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

Marketday Players on Settler.”
    I nodded. “What House are you, Omlo? I mean, when you aren’t pretending?”
    “Chreotha, my lord.”
    “I’m surprised.”
    “My lord?”
    “You said that before, in front of the civilians. I just assumed you were lying.”
    “My lord? Why?”
    I shrugged. “So, what do your people do?”
    “My father does ceramics, my mother works with pewter.”
    “And you ended up in one of my brothels.”
    “My lord?”
    “It’s just a curious thing, that’s all. What do you think our friends are up to?”
    “My lord?”
    “Blue-boy and Ibronka. What do you think their game is?” He looked blank, so I said, “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to know; I’m mostly thinking aloud. Wondering what they really want.”
    “You think they lied to you, m’lord?”
    “I know they lied about some things, so that makes me think they’re lying about more.”
    “My lord, what did they lie to you about?”
    I started to answer, but stopped before the words were out of my mouth. “What did he lie to you about?”
    “My lord?”
    “You didn’t ask what he lied about, you asked what he lied to me about. I want to know what he lied to you about.”
    “Oh. He said he didn’t know anything about the life, my lord.”
    “He was lying? You’ve seen him?”
    “The two of them, in the house, the Couches.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
    The question seemed to surprise him. “My lord, we never publicly recognize a num unless the num invites us to. That’s just, that’s how it works.”
    “Hmm. All right. But you did see them?”
    “A few times in passing. I never entertained them.”
    “When were they there?”
    He squinted. “The first time, maybe half a year ago. Then two or three times after that. The last time was last month. Not since then.”
    “Who entertained them?”
    “Neritha. She was good with threesomes.”
    “What can you tell me about her?”
    “I think she’s a Tsalmoth. She started there three years ago, just after I did.”
    “What’s she like?”
    He rubbed his chin. “Nice enough, but kind of hard. Not the kind who was making a career of it, but more like she wanted to get a score together and go somewhere.”
    “She’s still there?”
    “No, my lord. I haven’t seen her in, I think, about three months. She was just gone one day. I heard she was caught stealing from nums.”
    “I’ll bet H’noc loved that. Any word on what he might have done to her?”
    “No, my lord.”
    “She have a pimp?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Addicted to anything?”
    He shook his head.
    I nodded. “So, that answers some questions. And asks some more. I’ll total them up later and see which is higher. Just a minute.”
    I left him there while I found Kragar, to whom I said, “I don’t think you have enough to do.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Vlad, you’ve already got me—”
    “This one is easy. Get the story of a tag named Neritha, at the Couches, who was probably caught stealing from nums. That’s all.”
    “Any reason I can’t just ask H’noc?”
    “No. Yes. Try to find out some other way.”
    “Now?”
    “Now.”
    I went back and worked with Omlo for another hour or two then let him go, confident that he had his part down. I hung around for about an hour after that, until Kragar showed up.
    He said, “The most surprising thing is that it really was simple. She was caught stealing, and—”
    “How?”
    “Num complained, H’noc checked it.”
    “Heh. Good for him. What did he do?”
    “Broke her arms, broke her legs, gave her a case of the drips, and kicked her.”
    “The drips. Nasty. When did this happen?”
    “Nine weeks ago. I’m sure she’s fine by now. Do you need me to find her?”
    “Set someone on it in case, but don’t put a lot into it. I’m guessing there’s no need.”
    “All right. Anything else?”
    “Yes. Touch Omlo and let him know I need him here early tomorrow. Real early. Seventh hour.”
    “Care to