Yendi by Steven Brust Read Free Book Online Page B

that.
    The rest of the day passed nervously, but with nothing happening. Ditto for the next day, except that various sorcerers from the Bitch Patrol came by each of my places and protected them from sorcery. Direct sorcery, I mean. There's no way to protect them from, say, someone levitating a fifty-gallon canister of kerosene over a building, lighting it, and then dropping it. But the enforcers I'd hired should be able to spot something like that, maybe even in time to do something about it.
    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! Wym! 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