Spell of Intrigue — Mayer Alan Brenner

POWER POLITICS
were suddenly the order of the day in the once-peaceful trading town of 0olsmouth. No one was quite sure whether gods or mortals were behind the sneak takeover of merchant-trader Haalsen Groot's business assets, but one thing was certain. The strange doings in Oolsmouth were about to pitch Maximillian the Vaguely Disreputable, the Great Karlini, the Creeping Sword, and their comrades in magic and arms into a spell-storm of trouble.
Haalsen Groot was, after all, Max's main contact in 0olsmouth, and not only had he been dragged off to prison but someone had staged a magical ambush on one of Groot's ships, the very vessel that was carrying Karlini, Shaa, and most of their associates down the river to Oolsmouth.

Before the river journey had even begun, the Creeping Sword had missed the boat, unwillingly caught up in the activities of gods out to gain control of the ring of power which imprisoned the Death known as Pod Dail. And it was an open question whether Max, who was taking a far more circuitous route to 0olsmouth a route that might make him privvy to the secrets of a hopefully no longer living master of sorcery--would reach the town in time to join in the battle royal that seemed to be brewing up fast between mortals, gods, and nonhumans alike....