Cities, even private individuals, may from time to time hire soldiers. either to supplement their indigenous forces, or to conduct particular ventures, perhaps of reprisal, perhaps even of acquisition. On Gor there are numerous mercenary companies, some larger, some smaller, whose services may be purchased, or bid upon, for given periods of time. The allegiance of these companies is to their pay, and their captains. The forces of Cos and Tyros, powerful maritime ubarates, and their allies, have now beached upon the mainland, and are utilizing the city of Torcodino as a repository for supplies, preparatory to marching on a nigh-undefended and unprepared Ar. Should Ar fall the disinterested tolerances and neutralities, and even the balance of power long sustained between Ar and the great maritime ubarates, things which made possible the existence of the independent companies, will vanish, a development threatening the very existence of the independent companies. In a surprise attack a mercenary captain, Dietrich of Tarnburg, seizes Torcodino, intending to forestall the imminent march against Ar until she has time to arm and defend herself. Cabot, en route to Ar, has inadvertently been trapped in Torcodino when it was seized by Dietrich. He agrees to carry secret and urgent letters for Dietrich, now besieged in Torcodino, to the administration of Ar. Ar must act. But when Cabot arrives in Ar it is a city riven by doubt and dissension, and treason. To whom shall the letters be delivered, and whom can he trust?
