Read Online Issola by Steven Brust - Free Book Online Page B

wear, and holding something small and black in the palm of her hand. I permitted myself to hope it was a key to the manacles.
    I held my tongue as she walked up to us; there's something about courtesy that's contagious. She said, "I have negotiated with the Jenoine."
    I studied her face at that moment, I suppose feeling something momentous about to occur, and I couldn't get anything from her expression.
    "They will release you, Morrolan and Aliera, if Vlad agrees to perform a task for them."
    "I can hardly wait," I muttered, but either no one heard me or they all ignored me.
    "They want Vlad to perform a killing, a murder."
    "Did you explain that I'm no longer in that line of work:"'
    "I made no agreement of any kind," she said. "I merely spoke to them, and they stated the conditions."
    "And otherwise we'll be killed, I assume," said Aliera, as if she were being threatened with not being allowed to dinner.
    "That wasn't specified."
    "That's why we were taken," said Aliera, giving me a look. "In order to coerce Vlad into doing what they want."
    "You'd think," said Morrolan, "that if that was true, they'd havetaken Cawti, or better yet—" He broke off abruptly and scowled.
    "They're separated," said Aliera.
    "So?" said Morrolan. "Who knows how the Jenoine think, andwhat they know? They may not know much more of our customs, not to mention emotions, than we know of theirs."
    "They know enough to have us here, bait for Vlad. You'll notice he's here."
    "Makes me wonder what they would have done if you hadn't beenalong, Lady Teldra."
    "Some of them speak our language," she said.
    I cleared my throat. "I notice none of you are asking the obvious question."
    "You mean," said Morrolan, "who is it she wants killed? It’s obviously either Sethra, or a god, and you certainly aren't going to do it, so what difference does it make?"
    "I should think a god," said Aliera judiciously. "Probably Verra." Teldra bowed to her.
    "Verra?" I said. "They want me to kill Verra?"
    "Yes," said Teldra.
    "Well, I have been annoyed with her now and then. I mean, can't say I haven't thought about it."
    "It isn't a joking matter, Vlad," said Morrolan.
    "I think it is, Boss."
    "That's two of us, if it comes to a vote."
    "Did they have any suggestions as to how I was to accomplish this task?" She held out the object in her palm. It was a small, black cube, perhaps an inch on a side. It didn't seem to reflect any light. "I am told," she said, "that this will bring you to the presence of the Goddess." With her other hand, she took from her belt a sheathed knife I hadn't noticed before. "This is a very powerful Morganti dagger; it will be sufficient to, as they put it, prevent the Goddess from manifesting on our world."
    "That means kill her," said Morrolan.
    "Not exactly," said Aliera.
    "Close enough.”
    I made some sort of grunting sound; I'm not sure what it meant, because I'm not sure what I was thinking. Teldra set the two objects down at my feet, then stepped back. There was something of ritual about how she did it; as if she were saying, "Here, now my work is done, and I say nothing about your work, what it is, or if you ought to do it." I stared at the black cube and at the Morganti dagger I could feel its emanations even from its sheath. I said, "Teldra, do you trust them?"
    "Vlad!" said Aliera. "You aren't considering doing it!"
    "Yes," said Teldra. "I think they were telling the truth."
    I grunted again.
    "Look on the bright side, Boss: you've done a king, now you'll be able to say you've - "
    "That's not the bright side. The bright side is the pleasure of rescuing Morrolan and Aliera. They'll never live it down." Morrolan was staring at me. "Vlad, you can't be thinking, about it. Think! Verra, the Demon Goddess. Your ancestors have worshiped her—"
    "Leave it alone, Morrolan."
    "Leave it alone? She is my goddess, too. How can I let you destroy her to save me?" I laughed. "How can you stop me?"
    "Vlad—"
    "Oh, be still, dammit. I don't want to hear