Within minutes, the new arrivals were shown into guest rooms, which looked as if couples had been hastily thrown out of them, and the windows thrown open for them to be aired. The sweet slightly rotten scent of the gardens wafted in.

Kormak studied his chamber. It contained a large four poster bed with mosquito netting, citronella candles to keep the blood-sucking little beasts at bay and a host of elaborately carved furniture that looked as if it had been shipped directly from Trefal. A flask of wine sat on the table along with a silver goblet. Kormak unstoppered it. It had a sweet scent with an odd and familiar tang. Kormak poured a thimbleful into the goblet and then let the slightest drop touch his lips. They went slightly numb and when he licked them his tongue tingled. Wyrmspike and something else. He began to understand the behaviour of the Governor and the crowds in the street if this was the vintage they were sipping.

A knock on the door sounded. A moment later a servant girl entered. She was pale-skinned, and her face was rouged. She studied him with an open invitation in her dark eyes. Kormak noticed her pupils were extremely dilated, a side-effect of wyrmspike, among other narcotics he was familiar with.

“Yes?” Kormak said.

“The majordomo sent me to ask if you required anything.”

“Not at the moment.”

“He also told me to say that you would be very welcome at the ball below. Your companions have already said they would attend.”

“Then I suppose I had better do similarly.”

She placed a small domino mask she carried on a silver platter in front of him. “Masks are required for all the guests. The majordomo regrets that he does not have the time to provide you with a full costume.”

“That will not be necessary.” Kormak donned the mask and left the room. He was keen to observe the court of the Governor and see what he could learn. If everyone was as intoxicated as Aurin was, there might never be a better time to ask questions concerning the thing he had been sent to find.

Chapter Two

Kormak strode down the stairs and passed couples stealing hand in hand into side rooms. Several of them invited him to join them. He politely declined. Rhiana and Zamara stood in the library, sipping wine. They too wore small domino masks but were otherwise dressed as they had come.

“This place is a disgrace,” said Zamara quietly. “I could take the whole city with a company of marines.”

Rhiana laughed. “If you could convince your crew to fight. They might just join in the party.”

“Speaking of marines, where are they?” Kormak asked.

“They are dismissed. They’ve been a long time at sea. Terves and half a score of hardy men are within call. The rest have been dispatched to find their own amusement.”

“You’d better hope they don’t decide to take the city on their own.”

“Hush, Guardian, don’t even joke about such a thing. It is entirely within the realms of possibility.”

“I thought you Sunlanders were supposed to be so moral,” said Rhiana.

“It seems the tropical sun does something even to the most disciplined of people,” said Zamara.

“I would say it is more likely the mushroom wine.