find things out. You give me their names, and I’ll give you the time of your
life!”
The red eyes shone like twin coals. The wizard leaned forward to regard her with
interest. “Why on earth, woman, would you offer such a bargain? Do you not know
what I am, what my body is? Yes, I can give you what you seek, but do you truly
know the price?”
Chenaya barked a short laugh. “You’ve seen my god’s mark upon me, but do you
know what it means? It means I can’t lose-at anything. And that would get boring
if I didn’t find new and exciting ways to amuse myself.” She unlaced her cloak
and let it slide to the floor. “You’re the most feared wizard in the Empire, and
I decided when I first came to this city that it might be fun to crawl around in
your bed. But the price of my flesh is the information I seek.”
“But my body, Rankan,” the wizard interrupted. “Do you know how it changes?”
“Of course,” she answered with another laugh. “And I’ll be very disappointed if
you don’t undergo some transformation while we’re making love.” She winked. “I
told you, I’m always after a new thrill.”
His voice took on a deeper, more lusty quality as he rose from his chair. “I
have no control over the changes. I can’t promise such a thing.”
But he changed, even as he whispered in her ear.
Chenaya frowned in irritation as she hugged the cloak tighter about her
shoulders and crept from shadow to shadow. It wasn’t her normal way of travel.
She preferred to stride the center of the streets and damn anyone stupid enough
to block her path. But tonight was different. She had business, and there was no