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Thus it was that Auriennepresented herself at the gatehouse of Wellesley Keep with, clanging along behind her, Osric Mordaunt in a full suit of Swanstone armour.

He had reacted to the plan with the expected level of aplomb; that is, immediate hysteria.

His hysteria abated into fuming as they approached the Keep in pouring rain. It was night, but one wouldn’t know it looking at Wellesley Keep, which was illuminated by hundreds of humming floodlights.

“Absolute, unmitigated horseshit,” muttered Mordaunt between clangs.

“Oh, don’t have kittens,” said Aurienne.

“I’ll have as many kittens as I like. Have you seen all of these lights? Not a shadow to be found. If anything happens, I’m hamstrung.”

“It’ll be fine once we get inside,” said Aurienne.

“Fine?Fine?We’re putting you in danger—we’re walking you right into the Keep of the man we think attacked your Order. If anyone raises a hand against you, they’re dead, I want you to know. What arsehole designed this wanky armour? Why am I announcing my movements to every knob end within a mile? My tacn is itchy.”

“Stop twitching. Straighten up. You’ve got to be convincing.”

Aurienne and Mordaunt approached the gatehouse in a disgusting rain that came from seventeen directions.

Mordaunt, still seething, did not knock at the door; he smote it with his fist.

With much metallic creaking, he glanced about, squinting through his visor at the bright lights. The Keep glowed as though under the noontime sun.

A peephole slid open from the other side of the door. A suspicious eye protruded in Aurienne’s direction. “Who is it?” enquired the eye.

“Haelan Fairhrim and escort,” said Aurienne. “Lord Wellesley is expecting me.”

The eye grew respectful. “Give us a moment.”

The door was drawn open. Aurienne and her soi-disant guard advanced into a sort of vestibule, also bright with lights. Besides the doorman to whom the eye belonged, there was a small complement of guards, as well as an officious-looking round man who introduced himself as Pipplewaithe.

“I’m Lord Wellesley’s chamberlain,” said Pipplewaithe, doffing his feathered hat and sweeping the ground with it. “At your service, Haelan Fairhrim. And may I say what an honour it is to have one of your Order here.”

“Thank you for the kind welcome,” said Aurienne.

Pipplewaithe replaced his hat; the ostrich feather sprang to attention. “Before we proceed into the Keep—please forgive me for asking; added security measures out of my control, unfortunately—might I see your tacn?”

Aurienne removed her glove and duly flashed the Haelan tacn at the chamberlain. There was a chorus ofoohs from the assembled men, to whom the Haelan were, apparently, numinous creatures of legend.

Mordaunt creaked meaningfully beside Aurienne.

“That looks to be in order,” said Pipplewaithe. “Or should I say, in Order? Ha! So sorry for the procedural annoyance. One can never be too careful in these unsettled days.”

“Are things so unsettled?” asked Aurienne.

“I won’t trouble you with the details, but tensions are running high with a neighbour I shan’t name.” Pipplewaithe’s feather turned enquiringly to Mordaunt. “May I ask about your companion?”

Mordaunt clattered into a semblance of a guardish position beside Aurienne, who said, “This is my protector, Phlegmley. He’s one of our sergeants at Swanstone. I believe my Order has advised Lord Wellesley of our protocols; I must be accompanied at all times. I’m afraid that he’llhave to remain armed and at my side. But you understand—just another procedural annoyance.”

“Of course,” said Pipplewaithe with another bow. “Welcome, Sergeant.”

There was a metallicchinkas Mordaunt made a nod in his direction.

“Carry out whatever inspections you feel are necessary,” said Aurienne with a wave in Mordaunt’s direction. “He hasn’t a tacn, but I suppose you’d like to check his hands and see for yourself.”

Mordaunt removed his right gauntlet.

“Oh, really, it hardly seems necessary,” said Pipplewaithe, nevertheless observing Mordaunt’s activity closely. “He’s here with a proven Haelan. But—procedurally speaking—it would indeed be better.”