Thieves World 01 – Thieves World by Asprin, Robert

they mean, if ever he can. I, however, I came on the scene while chaos still

prevailed. Nobody kept me from talking to folk, before the lord himself saw me

and told me to begone. Thus I know about as much as anyone, little though that

be.’

‘And -?’ she prompted.

‘And it doesn’t seem to have been a worldly sort of capture, for a worldly end

like ransom. See you, the mansion’s well guarded, and neither Molin nor his wife

have ever gone from it without escort. His mission here is less than popular,

you recall. Those troopers are from Ranke and not subornable. The house stands

in a garden, inside a high wall whose top is patrolled. Three leopards run loose

in the grounds after dark.

‘Molin had business with his kinsman the Prince, and spent the night at the

palace. His wife, the Lady Rosanda, stayed home, retired, later came out and

complained she could not sleep. She therefore had Danlis wakened. Danlis is no

chambermaid; there are plenty of those. She’s amanuensis, adviser, confidante,

collector of information, ofttimes guide or interpreter – oh, she earns her pay,

does my Danlis. Despite she and I having a dawntide engagement, which is why I

arrived then, she must now out of bed at Rosanda’s whim, to hold milady’s hand

or take dictation of milady’s letters or read to milady from a soothing book

but I’m a spendthrift of words. Suffice to say that they two sought an upper

chamber which is furnished as both solarium and office. A single staircase leads

thither, and it is the single room at the top. There is a balcony, yes; and, the