liant light。 And even as Denis did this； the sound that had caught his attention came again； a faint thumping on the door itself。 Now through the fish…eye lens he could see the one who made the sound； as a slumped figure somewhat blurred by the imperfect lens。 The shape of the fallen figure suggested the absence of an arm。
With the flameless light still glowing in his hand； Denis stepped back from the door。 The House of Courtenay generally contained some stock of the goods in which its owners dealt； including the fancy weapons that were the specialty of the house。 Also there was usually a considerable supply of coin on hand。 The place was a natural target for thieves； and for any member of the household to open any exterior door to anyone； particularly at night； was no trivial matter。 The only thing for Denis to do now was to rouse the household steward； Tarim； and get his orders as to what to do next。
Crossing the workshop； Denis approached the door to the ascending stair that led to the next highest level of the house； Tarim slept up there； along with most of the rest of the resident staff。 Denis opened the door … and stopped in his tracks。
Looking down at him from the top of the first flight； holding a candle in her small； pale hand； was one of the characters from his recent waking dream； the Lady Sophie herself； mistress of this house。 Denis's surprise was at seeing the lady there at all。 Family quarters were located on the upper levels of the house； well above the noise and smoke and smell of the shop when it was busy； and of the daytime streets。 Her tiny but shapely body was wrapped in a thick white robe； contrasting sharply with her straight black hair。 It was hard to believe that any faint sound at the back door could have roused the lady from her bed。
The mistress called down： 〃Denis？ What is it？〃 He thought she sounded nervous。
Denis stood there hugging his bare chest。 〃There's someone at the back door； Mistress。 I could see only one man。 Looked like he was hurt； but I didn't open。〃
〃Hurt； you say？〃
It looked and sounded to Denis almost as if the lady had been expecting someone to arrive tonight； had been waiting around in readiness to receive them。 Denis had heard nothing in particular in the way of business news to make him expect such a visitor； but such a nocturnal arrival in itself would not be very surprising。 As the headquarters of a pany of traders； the house was accustomed to the ings and goings of odd people at odd hours。
Denis answered； 〃Yes； Ma'am； hurt。 And it looked like he only had one arm。 I was just going to arouse Tarim。。。〃
〃No。〃 The mistress was immediately decisive。 〃Just stand by there for a moment； while I go get the master。〃
〃Yes； Ma'am。〃 It was of course the only answer Denis could give； but still it was delayed； delivered only to the lady's already retreating back。 Denis was puzzled； and a moment later his puzzlement increased； for here； already fully awake and active too； came Master Courtenay himself。 Courtenay was a moving mountain of a man； his great bulk wrapped now in a night robe of a rich blue fabric。 With a lightness and quickness remarkable for his size； the master came almost skipping down the stairs； his lady just behind him。
Arriving on the ground floor； the master of the house faced Denis directly。 The two were almost of a height； near average； though Courtenay weighed easily twice as much as his lean employee； and was possibly three times as massive as his small wife： Courtenay was not yet thirty； as nearly as Denis could judge； and very little of his bulk was fat； though in his robe he looked that way。 Nor could he be described as stupid； as Denis had realized on his own first day here； despite what a first glance at Courtenay's face suggested … of course he could hardly be unintelligent and have prospered as he evidently had。
The master brushed back his almost colorless hair from his uninviting face； a gesture that seemed more one of worry than of sleepiness。 In his usual mild voice he said； 〃We'll let the rest of the household go on sleeping； Denis。〃 Behind the master； his lady was already closing the door to the ascending stair。 〃The three of us will manage；〃 Courtenay went on。 〃The man's hurt； you say？〃
〃Looks like it； sir。〃
〃Still； we'll take no chances more than necessary。 Help yourself to a weapon； and stand by。〃
〃Yes sir。〃 In the year and a half that he had been at the House of Courtenay； Denis had learned that there were stretches of time in which life here began to seem dull。 But so far those stretches had never extended for any unbearable length of time。
Over on the far side of the shop； the mistress was lighting a couple of oil lamps。 And when she brought her hands down from the lamp shelf and faced around again； Denis thought that he saw something trailing from her right hand。 He caught only a glimpse of the object before it vanished between folds of her full robe。 But； had he not been convinced that Mistress Sophie was only a delicate little thing who loved her luxury； he would have thought that she was holding the leather thongs of a hunter's or a warrior's sling。
The more recent years of Denis's young life had been generally peaceful； first as an acolyte of Ardneh in the White Temple； then here in the House of Courtenay as apprentice trader and general assistant。 But he had spent the longer； earlier portion of his existence serving a different kind of apprenticeship。 That had been in the slum streets of Tashigang； and it had left him indelibly familiar with the more unpeaceful side of life。 So now he was reasonably calm as he moved to the display of decorative weapons that occupied a good part of one side of the large room。 There he selected an ornate battle…hatchet； a weapon of antique design but sharp…edged and of a pleasantly balanced weight。 With this in hand； Denis nodded that he was ready。
Master Courtenay； already standing by the back door； returned the nod。 Then he turned to the door and made use of the peephole and the Old World light。 In the next moment Courtenay had unbarred the door and yanked it open。 The crumpled body that had been sitting against it on the outside came toppling softly inward。
Denis sprang forward； quickly closed the door and barred it up again。 Meanwhile the master of the house had stretched the unconscious man out full length on the floor； and was examining him with the aid of the Old World light。
The mistress； one of the more conventional lamps in her hand； had e forward to look too。 Quickly she turned to Denis。 〃He's bleeding badly。 You were a servant of Ardneh； see what you can do for him。〃
Denis was not usually pleased to be asked to administer medical treatment； he knew too well his own great limitations in the art。 But his urge to please his mistress would not let him hesitate。 And he knew that his years in Ardneh's service had left him almost certainly better qualified than either of his employers。 He nodded and moved forward。
The man stretched out on the floor was not young； his unconscious face was weatherbeaten over its bloodless pallor； and the hair that fanned out in a wild spread on the flat stones was gray。 Standing； he would have been tall； with a well…knit； sturdy body marred by the old amputation。
〃His right arm is gone。〃 That was the mistress； speaking thoughtfully； as if she were only musing to herself。
Denis heard her only absently； the man's fresh wounds were going to demand a healer's full attention。 A lot of blood was visible； darker wetness on the rainsoaked clothing。
Quickly Denis began to peel back clothes。 He cut them away； when that was easier； with a keen knife that the master handed him。 He also tossed aside a mean…looking cudgel that he found tucked into the victim's belt。
〃I'll need water； and bandages；〃 he announced over his shoulder。 There were two wounds； and both looked bad。 〃And whatever medicines we have to stop bleeding。〃 He paused to mumble a minor spell for that purpose； learned in his days as Ardneh's servitor。 It was about the best that Denis could do in the way of magic； and it was very little。 Perhaps it brought some benefit； but it was not going to be enough。
〃I'll bring you what I can find；〃 replied the mistres