"Joanna Wylde - Dragon's Mistress" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wylde Joanna)

"How have you managed to keep this a secret?" she whispered, stricken. "I've never even heard
rumors about this."

"We've been extremely cautious," Karya said, suddenly looking her age for the first time. "It's
why I've been stationed here, to keep an eye on things. Lord Von'hot is a very dangerous man, and he
has peculiar ideas on how his people should live. His entire family has always been that way. I'm sure
you've noticed the lack of slaves here?"

"Yes," Dani said, thinking quickly. "It's actually one of the things I've liked best about this
planet."

"Yes, we all like it," Karya said absently. "After all, the Guild has never allowed members to
keep slaves. In fact, weтАЩve always felt a certain natural alliance with the Von'hots, a shared sense of
values because of it. After all, they outlawed slavery five hundred years ago. I suppose itтАЩs part of what
led us to lower our defenses hereтАжтАЭ

Her voice trailed off, and she seemed lost in thought, almost sad. Dani coughed uncomfortably.
She realized she was getting a glimpse of Karya that few people saw. The older woman blinked several
times, then turned back to her.

тАЬDrake Von'hot is very subtle, far more subtle than his older brother ever was,тАЭ Karya
continued. "In the time since he's inherited, Drake has eroded our power here to the point that we no
longer have access to intelligence about his troop movements. We havenтАЩt been able to manipulate the
financial markets for months, and heтАЩs even managed to have considerable assets confiscated or frozen.
All of this has been done behind the safety of dummy corporations, of course. We canтАЩt prove anything.

тАЬThe worst, though, it our loss of control over the pleasure houses,тАЭ she said, her face grim.
тАЬMore than 200 Guild-owned pleasure houses have been shut down or gone out of business in the past
year. Independent contractors have taken over. And you know what that means."

Dani nodded, her stomach twisting in knots at the thought. Independent pleasure workers,
without the power of the Pleasure Guild behind them, were open to exploitation. Often all their money
went to pimps, and they rarely had any future or retirement. Even the most foolish of Guild workers had a
solid future following retirement. She had seen first-hand what could happen to women in that situation in
the mining belts and space stations of the disputed territories. It wasnтАЩt pretty.

"What is he thinking?" she asked, genuinely confused. Usually rulers were welcoming to Guild
workers. They paid their taxes and helped keep crime under control. Lord Von'hot's attitude simply
didn't make any sense.

"I have no idea," Karya said, holding her hands out in a gesture of helplessness. "I've been to
any number events with him since he came into power following his brotherтАЩs death, and he's hardly
acknowledged me. He's never been willing to meet with Guild representatives in a formal capacity at all.
That's why I was so surprised to hear he had an interest in you. Have you even met him?"

"No," Dani replied, deeply confused. Aside from her fellow Guild members and the people at
the diplomatic reception last night, she hadn't met anyone on Von'hotten.

"Well, it would be a great service to the Guild, and to me personally, if you would meet with
him," Karya said with a sigh. "I realize you've retired, but this is the best chance we've had to get close to