Tiassa by Steven Brust Read Free Book Online

I—”
    “Bring me every tag who’s not engaged.”
    He hesitated as, no doubt, a lot of questions came into his mind, but he was smart enough not to ask them. He nodded and went off to follow orders. There were no nums waiting, which was reasonable at this hour on a Farmday. There was a wide fountain, about waist high and of an odd yellowish marble; I leaned against it and waited.
    Five minutes later, three boys and five girls were lined up in front of me, in all shapes, colors, attitudes—at least as far as Dragaerans go. “Don’t pose,” I said. “Just stand there.” They relaxed, and they still displayed all shapes, colors, and attitudes. The guy on the left caught my eye, because he was giving me a look of unabashed curiosity. He had an oval face, wide-set eyes, and his general appearance was neutral: I couldn’t guess if he’d appeal to a man or a woman, to someone after corrupting innocence, or someone who wanted to be taken along for a new experience. I nodded to him. “What’s your name?”
    “Omlo, m’lord,” he said.
    I turned to H’noc. “I need to talk to him. The rest of you can go.”
    They did. H’noc followed them out. I found a chair and gestured the boy to another.
    “You know who I am, Omlo?”
    “Yes, m’lord.”
    “Want to make some extra money? All yours, no juice.”
    He hesitated. “Why me?” turned out to be his first question.
    “You look like you could handle it. It isn’t dangerous. I don’t think.”
    At that last, he looked at me quickly, then looked away. “How much money?”
    “Fifteen imperials.”
    “And you don’t think it’ll be dangerous, m’lord?”
    “Shouldn’t be.”
    He nodded. “All right.” I could see him spending the money already. “What do I have to do?”
    “Do you know where my office is?”
    “No, m’lord.”
    “Number Six Copper Lane sells psychedelic herbs. Tell the proprietor you want something rare and Eastern that will last until morning. He’ll guide you in to see me.”
    “I’ll be there, m’lord.”
    “Good. That’s all. Now go make me some money.”
    “Yes, m’lord.”
    I left him there and returned to the office.
    Loiosh, who by now had figured out what I was doing, said, “Boss, even if this works, I don’t think the Empire will appreciate the joke.”
    “Everyone thinks that, Loiosh. But consider how long the Empire has been around. Do you know anyone who could survive that long without a sense of humor?”
    “I still have no idea why you’re bothering.”
    “Because I recognized him.”
    “Blue-fellow?”
    “That isn’t his real name, you know.”
    “I’m shocked, Boss. Where do you know him from?”
    “Family resemblance. To someone I’d like to have owe me a favor. If I’m wrong, Kragar will let me know.”
    “Whatever you say, Boss.”
    “Melestav!”
    He poked his head in. “Yeah?”
    “Find me a map of the city.”
    He appeared with the map and stood next to me while I studied it. “Looking for something particular?”
    “Just trying to remind myself of some of my favorite places.”
    “To eat?”
    “To not get killed.”
    “Odd,” he said, “that I’ve never gone to the trouble to make a list of those.”
    I found what I was looking for and gave him the map back, then put the whole thing out of my head. I took care of business until close to noon, when I sent Melestav out to Honlo’s to bring back a difowl roasted in wine and stuffed with tartapples, thyme, and garlic. It arrived about the time Omlo did, and I invited everyone in the office to dig in. Kragar almost snatched the gizzard before I could stop him, but I’d been watching for it. My operation, my gizzard; what else would I have gone to the trouble of acquiring the business for?
    When we were done and Loiosh was picking over the bones, I went into the office with Omlo and said, “It’s time to practice.”
    He took a chair. “I’m ready, m’lord. What first?”
    “Sit,” I told him.
    “My lord? I’m