Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...

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"I used to live there," he says, as if he just moved in because he preferred the climate. "He'd be
nine, almost ten, eyes like mine, pale blond hair, though that might have darkened—more likely shaved,
as a slave.Aitzas family Temonen. Their estate is on Fidelity Street, which is in the south end of the noble
quarter, near the Fountain of Infinity."
"Temonen." He studied her eyes. "Temonen. What was the lord's first name?"
"Nuninibas."
"Nuninibas Temonen, yes. I got invited to his parties, but never went, though I had a friend who did." He
was wearing an ebony arm-ring on his right arm; now he absently touched it with one tender finger. "The
family's prospering; they were notorious parties. Which means at least they won't have sold him off to
pay debts."
Megan closed her eyes for a second, thinking of how long it had taken to get all her information by
proxy. "I'm sorry," he said gently. "I wish I could tell you more. If they have sold him, you can track him
starting from there. It may also be that Nuninibas will see the writing on the wall and get his household out
before we even arrive."Before we arrive, not if , she thought.He'scertain of himself as a Ryadn; that's
why the rest of the army is . "Even so there are ways to track him. I'll lend you help, if it comes to that."
So many mercenary employers say farewell and to Halya with you the moment the fight's over ,
she thought,your problem if you didn't get what you came for. No wonder people are loyal to him .
Then:or else he's trying to get more out of us with promises .
"Well. On to your bigger half." Shkai'ra had been watching, cat-smiling, working her fingers and wrists;
she'd let the loose sleeves of her coat fall back, to show the tendons rippling in her forearms.
"My part is a little more difficult to demonstrate," she said. "Leading cavalry is what I was raised to do. I
had five thousand lances under me in the Minztan War, before I was exiled and outlawed in Stonefort."
She smiled reminiscently. "We won, too. Hmmm. You're getting a lot of odds-and-sods without unit
organization? I've fought in a lot of mercenary armies, some of which had as much discipline to start with
as a pack of jackals around a dead sheep. As to personal skills—"
A damselfly had been flitting around the lantern; Fishhook made a tenative snap at it from Chevenga's
shoulder, and the insect darted for the door. Shkai'ra, resting her hands on her thighs, let it zip past her
ear before she moved. Rising, drawing, the saber moving in a blurring slash that left a dazzling streak of
silver in the air, the ripping-silk sound of it parting mingling with the slighthuff of her breath. Turning in the
same motion, kneeling again, the saber sheathed with asnap while the severed body of the damselfly was
still fluttering toward the earth, not two heartbeats from her hand's first motion toward swordhilt.
"Good, very good," he said, with the same smile, but evenly. "I want to see what you can do against
another warrior, though, and what you and that beast of yours can do together. That'll have to wait till
morning, early, before we move out."So much for enough sleep , Megan grumbled inwardly. "We can
haggle now—I'm willing to risk a guess—or after that, whichever you prefer. You want to know what
standard joiner's rate is, these days? Board, and an equal share of the spoils. We don't even have to
equip them, and theystill join in droves…"
"But what you have, I'd never take for so little. Not asking as much of you as I plan to. Here's my offer:
for Megan, board, mercenary's share of spoils, and thirtyankaryel a month; for Shkai'ra, board,
mount-board— you understand providing Hotblood's keep is going to be difficult, since I understand he
eats horse and human meat—and twentyankaryel a month, raised commensurate with promotion."