Lieutenant Campaneal spread his hands. “Gentlemen, I serve my lord Kaspar and am certain that his endorsement of my good behavior should be sufficient. Squire Talwin has resided here in Roldem for some time now, I have been told, and is a regular visitor to the Masters’ Court. Given his rank and standing in the community, is there any question of his demeanor?” He looked at Master Dubkov, who nodded in agreement. “I think we can ensure there will be a fair contest and nothing will go amiss.’’
Captain Talinko nodded. “We believe so, but the safety of the Royal Family is paramount, as well as the safety of our honored guests”—his nod in Campaneal’s direction made it clear that he was speaking of the Duke and other visiting dignitaries—“hence we will take precautions. Archers will be placed in the gallery above the royal hall, with orders to shoot either contestant should one of three things occur: upon my order; if the judge cries halt and is not heeded; and if a contestant crosses a line we shall mark between the contest floor and the King’s throne.
“And mark me, gentlemen, that last is a true deadline. If for any reason either man steps across that line before the contest is halted and the winner presented to the King, he shall die before a second step toward the crown can be taken. Is that clear?’’
Both men nodded.
“Very well,” said the Captain. “We shall put that shameful exhibition of this afternoon behind us. That will be all.” As everyone began to leave, the Captain said, “Squire Talwin, a moment, please.’’
Tal lingered, and when he was alone with the Captain, Talinko asked, “Have you any idea why the Keshian was trying to kill you?’’
Tal let out his breath slowly, and shook his head. “Honestly, I can’t. I can imagine a lot of reasons, but nothing that makes sense.’’
“Humor me with a few of them,” said a voice from the shadows.
Tal smiled, but there was not much humor in it. “Ah, Constable, I was wondering when I’d see you again.’’
“This is the second time you’ve been standing next to a bloody corpse, Squire, and this time you can’t tell me you weren’t the target. You may have noticed that we had a few witnesses to the deed this time.’’
“Including me and several members of the Royal Family,” added Captain Talinko.
“Talwin,” said Drogan, “the reasons, if you please.’’
“I’ve had my share of dalliances with some young women who take it poorly I’m not as interested in long-term alliances as they are.’’
“They think you’re going to marry them and react badly when you don’t,” said Drogan. “Continue.”
“I’ve done fairly well at the gaming tables.’’
“I’ve already looked into that, and from what I’ve heard from various owners of the halls in which you gamble, your winnings are steady, but modest enough that no one should be looking to kill you out of revenge or for an unpaid debt.’’
“I’ve never lost a bout in the Masters’ Court.’’
“Hardly a reason to pay the fee to the Guild of Death.’’
“Guild of Death?’’
Drogan looked at Tal as if he was speaking to a particularly slow student. Tal had seen that expression from Robert, Nakor, and Magnus over the years. “The man was prepared to die, expected to die. He could have put poison in your drink, stuck a knife in your back on a dark night, cut your throat while you slept, or killed you any of a dozen different ways, but instead he tried to kill you during a public tournament, in the one thing you were recognized as being very good at. In other words, he knowingly gave you a chance to survive while expecting to die himself.
“He was either crazy or a member of the Assassin’s Guild. He was a Keshian Izmali, and he died because he was ordered to die.’’
“It makes no sense,” said Tal.
“Agreed, and moreover, it’s costly. I’ve asked around, and a suicide contract like this is likely to cost in excess of ten thousand golden dolphins.” The dolphin was a slightly heavier coin than the Keshian imperial or the Kingdom sovereign, so he was talking about eleven thousand gold coins by common trade parlance. “It makes less sense the more you think on it.’’
“Someone paid ten years’ wages to give me a chance to survive?’’
“I hate it when things aren’t simple,” said the Constable.
Captain Talinko frowned. “I appreciate that you have a crime to explain to His Majesty, even if that explanation is less than complete, but I have duties I must see to. Gentlemen,” he said with a nod, and left.
Constable Drogan said, “Tal, I’ve seen you play cards, and you’re a good enough bluffer, but I’ve been a constable for the better part of twenty years, and I can tell when a man is lying. You really have no idea who’s behind this, do you?’’
“By the gods, Dennis, I do not. I’m barely twenty years old, and I’ve traveled a bit, so it’s hard to imagine I’ve made an enemy in that time who would stage such an elaborate assassination.”
“I don’t think that’s what it was,” said Drogan. “After thinking about it some more, I think it was more of a test.’’
“A test?’’
“Someone wanted to see just how good you were, and sent someone better than anyone you were likely to meet here at the tourney.’’