Thieves World 01 – Thieves World by Asprin, Robert

killing? A street-rat who stabs overhand with a knife? The next time you try to

kill a man – if there is another time – thrust underhand. Go between the ribs,

not through them! And bring friends – one of you isn’t enough to kill a real

man.’

‘I brought friends!’ Mungo laughed, pointing. ‘Do you think they’ll be enough?’

Jubal risked a glance over his shoulder. The gutter-rats of Sanctuary were

descending on the courtyard. Scores of them! Scrabbling over the wooden cases or

swarming down from the roofs like spiders. Children in rags – none of them even

half Jubal’s height, but with knives, rocks, and sharp sticks.

Another man might have broken before those hate-filled eyes. He might have tried

to beg or bribe his way out of the trap, claiming ignorance of Gambi’s murder.

But this was Jubal, and his eyes were as cold as his sword as he faced his

tormentors.

‘You claim you’re doing this to avenge one death,’ he sneered. ‘How many will

die trying to pull me down?’

‘You feel free to kill us one at a time, for no reason,’ Mungo retorted,

circling wide to join the pack. ‘If some of us die killing you, then at least

the rest will be safe.’

‘Only if you kill me,’ Jubal corrected. Without taking his eyes from the pack,

he reached his left hand over his right shoulder, found the knife hilt, and

wrenched it free. ‘And for that, you’ll need your knife back!’

Mungo saw the knife coming as Jubal whipped his left hand down and across his

body, but he froze for a split second. In that split second, the knife took him