Yendi by Steven Brust Page A

slipped inside. "Good morning."
    "Mmmmmm."
    "It occurs to me that you didn't kill me last night."
    "Oh, but I did," she said. "Six times. But I lost count and revivified you seven times." I sat down on the bed next to her. She still hadn't dressed. I ignored the dryness in my mouth. "Oh. I must have forgotten."
    "You could have killed me, too, you know." Her voice was suddenly serious.
    "Yes," I said slowly. "But you knew I wouldn't. I had no such knowledge of you."
    "I'll take your word for that." She laughed lightly. I put her laugh, with her shrug, on the list of things I wanted to make her do more often. The candle sputtered, so I rummaged around until I found a few more, and lit them all with the remaining stub. I returned to the bed and tapped her side lightly. She moved closer to the wall and I lay down. She rested her head on my arm.
    There were a few pleasant minutes of silence, then I said, "I overheard an interesting conversation just now."
    "Oh?"
    "Concerning your partner."
    She tensed. "What about her?"
    I described the conversation. She pulled away from me, leaning on her arm to watch me as I spoke. Her brows were drawn together as she listened. She looked very beautiful that way, too.
    I finished the tale, and said, " Is she a Dragonlord?" Cawti shook her head. "That isn't my secret to tell."
    "Okay. You look worried."
    She smiled a little and put her head back on my chest. "For an assassin, you're quite sensitive, Lord Taltos."
    "In the first place, I'm not an assassin--you've been listening to too many rumors about me. In the second, the same goes for you, doubled. And in the third, isn't 'Lord Taltos' a bit out of place, all things considered?"
    She chuckled. "As you wish, Vlad. Vladimir." She repeated it, slowly. "Vladimir. VLA-di-meer. Vlaaaadimeer. Vladimir. I like it. A good Eastern name."
    "Shit," I said. "Help me off with this damned jerkin, will you? And careful not to stab yourself..."
    Some time later, while engaged in serious snuggling, I said, "Morrolan and Aliera are liable to check up on your partner, you know."
    "Mmmmm. They won't find anything."
    "Don't be too sure, Cawti. They've surprised me before." She tsked. "Shouldn't let yourself be surprised, Vladimir." I snorted, and withheld a few remarks. "I'm serious. They're bound to find out something. You don't have to tell me what it is, but you ought to think about it. Have you been in touch with her?"
    "Of course."
    "Then warn her--"
    "Why do you care?"
    "Huh? I don't know. Jhereg are Jhereg, I guess. You aren't a threat to me anymore, and I don't see why they should be meddling. Or Aliera, rather. Morrolan doesn't see why, either."
    "Mmmmmm."
    I shrugged, causing her head to bounce on my chest. She giggled, which amazed and delighted me no end. Have you ever met an assassin who giggled? The absurdity of the whole situation was--I decided that I had to get out of there. I sat up, dislodging her. "I'm going to check on our hosts and see what they're doing now."
    "Like hell you are, my love. What's really bothering you?"
    "What did you call me?"
    She sat up too, the bedclothes falling to her waist. She glared. "Don't start getting mushy with me, you murdering Easterner."
    "What did you call me?"
    "A murdering Easterner."
    "Yes, dear, and so are you. I meant before that."
    "Vladimir..."
    "Oh, Deathsgate. I'm getting out of here." I dressed quickly and stepped into the hall, using all of my willpower to avoid looking back at her. I returned to my room, favoring my injured side, and collapsed on the bed. Loiosh gave me a good chewing out (literally) for deserting him, after which I got in touch with Kragar.
    " What's new? " I asked him.
    " I have some information about the Phoenix Guards--they weren't just withdrawn in the area around where the job was done, they were taken out of the whole area. They're gone. "
    " Great. Well, I'm pleased they aren't around, bull wonder what it means. Any ideas? "
    " No. "
    " Okay. I want you to try to find out