Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

That disturbed his haven of cynicism and was hard to admit. But was not

cynicism merely a mask on an idealist seeking more, seeking perfection, seeking

disproof of his cynical assumptions?

Far better just to report what I know and leave it at that and go on about my

business. That would be enough. Tempus already owed him a debt, anyhow, and had

promised him a service.

Shadowspawn began collecting his materials for a night of stealth, of breaking

and entering. It was a thief’s business and these were the tools. Yet he knew

that he was not preparing for theft.

You are a fool, Hanse, he told himself with a curse in Shalpa’s name, and he

agreed. And he continued with what he was doing.

At the door he stopped, blinking. He looked back with a frown. Only now did he

remember the look Mignureal had given him just two hours ago, and her strange

words. They meant nothing and connected to nothing. ‘Oh, Hanse,’ she had said

with a strange intensity on her girlish face. ‘Hanse – take the crossed brown

pot with you.’

‘With me where?’

But she had to flee, for her glowering mother was calling.

Now Hanse stared at the brown crock with the etched pair ofYs. Mignureal did not

know about it. She could not. Mignureal had mentioned it specifically! She was

Moonflower’s daughter … Name of the Shadowed One, she must have some of the

power too!

Hanse turned back to pick up that well-stoppered container, a fired pot a bit

larger than a soldier’s canteen. Why. Mignureal? Why, Lord I’Is?

He had acquired it months ago, easily and quickly, without knowing what it