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

willed and through him she’d know the Riddler’s every plan.

For Nikodemos, the Nisibisi bondservant, had never shed his brand or slipped his

chains: though her lover had freed his body, deep within his soul a string was

tied. Any time, her lord could pull it; and she, too, now, had it twined around

her pinky.

He remembered none of what occurred after his interrogation in the grove; he

recalled just what she pleased and nothing more. Oh, he’d think he’d dreamed

delirious nightmares, as he sweated now to feel her touch.

She woke him with a tap upon his eyes and told him what he was: her pawn, her

tool, even that he would not recall their little talk or coming here. And she

warned him of undeads, and shrivelled his soul when she showed him, in her

mirror-eyes, what Tamzen and her friends could be, should he even remember what

passed between them here.

Then she put her pleasure by and touched the bruised and battered face: one more

thing she took from him, to show his spirit who was slave and who was master.

She had him service her and took strength from his swollen mouth and then, with

a laugh, made him forget it all.

Then she sent her servant forth, unwitting, the extra satisfaction – gleaned

from knowing that his spirit knew, and deep within him cried and struggled

giving the whole endeavour spice.

Jagat’s men would see him to the road out near the Stepsons’ barracks; they took

his sagging weight in brawny arms.

And Roxane, for a time, was free to quit this scrofulous town and wend her way

northward: she might be back, but for the nonce the journey to her lord’s