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Uziraff took a bar towel from a nearby chair and wiped the blood from the desk. "Sit down and we'll talk."

Baylee took a chair and sat in front of the desk. "I want to find the area where the pictograph came from."

"That can be costly," Uziraff said.

"If it's too costly," Baylee said, "then I'll go elsewhere."

Uziraff leaned across the desk and put a thumb to his chest. "I sent that pictograph to Golsway. How many other men do you think knows where it was even found?"

"I don't know," Baylee said, "but I can start by checking to see who disappeared or turned up dead around that time. It could be that I'll discover that person was the first to find the pictograph. And it could be that the pictograph was offered to other buyers before you ended up with it."

"Golsway trained you well," Uziraff said.

"Yes." Baylee returned the pirate's level gaze. Can you read any part of his thoughts?

As always, Xuxa replied, Uziraff's mind is closed to me. But I do sense some of the emotion connected to the pictograph. He possesses a lot of excitement about it. And he is knows more than he is telling. I do sense some anxiety as well.

"What can you pay?" the pirate asked.

"Five hundred gold pieces," Baylee said.

Uziraff broke into a loud booming laugh. "For a trip such as that, I'd require nothing less than ten thousand gold pieces."

"For that, if I had ten thousand gold pieces," Baylee said, "I could buy a brand new cog just like yours." He stood up from the chair.

"I'm not just selling the boat ride," Uziraff said. "That you could get anywhere. You're also buying the information as to where that pictograph was found."

"Mayhap," Baylee said, "I'll be able to find them both, for considerably less than you offer." He walked to the door. Tell me, Xuxa, is there any weakening to his resolve?

Uziraff is curious and anxious, the azmyth bat answered.

Then there must be another source that could give us the location of the shipwreck.

Yes.

"Wait," Uziraff said.

Baylee turned back toward the pirate.

Uziraff spread his hands. "Surely you can offer me a better deal than five hundred gold."

Baylee waited, staring at the man. "Eight hundred gold, and our passage is included so that we get our meals. You're leaving me precious little to get back to Waterdeep on."

"Both of you are going? Then the price is-"

"The price is more than fair," Cthulad said.

For a moment Uziraff bridled at the harsh bite of the other man's tone. Then he sat back in the chair and grumbled, "As you wish."

Xuxa? Baylee asked.

His curiosity is showing most, the azmyth bat answered. Nothing duplicitous.

"How soon can you be ready to leave?" Baylee asked.

"Now it's a rush job as well?" Uziraff laughed and shook his head. "Really, Baylee, you're well on your way to being as insufferable as Golsway himself."

"How soon?"

"Two hours."

"Fine," Baylee said. "We'll meet you at Windchaser." He headed for the door.

"Don't try to beat out my price, Baylee Arnvold," the pirate called. "We have a deal."

"I'll be there."

"And bring my gold with you."

*****

"He's not a man to trust."

Baylee glanced at Cthulad. "Not if we had another choice. But it could be that finding anyone who knows anything of the pictograph here in Caer Callidyrr will be near to impossible. The people in this circle don't like to give away their information, and they hate to admit they know less than you. Just the act of asking questions will set other hounds loose on us." He peered toward the docks fronting the mouth of the natural harbor.

Broken rock littered the coastline, some of them in the distance drawing white water. In the winter, the winds whipped over the harbor brutally, shutting down most avenues of trade except for the most desperate. The smell of brine was thick in the cool air.

Baylee led the way through the uneven line of porches fronting the shops around the harbor area. It felt good to be moving, not cloistered away aboard the cargo ship anymore. The encounter with Uziraff had left a bad taste in his