We dont know whur it iz they got em hid, little dorlin.
Look for them, Caalador, she said with exaggerated patience. Youve got all night every night for the next month or two, havent you? Talen told me once that he can get into any house in the world in under a quarter of an hour. You two are more experienced at it, so it probably wouldnt take you nearly as long. Youre not going to steal the papers, all youre going to do is read them. If youre just a little careful to put them back where you found them after youre finished, nobody will even know that youve seen them.
Caalador and Stragen looked at each other sheepishly. Why didnt we think of that? Stragen asked his friend.
It seems to me Ive already told you why once, Melidere said. Shall we go through it again? Its really a very good idea, Princess. These two might not be much good at thinking sometimes, but theyre probably very good burglars. They both have that shifty, unreliable look about them.
They do just a bit, dont they? Danae agreed. She set Mmrr down on the floor. There, she said, isnt she adorable? The angry lashing of Mmrrs tail, however, totally spoiled the effect.
The tail definitely detracts from the fashion statement, Danae, Sarabian laughed indulgently.
Oh, I can fix that right up, Sarabian, she assured him. Ill tell you what, Mmrr. How would you like to have me tie a big pink velvet bow right on the end of your tail to sort of set things off? You could wave it around like a parasol if you wanted. Mmrrs tail stopped in mid-swish. I thought you might see it that way, Danae said.
Shall we go down to the dungeon for your fencing lesson, your Majesty? Stragen suggested. Caalador and I are going to be busy being burglars tonight, I think.
Not only tonight, Im afraid, Caalador added. I havent been on a roof in years.
Its like swimming, Caalador, Stragen said. Once you learn how, you never forget.
Id really like to forgo the lesson today, Milord Stragen, Sarabian said. Im still sore from yesterday.
Fencing is not like swimming, your Majesty, Stragen told him. You have to practice continually. If youre going to wear that rapier, youd better know how to use it. In a tight situation, that could be your last line of defense.
Sarabian sighed. Sometimes I wish Id never even heard of Elenes, he mourned.
Because Ehlana told me to, Mirtai said as she, Engessa, Kring and the two thieves crossed the document-littered lawn toward the Interior Ministry. She wants to be sure that nobody interrupts you.
Mirtai, Stragen said with a pained look, I love you like a sister, but burglarys a fine art.
I think my beloved can manage, friend Stragen, Kring said. Ive seen her walk through a pile of dry leaves and not make a sound.
I just dont like it, Stragen complained.
You are not required to, Stragen-thief, Engessa told him. Ehlana-queen said that Mirtai-daughter will go with you, so she will go.
Mirtai smiled up at the towering Atan. Thank you, Engessafather. Its so hard to make Elenes grasp reality sometimes.
Engessa and I are going to relieve the two knights watching over the documents on the lawn, Kring told them. Well stay fairly close to the building, and we have other men nearby. Call if anyone surprises you in there, and well come in and rescue you.
Ive never had a platoon of soldiers standing watch for me while I burglarized a building before, Caalador noted. It adds a whole new dimension to the business.
Stragen grunted sourly. It takes a lot of the fun out of it. A large part of the thrill of burglary comes from the danger of getting caught.
Ive never tried burglary, Kring admitted. Its not much of a challenge among the Peloi, since we all live in tents. A sharp knife will get you into the stoutest tent in the world. If we want to ransack someones encampment, we usually send in some men to run off his horses. He chases those men, and that gives us a free hand.
Burglarys a crime of stealth, Kring, Stragen smiled. You get to sneak around at night and climb over roof-tops. Its a lot of funand really quite profitable.
Be careful up there on that roof, Mirtai, Kring admonished his betrothed. I went to a great deal of trouble winning you, and Id hate to lose you at this point. Oh, speaking of that, friend Stragenand you too, friend Caaladorif anything happens to her, you do know that Ill kill you, dont you?
We wouldnt have it any other way, friend Kring, Stragen smiled.
Mirtai ran a caressing hand over her beloveds scalp. Stragen had noticed that she did that quite often. He wondered if the feel of the little fellows shaved head might have had some bearing on her decision to marry him. You need a shave, the giantess said. Remind me in the morning, and Ill take care of it. Then Stragen, Caalador and Mirtai, all dressed in close-fitting black clothing, slipped through the shadows of a grove of trees near the Ministry of the Interior.
Youre really fond of the little fellow, arent you, Mirtai? Stragen murmured softly, ducking under a tree-limb.
