Uneasy alliances - Thieves World 11 Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Robert Asprin
the S'danzo."
"I don't," the crime lord acknowledged without rancor. "But now at least a few of them owe me a favor for arranging your freedom. No, the information came from one of your friends."
"My friends?"
"Two of them, actually," Jubal added, apparently relishing the thief's surprise. "One of them, the older, sensed your danger and went to the younger, the blacksmith's wife, to divine your specific location. Hers was
the added price of freeing the other slave as well . . . a favor to another
client, I believe. Anyway, realizing time was short, they passed word to me, asking for my intervention in your behalf."
Saliman was listening attentively. This was the first he knew of the source of this morning's exercise. Learning it now, he realized why Jubal
had been so eager to have this mission completed, and completed efficiently. He knew a moment's pride that the crime lord had turned to him as his first choice for crucial work, then returned to his analysis. The S'danzo were tight-knit and mutually supportive. Jubal had been trying for years to find a chink in their armor, and now their desperation
over the welfare of a thief had delivered opportunity into his hands. Saliman wondered briefly of the price exacted for his work. Had Juba!
demanded guarantees and assurances, or had he risked it all on performing this favor gratis, preferring to leave the repayment unspecified and therefore open. Probably the latter. Jubal had gained much of his power from Just such favors owed in return for his help at key moments.
"Then I'm free to go?" Hanse said uncertainly, glancing again at Saliman.
"I didn't say that." Jubal smiled.
"But you said the S'danzo paid for you to have me freed."
"What I said was, they asked me to free you from the slavers. That's been done. However nothing was said about freeing you from me ... and I happen to have need of your services myself."
"Since when did you need help to steal something," Shadowspawn sneered, his old arrogance back.
"I don't, thief. At least, not from the likes of you," Jubal replied coldly. "There is, however, a task you can perform for me in return for your complete freedom . . . one involving someone who trusts you."
SLAVE TRADE 235
"I'm a thief, not an assassin," the youth snapped proudly. The crime lord raised his eyebrows in exaggerated surprise.
"Reluctant to kill. are you? Strange, I don't recall your showing any reluctance the night you helped Tempus kill four of my men." Even in the brazier's glow Saliman could see the thief blanch. HI___H
"You do remember, don't you? That night outside the Lily Garden? Or perhaps you thought I didn't know about it."
"They attacked us. It was self-defense,"
Shadowspawn seemed suddenly aware of the hot iron again.
"They were trying to punish Tempus for murdering their comrades
. . . and stop him from continuing his sport of hunting Hawkmasks, of course," Jubal intoned. "I know you had no choice, however. Otherwise I wouldn't have left your killings without response." He paused to study the thief.
"Now, if I thought you had a hand in freeing Tempus from Kurd's, I might not be so generous in my treatment of you." Saliman kept a blank expression as he watched the tl]ieftry to hide his discomfort. It was clear that Hanse was unsure if Jubal was truly ignorant of his part in Tempus's escape, or if he was simply being toyed with.
His fear of the crime lord was great enough, however, that he wouldn't risk Jubal's possible wrath by openly admitting his guilt. Saliman knew, however, that now that fear was foremost in the thief's mind, they could get down to business.
"That's all behind us now. Rest assured I don't need you to kill anyone," Jubal said smoothly, as if reading Saliman's thoughts. "Actually, all you have to do to win your freedom is to arrange a meeting for me."
"A meeting?"
"Yes. With Prince Kadakithis. I believe he's a friend of yours?" The thief was clearly off balance now.
"How did you know that?"
Jubal
"I don't," the crime lord acknowledged without rancor. "But now at least a few of them owe me a favor for arranging your freedom. No, the information came from one of your friends."
"My friends?"
"Two of them, actually," Jubal added, apparently relishing the thief's surprise. "One of them, the older, sensed your danger and went to the younger, the blacksmith's wife, to divine your specific location. Hers was
the added price of freeing the other slave as well . . . a favor to another
client, I believe. Anyway, realizing time was short, they passed word to me, asking for my intervention in your behalf."
Saliman was listening attentively. This was the first he knew of the source of this morning's exercise. Learning it now, he realized why Jubal
had been so eager to have this mission completed, and completed efficiently. He knew a moment's pride that the crime lord had turned to him as his first choice for crucial work, then returned to his analysis. The S'danzo were tight-knit and mutually supportive. Jubal had been trying for years to find a chink in their armor, and now their desperation
over the welfare of a thief had delivered opportunity into his hands. Saliman wondered briefly of the price exacted for his work. Had Juba!
demanded guarantees and assurances, or had he risked it all on performing this favor gratis, preferring to leave the repayment unspecified and therefore open. Probably the latter. Jubal had gained much of his power from Just such favors owed in return for his help at key moments.
"Then I'm free to go?" Hanse said uncertainly, glancing again at Saliman.
"I didn't say that." Jubal smiled.
"But you said the S'danzo paid for you to have me freed."
"What I said was, they asked me to free you from the slavers. That's been done. However nothing was said about freeing you from me ... and I happen to have need of your services myself."
"Since when did you need help to steal something," Shadowspawn sneered, his old arrogance back.
"I don't, thief. At least, not from the likes of you," Jubal replied coldly. "There is, however, a task you can perform for me in return for your complete freedom . . . one involving someone who trusts you."
SLAVE TRADE 235
"I'm a thief, not an assassin," the youth snapped proudly. The crime lord raised his eyebrows in exaggerated surprise.
"Reluctant to kill. are you? Strange, I don't recall your showing any reluctance the night you helped Tempus kill four of my men." Even in the brazier's glow Saliman could see the thief blanch. HI___H
"You do remember, don't you? That night outside the Lily Garden? Or perhaps you thought I didn't know about it."
"They attacked us. It was self-defense,"
Shadowspawn seemed suddenly aware of the hot iron again.
"They were trying to punish Tempus for murdering their comrades
. . . and stop him from continuing his sport of hunting Hawkmasks, of course," Jubal intoned. "I know you had no choice, however. Otherwise I wouldn't have left your killings without response." He paused to study the thief.
"Now, if I thought you had a hand in freeing Tempus from Kurd's, I might not be so generous in my treatment of you." Saliman kept a blank expression as he watched the tl]ieftry to hide his discomfort. It was clear that Hanse was unsure if Jubal was truly ignorant of his part in Tempus's escape, or if he was simply being toyed with.
His fear of the crime lord was great enough, however, that he wouldn't risk Jubal's possible wrath by openly admitting his guilt. Saliman knew, however, that now that fear was foremost in the thief's mind, they could get down to business.
"That's all behind us now. Rest assured I don't need you to kill anyone," Jubal said smoothly, as if reading Saliman's thoughts. "Actually, all you have to do to win your freedom is to arrange a meeting for me."
"A meeting?"
"Yes. With Prince Kadakithis. I believe he's a friend of yours?" The thief was clearly off balance now.
"How did you know that?"
Jubal
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