Steven Brust - Yendi

To that end, I threw down more gold to keep a sorceress on full-time call. Actually using her would cost extra, but this way I was ready.

Reports from Temek indicated that Laris had taken similar measures. Other than that, Temek seemed to be having little luck. Everyone was being very close-mouthed. I had Miraf’n bring him a bag with a thousand Imperials to help open a few of those mouths.

The next day, Endweek, was much like the last, until shortly after noon. I was just hearing the news that the enforcer who’d been killed trying to protect Nielar had been revivified successfully when—

“ Boss! ”

“ What is it, Temek? ”

“ Boss, you know the moneylender who works out of North Garshos? ”

“ Yeah .”

“ They got him, while he was on his way over to you. Dead. It looks like an axe job; half of his head is missing. I ’ m bringing the money in. ”

“ Shit .”

“ Right, boss .”

I told Kragar, while cursing myself for six kinds of a fool. It had just never occurred to me that Laris would go after the people making deliveries. Of course he knew when they were made, and from where, but it’s one of the great unwritten laws of the Jhereg that we don’t steal from each other. I mean, it has never happened, and I’ll bet you all kinds of things that it never will.

But that didn’t mean that those managers were safe. There wasn’t any reason in the world why they couldn’t be nailed, and the gold simply left on them.

I was just getting up a good round of cursing when I realized that there were more productive things to do. I didn’t know any of these managers well enough to make contact with them psionically, but—

“Kragar! Melestav! Wyrn! Miraf’n! In here, quick! I’m going to lock the doors and sit tight. Divide up the businesses, teleport over to them right now , and don’t let anyone leave who hasn’t yet. Later, I’ll arrange protection for them. Now, go!”

“Uh, boss—”

“What is it, Melestav?”

“I can’t teleport.”

“Damn. Okay. Kragar, cover for him, too.”

“Check, boss.”

There was a rush of displaced air that made my ears pop, and Melestav and I were alone. We looked at each other.

“I guess I still have a lot to learn about this business, eh?”

He gave me a faint smile. “I guess so, boss.”

They reached all but one in time. He, too, was left for dead, but was revivifiable. The gold he was carrying almost paid for his revivification.

I wasted no more time. I got in touch with Wyrn and Miraf’n and told them to return at once. They did so.

“Sit down. Okay. This bag contains three thousand gold Imperials. I want you two to figure out where they’re planning to take out H’noc—he runs the brothel that’s just up the street. Find out where the assassin is, and get him. I don’t know if you two have ever ‘worked’ before, and I don’t care. I think you’re up to this; if you don’t, tell me. There’s probably only one of them. If there’s more, just get one. You can use H’noc as a decoy if you want, but you only have about another hour until we’re past our usual delivery time. After that, they’ll probably be suspicious. Do you want the job?”

They looked at each other, and, I imagine, spoke about it psionically. Wyrn turned back to me and nodded. I passed the bag over.

“Go do it, then.”

They stood up and teleported out. About then I noticed that Kragar had come in. “Well?” I asked.

“I went ahead and arranged for them to bring in the gold over the next two days, except for Tarn, who can teleport. He should be in any time.”

“Okay. We’re broke again.”

“ What? ”

I explained what I’d done. He looked doubtful, then nodded. “I guess you’re right, it’s the best thing to do. But we’re hurting, Vlad. Are you going to be able to get more where we got that?”

“I don’t know.”

He shook his head. “We’re learning too slow. He’s staying ahead of us. We can’t keep this up.”

“By Barlen’s scales, I know it! But what should we do?”

He looked away. He didn’t have any better idea than I did.

“ Don ’ t sweat it, boss, ” said Loiosh. “ You ’ ll think of something. ”

I was pleased someone was feeling optimistic.

Five

“For an assassin, you’re a real sweetheart.”

Here’s a dismal thought for you: it seems that every friend I have almost killed me once. Morrolan, for example. I’d hardly been running my area for three weeks when he decided to hire me for a job. Now, I don’t work for people outside of the organization. I mean, why should I? Are they going to back me up if I get caught? Can I count on them to pay my legal fees, bribe or threaten witnesses, and, above all, keep their mouths shut? Not a chance.

But Morrolan wanted me for something, and he found such a unique way of hiring me that I was filled with admiration. I expressed my admiration in such glowing terms that he nearly took my head off with Blackwand, the infantry battalion disguised as a Morganti sword.

But these things pass. Eventually, Morrolan and I became good friends. Good enough, in fact, that he, a Dragonlord, had given me a loan to carry on a Jhereg war. But were we good enough friends that he’d do so twice in three days?

Probably not.

It’s been my experience that, just when things look bleakest, they continue to look bleak.

“ I guess this is my day for dismal thoughts, Loiosh .”

“ Check, boss .”

I teleported from my apartment to a spot just outside of the office building, and went inside without waiting for my stomach to settle. Wyrn was already standing in the street waiting for me, and Miraf’n was by the door.

“How did it go?” I asked.

“Done,” said Wyrn.

“Okay. After this, you two might want to make yourselves scarce for a couple of days.”

Miraf’n nodded; Wyrn shrugged. The three of us went into the shop, and past it into the suite of offices.

“Good morning, Melestav. Is Kragar in yet?”

“I didn’t see him. But you know Kragar.”

“Yeah. Kragar!”

I went into my office and found that there were no messages waiting for me. That meant no new disasters, anyway.

“Uh, boss?”

“Wha—? Good morning, Kragar. Nothing new, I see.”

“Right.”

“Anything from Temek?”

“Narvane is back working with him. That’s all.”

“Okay. I—”

“ Boss! ”

“ Temek! We were just discussing you. You have something? ”

“ Not exactly. But listen: I was doing some snooping around Potter ’ s Market and Stipple Road, and stopped in this little klava hole to listen to the gossip, and this old Teckla comes up to me, some guy I ’ d never seen before, right? And he says, ‘ Tell your boss that Kiera has something for him. She ’ ll meet him in the back room of the Blue Flame in one hour. Tell him that. ’

“ He got up and walked out. I followed him, not ten steps behind, but he was gone when I stepped outside. Anyway that ’ s it. I think it may be a setup, boss, but— ”

“ When did it happen? ”

“ About two minutes ago. I looked for the guy, then got in touch with you. ”

“ Okay. Thanks. Get back to work .”

I folded my hands and thought about it.

“What was it, Vlad?”

I related the conversation to him. He said, “Kiera? Do you think he meant Kiera the Thief?”