Read Online The price of victory- - Thieves World 13 by Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey - Free Book Online
Authors: Robert Asprin, Lynn Abbey
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Cade, he knew one thing Cade didn't know about himself: for all his self-aggrandizing introspection, Cade had never and would never kill a child.
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"I still think I should go with you," Targ said aloud, though he did not look at Cade.
"No." The only light in the room came from the single lantern lying between them. Cade stared at the large shadow Targ cast on the wall
40 AFTERMATH
behind him, like a giant leaning over to listen to their conversation. "You must get the other three. All must die tonight."
"They're expecting me to be there. The deal is with me. If they see you, they'll know what's up."
"They won't see me"—Cade's voice was firm—"not until I want them to."
"There's nine," Targ insisted, but Cade only answered with a shrug. Targ could think of nothing else to say. Cade insisted on taking on the gang alone. The mercenary didn't like it. But there it was. Cade would do what he wanted, and he explained himself to no one.
"Why not take me?" Raif piped up. Targ just reached for the wine. He knew what Cade's reaction to that would be. "You've seen how good I am with the knife," he insisted. "They expect me to be there, too." His Page 75
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voice trailed off at Cade's dark look.
"Raif, killing a man is not so easy."
"They killed my brother, too, damn them. I want my revenge."
Cade's hand banged on the table. "You're talking like a fool. Do you think this is one of your daydreams? Riding up on a white horse, saving the city to the cheers of men and women alike? Revenge is bitter, boy, and far removed from justice."
"But—" Raif started again, but this time he shut up when he saw the flash in Cade's eyes.
"You've had your revenge, boy. Your information, your help has set this thing up. Now leave it to us to finish it." He turned to Targ, but the mercenary just nodded. Cade could handle himself, and Targ's prey, well, they were as good as dead. Targ could live with this. Cade never asked him to do something his conscience would forbid. Targ's honor would not suffer from this.
Unconsciously, he bared his teeth, the sharp edges of his canines al ready beginning to show. Too bad it couldn't be a cleaner fight. But he hadn't succumbed to his particular curse in so long, and this night—well, these bastards deserved it.
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Cade stood up. He wore leather armor stained black, a bow in one hand, various other weapons strapped on tightly. Targ pushed his chair back and faced the other. He wore only an old faded kilt, his sword strapped to his back. The two clasped arms.
"I'll take the others out," Targ said. "None will escape." Cade gave him a hard smile.
"Good hunting," he said softly. Targ's face twisted for a moment at Cade's choice of words, but the bloodlust was on him and he was eager to go. Neither said anything to Raif as Cade opened the door and they
CADE 41
moved into the night. Raif stared at the open doorway for several min utes. Then he, too, got up and walked into the night's embrace.
Cade moved through the shadows to the waterfront district, taking care that no one followed him. The meeting was set up in a large ware house there. The streets were quiet tonight. The moon was waning and a light cloud cover shielded the starlight-It was a perfect night for death.
There were four of the Sharp Side on outside guard duty, one on the roof, two in front, and one in the back. They were well hidden, but they moved about a lot. Sloppy. They were getting arrogant in their success. It Page 77
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was only a matter of time until someone took them out.
The one on the roof was first and easiest. An arrow through the eye killed him instantly. No one heard the body fall.
Page 74
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"I still think I should go with you," Targ said aloud, though he did not look at Cade.
"No." The only light in the room came from the single lantern lying between them. Cade stared at the large shadow Targ cast on the wall
40 AFTERMATH
behind him, like a giant leaning over to listen to their conversation. "You must get the other three. All must die tonight."
"They're expecting me to be there. The deal is with me. If they see you, they'll know what's up."
"They won't see me"—Cade's voice was firm—"not until I want them to."
"There's nine," Targ insisted, but Cade only answered with a shrug. Targ could think of nothing else to say. Cade insisted on taking on the gang alone. The mercenary didn't like it. But there it was. Cade would do what he wanted, and he explained himself to no one.
"Why not take me?" Raif piped up. Targ just reached for the wine. He knew what Cade's reaction to that would be. "You've seen how good I am with the knife," he insisted. "They expect me to be there, too." His Page 75
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
voice trailed off at Cade's dark look.
"Raif, killing a man is not so easy."
"They killed my brother, too, damn them. I want my revenge."
Cade's hand banged on the table. "You're talking like a fool. Do you think this is one of your daydreams? Riding up on a white horse, saving the city to the cheers of men and women alike? Revenge is bitter, boy, and far removed from justice."
"But—" Raif started again, but this time he shut up when he saw the flash in Cade's eyes.
"You've had your revenge, boy. Your information, your help has set this thing up. Now leave it to us to finish it." He turned to Targ, but the mercenary just nodded. Cade could handle himself, and Targ's prey, well, they were as good as dead. Targ could live with this. Cade never asked him to do something his conscience would forbid. Targ's honor would not suffer from this.
Unconsciously, he bared his teeth, the sharp edges of his canines al ready beginning to show. Too bad it couldn't be a cleaner fight. But he hadn't succumbed to his particular curse in so long, and this night—well, these bastards deserved it.
Page 76
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Cade stood up. He wore leather armor stained black, a bow in one hand, various other weapons strapped on tightly. Targ pushed his chair back and faced the other. He wore only an old faded kilt, his sword strapped to his back. The two clasped arms.
"I'll take the others out," Targ said. "None will escape." Cade gave him a hard smile.
"Good hunting," he said softly. Targ's face twisted for a moment at Cade's choice of words, but the bloodlust was on him and he was eager to go. Neither said anything to Raif as Cade opened the door and they
CADE 41
moved into the night. Raif stared at the open doorway for several min utes. Then he, too, got up and walked into the night's embrace.
Cade moved through the shadows to the waterfront district, taking care that no one followed him. The meeting was set up in a large ware house there. The streets were quiet tonight. The moon was waning and a light cloud cover shielded the starlight-It was a perfect night for death.
There were four of the Sharp Side on outside guard duty, one on the roof, two in front, and one in the back. They were well hidden, but they moved about a lot. Sloppy. They were getting arrogant in their success. It Page 77
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
was only a matter of time until someone took them out.
The one on the roof was first and easiest. An arrow through the eye killed him instantly. No one heard the body fall.
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