“You’ve got a good memory, Strick of Firaqa.”
“Umm- Come on around to the proper side of the desk. Yes, I remem- bered to pass on to Ahdio the message you gave me when we met on the road to Firaqa, and I recognized you too-once Avenestra called you by name. I’ve heard it rather more than once since I came to Sanctuary. You aren’t exactly unknown in this town.”
Wiry and youthful, walking almost catlike on the balls of his feet rather than the heels, the dark, youthful-looking man rounded the desk and stood beside the chair set there for clients; supplicants.
“Neither are you, Strick. Didn’t take you long to gain a reputation in my town. And that day in the forest I thought you were a weapon-man on the run! You came to help my town-so’re you going to get rid of those fish-eyed snake-turds from oversea?”
“Afraid not, Hanse. The Beys are here to stay.”
“Heard that. Sure going to take some getting used to. Is it true about you?”
“How would I know?”
Hanse came very close to smiling. “That you deal in white magic only-“
“Yes.”
“That’s a switch, in Sanctuary! And is it true that every blessing from you also comes with some sort of curse?”
“Of sorts. The Price, in addition to the payment in coin or goods. Avenestra, for instance, no longer needs or wants to get drunk every night-but developed a rather grievous craving for sweets.”
“Which explains her new, uh, plumpness,” Hanse said, nodding.
“And you, Hanse. We met only briefly, long ago. Have you come here on business?”
“No. Just wanted to say hello. I mean, we did meet, however briefly that day months and months ago, and gave each other a little informa- tion about Firaqa and Sanctuary-carefully.” Hanse chuckled-