Uneasy alliances - Thieves World 11 Read Online Free PDF
Author: Robert Asprin
he reached past to rap sharply on the door with a knuckle. The particular rhythm he used signaled that he wasn't alone, but when several moments passed without a call to wait, he opened the door and ushered the thief inside. The room was dark, one of the windowless, possibly soundproof chambers of the house. The only light came from a small brazier filled with glowing embers from which protruded the handle of a branding iron. There were shackles on the wall, and a low sofa where one could recline comfortably while watching the branding process.
"Close the door."
JubaTs voice came from one of the comers the light didn't reach. Saliman obeyed, smiling at his employer's invariable flair for the dramatic.
"Remove his bonds.'*
Again Saliman moved to comply, this time twirling a blade from its hiding place in his sleeve. He made the move deliberately showy. The thief had a reputation for knives. It wouldn't hurt him to know there were others in Sanctuary who prided themselves on their blade-handling ability. As he reached for the gag, however, the youth beat him to it, ungagging himself with hands that were somehow free from the ropes that had secured them.
Though Saliman showed no reaction, he knew the thief had won this particular round of showing off. So did Shadowspawn, who shot him a mocking glance as he tossed the gag and ropes aside. It seemed doubtful the two would become fast friends.
SLAVE TRADE 233
"Hanse . . . sometimes called Shadowspawn," Jubal said, moving into the light of the brazier. "Do you know who I am, thief?" The youth folded his arms across his chest, his stance arrogant and rebellious.
"We've never met, but it's easy to figure who you are. You're Jubal, right? You're older than I thought."
Saliman winced at the thief's brazen mockery of Jubal's spell-aged body, but the crime lord seemed to take no offense.
"True, we've never met. In fact, you're one of the few of the local talent who never approached me for work, or at least to sell information.
I was always curious as to why."
"I work alone," Hanse shrugged. "Besides, I'm choosy about my friends."
"Not too choosy, if your friends include the likes of Tempus Thales," Jubal retorted, his voice hardening. "And as for being your own man . . ."
He lifted the iron from the brazier.
"... I fear that came to a halt when the slavers took you. You're mine now. Bought and paid for."
Saliman expected Hanse to flinch, but the thief was uncowed. Though his eyes followed the iron, his voice was firm and confident.
"You aren't going to brand me," he said, more as a statement than a defiant challenge.
"I'm not?"
"You don't have to untie me to brand me," Hanse pointed out. "If anything, the process would be easier if I were still tied. That means you
want to talk. All right. Quit waving that iron around and let's talk. What
is it you want?"
Jubal stared at the thief for long moments before returning the iron to the brazier. Saliman could understand why. There was nothing in their record to indicate Hanse possessed the intelligence he was now displaying. He wondered if this would mean a change in Jubal's plans.
"You've changed, thief," the crime lord said at last. "What happened while you were gone to change you?"
For the first time since removing his bonds, Shadowspawn seemed to falter.
"I ... I'd rather not talk about it."
"Very well," Jubal nodded. "Shall we get down to business?" Interesting, Saliman thought. The thief doesn't fear the branding iron, but his recent past makes him uncomfortable. Though Jubal did not look his way or give any other indication, he knew he was expected to make 234 UNEASY ALLIANCES
note of Shadowspawn's apparent vulnerability and investigate it as soon as possible.
"How did you know where I was?" Hanse said suddenly.
"I have many sources of information." Jubal waved deprecatingly.
"That particular piece of news came to me from the S'danzo."
"The S'danzo?" the thief frowned. "I didn't know you had any friends among
"Close the door."
JubaTs voice came from one of the comers the light didn't reach. Saliman obeyed, smiling at his employer's invariable flair for the dramatic.
"Remove his bonds.'*
Again Saliman moved to comply, this time twirling a blade from its hiding place in his sleeve. He made the move deliberately showy. The thief had a reputation for knives. It wouldn't hurt him to know there were others in Sanctuary who prided themselves on their blade-handling ability. As he reached for the gag, however, the youth beat him to it, ungagging himself with hands that were somehow free from the ropes that had secured them.
Though Saliman showed no reaction, he knew the thief had won this particular round of showing off. So did Shadowspawn, who shot him a mocking glance as he tossed the gag and ropes aside. It seemed doubtful the two would become fast friends.
SLAVE TRADE 233
"Hanse . . . sometimes called Shadowspawn," Jubal said, moving into the light of the brazier. "Do you know who I am, thief?" The youth folded his arms across his chest, his stance arrogant and rebellious.
"We've never met, but it's easy to figure who you are. You're Jubal, right? You're older than I thought."
Saliman winced at the thief's brazen mockery of Jubal's spell-aged body, but the crime lord seemed to take no offense.
"True, we've never met. In fact, you're one of the few of the local talent who never approached me for work, or at least to sell information.
I was always curious as to why."
"I work alone," Hanse shrugged. "Besides, I'm choosy about my friends."
"Not too choosy, if your friends include the likes of Tempus Thales," Jubal retorted, his voice hardening. "And as for being your own man . . ."
He lifted the iron from the brazier.
"... I fear that came to a halt when the slavers took you. You're mine now. Bought and paid for."
Saliman expected Hanse to flinch, but the thief was uncowed. Though his eyes followed the iron, his voice was firm and confident.
"You aren't going to brand me," he said, more as a statement than a defiant challenge.
"I'm not?"
"You don't have to untie me to brand me," Hanse pointed out. "If anything, the process would be easier if I were still tied. That means you
want to talk. All right. Quit waving that iron around and let's talk. What
is it you want?"
Jubal stared at the thief for long moments before returning the iron to the brazier. Saliman could understand why. There was nothing in their record to indicate Hanse possessed the intelligence he was now displaying. He wondered if this would mean a change in Jubal's plans.
"You've changed, thief," the crime lord said at last. "What happened while you were gone to change you?"
For the first time since removing his bonds, Shadowspawn seemed to falter.
"I ... I'd rather not talk about it."
"Very well," Jubal nodded. "Shall we get down to business?" Interesting, Saliman thought. The thief doesn't fear the branding iron, but his recent past makes him uncomfortable. Though Jubal did not look his way or give any other indication, he knew he was expected to make 234 UNEASY ALLIANCES
note of Shadowspawn's apparent vulnerability and investigate it as soon as possible.
"How did you know where I was?" Hanse said suddenly.
"I have many sources of information." Jubal waved deprecatingly.
"That particular piece of news came to me from the S'danzo."
"The S'danzo?" the thief frowned. "I didn't know you had any friends among
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