Sung in Blood by Glen Cook Page B

a score of the squat men and nearly as many orientals. Spud observed, "This ought to break Shai Khe's back. He'll have to do his own dirty work now."
    "How many got away?" Soup asked Baracas.
    "None. That we know of."
    Soup chuckled. "That'll get Shai Khe's goat. Can you imagine what he could have done with that airship? And his powers? He could have held the City hostage."
    "Who the hell is this Shy Key?" Baracas asked.
    "A villain with enough wealth to make your officers blind while forty men steal an imperial warship."
    Baracas took them to the leading centurion of his maniple, who immediately kicked the question of their presence up to the tribune level.
    They found officers gathered, discussing the excitement in secretive voices, when Baracas brought them to headquarters, near the yard gates. A sour-faced subaltern demanded, "What do you want, Baracas?"
    "Sir, these men were mixing it up with the foreigners trying to steal the Grand Phantom, and I thought ... "
    "They were in there? What're they doing here? You had orders ... "
    "They're Rider's men, sir. They were trying to stop that gang."
    A half dozen heads jerked around. Faces went pale. Someone muttered, "If the Protector is mixed up in this ... "
    A tribune moved closer. He snapped, "You! Baracas, is it? Why haven't you executed your orders?"
    "Sir, they're Rider's ... "
    "'Is Rider your superior officer? Kill them."
    Soup grinned. "Now we know who'll be first to hang."
    And Spud, "You do it, Baracas, and I'll bet you your pension you don't make it to sundown yourself."
    Baracas grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him. He whispered, "Shut up! You want to get out of this alive?" The soldier was no fool. He had seen the lay of things.
    Unfortunately, the tribune had too. He drew a dagger. "Take them!"
    Soup told Spud, "Brother, in this thing there's no end to the heads that need busted." He snatched up a camp stool.
    Spud produced a knife taken from a fallen easterner. The officers closed in carefully. Those who knew the reputations of Rider and his men hung back, knowing a lot of people were going to get hurt.
    Suddenly, darkness descended.

XXI
    Rider stepped over the fallen tribune, knelt beside Spud, held an open phial beside his nose.
    He told Su-Cha, "Get the rest of these men tied."
    Spud revived swearing and swinging. Rider plucked his fist out of the air. "Easy, Omar."
    "Rider! How'd you get here?"
    "Might ask you the same thing," Su-Cha chirruped. "You're supposed to be buried under a ruin on the Hurm Islands."
    Soup reiterated Spud's behavior and question.
    Su-Cha said, "We were thinking about rescuing you in a couple days. All that brainwork wasted."
    "How come you're here, Rider?" Spud asked.
    "We were tracking a creature that killed the chief of the King's Shadows. The trail passed near the military yards. We saw smoke. We arrived in time to see you being brought in here. Once the situation became clear, I used a knockout spell. Hurry, Su-Cha."
    "We know why Shai Khe was in the area, now. And by now he must suspect his plan has gone sour.
    Let's find him before he gets away again. Omar. This soldier, Baracas. Do you trust him to keep this lot under arrest?"
    "He knows what would happen to him if he didn't."
    "Put him in charge, then. We have to go."
    Minutes later they departed the military yards. Baracas came behind, leading the prisoners.
    All had been stripped of togas and badges of rank. They seemed a well-kept chain of convicts.
    Baracas headed for the Citadel.
    Rider headed toward the waterfront, along the yard fence.
    "Look there," Soup said. "One of our eastern friends got away."
    A man had dropped over the fence. He spotted them hastening toward him. His eyes got big. He whirled and ran.
    Soup whooped and charged after him. Rider followed in a deceptive lope that ate ground fast.
    Over his shoulder, he told Su-Cha, "Get upstairs and follow him."
    The imp stopped laboring to keep up. Soon he was a bird circling high above.
    Rider snagged