Thieves World 4 – Storm Season by Asprin, Robert

and led her to a rock. He unfastened his cloak and handed it to her, telling

himself he’d do the same for any of his men, and not entirely believing it.

“They’ve got Thrusher and Cubert’s dead!” she sobbed.

He took her hands, trying to distract her from the hysteria that made her all

but incoherent. “What about Thrush?”

Cythen buried her face in her hands, sniffed loudly then faced Walegrin without

the tears. “We were Downwind, past Momma Becho’s. We were trailing a Stepson

pair we’d been told passed that way after sundown carrying a body. Thrush was

leading, I was in the rear. I heard a noise. I gave a warning and turned to face

it, but it was a trap and we were outnumbered from the start. I never got my

knife out-they had me from behind. It was a carry-off; they weren’t trying to

kill us. I went down before they hit me hard-but Thrush and Cubert kept

fighting.

“I got my chance once we were back in the City, near the palace. I didn’t

linger, but they only had Thrusher with us-so Cubert’s dead.”

“How long ago was this?”

“I came straight here, and I haven’t been here long.”

“And you’re sure it was the Prince’s palace- not Jubal’s?”

She became indignant. “I’d know Jubal’s if I saw it. I’d have stayed and gotten

Thrush out if it had been Jubal’s. The Stepsons and Tempus haven’t had enough

time to learn what any hawkmask knows about the mansion. But we were attacked by

Stepsons, anyway.”

“You knew that?”

“By the smell.”

Walegrin was too tired to continue sparring. He’d lost Thrusher who’d been with

him longer than anyone, who was more friend and family than lieutenant.