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

nodded and finally took one ceremonial sip; then she swivelled around to pour

tea into her mother’s cup and her own. Gilla tasted the brew suspiciously and

found it oddly pleasant. She drank it quickly and then held her cup awkwardly in

her lap while the lady, with endless deliberation, absorbed her own.

Then, finally, she sighed and set the cup down.

‘My Lady,’ said Vanda eagerly, ‘I told you about my father’s strange illness. We

have found no one in this city who can bring him back, but your people are wiser

than we. Will you help us now?’

‘Child, your sorrow is my own, but what do you suppose I could do?’ Kurrekai’s

head turned within the stiff collar and her slow voice held concern.

‘I have heard,’ Vanda swallowed and her voice went up a note, ‘I have heard that

the venom of the beynit has many properties …’

‘Ah, my companion,’ sighed Kurrekai. She leaned back, and from within one hollow

pannier appeared a flicker of crimson, followed by a slim black body as the

serpent slid slowly out of hiding and coiled itself lazily in the fold of her

petticoat. Gilla stared, fascinated, at the darting scarlet tongue and the

jewelled eyes.

‘What you say is true. The venom can be a powerful stimulant if it is properly

… changed … But your father is not of my people. For him, only the venom’s

fatality would be sure.’

‘But there is a chance?’ All the anguish of the past three weeks met in this

moment and Gilla found her voice at last. This woman must agree to help them!

‘I do not wish to, kill a man of Sanctuary.’ The turn of Lady Kurrekai’s head