Robert Asprin – Thieves World 09 – Blood Ties

Ominous as a mountain moving, Gilla’s heavy steps shook the floor as she took her place across the worktable from the S’danzo.

“What crosses it. Seer?” she asked.

“The Lance of Ships,” said Illyra, “the Narwhale, which may be a card of good fortune, but always means changeability. In this position, it is the good fortune that will disappear!”

“What do we hope for?” asked Gilla, continuing the litany.

Illyra took another card and placed it above the first two. Gilla recognized it the Two of Ores reversed, with the Steel pointed downward threateningly.

“And this is what we already have,” added the S’danzo. “Quicksilver, what some call the Card of Shalpa-the Root of Ores and the Foundation of Sanctuary.” The next card was placed below the first two.

“What has gone before is the Face of Chaos-” Illyra held up a card with the images of a man and a woman twisted and distorted as if in some fever dream. She smiled grimly and laid the card down.

“And what is to come. Seer-show me what is to come!” demanded Gilla. She could feel energy flowing from her to the woman on the other side of the table, and knew that more than S’danzo power was going into this casting.

Illyra took another card. “The Zigurrat,” she smiled dangerously. “For we shall bring the pride of the destroyers tumbling down.”

Gilla looked at the image of the disintegrating tower and thought of the patched up peace that had held the town quiet since the visit of the Emperor. Surely it would take only a finger’s push to destroy so uneasy a balance.