The Way of the Power by Stuart Jaffe Page A

toftof.”
    As she came closer, she heard movement from several stalls down. That must have been what got Stray agitated. She passed him by, edging closer to the stall, and lowered into a fighting stance. Moving slow and quiet, she eased out Viper. The noises from the stall were careless. Whoever hid there was not a trained assassin nor a trained soldier.
    When she reached the stall, she looked back. Hirasa stood at the far end with Tommy and the Artisoll in tow. Stray had both his scimitars out and at the ready. Before attacking, Malja decided to peek over the edge of the stall. The constant sounds of shifting suggested somebody frightened, not somebody trying to attack them — she didn’t want to burst in there and kill a child simply having fun snooping around.
    Of course, if an enemy sat in the stall with a gun trained on the door, then Malja might get her head blown off. Inching upward, she clamped down on her nerves. Live or die, she would have an answer soon enough.
    When she looked into the stall, all tension dropped. She put Viper back and stood. “Fawbry! Get out of there.”
    “What are you doing?” Fawbry said, poking his head up. Straw stuck out of his hair and he had a large red mark on his neck. “What are you all doing here? Can’t I ever get a little privacy?”
    Malja opened the stall door, and a buxom woman rushed out like a frightened mare. She carried her clothes in one hand and covered her rear with the other. Fawbry stepped out, adjusting his robe, and brushing off straw.
    “You couldn’t wait for us to finish?”
    Malja picked some straw off his back. “Sorry, but we have a serious problem.”
    “Of course, you do. You’re Malja.”
    Ignoring the comment, Malja pointed to the Artisoll and Hirasa. “You two. Get in one of these empty stalls and change into each other’s clothes.” The women did as ordered. “Tommy, when they finish, you are to take the Artisoll back into the party. Dance, have a good time. Make sure spend time with the performers as well as some of the girls that are friends with Hirasa. Anything that will reinforce the idea that the Artisoll is Hirasa. After a short time, I want you to take her to safety. Clear?”
    Tommy nodded. Perhaps a bit too eager to be the Artisoll’s savior, but Malja didn’t have time to lecture him on women — again.
    The girls stepped out, and Malja had to admit they looked closer to each other than she had dared hope. The Artisoll, wearing Hirasa’s dance outfit, looked charming but much like the rest of the crowd. Hirasa stuck out in the Artisoll’s bright sash.
    Malja nodded her approval. “Be sure to wear your hats. From above, no one will be able to tell the difference.”
    The Artisoll joined Tommy. Stray walked over to them and gripped Tommy by the shoulders. “This woman is precious and valuable. There are many who would kill you without a thought in order to capture her. Understand that the only reason I’m allowing you to take her is because Malja trusts you. But if you do anything more than protect her, if I find that you’ve laid a hand on her either in anger or in lust, I will have your head. Is that clear?”
    Maybe Malja didn’t need to talk with Tommy after all. The look on his face said he got the message quite clearly. As he led the Artisoll back to the party, Malja turned to Fawbry. “I want you to take Hirasa to the cemetery. Act like you’re seducing her and she’s willing — I think you know how do that.”
    Fawbry took Hirasa’s arm but leveled a glare at Malja. “What’s this all about?”
    “The same thing it’s always about. Trying to keep everybody alive. Now, go.”
    As the two strolled off, Malja put her arm around Stray. “We go back to the party and drink and act like we’re getting friendly.”
    “But aren’t they going to attack your friends at the cemetery?”
    “That’s what we’ll find out. We watch and see who they follow — me, Hirasa pretending to be the Artisoll, or do they