Hamel made his way through the market and turned down a side street. In his study of the maps of the lower regions, along with his journey through the area over the last day, he thought he would find several open streets. He wanted to move. He hoped he could give the impression he did not want to be found, even though that was exactly what he wanted.

It did not take long. As he moved through the lower sections, Hamel glanced behind him now and then to see if anyone had followed him. No one stood out at first, but in time, he recognized a man he had seen in the market while he had faced off against Cuttel's men.

Hamel turned right down a side street, then into an alley. Coming out into a new street, he turned right again and doubled back to the same street where he had noticed the man. The man continued to walk ten paces behind him the entire way.

It was time to take matters to the next level. Eddel would be interested in Hamel, but perhaps not convinced Hamel would be a good man to bring into the fold.

He found his way to a table where a man was selling what appeared to be broiled rat meat. Hamel was not hungry enough to eat rat but wanted a place where he could pause to let the man following him get a little closer. When the man was only two or three paces away, Hamel turned and faced him.

The man jumped but managed to regain his composure and pretend he was just out for a stroll. When he tried to pass Hamel, the former Honored Patir grabbed the man and twisted his arm behind his back.

The man cried out in pain, and Hamel noticed two other men in the street tense up. There were three men following him.

"Why are you following me?" Hamel asked in his most cheerful voice. "I understand that I am quite entertaining to watch, and it must be thrilling to see a man who has lost as much honor as I have wander the streets in despair, but I don't particularly like being followed."

The man groaned and said, "I'm not following you. I'm..." but his words were cut off by a cry of pain as Hamel twisted the man's arm violently.

"Do you think I haven't noticed you behind me? Do you think I can't see there are two other men with you?" Hamel asked in the same happy, cheerful voice. He had learned many years ago that an unexpected tone of voice was a perfect interrogation tool.

The man relaxed, and Hamel could see the corner of his lips creep upward. "If you see the other men with me, you know that I could call them to come to my aid," the man said with a chuckle in his voice. "Maybe you should let go, and we'll let you walk away with only a few bruises."

Hamel laughed and said loudly enough for the other two men to hear. "Wonderful! I would relish another opportunity to stretch my muscles a little bit and apply some of that old military training you hear so much about these days." He then leaned in and said in his most sinister and threatening voice, "Were you not in the market an hour ago? If you were, you would know that you would be dead before your friends arrived. You would also know that they would likely die as well. Now, you have two choices. You can either tell me who sent you to follow me or not."

"What if I don't?" the man asked. His voice betrayed curiosity, but also fear.

Hamel paused. He had thought the threat was obvious, but perhaps the man did not know what he was capable of. "If you don't, I'll break your arm and move on to the next man." For added effect, he twisted just a bit harder.

The man groaned again in pain and said, "Patir Eddel sent me. He's curious about you."

Hamel pretended to be surprised. "Patir Eddel? I've heard of him. Why would he be curious about me?"

"I don't know! I just go where the Patir tells me," the man replied.

"What's your name?" Hamel asked.

The man hesitated for a moment, but then replied, "Armel."

Hamel was inclined to think Armel was telling the truth, at least about Patir Eddel. He had to be careful. He needed to prove he was dangerous and therefore useful to Eddel, but at the same time, to harm one of Eddel's men on the street would be foolish and could alienate him from the criminal. It could even turn him into a target. Hamel knew he could stand against anyone Eddel sent against him, but he could only defend against what he saw coming. A bullet or a knife in a crowd could put a quick end to his plans.

He let Armel go and gave him a little push away. Eddel's thug turned and rubbed his shoulder while he looked at Hamel with both fear and disdain.

Hamel tossed a money purse to the man. While he had been holding him, he had slipped his hand into Armel's pocket and pulled out the man's purse. It was something his Matir had taught him about intimidation. "It is helpful when dealing with men of fear to surprise them with the unexpected," she had told him. "Do something they don't expect, but act like what you did was exactly what you always do. It will leave them thinking you are far more dangerous than they had once thought."

He did not typically slip people's money out of their pocket, but it had the desired effect. The man caught the purse and the fear, mixed with confusion, was written all over his face.

Hamel then declared, "Let Patir Eddel know I'm willing to meet with him."

The man nodded his head and left without saying another word. Armel waved to the other two men, and they followed him out of sight.

Hamel turned back toward the marketplace. He knew he shouldn't, but deep down inside, he was enjoying himself. He smiled and decided to head back home. He had accomplished what he had intended. The next day he expected to meet Eddel, but before that meeting, he wanted to clean up and find some food.

He moved on down the street as another horn blast sounded. The Beasts were attacking yet again, and it reminded him of the urgency of his plan.

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