Kring? Hes a suitable sort of man.
Thats a rather lukewarm declaration of passion.
Passions a private thing. It shouldnt be displayed in public.
Then you do have those feelings for him?
I dont really see where thats any of your business, Stragen.
There was a filmy layer of fog lying on the lawns of the imperial compound. It was autumn now, and the fog crept in off the Tamul Sea every evening. The moon would not rise for hours yet, and all in all it was a perfect night for a burglary. Caalador was puffing when they reached the wall surrounding the Ministry of the Interior.
Out of condition, he muttered.
Youre almost as bad as Platime, Stragen told him, speaking very softly. Then he squinted upward, swinging a heavy grappling hook in his hand. He stepped back and began to whirl the hook in a wide circle, letting out more rope with each circuit. Then he hurled it upward with the rope trailing behind it. It sailed up over the wall and fell inside, striking the stones with a metallic-sounding clink. He tugged down a couple of times to set the points in place. Then he sat down on the grass.
Arent we going up? Mirtai asked him.
Not yet. Somebody might have heard it. Well wait until his curiositys had time to wear off.
Fellers whats a-standin watch in the middle o the night aint really all that eager t go lookin fer where it is oz noises is a-comin from, dorlin, Caalador explained. Its been my experience that they usually feel that a quiet watch is a good watch, so they dont go out of their way to investigate things. As long as nobody sets the building on fire, theyre not overburdened with curiosity. Bsides, he added, dipping once again into the dialect, fellers oz gits chose t stand gord at night usual turns out t be drankin min, an after a flagon er two, they cant really hear hardly nuthin a-tall. He looked at Stragen. Do you want to try the ground floor before we go up on the roof? he asked in clipped Elenic.
No, Stragen decided. Ground-floor windows are always double-checked when people lock up, and watchmen pass the lonely hours of the night rattling door handles and trying the windows close to the ground. Ive always preferred attics myself.
What if all the attic windows are locked as well? Mirtai asked him.
Well break one. He shrugged. The buildings high enough so that a broken window wont be all that visible from the ground.
Dont be too obvious, Stragen, Caalador cautioned him. Ive got the feeling that well be going back inside every night for the next week or two. Thats a large building.
Lets get at it, then, Stragen said, rising to his feet. He looked out across the lawn. The fog had grown noticeably thicker. He tugged down on the rope a couple of times to make sure that the hook was secure, and then began to climb up.
You go on up next, dorlin, Caalador said quietly to Mirtai.
Why do you call me that?
Jist a-bein friendly-like. It dont mean nothin personal, so dont go complainin t yet bow-legged beau. Hes a likable sort, but he shore is touchy where yer concerned.
Yes, Mirtai agreed. She went quickly up the rope and joined Stragen atop the wall. What now? she asked.
Well go across to the roof and start checking attic windows just as soon as Caalador climbs up.
Youll use the hook again?
He nodded.
Burglars are about half-ape, arent they?
We prefer to think of ourselves as agile. Now then, if we run into anybody inside, well try to hide first. If that doesnt work, well rap him on the head. Caaladors carrying a wineskin, and hell pour wine all over the man. The smell of that should make him less credible when he wakes up. Try not to kill anybody. It takes all night to clean up, and wed have to carry the body away when we leave. This isnt an ordinary burglary, and we dont want anybody to know weve been here.
Youre repeating the obvious, Stragen.
Ive seen your instincts in operation before, love. If you do kill somebody, please try to leave most of the blood inside the body. I dont want to be caught in there with a mop in my hands when the sun comes up.
Why are you both being so affectionate tonight?
I dont think I quite followed that.
Caaladors been calling me darling ever since we set out, and you just called me love. Is there some sort of significance to that?
He chuckled. A gang of burglars is a very close-knit group, Mirtai. We depend on each other for our very lives. That creates powerful ties of affectionwhich usually last right up until the point when the time comes to divide up the spoils. Thats when things sometimes turn ugly.
Lets have it all in place before we make any overt moves, Sarabian, Ehlana counseled. The Interior Ministry knows that were up to something, but were all pretending that everythings normal. The customary approach is to have everybody in custody before you start issuing proclamations and disbanding branches of government.
I can see your point, of course, he agreed. They were standing atop the battlements again, looking out over the city as the sun rose above the thick ground fog. Thats pretty, isnt it? he observed. The color of the fog almost perfectly matches the mauve on the walls and domes.