Thieves World 01 – Thieves World by Asprin, Robert

said. ‘Pressing against ringmail, all bloody and sweaty too, can’t be good for a

complexion.’

Even if one rescues them, it is not wise to trifle with the wives of magnates.

Cappen had been busy himself. For the first time, he kissed Danlis on her lovely

mouth; then for the second time; then for the third. She responded decorously.

Thereafter she likewise withdrew. Moonlight made a mystery out of her classic

beauty. ‘Cappen,’ she said, ‘before we go on, we had better have a talk.’

He gaped. ‘What?’

She bridged her fingers. ‘Urgent matters first,’ she continued crisply. ‘Once we

get to the mansion and wake the high priest, it will be chaos at first,

conference later, and I – as a woman – excluded from serious discussion.

Therefore best I give my counsel now, for you to relay. Not that Molin or the

Prince are fools; the measures to take are for the most part obvious.

However, swift action is desirable, and they will have been caught by

surprise.’

She ticked her points off. ‘First, as you have indicated, the Hell Hounds’ – her

nostrils pinched in distaste at the nickname – ‘the Imperial elite guard should

mount an immediate raid on the temple of Ils and arrest all personnel for

interrogation, except the Arch-priest. He’s probably innocent, and in any event

it would be inept politics. Hazroah’s death may have removed the danger, but

this should not be taken for granted. Even if it has, his co-conspirators ought

to be identified and made examples of.

‘Yet, second, wisdom should temper justice. No lasting harm was done, unless we