Thieves World 8 – Soul of the City by Asprin, Robert

was a good idea, wasn’t it-as far as it went?”

Molin nodded generously. “A very good idea.”

“You’ll think about it then? Almost as if I had inspired you? My father said

once that his job wasn’t finding the solutions to all the Empire’s problems but

inspiring other men to find the solutions.”

Molin watched the prince make his way back to the stairway, greeting each group

of laborers. Kadakithis had been raised among the servants and was always more

confident, and more popular, among them than his aristocratic relations

suspected. He might astound them all and become the leader Sanctuary, and the

Empire, needed.

The priest waited until the young man had reentered the palace before quietly

making his way toward a different stairway and the Ilsig Bedchamber where he

would promote the prince’s notions and his own inspirations to those most able

to implement them.

Jihan was bathing Gyskouras when the Beysib guard announced him. She handed the

inert toddler to a nursemaid with evident reluctance and headed for the door

with the long, rangy stride of a woman who had never worn anything more

confining than a scale-armor tunic. Water was her element; she glowed where it

had splashed against her.

For a moment Molin forgot she was a Froth Daughter, remembering only that it had

been well over a month since his wife had left him and that he had always been

attracted to a more predatory sort of woman than was socially acceptable. Then

an involuntary shiver raced down his spine as Jihan passed judgment on him; the