Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

‘First,’ the Old Man announced as he headed off down the dock, ‘we visit the

Wine Barrel.’

The Wine Barrel was a rickety wharf-side tavern favoured by the fishermen and

therefore shunned by everyone else. Knowing his father to be a nondrinker, Hort

doubted the Old Man had ever before been inside the place, yet he led the way

into the shadowed interior with a firm and confident step.

They were all there: Terci, Omat, Varies; all the fishermen Hort had known since

childhood plus many he did not recognize. Even Haron, the only woman ever

accepted by the fishermen, was there, though her round, fleshy and weathered

face was scarcely different from the men’s.

‘Hey, Old Man? You finally given up?’

‘There’s an extra seat here.’

‘Some wine for the Old Man!’

‘One more trap-wrecked fisherman!’

Panit ignored the cries which erupted from various spots in the shadowed room at

his entrance. He held his stride until he reached the large table custom

reserved for the eldest fisherfolk.

‘I told you, you’d be here eventually,’ Omat greeted him, pushing the extra

bench out with his long, thin leg. ‘Now, who’s a coward?’

The Old Man acknowledged neither the jibe nor the bench, leaning on the table

with both hands to address the veterans. ‘I only came to ask one question,’ he

hissed. ‘Are all of you, or any of you, planning to do anything about whatever

it is that’s driven you from the sea?’

To a man, the fishermen moved their gazes elsewhere.

‘What can we do?’ Terci scowled. ‘We don’t even know what’s out there. Maybe it