Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

genuinely wretched chill and marvelled at the trio ahead, who moved, pursued and

pursuer, with such a tireless purpose.

And then another alley, a sudden move aside, which almost caught Hanse himself

by surprise, near the magnificence of the dome of the temple of Ils and Shipri.

There Hanse tucked himself away into shadow and Cappen quite lost sight of him,

among the buttresses and the statuary of the out-thrust wing of the temple …

vanished.

Then the woman in black went out into the street, ascended the plain centre of

the steps of Ils and Shipri, towards the temple guards who warded the constantly

open doors in these uneasy times … four men and well armed, setting hands on

hilts at once as they were approached. The woman cast back her hood: swords

stayed undrawn, hands unmoving, numb as the patrons of the Unicorn.

Then another shadow began to move, from the unwatched side of the steps, a man

from out of the shadows, knife in hand, a swift stalking… which afforded

Cappen even less of comfort and made him think that a wayward minstrel perhaps

should have spent a safer, drier night in the Unicorn.

Follow, the wizard had said, and Hanse pressed himself close against the wall,

in the scant shadow afforded by a bit of brickwork, pressed himself there and

watched in chill discomfort -blinked in horror while it happened, and four men

died with swords still in sheath – only the last attempted a defence, and

Mradhon Vis cut his throat in one quick and unmistakable move. Hanse blinked

again and discovered to his consternation that the dark one, the woman, was