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main guard post at night, except when conducting periodic inspections of the
piers.
As he neared the main guard post, he could hear Dalya talking to the pier
guards. & still worry about the Jeranyi& good thing the Hydlenese left, but
watch the crew on Byneget Bay if they come by& As she caught sight of Rahl,
she stopped. You headed out?
Just for a walk. I need to refresh my memory about where things are.
Dalya nodded. Understand there s a crowd at the Red Pier. If you go by there,
I d have the truncheon out.
I appreciate that. Rahl smiled pleasantly.
Dalya turned back to the pier guards. & probably not see much for a while
yet& don t take your eyes off the Jeranyi&
Rahl continued south until he reached the avenue that ran from the northeast
to the southwest and several blocks farther to the southwest joined the
boulevard that fronted on the Nylan Merchant Association building. He realized
he was coming close to disobeying Captain Gheryk, but so long as he merely
walked by the Merchant Association, he wasn t probing or seeking anything& and
besides, it was on one of the main streets.
The fall evening was early enough that couples walked down the stone way
in-the center of the divided avenue under the false giant acacia trees, and
carriages and a few riders traveled on both sides, although the traffic was
far more sparse than in midday. Most glanced at Rahl or his uniform and
nodded politely, but did not let their gaze linger on him long at all.
He did let his order-senses take in anything around him.
As he neared a bench on which a couple were entwined more closely than might
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have been decorous, he sensed someone behind the tree to their right, and he
could sense a certain amount of greed possibly a petty cutpurse. Rahl stepped
past the couple, who barely seemed to note him and toward the tree, drawing
his truncheon and wishing he had enough order control to become less visible.
A youth darted from the tree, then froze, looking at Rahl.
Ah& ser& good evening, ser, the young man finally stammered.
What you had in mind could get you in most serious trouble, Rahl said
quietly. Since you didn t do it& I won t take you in, but if I see you up to
it again, it will go twice as hard. Even projecting his displeasure, he
doubted his words would have that much effect. An offense hadn t actually been
committed, and that meant he couldn t do that much except warn the boy.
Surprisingly, the youth paled, actually quivering, and stepped back. Yes,
ser. I won t even think of it. Please, ser.
- On your way.
Yes, ser.
The young man practically ran from Rahl.
By now the couple had disentangled, and Rahl turned. I wouldn t get so lost
in each other in a place where cutpurses could make off with something.
Then he nodded and continued on.
Behind him, he could sense relief.
& if he told& your consort&
& not as though it s an offense&
Rahl shook his head slightly.
Before long, he crossed to the boulevard, but to the paved sidewalk on the
north side. Ahead to his right, he could see Eneld s, where the lamps were
still lit, but the lacemaker s windows were shuttered and dark. Across the
boulevard to his left, he could see the Nylan Merchant Association. As he
neared it, he slowed his steps, realizing that he still had his truncheon out.
A clerk Rahl did not recognize walked swiftly toward him and passed him,
giving Rahl a quick and perfunctory nod. Rahl didn t sense any chaos or
anything but faint worry and returned the nod.
Across the boulevard, the door to the Association building was locked, and the
interior dark. The gates to the warehouse yard were also locked, but he could
see at an angle a light in the upper-level window where Daelyt and his consort
lived or had lived, since Rahl had no idea even whether Daelyt was still
working for Shyret.
Rahl shook his head.
Given the whiteness he d sensed around the head clerk the year before, and
Daelyt s consort s inability to walk far, he doubted that Daelyt had left the
Association. Then, what would happen when Shyret was rotated to another port?
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