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

the noisy, haggling crowds in the Bazaar proper.

Normally, Zaibar avoided tracking, much less participating in, the
politics that seemed to thrive in Sanctuary like slime in a stagnant pond,
preferring instead the narrow view of a career soldier. By that view, he
simply followed his orders without concerning himself with the motiva-
tions or machinations of those who issued them. Lately, though, there
seemed to be things afoot which affected him directly to a point where he
could not purge them from his mind, or avoid speculating on their cause
and effect.

One such thing was the town's growing prosperity. Apparently the
Beysibs-in-exile who had taken up residence in Sanctuary were approach-
ing some kind of peace or understanding with the powers-that-were in

396

STEALERS' SKY

their old homeland. In any case, trade was beginning to develop with
Sanctuary as the main port. That, coupled with the new construction
(which required constant appraising and reappraising of one's habitual
routes through town), was bringing money and jobs into Sanctuary at
levels unheard-of when Zaibar first arrived here escorting Prince
Kadakithis. Of course, prices on everything from food to women were
going through the roof, at a rate that was rapidly outstripping his meager

soldier's pay.

Even more noteworthy, however, was what was going on with the
Rankan Empire itself, the authority to which the Hell-Hound was ulti-
mately accountable for his actions-

Zaibar had been assigned to Kadakithis, and since that time had re-
ceived his orders from the local power structure. The chain of command
in Sanctuary had become incredibly convoluted over the years, though,
with some units answerable only to faceless players in the capital itself,
bypassing the prince's authority, and it had all but collapsed completely
when Theron murdered his way to the Empire's throne. Now the Empire
was in trouble to a degree that it was impossible to ignore, even for those
such as Zaibar who would prefer to leave politics to others.

The Hell-Hound shook his head again, remembering with no small
measure of disbelief the last briefing he had attended.

The big news of the briefing was that Theron was recalling the Rankan
3rd Commando and the remaining elements of the Stepsons back to the
capital "for reassignment to assist in suppressing the civil disorder within
the Empire." Even more surprising to Zaibar was the discussion which