her killer spreads his pollution, too,Dema said daringly. goes out into the city with death all over him. You say I risk polluting the city -what of the killer?

citys priests cleanse Tharios in prayer, fasting and meditation,said the priest who had first spoken to Dema. The killer will only pollute those who encounter him. They are plainly of the Fifth and Fourth classes, with the crimes of their last lives to pay for in this one. He is their penance. It is you who are the greater danger. You take this vile taint among those who must keep the city from plunging into chaos.

have lost sight of what is vital, imagining that matters of this world are as valuable as those of the spiritual realm,the female priest announced. will spend this day and tonight among us, to fast, repent and be cleansed.

There is a killing!protested Dema. could kill again!

is in the All-Seeings hands,said the third priest, who had been silent until now. you are in ours.

Dema clenched his fists, his heart racing with fury. have an investigation to run!

will work on it,the female priest said flatly. superiors and your family are being notified. Tomorrow you may take up your work again.

you have a more fitting vision of what matters, and what does not,added the third priest. you accept your true duty.

Dema turned, to discover more priests behind him. He was trapped. He looked beyond them, to his arurimi. of you go to Touchstone Glass when you are released from here,he ordered. Tell Kethlun Warder and Trisana Chandler about this.His sergeant nodded. Dema faced the priests. he kills again tonight, it will be on your heads,he snapped.

he kills again tonight, he will answer to the All-Seeing,retorted the female priest, we will answer if we allow you to continue in the path of error.

CHAPTER EIGHT

WOrn out by his day and the taxing of his power, Keth slept the night through. His dreams were filled with lightning.

When he woke, it was to open shutters, early morn ing light and three familiar faces. No, four: Yali balanced the silent Glaki on one hip. The child sucked her thumb, her brown eyes large and steady as she looked at Keth. The women were still dressed and made up from the night before. He winced, started to get out of bed, and just in time remembered he had nothing on. He clutched the sheet to his chest.

Ghost got another one,Xantha said, yawning as she leaned against the wall. was dead in some Fourth District temple. The gossip is that you magicked something that helped the arurim find her.

wanted to make something that would help them find the killer growled Keth. they?

The three yaskedasi shook their heads.

never said you were a mage.Poppys tone was accusing, as if she thought Keth had made it a secret on purpose.

Didnt know,Keth retorted.

could you not know youre a mage?demanded Poppy. are you just a bad one?

could you not know Arania pays Lysis twice what she pays you to play Laurel Leaf in The Creation of the Garden? Yali enquired. you re just a bad actress.

Poppy glared at her. does not. Its Lysis who cant act.

Yali shrugged. thinks otherwise.

Down your pots!a man yelled outside. down your pots!

Keth looked out of the window next to his cot. The pmthmun who collected night soil was in the courtyard below, waiting for Ferouzes lodgers to dump their chamberpots into the small barrel in his cart.

s early,said Xantha, running for the door.

s late,argued Poppy. No one in Khapik wanted a full chamberpot in their rooms during the day, when the heat made the smell overpowering.

Yali set Glaki by the door and stooped to fish Keths chamberpot out from under his bed.

I can do it,Keth protested, looking around for his breeches.

Im up and awake.Yah stopped on his threshold, her brown eyes curious as she gazed at him. you all right? Ferouze says you barely made it upstairs last night.

was just tired,Keth replied. magic wears me out. We went at it hard yesterday, trying to just make a globe, not even to make whatever was inside visible. And I did one, I don t know how, but then I couldnt make it clear so we could see who this killer is.He rubbed his face, then smiled at Yali. you do well last night?

enough,Yah answered.

call for pots!cried the prathmun below.

D better go,said Yali, he leaves.

Ll see you this afternoon,Keth promised.

That slave-driver teacher doesnt work you as weak as an overcooked noodle,Yali said drily. With Glaki in tow, she ran to fetch her own chamberpot.

Keth got dressed. dont think she can -work what isnt there,he muttered. He could feel the power inside him, but the best way he could describe it was , very like the noodle Yali had mentioned. In his skull he could hear the slight buzz hed come to associate with his magic, but it was not what it had been the day before.

As he shaved, ate a roll for breakfast and walked out to Touchstone, he tried to recapture the feeling that had shot through him in that moment when Dema had distracted him - the moment when the globe had produced itself. He d felt like the strain of forcing it down the length of the blowpipe into the glass had broken and freed the thing hed been wrestling with. Was it a matter of not thinking about his magic? Or of not thinking about his craft? He t sure, and he wanted surety. He didnt want any more dead yaskedasi.

When he reached Touchstone Glass, the glass shop itself was still closed. Antonou wouldnt open for another hour. Keth decided not to bother the family. He went straight to the workshop. As he rounded the corner into the inner courtyard, he saw an arurim sergeant leaning against the well. She had been in command of the squad that had arrested him.

Keth stopped cold. it is, I didnt do it,he snapped, wondering if he should yell for Antonou. The yaskedasi told plenty of tales of those whod vanished into arurimati, to return so bruised their mothers didnt know them.