still couldn't get over the shock - I was at a wedding and I was enjoying myself. It probably helped that it was Salsham'ai wedding, and thus more carefree than the staid affairs of Imperial tradition. Having a ceremony that lasted considerably less than an entire day was a great innovation and one that the people of Llaza would do well to adopt, in my opinion. It left much more time for the celebrations.

If one thing marred the occasion for me, it was the fact them Salsham'ai are, on average, about three feet tall and hence their tree-top architecture is designed for someone of that build. Although I am distinctly medium as far as human height goes, it still meant that I was restricted to open areas atop the wide branches of the braashak trees that grew here in Little Thalsa (once a parkland, now a community of ex-pat salsham'ai living in the port city of Llaza). Even then, most of the branches weren't wide enough for my liking. Too many celebration drinks and it would have brought a disturbingly literal meaning to getting out of one's tree.

I was invited because the groom was a cousin of my old friend Dhalooth, champion matoo jockey and part-time henchman to myself, Rishta Vallans, former League Agent. Dhalooth wandered over with a plate of food in one hand, and an elderly relative in the other.

"Have you tried the braashak shoots? They're a great delicacy." I was feeling too polite to mention that I thought they tasted of watery carrots.

"Nice threads little guy." Dhalooth was wearing a poncho in swirling orange and blue patterns. It was giving me a headache to look at it, but he replied as if I hadn't just been sarcastic.

"Thanks, although I'm sure the cultural significance is lost on you, Rishta. The colours symbolise male and female aspects of Pas at, as well as love and fertility." Dhalooth indicated his companion. "This is my great uncle Savos." I greeted the elderly relative who was sucking noisily at a braashak shoot. Dhalooth continued. "So how's business?"

"Fine, good." Since being suspended by the Merchant's League (quite unfairly, I thought), I had set myself up as an independent troubleshooter. Dhalooth glanced at my threadbare clothing and the way I was eagerly demolishing the wedding feast and must have surmised that I was lying through my teeth. Part of the problem is that I have principles that end up ruling out most potential clients and the sleazy jobs they need doing. Currently I was short on yen and long on gambling debts at the Catfish.

"Great Uncle Savos was looking for some help. I hope you've got a gap in your busy schedule?"

"For you old friend, I could find one. What's the biz?"

Great Uncle Savos took over from here. It turned out that another great-nephew of his (a distant cousin of Dhalooth) was missing. Last known location - a ship called Probity as it left Llaza several months ago. The Probity was now back in port, but the nephew, Mathoos, wasn't. This in itself wasn't unusual - any number of things could have happened at sea or, more optimistically, Mathoos could have put ashore somewhere else. However, when Savos had asked them, the crew of the Probity had denied all knowledge of Mathoos ever having been aboard. Maybe this was a case of prejudice against salsham'ai, or maybe it was something darker. Either way Savos wanted to know.

Getting information from a closed group like a ship's crew is never an easy task, but when Savos told me how much he was willing to pay I decided it would be rude to refuse to help the relative of an old friend.