Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

He gave a small bow. ‘I have some unwilling distinction.’

‘The story’s known.’

‘Ah.’ Again he felt the shift, a wave of terror. He bent down and picked up the

amulet which lay on the floor, saw his hand covered with a faint opalescence of

scales. Then the scales faded and left only a young and shapely male hand. He

tucked the amulet into his robes and straightened, looked at Ischade somewhat

more calmly. ‘So you’re not the one. I don’t ask you then who hired you. I can

guess, knowing what you did – ah, I do know. And by morning the priests will

have discovered the loss and made some substitution – the wars of gods,

after all, follow politics, don’t they? And what matter a riot or two in

Sanctuary? It interests neither of us.’

‘Then what is your interest?’

‘How did they die, Ischade – your lovers? Do you know? Or don’t you wonder?’

‘Your curiosity – has it some specific grievance?’

‘Ah, no grievance at all. I only ask.’

‘I do nothing. The fault’s their own … their luck, a heart too fragile, a

fall… who am I to know? They’re well when they leave me, that’s the truth.’

‘But they’re dead by morning, every one.’

She shrugged. ‘You should understand. I have nothing to do with it.’

‘Ah, indeed we have misfortunes in common. I know. And when I knew you’d come to

Sanctuary -‘

‘It took me some few days to acclimate myself; I trust I didn’t inconvenience

you … and that we’ll avoid each other in future.’

‘Ischade: how am I – presently?’

She tilted back her head and looked, blinked uncertainly. ‘Younger,’ she said.