“What a mess,” Cole said, horrified.

“My people gave up,” Twitch said. “There weren’t a lot of us. Many of our bravest were killed. I had to do something, but attacking the swamp folk myself would have been pointless. I was a kid, and not much of a fighter. I snuck out of Kasori and traveled to Wenachi, the last of the grinaldi villages, too small and too far away to interest Renford. I told them our problem, and they agreed that if I could find a champion, he could represent their village. So I left in search of a hero.”

“And then you got captured as a slave,” Cole said.

Wings trembling, Twitch bowed his head. “The grinaldi live in isolation. We never bothered with freemarks or bondmarks. We had no needle masters. In my desperation to find a hero, I forgot how dangerous the rest of the world could be. I was caught, marked, and enslaved.”

“You still need a hero,” Cole said.

“Finding one won’t be easy,” Twitch replied. “I’ve tried. The few outsiders who even know about the grinaldi don’t care about us. Our villages seem rich to the swamp people, but not to the champions of prosperous towns. I wasn’t having much luck, so I went beyond Elloweer, hoping to bring back a great warrior from abroad.”

“What about Joe?” Cole asked.

Twitch shook his head. “Mira needs Joe. Besides, he doesn’t strike me as a professional swordsman. The duels are structured to allow no enchanting. Only traditional weapons and armor can be used. Renford may not be good for much, but the guy can fight.”

“Then what’s your plan?”

Twitch shifted uncomfortably. “I’m hoping Mira will let me have a share of the money Declan gave us. It might be enough to bribe a professional mercenary to serve as our champion. I need somebody with the skill to win, who also has enough of a life elsewhere that he won’t want to stay on and replace Renford. A person could live well enough off the spoils of the grinaldi that it would be tempting to some.”

“A good enough life that the swamp people wanted it,” Cole said.

“But too lonely and modest for somebody accustomed to city living,” Twitch replied. He folded his wings neatly. “Now you understand my quest.”

“You have to succeed,” Cole said. “The others will feel the same way. You should tell them. I’m sure they can help you find the right champion. Joe knows his way around. He can make sure you don’t get ripped off.”

Twitch paused. When he spoke, it was with thoughtful conviction. “You might be right. I’ve carried this secret for so long. I’ve always planned to keep my burden private until I found the right warrior. It feels surprisingly good to explain my mission to somebody.”

“We all need help sometimes,” Cole said. “You don’t have to tackle this alone.”

Twitch smiled. “Thanks, Cole. Your lost friends are lucky to have you. I feel more hopeful than I have in a long time.”

“And I feel more sleepy,” Cole said around a yawn. “Not because of your story,” he added hastily.

“I’m with you,” Twitch said. “I’m worn out. It would be a shame to waste these beds.”

“First things first,” Cole said. “It’s been too long since I had a bath.”

Chapter 7

CONFIDENCE LOUNGE

The next day, Cole stood by the window, peeking out through the blinds at the street below, feeling sluggish after too much sleep. A knock at the door startled him. Twitch went to answer. “Who is it?”

“A friend,” came the reply.

“Joe,” Twitch muttered, opening the door.

Joe entered the room looking cleaner than Cole had ever seen him. His gray leather jacket and jeans had been replaced by dark trousers, a maroon shirt, and a gentleman’s coat with a stylish cut. His face was shaved, his hair neat.

After peering out into the hall, Twitch closed the door.

“We were worried about you,” Cole said. “We didn’t know who you were going up against. Looks like you won the fight. Nice outfit.”

Smirking, Joe glanced down at himself. “This new persona is part of my plan. When possible, I dress for my roles.” He tossed a couple of packages onto the bed. “I got the two of you new getups as well.”

“Did you catch up to the Enforcer?” Twitch asked.

“It took some time. We were both on foot, but he moved well. In the end, I put an arrow through his back. I tried to question him but he was already gone. I swiped a horse and made my way here as quickly as I could. I got in last night and spent the day running errands. At midday I met up with Jace by the fountain. He mentioned that you ran into some trouble, Cole.”

“Horrible luck,” Cole said. “In West Carthage, I bumped into the slaver who brought my friends here and had me marked. I used my Jumping Sword to get away, but he swore he’d track me down.”

“Name?” Joe asked.

“Ansel,” Cole said.

Joe frowned. “Carries a sickle?”

Cole nodded. “How’d you know?”

Joe gave an impressed whistle. “You don’t do it halfway when you pick your enemies. Ansel Pratt is one of the most ruthless slavers in the five kingdoms.”

“You know him?” Cole asked.

“Only by reputation. He’s a man to avoid unless you have a lot of money and you need his services. If clients default on an agreement, his retribution is swift and brutal. Other slavers have learned to stay out of his way. Only a few traders can compete with the volume of slaves he moves. He and his people are trouble.”

“He promised to chop off my hand with the freemark and haul me back to the Sky Raiders,” Cole said. “I believe he’ll try.”

“So do I,” Joe said. “That settles it. You have to come with Mira and me to the confidence lounge.”

“Where?” Cole asked.

“Most of the cities in Elloweer have one. East Carthage has three. They serve as meeting places where information can be exchanged with a degree of anonymity. Everyone who enters a confidence lounge has a seeming placed on them, so they don’t look like themselves. Clients range from criminals to government leaders. I secured a reservation at the most exclusive lounge in town.”

“To get information?” Cole asked.

“That’s part of it. Connections happen at confidence lounges. Deals get struck. Most seemings fade after a short while. I want to find somebody who can put a lasting seeming on you and Mira to render you unrecognizable—today, if possible. Too many people are hunting you.”