...per thought nothing of it at the time. It may well be Drakon. The innkeeper also reports that the young woman had been taken upstairs earlier, at dawn, by what looked like an older Vagari woman..."

"Thank you, Calla, that is most helpful," Madame de Silva congratulated him, a small smile flitting across her face. Calla, obviously still curious, bowed and withdrew; Nyssa turned to Borysko.

"Beargirl?"

"Beargirl," Borysko confirmed, sitting up in bed. "And I know where she'll be going. I'll go after her."

"But you are ill-"

"I'm sick of sitting here!" the warrior exploded furiously. "I will go!"

He clambered out of the bed, knees almost buckling under his weight, and grimly began to pull on his clothes. Madame de Silva sighed.

"In that case...I will go with you. We must hurry. Remember, you are now condemned to death."

Borysko, pulling on his chainmail with trembling hands, gave a wolfish grin.

"I'm not likely to forget."