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prefect called his watchmen and departed. Ren returned to Catuul in anger.
    ‘The fate of the clerk is unfortunate, but I thought your society could have handled a thing like the death of a member with discretion. How did Di Irons come to learn of it?’
    ‘I asked myself the same thing,’ said Catuul. ‘The watchmen claim they were called here because of complaints of a disturbance. But there was no disturbance. When the man fell dead we were too amazed to cry out—and thereafter we were too afraid of attracting attention. Yet the watchmen arrived within minutes of the death. Indeed, they must have started on their way while the man was still alive. Whoever complained to them must have done so with a foreknowledge of the death to come.’
    ‘Di Irons seems reluctant to agree that the Imaiz must have been responsible. Does he have some sympathy for Dion-daizan?’
    ‘I think not. Di Irons concerns himself with the peace of the city. If two sides feud he cares little which side goes under as long as the fighting is contained. Knowing this, Dion is perhaps using him to harass us like fools. I swear to you one thing, friend Tito—if Dion-daizan hopes to buy Zinder back at the auction, he’ll find her the most expensive purchase he ever attempted.’

SEVEN
    The slave market was situated on the eastern slopes of Anharitte, in the bowl through which descended the old road leading to the valley and to Secondhill and T’Ampere. The location was said to have been chosen in the days when slaves were leased to merchant vessels entering the shipping lanes to trade their cargoes along the inland rivers and canals. The slaves were used to’ handle the cargo exchanges and in theory returned to their owners when the ships once again reached the Aprillo en route to the sea.
    However, so many slaves were lost through misuse by their temporary masters that the system fell into disrepute and slave-leases were abandoned.
    It was doubtful if a more astute class of man existed on all the three hills than the average slave auctioneer. Operating usually on a percentage basis against the immutable laws of supply and demand, he knew well how to present his wares to the best advantage and how to drive the shrewdest bargain.
    This afternoon, however, most of the sale rostrums were unattended by clients, no matter how eloquently the vendors phrased their sales address. A curious order had replaced the normal hubbub of the slave market and almost all the onlookers were facing a solitary platform high on the slope. Watchmen were in abundance, as if to emphasize the weight of the hand of the law, but the crowd was genuinely good humored and interested in the coming spectacle. The atmosphere was one of anticipation rather than resentment. The occasion was the sale of Zinder’s bond—and speculation had it that the Imaiz himself would be coming to the bidding.
    Ren had arrived early with Catuul Gras and a more than nominal bodyguard of Pointed Tails. They first approached the auctioneer to establish Catuul’s right to bid on behalf of Magno Vestevaal and to offer proof of the considerable funding on which they could draw if necessity arose. Then, under the jovial eyes of the happy auctioneer, they were offered selected seating in front of the rostrum from which to conduct their business. At a few minutes to the preset hour at which the proceedings should have begun there was still no sign of anyone from the House of Magda. Then the crowd divided abruptly and a man strode through alone—Dion-daizan, the wizard of Anharitte.
    This was the first time that Tito Ren had ever been really close to the Imaiz and he studied Dion carefully as the latter spoke to the auctioneer in the customary mode of introduction. Ren’s analysis did not leave him particularly impressed. Of indeterminate age, though probably nearing fifty years, Dion appeared to eschew all forms of showmanship or affectation,
    Clad in a simple white gown, without apparent weapons,