Read Uneasy alliances - Thieves World 11 for Free Online
Authors: Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey
smiled.
"I've been aware of it for some time. I would suggest, however, if you want it kept secret, that you try to keep the Prince from shouting about it
in public . . . like, from the top of brick piles?" Hanse flinched at the memory, but gathered himself to rally back.
"Why do you want to meet with him? I'd have to tell him something."
"Probably not. I believe my name is not exactly unknown to him. Still, if it will ease things, tell him I have a business proposition for him."
"What kind of a proposition?"
Jubal turned back to the brazier and poked at the coals with the iron as he answered
236 UNEASY ALLIANCES
"There's a civil war coming, thief. Not a local upheaval like we've just survived, an Empire-wide struggle. Even you should be able to see that. This town's only hope of success is to rally behind one leader . . . and right now Kadakithis would seem to be that leader. I plan to offer him my services . - . mine and my organization's. I believe we can aid him as an intelligence network, providing information and, if need be, stilling
dissenting voices. I think even Vashanka's priest would admit our value in that capacity."
The crime lord turned to face the thief.
"All you have to do is arrange the meeting. Unfortunately, my position makes it difficult, if not impossible, to approach him through normal channels. Arrange it, and you may go free."
"What if I agree and just keep going?"
"I'll find you," Jubal said calmly. "More important, until you've discharged your obligation to me, you'll be my slave. Legally, bought and paid for. I don't have to brand you."
The crime lord tossed the iron back into the brazier to illustrate his point. "You'll know it, and I'll know it. I think that knowing you're not
your own man, that you belong to me, will mark you more than I could ever do with a branding iron."
Saliman was not so sure, but he had learned to trust Jubal's judgment when it came to people-Watching the thief ponder the proposal, he began to believe anew.
"What if the Prince doesn't agree? He's changed since I've been gone. There's no guarantee I can convince him if he isn't interested in your offer."
"All I ask is that you try." Jubal grimaced. "If he refuses, then I'll let
you buy your freedom ... for five hundred in gold." Shadowspawn's head came up.
"Five hundred? That's not enough!"
Jubatlaughed.
"I should think you'd be more likely to argue the price was too high, especially considering what we paid for you. Still, if it will make you feel
better, I could name a higher figure."
Shadowspawn shook his head. "You could double it ... triple it even and it would be too low."
"I know," Jubal said solemnly. "The price always sounds low to a slave. It's because he thinks of his worth as a man, while the buyer and seller see him only as merchandise."
Saliman could see the crime lord's thoughts turning to his own beginnings in the gladiator pens, but then Jubal seemed to shake off the memories as he continued.
SLAVE TRADE 237
"The price stands at five hundred," he stated, eyeing the thief.
"Frankly, I'd rather you concentrated on arranging the meeting. That is priceless to me."
"I'll see what I can do. Can I go now?"
"One more thing. While you belong to me, I feel a certain responsibility for your safety. Here." The crime lord produced an oilskin-wrapped package from within his tunic and tossed it to Shadowspawn. Opening it, the thief found a familiar assortment of knives and throwing stars.
"I wouldn't ask you to walk the streets of Sanctuary unarmed. You'll probably feel more comfortable with your weapons. In case you're wondering, a man named Tarkle was selling them."
"I know," the thief growled, settling the glittering bits of death in their
customary places. "I recognized his voice when they loaded me on the ship."
Saliman had to hide his smile. Obviously Jubal had planned this sur-prise as the climax to the interview ... a final demonstration of his access to secret information. The
"I've been aware of it for some time. I would suggest, however, if you want it kept secret, that you try to keep the Prince from shouting about it
in public . . . like, from the top of brick piles?" Hanse flinched at the memory, but gathered himself to rally back.
"Why do you want to meet with him? I'd have to tell him something."
"Probably not. I believe my name is not exactly unknown to him. Still, if it will ease things, tell him I have a business proposition for him."
"What kind of a proposition?"
Jubal turned back to the brazier and poked at the coals with the iron as he answered
236 UNEASY ALLIANCES
"There's a civil war coming, thief. Not a local upheaval like we've just survived, an Empire-wide struggle. Even you should be able to see that. This town's only hope of success is to rally behind one leader . . . and right now Kadakithis would seem to be that leader. I plan to offer him my services . - . mine and my organization's. I believe we can aid him as an intelligence network, providing information and, if need be, stilling
dissenting voices. I think even Vashanka's priest would admit our value in that capacity."
The crime lord turned to face the thief.
"All you have to do is arrange the meeting. Unfortunately, my position makes it difficult, if not impossible, to approach him through normal channels. Arrange it, and you may go free."
"What if I agree and just keep going?"
"I'll find you," Jubal said calmly. "More important, until you've discharged your obligation to me, you'll be my slave. Legally, bought and paid for. I don't have to brand you."
The crime lord tossed the iron back into the brazier to illustrate his point. "You'll know it, and I'll know it. I think that knowing you're not
your own man, that you belong to me, will mark you more than I could ever do with a branding iron."
Saliman was not so sure, but he had learned to trust Jubal's judgment when it came to people-Watching the thief ponder the proposal, he began to believe anew.
"What if the Prince doesn't agree? He's changed since I've been gone. There's no guarantee I can convince him if he isn't interested in your offer."
"All I ask is that you try." Jubal grimaced. "If he refuses, then I'll let
you buy your freedom ... for five hundred in gold." Shadowspawn's head came up.
"Five hundred? That's not enough!"
Jubatlaughed.
"I should think you'd be more likely to argue the price was too high, especially considering what we paid for you. Still, if it will make you feel
better, I could name a higher figure."
Shadowspawn shook his head. "You could double it ... triple it even and it would be too low."
"I know," Jubal said solemnly. "The price always sounds low to a slave. It's because he thinks of his worth as a man, while the buyer and seller see him only as merchandise."
Saliman could see the crime lord's thoughts turning to his own beginnings in the gladiator pens, but then Jubal seemed to shake off the memories as he continued.
SLAVE TRADE 237
"The price stands at five hundred," he stated, eyeing the thief.
"Frankly, I'd rather you concentrated on arranging the meeting. That is priceless to me."
"I'll see what I can do. Can I go now?"
"One more thing. While you belong to me, I feel a certain responsibility for your safety. Here." The crime lord produced an oilskin-wrapped package from within his tunic and tossed it to Shadowspawn. Opening it, the thief found a familiar assortment of knives and throwing stars.
"I wouldn't ask you to walk the streets of Sanctuary unarmed. You'll probably feel more comfortable with your weapons. In case you're wondering, a man named Tarkle was selling them."
"I know," the thief growled, settling the glittering bits of death in their
customary places. "I recognized his voice when they loaded me on the ship."
Saliman had to hide his smile. Obviously Jubal had planned this sur-prise as the climax to the interview ... a final demonstration of his access to secret information. The
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