Aftermath- - Thieves World 10 Read Online Free PDF

calmed the child. She fell asleep in Cade's scarridden arms.
    The door behind Sarah burst open and Toth ran into the courtyard.
    *'Ma, Marissa's here," he gasped out. Sarah looked at him for a moment. He wasn't tall, but his shoulders were beginning to broaden out. He had the Ilsigi hair and eyes of his father's family, but it was her nose
    and chin that denned his features. The boy shook the hair away from his eyes and beamed at his mother. She smiled back faintly. This last week he
    actually seemed happier; Cade at least seemed good for the children, for some strange reason.
    "Tell her to come out here," Sarah answered.
    "Out here? But it's dark. Cade says—"
    "Never mind what Cade says," she interrupted. "Tell the Lady Marissa to come out here."
    He shrugged and did as he was told.
    Marissa came out moments later, holding a lantern and a goblet of wine. She handed Sarah the drink.

CADE 27
    "I thought you could use it," Marissa said in her soft voice. Sarah smiled. Marissa was so thoughtful. At first Sarah had been put off by the
    other's title and light, Rankan good looks. Now she wondered if she could have made it this far without her friend.
    "Thank you, Marissa. I think you're right." She took a sip of wine, letting the liquid numb her mouth, enjoying the sensation of it sliding down her throat.
    "Cade's really getting to you, huh?" Marissa said with a raised eyebrow.
    "Oh, that man. I don't understand him." Sarah's voice dropped to a whisper. "He frightens me."
    Marissa laughed. "He frightens everyone," she answered, "even Targ."
    "I can't believe that." Sarah considered the notion that anyone or anything could frighten Marissa's strange mercenary and found it ludicrous. As ludicrous as, well, as thinking anything scared Cade.
    *'0h, it's true," Marissa said. "Targ snorts and struts around every time Cade walks into a room." She smiled though Sarah thought it looked a little strained. "I swear his hair stands orTend." Sarah laughed
    at that. Targ's excessive hairiness had been a running'joke between the two for some time. The thought of all that red hair standing up straight was amusing. "Just like a little porcupine," she said, and the two laughed
    again.
    "Marissa," Sarah said, her voice losing all trace of amusement, "why have you hired more mercenaries?" Marissa was quiet. She hated this. She liked Sarah and longed to tell her the truth, all of it. The lies between
    the two of them kept them apart, but she owed people and she had always paid her debts.
    "Well, I'll tell you, Sarah," she said. "This town, it is so dangerous, I
    just feel safer-Gods know I have the money to spare."
    "How many did you hire?"
    "Three, not counting Targ, of course." Marissa bit her lip. "I'll tell you
    a secret." She looked around-"I've told them to keep an eye out on your house, too. So that . . ." She left the rest unfinished. Sarah looked away,
    but her hand patted her friend's knee briefly.
    "Thank you, Marissa." She turned back. "But I don't think anyone is going to bother us with Cade around." She took a large swallow of wine.
    "You know why Cade is here, don't you." It was a statement, not a question. Again Sarah was struck by Marissa's odd unease at her words. Marissa was hiding something, but Sarah did not intend to pry, respect-ing the other's private pain.
    "Yes," Marissa said, "yes, he's here to find Terrel's, uh, murderer."
    "He is going to kill whoever is responsible, Marissa." 28

AFTERMATH
    "Well, Terrel was his brother."
    "I know, but it all seems"—Sarah shrugged—"so dramatic." Marissa laughed. "Oh, really, Sarah, that sounds so silly."
    "No, I'm serious." Sarah turned to her friend. "Six months ago I was the wife of a potter. I had"—she swept her arm in an arc behind her—"a nice house, nice things, two wonderful children, and a man I loved dearly," Marissa laid a hand on her friend's shoulder. "And now - . ." Sarah shook her head. "Now I don't know.
    "My husband has been murdered, tortured to death in that