Casca 13: The Assassin by Barry Sadler Read Free Book Online Page A

odd, and Oriental. (When the lamps glittered, was the shade of Shiu Tze momentarily in the room? And did the shade of Shiu Tze smile approvingly at what his "big nosed barbarian" protege had just done?) The Rh'shan found himself turned completely around, his weapon gone, the point of the pearl handled dagger digging into his throat, icy gray blue eyes looking into his, and a voice as cold as a death wind from the steppes saying: "Get your ass out of here, or you'll never live to draw another breath."
    The Rh'shan did not argue the point. There was something in the cold eyes, something in the flat, matter of fact voice, that told him the scar-faced man would kill him instantly if he so much as even opened his mouth. The icy eyed one was Death himself; he needed no big dagger, nor to be big himself. Whoever he was, whatever he was, this was one who could be neither bullied nor bluffed. The Rh'shan backed away. And when he got to the door, he turned and ran.
    The sound of his footsteps echoed in the street and sounded even in the cafe. Because it had gotten very, very quiet in there. Casca tossed the dagger back to the young Arab and regained his own seat and waited for Miriam to begin her dance.
     
    It was not nearly so quiet in the palace of the Sultan where Bu Ali stood, his throat dry with fear as he looked into the brutal and suspicious eyes of the ruler. Bu Ali was afraid that he had gotten himself in over his head, that he was about to slip off a very narrow path of duplicity and intrigue. Yet, because of the man Kasim, what choice did he have?
    "You say the Grand Vizier will buy this slave Kasim as his bodyguard?"
    "Yes, my lord."
    "So? What is that to me?" The Sultan's snake black eyes were probing deep into Bu Ali's.
    Sweat formed on Bu Ali's upper lip. They both knew what it was to the Sultan. Nizam al Mulk, Grand Vizier, was not only the foremost supporter of the Seljuk Turk conquerors, he had been to all intents and purposes the regent for this Sultan during his childhood years, and even now probably held as much power if not more than the Sultan. Bu Ali knew this, knew that Nizam had antagonized the Sultan's favorite, Taj al Mulk, and made an enemy of the Sultan's wife, Turkon Khatun. It was the thought of the Sultan's wife that brought the sweat to Bu Ali's entire body.
    Because he feared that it was she who was on the other side of the screened wall behind him.
    Certainly someone was there, someone who smelled of jasmine, and, oddly, of the smoke of Paradise Bu Ali knew so well from Hassan's Eagle's Nest. It had to be a woman, for the faint sound of music and laughter from the seraglio came through the ornate lattice.
    A woman. It unnerved Bu Ali to think that the Sultan would allow a woman to listen to what they were planning. He was beginning to regret that he had taken it upon himself to plot this concerning Kasim.
    "What is that to me?" the Sultan repeated. "The bodyguards of the Vizier are not of my concern. Unless, of course, you are suggesting that I take this slave for my own bodyguard?"
    This time there was a faint, muffled laugh from behind the screen.
    Oddly, it restored Bu Ali's courage. If the Sultan could be swayed by a wife or concubine then he was no more to be feared than other men. "My lord, I have it from the Vizier's slaves themselves that this night he found the Golden Dagger in his bed."
    "Ah ... !" the Sultan's eyes gleamed a bit brighter. Then the suspicious look returned. "This night, you say? But what has this to do with the ferengi you said was named Kasim by Mamud the slaver?'
    Bu Ali tried to pick his words carefully. "I can only say lord that there is something strange about the man. And as you know Mamud has been the good friend of Nizam al Mulk for many ye ars. Perhaps they have special plans for one such as this Kasim? Never before had Mamud granted such liberties to a slave and they did spend long hours alone in deep talk. Perhaps they have come to an understanding which is not