"Asprin, Robert - Thieves' World 12 - Stealer's Sky" - читать интересную книгу автора (Asprin Robert)

And put me in charge of guarding all the jewelers and shops.

At least Hanse knew now that one of his kidnappers had been Tarkle,
whose main occupation was being a bully- And Hanse was just as sure
that Tarkle with his brain borrowed from a minnow hadn't acted solely
on his own. No, the mage Marype with his pretty silver tresses must have
thought up the vengeful plan for the disposal of Hanse/Shadowspawn, a
plan that truly did involve a fate worse than death and so was truly
wicked, and clever. Marype probably paid Tarkle, too.

Hanse knew four more things, all Musts. He would find Tarkle. He
would find Marype. He would have his vengeance. And somehow, some-
how he would pay Jubal his damned ridiculous price.

Of course I'm worth //, but that's beside the point.

Shadowspawn ranged through Sanctuary like a hungry tiger on the
prowl. And he could not find Tarkle.

Strick gazed across his blue-draped desk at the young woman there.
From beneath a great mass of fiery hair that dribbled straggly red bangs
over her brows and even eyes like an unkempt hedge, she stared anx-
iously back.

"I have interesting news for you," he told his visitor, whose name was
Taya and whose scarlet mop of hair was a disguise, "from the prince-
governor. He is without malice toward you. A small house and a guaran-
tee of funds await you. They are sufficient to set you up in some business
venture. You could also use it to leave Sanctuary, if you wish. This is
genuine and only truth, Taya. As to my changing your appearanceЧyes,
that is possible, but such a thing is not a matter of a few minutes and the
Price may not please you. Meanwhile, you are best advised to go into
hiding for a week or so. It is hardly what you're used to, but I'd recom-
mend a room upstairs over the Vulgar Unicorn."

Her eyes had widened when he began, returned to something ap-
proaching normal as she took in his words, and now flared wide again.
She flounced narrow and shapely shoulders. "That . . . place?!"

The very big man spread his hands in a "why not?" gesture and his
eyebrows said the sameЧhe who looked like a swordshnger, a wealthy
wizard's bodyguard, perhaps, and who was instead a wealthy wizard who
was at the same time friend to prince and thief, Rankan noble and Ilsigi
banker, carpenter and smith, whore and orange-pedlar,

400 STEALERS' SKY

He said, "Who's going to think of looking for you there?"
She swallowed, stared at the close-fitting blue coif or hood without
which no one had seen this man; she visibly considered, and at last