Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

will move on…’

‘… And maybe it won’t,’ the Old Man concluded angrily. ‘I should have known.

Scared men don’t think; they hide. Well, I’ve never been one to sit around

waiting for my problems to go away on their own. Not planning to change now.’

He kicked the empty bench away and turned towards the door only to find Hort

blocking his way.

‘What are you going to do?’ Terci called after him.

‘I’m going to find an answer!’ the Old Man announced, drilling the room with his

scorn. ‘And I’ll find it where I’ve always found answers – in the sea; not at

the bottom of a wine-cup.’

With that he strode out of the door. Hort started to follow when someone called

his name and he turned back.

‘I thought that was you under those city-clothes,’ Omat said without rancour.

‘Watch over him, boy. He’s a little crazy and crazy people sometimes get killed

before they get sane.’

There was a low murmur of assent from those around the table. Hort nodded and

hurried after his father. The Old Man was waiting for him outside the door.

‘Fools!’ he raged. ‘No money for a week and they sit drinking what little they

have left. Pah!’

‘What do we do now. Old Man?’

Panit looked around then snatched up a Nya trap from a stack on the dock. ‘We’ll

need this,’ he said, almost to himself.

‘Isn’t that one ofTerci’s traps?’ Hort asked cautiously.

‘He isn’t using it, is he?’ the Old Man shot back. ‘And besides we’re only

borrowing it. Now, you’re supposed to know this town – where’s the nearest

blacksmith?’

‘The nearest? Well, there’s a mender in the Bazaar, but the best ones are…’