had. I was blinded. I have hiot been blinded for … for a long time. The signs
were there; my suspicions should have been roused. Does Molin Torchholder have
some notion of how we’re to bring the son of the Beysib prime minister to
justice before there is war in the town and we turn to Ranke for help?’
‘Molin believes that since Bekin was the only Sanctuary woman who has been
slain, she must have learned something dangerous to him. Molin thinks that
Turghurt will make the same mistake again, now that he’s convinced his father to
see everything his way. But I will be less easy to kill than she was, and snare
him instead.’
‘You play a dangerous game between the priest and this Beysib, Cythen. Molin is
no less ruthless than the fish-folk. And, here Burek is Voyce; none of my women
knows the true names of the men here, and if you value your life you’ll remember
that. The Aphrodisia is a place apart; a man need not be himself here – and they
expect me to protect them. ‘
‘Now Voyce is clever, strong and cruel, yet it would be a simple matter to be
rid of him, if that would serve our purposes. The Harka Bey are not the only
women who understand killing. But he must be exposed, not slain, and that will
be all the more dangerous.’
‘I’ve come for my vengeance,’ Cythen warned.
‘He will not expose himself to a garrison soldier, my dear, neither figuratively
nor literally.’ Myrtis gave Cythen a slightly condescending smile. ‘His tastes
do not run towards strong-willed women, such as he was raised with and his