Стража! Стража!

           Ithadneverbeenwhatyoumightcallaselectplace.ThePatricianhadalwaysfeltthatifyoumadepeoplecomfortabletheymightwanttostay.Thefurniturehadbeenafewveryelderlychairsand,aroundthewalls,portraitsofearliercityrulersholdingscrollsandthings.

           Thechairswerestillthere.Theportraitswerenot.Or,rather,thestainedandcrackedcanvaseswerepiledinacorner,butthegiltframesweregone.

           Thecouncillorstriedtoavoidoneanother’sfaces,andsattappingtheirfingersontheirknees.

           Finallyacoupleofveryworried-lookingservantsopenedthedoorstothemainhall.LupineWonselurchedthrough.

           Mostofthecouncillorshadbeenupallnightanyway,tryingtoformulatesomekindofpolicyvis-d-visdragons,butWonselookedasthoughhehadn’tbeentosleepinyears.Hisfacewasthecolourofafermenteddishcloth.Neverparticularlywell-padded,henowlookedlikesomethingoutofapyramid.

           "Ah,"heintoned."Good.Areyouallhere?Thenperhapsyouwouldstepthisway,gentlemen."

           "Er,"saidtheheadthief,"thenotementionedlunch?"

           "Yes?"saidWonse.

           "Withadragon?"

           "Goodgrief,youdon’tthinkitwouldeatyou,doyou?"saidWonse."Whatanidea!"

           "Nevercrossedmemind,"saidtheheadthief,reliefblowingfromhisearslikesteam."Theveryidea.Haha."

           "Haha,"saidthechiefmerchant.

           "Hoho,"saidtheheadassassin."Theveryidea."

           "No,Iexpectyou’reallfartoostringy,"saidWonse."Haha."

           "Haha."

           "Ahaha."

           "Hoho."