Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

Mageguild at his throat; he wanted no quarrel with the Adepts. He had told

her not to slay them here, where he must maintain order and the letter of the

law.

By the time Kadakithis arrived in that very same chariot, its braces sticky with

Wriggly blood, Tempus was in a humour darker than the drying clots, fully as

dark as the odd, round cloud coming fast from the northeast.

Kadakithis’s noble Rankan visage was suffused with rage, so that his skin was

darker than his pale hair: ‘But whyt In the name of all the gods, what did the

poor little creature ever do to you? You owe me a eunuch, and an explanation.’

He tapped his lacquered nails on the chariot’s bronze rim.

‘I have a perfect replacement in mind,’ smiled Tempus smoothly, ‘my lord. As for

why… all eunuchs are duplicitous. This one was an information conduit to

Jubal. Unless you would like to invite the slaver to policy sessions and let him

stand behind those ivory screens where your favourites eavesdrop as they choose,

I have acted well within my prerogatives as marshal. If my name is attached to

your palace security, then your palace will be secure.’

‘Bastard! How dare you even imply that / should apologize to you! When will you

treat me with the proper amount of respect? You tell me all eunuchs are

treacherous, the very breath after offering me another one!’

‘I am giving you respect. Reverence I reserve for better men than I. When you

have attained that dignity, we shall both know it: you will not have to ask.

Until then, either trust or discharge me.’ He waited, to see if the prince would