smile touched the old man's lips. "Then I am expected to earn this
wealth you are offering me?"

"Of course. I am not noted for being a charitable man, noble Heglar."

"... Are there other reasons?"

"Lastly," Vokal said imperturbably, "as a nobleman you have the freedom
of Jaltor's court and may come and go there as you please."

He looked sharply at the older man as he finished speaking and for a
long moment they stared into each other's eyes in silence.

Heglar was the first to speak. "Now that you have listed my
qualifications, what use do you expect to put them to?"

Vokal bent forward and fixed him with his penetrating gaze. "I must call
upon the first of them before this conversation can go any further. Will
you give me your solemn pledge that not one word of this will go beyond
the two of us?"

"... Yes."

"Good. I want you to forfeit the few remaining moons of life left to
you."

Heglar blinked. It was the sole sign of emotion aroused by that
startling declaration. "Those few moons are priceless to me, noble
Vokal," he said, a faint smile hovering about his lips.

"I am prepared to pay heavily for them."

"You would have to.... What do you want me to do?"

Vokal leaned back in his chair and placed the tips of his fingers
lightly together, looking over them at the old man. His eyes had gone
back to being dreamy again. He said:

"I want you to _attempt_ the assassination of Jaltor, king of Ammad!"

The breath left Heglar's lungs in an explosive gasp. "What madness is
this!" he cried hoarsely. "Why do you want Jaltor dead? Certainly his
death would not better your position as a noble in the court. His son
would take the throne; and even if something happened to _him_, his
sister would be next in line. Are you planning to do away with the
entire royal family, noble Vokal?"

Vokal was shaking his head. "I'm afraid you did not understand
me, my friend. I said that I wanted you to _attempt_ Jaltor's
assassination--not to kill him."

"This makes no sense to me!"

"It is very simple. I want you to attend one of Jaltor's morning
audiences within the next day or two. Work your way close to him, draw a
knife and make a clumsy attempt to stab him. But be sure you fail. The
guards will overpower you instantly; and when Jaltor demands to know why
you tried to kill him, refuse to answer other than to hint that you were
not alone in the plot."

"Knowing Jaltor as we both do, he will order you put to tort