Even with the events of the past few weeks, Mal had not been yet alone. There had always been other people around, Devona or the captain or the other slaves, and that had kept most of her loneliness at bay. She was, by nature, a person who required constant company or excitement, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, there was no one else with her. Devona had left and Saul was gone and she missed Reno with a longing that bordered on pain. She missed his familiar presence, his quiet laugh and bawdy jokes, and the knowledge that even if she could not go home, he would always be her family.

She lay on the bed and wallowed in grief and self-pity until she could stand it no longer, and was halfway across the room to the door, ready to leave, when footsteps sounded in the hallway and Saul entered. Immediately she painted on a blank expression, but he hardly noticed; he was angry, though she didn't know why, and when he looked at her she backed up a few steps and shifted a little nervously.

The stable boy at the Signet took his bridle as he dismounted and held the horse while Saul pulled the largest pack from the animal's saddle. When he had it the boy started to lead the horse away. "Tie him to the post," he said sharply, "and leave the saddle." The boy nodded and led the horse to the hitching post instead of the stables and Saul entered the inn at a brisk walk.

He settled first with Rhodos and then with Vidon. Rhodos noticed his demeanor but did not mention it, and Vidon was too interested in his woman to care to linger at the doorway with Saul. Once he'd paid them he made his way to his own room and almost threw the door open.

Devona was gone. Malorik was not, and Saul shut and locked the door behind him and threw the pack on the bed and began to sort through it.

"Is there something wrong?"

Saul did not look up, intent on his search.

"Yes," he said shortly, pulling out his tent when he could not get past it and setting the small bundle of poles and tightly wrapped leather on the bed. "There is a Brindian soldier who has his eye on it and he knows about you and your companion leaving with it, and a great many other things as well. He says that I am to go with him for a salary or for my life, and that I am to bring my slave the courier woman with me." He hefted the heavy saddle bag and threw it down again with more force than necessary so he could get to the other side. "I told him you are not my slave, and so he extends the same kind offer to you. His men are waiting downstairs."

He finally located and extracted Malorik's swords, wrapped in thick oiled leather and tied tightly with cord, and turned to hold them out to her. She took it awkwardly and he began to repack his bag.

He handed her a tightly wrapped coil of leather, and she took it from him hesitantly, unsure of what it might be. He turned his back again, so with a shrug she untied the bindings and rolled it open. Her swords were inside, clean and in perfect condition, and she glanced back up at him with surprise in her eyes just as he asked her a question.

"Will you go?"