Tales from the vulgar unicorn- Thieves World 02 Read Online Free PDF Page B

not to his face. He spent time in all the taverns and also was often seen in the farmers' market and the bazaar. As far as was known, he had shown no sexual interest in men or women or children. Or, as one wag put it, 'not even in goats'.
    His religion was unknown though it was rumoured that he kept an idol in a small wooden case in his room.
    Now, sitting on the floor by Kheem, making the child drink water every half hour, Masha questioned Smhee. And he in turn questioned her.
    'You've been following me around,' Masha said. 'Why?'
    'I've also investigated other women.'
    'You didn't say why.'
    'One answer at a time. I have something to do here, and I need a woman to help me. She has to be quick and strong and very brave and intelligent. And desperate.'
    He looked around the room as if anybody who lived in it had to be desperate indeed.
    'I know your history,' he said. 'You came from a fairly well-to-do family, and as a child you lived in the Eastern quarter. You were not born and bred in the Maze, and you want to get out of it. You've worked hard, but you just are not going to succeed in your ambition. Not unless something unusual comes your way and you have the courage to seize it, no matter what the consequences might be.'
    'This has to do with Benna and the jewel, doesn't it?' she said. He studied her face by the flickering light of the lamp.
    'Yes.'
    He paused.
    'And the purple mage.'
    Masha sucked in a deep breath. Her heart thudded far more swiftly than her fatigue could account for. A coldness spread from her toes to the top of her head, a not unpleasant coldness.
    'I've watched in the shadows near your building,' he said. 'Many a night. And two nights ago I saw the Raggah steal into other shadows and watch the same window. Fortunately, you did not go out during that time to midwife. But tonight...'
    'Why would the Raggah be interested in me?'
    He smiled slowly.
    'You're smart enough to guess why. The mage thinks you know more than you let on about the jewel. Or perhaps he thinks Benna told you more than you've repeated.'
    He paused again, then said, 'Did he?'
    'Why should I tell you if he did?'
    'You owe me for your life. If that isn't enough to make you confide in me, consider this. I have a plan whereby you can not only be free of the Maze, you can be richer than any merchant, perhaps richer than the governor himself. You will even be able to leave Sanctuary, to go to the capital city itself. Or anywhere in the world.'
    She thought, if Benna could do it, we can. But then Benna had not got away. She said, 'Why do you need a woman? Why not another man?' Smhee was silent for a long time. Evidently, he was wondering just how much he should tell her. Suddenly, he smiled, and something invisible, an unseen weight seemed to fall from him. Somehow, he even looked thinner.
    'I've gone this far,' he said. 'So I must go all the way. No backing out now. The reason I must have a woman is that the mage's sorcery has a weakness. His magical defences will be set up to repel men. He will not have prepared them against women. It would not occur to him that a woman would try to steal his treasure. Or ... kill him.'
    'How do you know that?'
    'I don't think it would be wise to tell you that now. You must take my word for it. I do know far more about the purple mage than anyone else in Sanctuary.'
    'You might, and that still wouldn't be much,' she said. 'Let me put it another way. I do know much about him. More than enough to make me a great danger to him.'
    'Does he know much about you?'
    Smhee smiled again. 'He doesn't know I'm here. If he did, I'd be dead by now.'
    They talked until dawn, and by then Masha was deeply committed. If she failed, then her fate would be horrible. And the lives of her daughters and her mother would become even worse. Far worse. But if she continued as she had, she would be dooming them anyway. She might die of a fever or be killed, and then they would have no supporter and defender.
    Anyway as Smhee pointed