face to keep from laughing out loud because the girl had it on backward. But Tazi could see the young man was too enamored with her to point out her mistake. And she could overhear another talking about just needing one or two more things before they left for the Sunrise Mountains.
You'd better add a pack animal to your shopping list, she thought to herself, because there is no way you four are going to be able to carry all that on your own. You'll learn, though. Tazi shook her head and wondered how anyone survived to adulthood, watching them. And she also wondered, sadly, when she had gotten so old.
The fourth member of their team was leaning against the bar, Tazi noted, talking to the same old woman Tazi had before her foray into the mountains. Obviously, the old woman spent her days here, selling the same bits of information over and over again. At least, mused Tazi, the information had been mostly useful, so perhaps the intrepid band had a small chance of success. She shifted her gaze away, however, when the man who had been pumping the old woman for directions looked her way.
A light haze drifted up as the few, regular patrons lit pipes and started in on their serious drinking. The smoke started to blur her view, and Tazi found herself thinking of the inn in Selgaunt where she kept a secret room. ThЈ owners of the Kit had treated her like a daughter, and Tazi realized she missed the place. Caught up in a flash of homesickness, she turned her gaze toward the far corner of the bar and almost gasped out loud. Standing in the shadows of the support timbers was a tall man dressed entirely in black. Taller than most humans, he appeared almost awkward in his movements, as though he was a touch uncomfortable with his long body. And in the fading daylight, Tazi could see he was completely bald. She unconsciously raised a hand to her open mouth.
How could he be here, she thought in wonder, of all places?
Starting to rise and grinning in spite of herself, Tazi saw that he was getting ready to leave. He paid the barkeep and turned toward the door. His actions afforded Tazi with a full view of his face. Like the woman who had purchased the slave, this man bore an elaborate design on his forehead. It was not the face Tazi expected and half-hoped to see. She sank back down into her chair, unaware that she had even started to stand. Not him, she thought. Not Cale…
Several months ago, her mentor had taken his leave of the Uskevren family. Circumstances had really left him no choice. Tazi had found that she didn't know how she felt about it all. She had recently grown closer to Steorf, the mage-in-training she had traveled to Calimport with, and thought very little of Cale while she had been gone. On her return home, all hell had broken loose. And, in those ashes, she had discovered that Cale had loved her all along. Tazi was torn as her emotions raged. She rejected his initial confession of love as something selfish, but she found that when it came time for his departure, she couldn't leave it that way between them. She knew, and she suspected Cale did too, that there would always be something unspoken between them. It was only when he was gone that Tazi discovered what she had been truly angry about: wasted time and wasted chances. Caught up in her daydream, she didn't notice that the Thayan she had been staring at did not appear to appreciate her attentions.
A squat barmaid with a dusky complexion and black hair moved over to Tazi's table with a rag. She wiped down the small table and checked on the level of Tazi's drink. Seeing that Tazi needed a refill, the barmaid reached over and plucked the mug from her unresisting fingers.
'Want another?'
When Tazi didn't answer immediately, the woman followed her gaze to the Thayan who was still lingering at the bar. He was starting to glower back at Tazi, but she was a thousand leagues away. The barmaid shook her head and leaned closer, as if she was taking an order.
'Listen, dearie,' she spoke in a conspiratorial whisper, 'you don't want to be doin' that.'
'What?' Tazi finally asked, partially breaking off her daydream.
'You can't just stare at them of Mulan blood. You're beneath their station, and you don't want to make them angry at you.'
'Why not?' Tazi disked in a half-interested tone.
'Because,' the woman told her, 'if they decide they don't like you or something you did, it's off to the magistrate you go. And you're done for.'
'Thanks for the suggestion,' Tazi replied. 'But why bother yourself over me? ' Tazi was leery of advice she hadn't solicited or paid for.
The flat-chested barmaid sighed. 'Because you seem like an all right sort. You've paid your bills and haven't smashed the place up as so many of your kind do. And I think you're the sort that if you're not careful, you fall into trouble. In fact,' she said, scrutinizing Tazi carefully, 'you look like the kind that trouble just plain follows. And I'd prefer that it follows you somewhere else and not in my father's place. Another round?'
Tazi nodded numbly, the words 'father's place' ringing in her ears, as the barmaid walked away. She slipped back into the past-to the day she left her father's place to come here. Tazi's gear had also been spread out on her bed, much like the youngsters' at the inn, as she conducted a last inventory. Counting off crampons, Tazi was startled at Steorfs unannounced entrance.
'Where are you going?' he had demanded.
'To do what I have to,' Tazi had replied in a clipped tone. Her hackles had risen immediately at his intrusion. Just because she and the blond-haired mage had grown closer did not mean that they shared a bed, regardless of what others thought. And Tazi had not given him free run of her private rooms.
'You're going to follow him, aren't you?' he accused her. Tazi noticed that Steorf avoided using Cale's name whenever possible.
'No, I'm not,' she answered more softly when she realized he was acting out of jealously.
'Then why won't you let me come with you?' he asked, calming himself down as well.
'Because this is something I have to do for myself,' she had told him honestly. 'Please understand that. Besides,' she had joked in an effort to lighten the somber mood, 'you have studies to complete.'
'They don't matter anymore,' he had said darkly. Tazi had frowned at his words a little. Since they had returned from Calimport, she had noticed he was quieter than he had ever been. And there were times she felt certain he was hiding something from her. She had resolved then that when she returned from Thay, she was going to find out what was going on. But she had to come to Thay before all else.
'Well, that may be, but I have to go alone. It's the only way to make it right,' was all she had offered him by way of an explanation. She recalled how his steel-gray eyes had softened at her entreaty.
'I'm not sure exactly what you mean,' he had replied, 'but I think I understand. Would you do me one favor, though?'
She had moved to stand next to his large frame and had looked up into his eyes. 'If I can, I will,' she had promised.
'Wear this and think of me.' Before Tazi could say or do anything, Steorf had fastened a thin, silver chain around her neck. Tazi craned her head down to get a better look at the unexpected gift.
Dangling on the end of the delicate necklace was a shard of an amethyst gem. The stone was all that Tazi had left to remind her of her fateful journey to Calimport and of the friend she had sacrificed there for a greater good.
'How did you get this?' she had wondered in amazement. 'I've kept it locked up ever since we returned.'
For the first time since entering her rooms, Steorf looked slightly pleased. 'You're not the only accomplished thief,' he reminded her, 'or have you forgotten some of my other skills?'
Tazi had smiled up at him. 'It's lovely,' she whispered. 'But it looks so fragile. Maybe I should leave it here.'
Steorf placed his large hand over the stone and against Tazi's throat. 'Don't worry,' he had assured her, 'I've seen to it that the chain won't fail.' He ran his finger along the edge of the silver. 'It's much like you. It looks
