He had put on weight. His chest had thickened and his hips broadened. His large soft belly strained against his broad leather belt. Felix guessed that his thick blond beard hid several chins. His cheeks were fatter and seemed padded. His hair was thinner and there were bags under his eyes. His head jutted forward aggressively. He had grown to resemble the old man. “You look more like father.”

Otto smiled wryly. “Sad but true. Too much good living, I’m afraid. You look like you could use some yourself. You’ve become very skinny.”

“How did you find me?”

“Come on, Felix. How do you think I found you? We have our agents and we wanted to find you. How many tall blond men travelling in the company of dwarf Slayers do you think there are in the Empire? When the report came into my office about two mercenaries answering the description I thought I’d better investigate.”

“Your office?”

“I run the business in Nuln now.”

“What happened to Schaffer?”

“Vanished.”

“With money?”

“Apparently not. We think he was deemed politically undesirable. The Countess has a very efficient secret police. Things happen in Nuln these days.”

“Not Schaffer! There was never a more loyal citizen in the Empire. He thought the sun shone out of the Emperor’s fundament.”

“Nuln is only just part of the Empire, brother. Countess Emmanuelle rules here.”

“But she’s the most flighty woman in the Empire, or so they say.”

“Von Halstadt, her Chief Magistrate, is very efficient. He’s the real ruler of Nuln. He hates mutants. And rumour has it that Schaffer had begun to show stigmata.”

“Never.”

“That’s what I said. But believe this, little brother: Nuln is no place to come under suspicion of being a mutant. Such people vanish.”

“But it’s the most liberal city of the Empire.”

“Not any more.” Otto looked around fearfully as if realising that he had said too much. Felix shook his head ruefully. “Don’t worry, brother. No spies here.”

“Don’t be too sure about that, Felix,” he said quietly. “In these days, in this city, walls have ears.” When he spoke again his voice was loud and held a note of false heartiness. “Anyway I came around to ask if you’d like to dine with me tomorrow.