Thieves' World® by Robert Lynn Asprin

Author:Robert Lynn Asprin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2019-10-29T15:26:09+00:00

MYRTIS

Christine DeWees

“I feel as young as I look. I could satisfy every man in this house if I took the notion to, or if any one of them had half the magnificence of Lythande.”

So speaking, Myrtis, proprietor of the Aphrodisia House, leaned over the banister outside her private parlor and cast judgment on the activity of her establishment below.

“Certainly, madame.”

Her companion on the narrow balcony was a well-dressed young man lately arrived with his parents from the imperial capital. He eased as far from her as possible when she turned to smile at him.

“Do you doubt me, young man?”

The words rolled off Myrtis’ tongue with an ease and inflection of majesty. To many of the long-time residents of Sanctuary, Myrtis was the city’s unofficial royalty. On the Street of Red Lanterns she reigned supreme.

“Certainly not, madame.”

“You have seen the girls now. Did you have a particular lady in mind, or would you prefer to explore my establishment further?”

Myrtis guided him back into her parlor with a slight pressure against his arm. She wore a high-necked dark gown which only hinted at the legendary figure beneath. The madam of the Aphrodisia House was beautiful, more beautiful than any of the girls working for her; fathers told this to their sons who were, in turn, passing this indisputable fact along to their sons. But a ravishing beauty which endured unchanging for three generations was awesome rather than desirable. Myrtis did not compete with the girls who worked for her.

The young man cleared his throat. It was clearly his first visit to any brothel. He fingered the tassels on the side of an immense wine-colored velvet love seat before speaking. “I think I’ll go a round with the violet-silks.”

Myrtis stared at him until he fidgeted one of the tassels loose and his face flushed a deep crimson.

“Call Cylene. Tell her the Lavender Room.”

A girl too young to be working jumped up from a cushion where she had waited in silence for such a command. The youth turned to follow her.

“Four pieces of silver—Cylene is very talented. And a name—I think that you should be known as Terapis.” Myrtis smiled to reveal her even white teeth.

The youth, who would henceforth be known as Terapis within the walls of the Aphrodisia House, searched his purse to find a single gold piece. He stood arrogant and obviously well-rehearsed while Myrtis counted out his change. The young girl took his band to lead him to Cylene for two hours of unimaginable bliss.

“Children!” Myrtis mumbled to herself when she was alone in her parlor again.

Four of the nine knobs on the night-candle had melted away. She opened a great leather-bound ledger and entered the youth’s true name as well as the one she had just given him, his choice for the evening, and that he had paid in gold. It had been fifteen years or more since she had given the nom-de-guerre of Terapis to one of the house’s gentlemen. She had a good memory for all those who lingered in the sybaritic luxury of the Aphrodisia House.

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