He crossed a square, heading away from the palace. A twisting lane swallowed him up. And quite suddenly, someone took his arm and said rapidly,
"Smile at me, and then turn aside into the alley."
The hand on his arm was small and brown, the voice very pretty with its accompaniment of little chiming bells. He smiled, as she had bade him, and turned aside into the alley, which was barely more than a crack between two rows of houses.
Swiftly, he put his hands against the wall, so that the girl was prisoned between them. A green-eyed girl, with golden bells braided in her black hair, and impudent breasts bare above a jewelled girdle. A handsome girl, with a proud look to her.
The serving girl who had stood beside the litter in the square, and had watched Kynon with such bleak hatred.
"Well," said Stark. "And what do you want with me, little one?"
She answered, "My name is Fianna. And I do not intend to kill you, neither will I run away."
Stark let his hands drop. "Did you follow me, Fianna?"
"I did. Delgaun's palace is full of hidden ways, and I know them all. I was listening behind the panel in the council room. I heard you speak out against Kynon, and I heard Delgaun's order, just now."
"So?"