with Malkon, grabbed him bythe collar and threw him down to the ground. He rolled Malkon ontohis back and punched him hard enough to nigh break his nose. Dylenstraddled the dazed Deir, hooking his ankles over his splayed legsand pinning his hands to the ground with a brutal grip on each wrist.Talk,treacherous dog, he growled. Did you force Dimas to delayapproval of Ylandrin contracts?Ionly suggested he pay me another way, Malkon whimpered. Itsno crime to ensure that he did.Bythreatening the lives of his children? Dylen scornfully said. Itwas my right! He owed me!Andso you drove that poor wretch to his death. You are truly vile,Malkon Ferrenda!Imnot to blame for his actions. Im no!Dylengrabbed Malkon by the hair of his crown and slammed his head downhard enough to stop the latters blubbering.Whoset those assassins on Laral? he brusquely asked. You heard,Malkon croaked. My sire ordered it, And you abetted it.Nay!I had naught to do with it!Liar!How did those knaves enter the palace grounds? Someone let them inand guided them to the pavilion!Itwasnt I! Malkon shook his head frantically. I tell you I hadnaught to do with that!AmidstMalkons attempts to evade meeting his gaze, Dylen caught a glimpseof something in the Ferrenda lords eyes. It was enough.Ofcourse! he exclaimed. They came in the guise of Terazandelegates! Malkons eyes bulged in shock.Howdid you kno? He gasped, horrified by his slip.IfI investigate the visit of a rather large delegation from the Terazanembassy that day, what will I find, Malkon? Dylen closed a handaround Malkons throat menacingly. That they never left thepalace afterward? Indeed, will I find their discarded clothing hiddenin your room?Youare insane! I hid nothing inDylenbackhanded him into shutting up. He reached down and, ripping thecrotch of Malkons trousers open, clenched his fingers cruellyaround the Deirs seed sac.Theycame to the palace at your summons, didnt they? he snarled.Now tell me. Where did you hide their clothes? Speak or by Veres Iwill geld you bit by bit and feed the pieces to the palace hounds!He tightened his grip.Malkonscreamed, Under my bed! Beneath the floor boards! And wheredid you have them pass to get to the gardens? ServantshallDylencaught his breath. The passages to and from the servants hallwended their way along the back of the palace. The hall itselfoverlooked the chasm.How?he pressed. Did no one notice a whole contingent of Deira inYlandrin livery?Onlya few at that hour, Malkon wheezed painfully. Killed themDylen swore. The bodies?Threw-threwthem down the chasm.Heyas!Dylen muttered. Heartless scum! he said through gritted teeth.His eyes narrowed. That explosivedid you throw it?Malkonseyes suddenly blazed with malevolence. Yes! he spat. A pityyour fool of a lover got in the way!Dylensmashed Malkons head down. He rose to his feet, feeling as if hehad just wallowed in a pit of miasmic filth. He could not get awayfrom the cesspool that was Malkons mind fast enough.Hestaggered as he came to. Laral caught him and led him to a chair. TheShaja Amir thrust a cup of strong brandy into his hand. Dylen quicklydrank it, welcoming the invigorating burn of its descent down histhroat.Helooked across at Malkon. The Deir was slumped in