"Bottle"-had he failed to keep his turf under control and lost it to someone else? Lorne wondered.
"All right, young man," Kaspars Canling interrupted his thoughts, fixing him with eyes clouded by alcohol. "You still haven't answered my question. What exactly do you want with that damned Feysac barbarian?"
"I wanted to do a little-that sort of business with him." A meaningful smile appeared on Lorne's face. "Why?
"Have you taken over his special business as well?"
Kaspars nodded without committing himself.
"Then talking to you will do just as well." Lorne obligingly pulled a one-pound note from his pocket and handed it over.
Kaspars accepted the money without hesitation and looked Lorne up and down again. "You're a lot more straightforward than you look. Follow me."
With that, he limped toward the billiards room at the very back of the first floor, leading Lorne along.
Only after locking the door did Kaspars ask, "Tell me. What do you want?"
After hesitating for a few seconds, Lorne said, "Bottle once took me to a very special gathering. I'd like-to go again."
"A gathering?"
"Yes." Lorne nodded. "The host of that gathering calls himself the Eye of Wisdom."
Kaspars's expression instantly grew grave. He considered it for a while before saying, "I can take you to that gathering too. But the next one isn't until tomorrow night."
"What else do I need to pay?" Lorne asked sincerely.
"Clever." A hint of approval appeared on Kaspars's face. "You'll have to pay me another two pounds."
"Fine. I'll come back tomorrow."
Then, choosing his words carefully, Lorne brought up his real purpose. "Also, I need an assistant, or rather-a bodyguard.
"Do you have any contacts for that?"
"I don't need an ordinary hired thug," Lorne added. "I mean someone-with power beyond that of