Thieves World 5 – The Face of Chaos by Asprin, Robert

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