Read Online Teckla by Steven Brust - Free Book Online Page A

that I'm here."
    He nodded and called for a serving man to carry the message. I spotted where the back room must be and entered it. It was empty. I was pleased that it had a real door. I closed it and sat, back to the door (Loiosh was watching), on one of the benches at a table that was a shorter version of the ones in the main room. I wondered how many people Bajinok would bring along. If it was more than one, this probably wouldn't work. But then, he might not bring anyone. I decided I had pretty good odds. Presently, the door opened and Bajinok came in along with another Jhereg I hadn't seen before. I stood up before they could sit down.
    "Good morning," I said. "I hope I didn't disturb you." Bajinok scowled a little. "What?" he said.
    "A man of few words," I told him. "I like that." Loiosh hissed, which he might have thought was agreement.
    "What do you want?"
    "I thought we might continue our discussion of the other day." The Jhereg who was with Bajinok rolled his shoulders and scratched his stomach. Bajinok wiped his hands on his cloak. I checked the clasp of my cloak with one hand and brushed my hair back with the other. I didn't know about them, but all of my weapons were ready.
    He said, "If you have something to say, say it."
    "I want to know why Herth wanted that Easterner killed." Bajinok said, "Drop dead, whiskers."
    I gestured with my right hand as if I were about to say something important. I suppose in a way I was. The gesture produced a dagger that went straight up under the unknown's chin and into his head. He crumbled, fell against me and slid to the floor. By the time he hit, I had taken another dagger from my cloak and was holding the point of it directly in front of Bajinok's left eye.
    I said, "The instant anyone appears in this room, or opens the door, or you even look like you're in psionic communication with someone, I'm going to kill you."
    He said, "Okay."
    "I thought you might want to tell me a few things about Herth and why he wanted that Easterner killed."
    Without moving his head, he glanced down at the corpse. Then he looked back up the blade of the dagger. "You know," he said, "I just might at that."
    "Good," I said cheerfully.
    "Mind if I sit down?"
    "No. Go ahead."
    He did, and I moved behind him and held my blade against the back of his neck. He said, "This is going to get you killed, you know."
    "We all have to die sometime. And we Easterners don't live that long anyway. Of course, that's a good reason not to rush things, I suppose. Which brings us back to Franz." I increased the pressure against the back of his neck. I felt him flinch. I stayed alert for any attempt to teleport out. I could kill him before he was gone if I was quick. He said, "Yes. Franz. He was a member of some kind of group—"
    "I know about it."
    "Okay. Then there isn't much more I can tell you." I pressed the knife against his neck again. "Try. Were you told to kill him in particular, or just some member of the group?"
    "I was given his name."
    "Have you been keeping tabs on what these people have been doing?"
    "Herthhas."
    "I know that, idiot. I mean, are you the one who's been watching them?"
    "No."
    "Who is?"
    "A fellow named Nath."
    "Where can I find him?"
    "Are you going to kill me?"
    "Not if you keep talking."
    "He lives above a carpetmaker way to the west, just north of the Easterners' area. Number four Shade Tree Street." I said, "Okay. Do you plan to tell Herth about this talk?"
    "Yes."
    "You'll have to tell him what you told me."
    "He's very understanding that way."
    "In that case, I need a good reason for leaving you alive."
    "You said you would."
    "Yes, that is a good reason. I need another one."
    "You're a dead man, you know."
    "I know."
    "A dishonest dead man."
    "I'm just in a bad mood. I'm usually a very honest dead man. Ask anyone."
    "Okay. I'll keep my mouth shut for an hour."
    "Would you keep your word to someone who lied to you?" He considered that for a moment, then said, "Yes."
    "Berth must be a