Read Thick as Thieves for Free Online Page A

off his own hand first. “Feel better?”
    “You could at least pretend you give a damn.”
    “Why? So you can pretend we’re lovers?”
    Vorgell curled a lip at him, but stood and adjusted his pants. He froze in place, hand cloth dangling, and stared at the wall. The moss where his semen had landed now danced with delicate pearl-pink flowers.
    “Just great. You’ve created magical moss.” Madd hoped no one would understand the nature of Vorgell’s calling card. “Come on. If we leave the scene, maybe no one will notice.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “You’ll see. And when we get there, let me handle things, all right?”
    They exited the dark alley and soon plunged into another where wooden storefronts sprouted like exotic fungi from low stone buildings. Laundry hung out to dry on lines overhead dripped water down upon the streets like rain. With Vorgell at his heels, Madd ducked under a low archway and darted through a maze of walkways until they reached a doorway shaded by an awning of tattered hides. A man the size and shape of a water bull blocked the way.
    “You may enter. Not him.” The behemoth folded his arms and bestowed a menacing look.
    “Tell him that.” Madd wasn’t afraid of Aregho the Hammer.
    “Fine,” Aregho said. “Then you can’t enter, either. Find sanctuary in one of the dung-filled alleys you haunt.”
    “Are things so bad now Ibeena’s turning away her own at any excuse?”
    Aregho glowered. “You barely qualify as one of us. You’ve been trouble since the day you were born. Now leave before I hit the both of you with an itching spell.”
    Damn Aregho—and Ibeena too. It was just like the old witch to arm her doorway guardian with an arsenal of spells. Vorgell, however, simply laughed. With a quickness astonishing for so large a man, Vorgell grasped Aregho and lifted his enormous bulk.
    “Vorgell!” Madd hissed in warning, but it was too late. Aregho was already muttering words that crackled with power. Sure enough, a moment later Madd’s skin erupted with prickles begging—demanding—to be scratched. Even his balls itched. He scraped wildly at his arms and clawed to reach his back. “Damn it, Vorgell, I told you to let me handle things!”
    “What have you done, foul speaker of spells?” Vorgell shook the fat man like he might a bag of laundry. “Unmake your magic!”
    “Why aren’t you itching, you brute?” Aregho grappled with Vorgell’s bulging arms.
    “He is! He’s just so damn mad he doesn’t feel it!” Madd snapped. He succeeded in catching Vorgell’s gaze and exaggerated his scratching, hoping the enraged giant would understand.
    Vorgell growled at his captive. “Indeed, the only thing I feel is an urge to skin you alive.”
    “Look at the lot of you! Fools! Must all men bray and posture?” A woman carrying a bowl of apples stepped out of the shadows. Dark eyes glinted in a face of wrinkled leather. Her lips thinned into a mean smile at seeing Madd. “I should have guessed. What trouble are you in now?”
    “Counter spell for the itching first. Then I’ll tell you!” He scratched at his collarbone.
    “Ha!” She stepped up and slapped him on the face, hard enough to sting and momentarily detract from the itching. “I already know of your plight! Baron Flemgu sent a bird to the House of Sellswords. He’s paying gold to find the both of you. Put Aregho down and follow me inside. This had better be good.”

Chapter 5

    M AKING a point to look as though he was scratching at a thousand itches, Vorgell followed Madd and the strange woman into the dwelling. He glared at the smug mountain of flesh guarding the door as he passed, but there was little he could do now to get revenge. Whoever these people were, they were magic users, blighted by dark art. Might alone would not defeat them. He burned to learn why Madd had sought out such wicked creatures.
    A rubble-strewn courtyard dominated by an empty fountain gave way to cramped rooms and watchful