Sigra had a bad night. She awoke almost every hour, looking for Gorim, feeling an emptiness she never knew before. She decided to get up quite early. Though having not eaten anything for dinner the previous night, she missed breakfast and sent word with one of the guards to Bhelen's quarters that she was up and dressed, waiting for the man they had been talking about the day before.

It took almost two hours for Faren Brosca to arrive but it neither surprised nor annoyed Sigra. She was sure that Bhelen slept long and it delayed her message; anyway, and it didn't really matter. She had no plans for the day, other than choosing her new second.

'May I come in, your ladyship?' The handsome casteless seemed to hesitate for a moment. Sigra nodded. She sat down and left the man standing. Brosca did not object. Bhelen surely told him how to behave.

There was silence for a couple of minutes. He waited patiently until the princess decided to speak.

'My brother recommended you to me, Brosca. I need a new second and Bhelen thinks you could be it. Are you up to the task?'

'May I speak my mind, your highness?'

The princess was surprised by the answer but she didn't show it.

'That is why you are here' she replied.

'Allow me to be blunt, then' the casteless said. 'It completely depends on what you want me to do.'

Sigra frowned.

'Hasn't my brother told you about a second's duties?'

'He has in fact, your highness. But there are certain rumors about my predecessor which throw a new light on this task.'

Sigra felt sweat covering her palms. Anger darkened her eyes. How dares he!

'Leave Gorim out of it, Brosca!'

'Gladly' the man seemed calm, which made her even angrier. 'This is what it takes, actually.'

'What the hell are you talking about?'

The casteless drew himself up.

'I'm sorry if I'm going to hurt your pride, ladyship' he said. 'But your kind usually thinks badly about mine, if you take the trouble of thinking about us at all. Moreover, my sister is your brother's consort. Somehow, I doubt you hold the so-called noble-hunters in high esteem, although you should know that most of them simply have no choice. Rica didn't have either.' He drew a deep breath. 'I'm different, though.'

'That so?' Sigra still didn't understand him.

'That so, your highness. And that is something I want to make clear.' He looked right into her eyes and Sigra could not help noticing how incredibly beautiful his eyes were. 'I am no prostitute, my lady. If you need a strong arm that can wield a weapon or a person to forward your orders, then my answer is yes, I can do it. But I'm not going to bed you like that knight did. If you want a lover, you'll have to find someone else.'

Sigra hated him at that moment, but her anger didn't move him. He stared at her with his bright, hones eyes and waited for an answer. It was lese-majesty what he just said and he had to know it, yet he spoke his mind. In a strange way, Sigra could appreciate him for that. Her reply sounded surprisingly gentle:

'Your predecessor, as you called him… Ser Gorim Saelac, as you should have, is the love of my life. Nobody knows that and it doesn't matter now, when we are parted, if you do. I'm not the kind of woman which uses men for her own pleasure, no matter their looks. Not to mention that I find him a thousand times more attractive than you.'

'This is something I did not know about the two of you' the casteless bent his knee. 'I apologize if my words were ill chosen, your highness. I did not want to hurt your feelings.'

Sigra surprised him and even herself with a vague smile.

'Honesty is a value, especially in a second' she said. 'So tell me about your training, Faren.'

The dwarf grinned.

'There was no regular training I can tell you about. I grew up on the streets of Dust Town. You must know how to wield a sword there or you'll end up sitting in the dirt as a beggar.'

'Speaking of Dust Town, Bhelen mentioned something about you having a shady past.'

Faren sighed.

'I won't deny it, your highness. I couldn't even if I wanted to. Everybody knows that I was under the thumb of a certain crime lord along with Rica. But I found no pleasure in that life.' He looked in the other way; his voice became filled with gratitude. 'Your brother is a good man, your highness. He offered me the chance of a fresh start.'

Of course. A second in my service, whose loyalties lie with my little brother, is invaluable for him. Sigra was wise enough to know it, but also not to speak it. She listened to Faren sympathetically. I'll have to be careful if I want to get him out of Bhelen's claws, she thought, not noticing that she already had decided to take the man as her second.

'He treats my sister as a lady' the casteless continued. 'Seems like he really loves her.' He chuckled. 'Funny, isn't it? You and that… er, I mean ser Gorim Saelac and your brother with a Dust Town girl. I bet the heir looks down on both of you.'

He's not only honest, but clever as well. Sigra nodded in agreement.

'I think I like you, Faren.' She stood up. 'I'll accept you as a second if you can accept me as your lady. But I have to warn you: the Diamond Quarter is a different kind of place from what you are used to. We draw weapons pretty seldom, but everyone is tangled in the web of politics. Don't become my right hand if your loyalties lie elsewhere. There might be a situation when you have to choose to sacrifice your sister in order to rescue me.'

Faren nodded.

'That sounds sane.'

'I'll need your oath of loyalty then. If you break your vow, you won't be able to hide from the revenge of the Assembly even in the Deep Roads. High treason is punishable by death or worse. You must be devoted and honorable in order to make a good second.' She hesitated. 'Let me know if you need some time to think this through.'

'I've been thinking about it the whole night, your ladyship. I accept the job with all its difficulties, and I thank you for your trust.'

The princess nodded.

'To work, then. I'm going to inform my father that my decision has been reached. You'll take your vows as soon as possible.'

'Aye, my lady.'

'You may go. You'll be informed when you're needed.'

The man bowed himself and headed for the door. Sigra sighed a little and called him back.

'Faren!'

'My lady?'

'A second's task is normally a full-life service. Your case is different, though. I intend to get Gorim back. But know that if you prove yourself faithful, I will find a way to pay back my debt of gratitude.'

The smile disappeared from Faren's face. He touched his own face.

'Can you make this brand disappear?' he asked in a bitter voice.

'I just might be.' Sigra did not show her surprise. 'Don't forget that I'm a commander of my father's armies.'

'I'm not from warrior caste. And I don't intend to join the Legion of the Dead, either.' He smiled with a strange, crooked smile. 'But do you know what, my lady? Let me prove that I'm the better second and let the good ser knight join your army, if I do. Thoughts for later, I suppose. I'd like to take my leave now, if you'll excuse me…'

Sigra looked at the door for a long time after he was gone. She wasn't able to decide whether she gained a worthy second, a dangerous spy or just hurt him by telling him the truth. But a smile sat upon her lips nonetheless.

This was going to be interesting.