And So It Begins by R.G. Green Page A

at the Mouse?”
    The question had been lurking in the back of his mind ever since he had grown sober enough to realize Derek wouldn’t have chosen the Mouse for entertainment any more than Kherin would have before that night, and the curiosity had only grown as he continued to stay in the trader’s presence. But simple curiosity or not, Kherin immediately felt the change, though he could see very little in the darkness.
    Derek wasn’t normally reticent in sharing his secrets with either of the princes, and he was far too experienced to be thrown off guard so easily, but a sudden burst of lightning flashing through the window showed the trader crouched on one knee, still, if not quite tense, his figure limned in a brief show of silver. And then the lightning vanished and the image was gone. Kherin waited, though he was beginning to feel uneasy.
    “If I said I was there on business, would you leave it at that?” Derek asked at last, not exactly hesitant, but almost warily. Any further signs Kherin might have caught were hidden in darkness.
    “Most likely, yes,” he answered cautiously. “Since I can’t see you engaged in any of the usual business taking place at the Mouse, I assume it was your own that took you there. If your business is none of mine, just say so.” He finished with his cloak and sat back, balancing on the balls of his feet. “I was just curious.”
    “I was there to see a whore.”
    Kherin blinked at the frankness of the answer, but he covered his surprise quickly enough. “Like I said, that’s your business. I wouldn’t think you would buy a whore from the Mouse, though. There are safer places in Delfore to find them, you know.”
    Derek’s chuckle surprised him even more, and Kherin heard movement as the trader stood. “An informer, Kherin. Not a personal venture.”
    “One of your spies is a whore at the Mouse?” Kherin nearly laughed at the idea, but not because the revelation was so unbelievable. Whores generally did learn things they shouldn’t from drunk and therefore unguarded customers, and probably earned a good deal of coin from selling more than their bodies. In truth, the kingdom’s most knowledgeable spies were also the most obvious—and the least considered. It was simple, conspicuous, and overlooked. And it was hard not to laugh.
    But he managed it as he stood, swiping the damp hair from his face, a smile still tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t know whether to ask who she is or how you managed to recruit her. Or him.”
    Something soggy and wet slapped his chest, and Kherin let it fall without trying to learn what it was.
    “That is none of your business, my prince. I was there only to gather information, a task which was interrupted, as I recall.”
    Kherin’s smile faded. “I remember well enough, thank you,” he answered clearly, keenly aware of the change of subject. It was irritating how Derek could be as bad as Adrien at reminding him of his faults. “Like I said, I was just curious.”
    “And no doubt expecting a more intriguing answer,” the trader mused teasingly. “Now get out of your clothes. It won’t do you any good to sleep in them wet.”
    Kherin nearly snorted at that, but complied without arguing and was not at all surprised to find that Derek even undressed with much more efficiency than he did. Goose bumps appeared as his skin was exposed, but though the air was cool, it didn’t seem particularly cold.
    “Never let your suspicions provide your answers,” Derek continued quietly. “It’s one of the easiest ways to become disappointed. And it’s the first rule in becoming a successful trader.” He had stripped completely and begun the task of spreading his wet clothes beside the cloaks without bothering to don anything dry. Kherin noticed, and knew he would soon be just as bare as the trader, but again, the trader didn’t seem concerned about his own or the prince’s nakedness. Kherin knew what he would have liked to