merchants. Keilin’s main worry was where to hide the ring in his ankle pouch. Beywulf had been to Amphir before and had told them of the procedures they would have to pass through to get in. They’d be searched. Weapons confiscated and held until they left. All possessions, especially jewellery, would be itemized. On their way out they would be checked again. They would have to provide receipts for any changes. The city jewellers each did duty for a day a week on the gate, and since the system’s inception, the problem of gem substitution had vanished.
Then Cap announced that Beywulf would be remaining in the caravanserai outside the walls. Plainly he wasn’t keen on putting core sections—or possibly other things—under the scrutiny of Amphir’s officers. Keilin had already prepared a small slit in his saddle, but after a whispered consultation with Kim he had to enlarge it, to take her bracelet as well.
The next morning they were taken shopping in the vast bazaar that lined the toll passage. Here you could buy and sell everything but jewellery: for that you had to go into the city itself.
Keilin admired his new garb in the mirror. They were finer clothes than he’d ever owned, even if they were second-hand. Huh! The fuss Kim had made about that. You’d think she hadn’t been wearing raggedy old boy’s clothes since he’d met her by the way she went on about it.
He stepped out of the dressing cubicle, and caught his breath at seeing her. Well! She certainly was a lot prettier in her new dress than in her oversized trews and shirt. Keilin had rather forgotten she was female in the glare of Leyla’s sexuality. He rapidly reevaluated his position with her.
How could he! Shael was still fuming. First to take her to some tawdry second-hand clothier, and then when she’d