Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

of her sire. He grinned back at her, thinking that she was like a breath of

spring in this summer-parched street. Like a nymph …

‘Perhaps you can help me to maintain my credit, mistress!’ he replied. ‘Would

you like to be one of my models for the paintings in Molin Torchholder’s Hall?’

How delightful it was to be the dispenser of largesse, thought Lalo as he

watched Zorra dance away down the street. She had been painfully eager to break

all previous engagements so that she could come to him the next day.

Was that how Enas Yorl felt when he gave me my desire? he wondered, and wondered

also (but only for a moment) why, in doing so, the sorcerer had laughed.

‘But why can’t I pose for you in Molin Torchholder’s house?’ Zorra pouted,

glanced at Lalo to see if he was watching her take off her petticoat, and let

the garment slip to the floor.

‘If my patrons could detach their walls and sent them here for decoration, I

doubt they would let even me in the door…’ replied Lalo abstractedly,

transferring paint from paintpots to palette in the precise order he always

used. ‘Besides, I’ll need to make several studies from each model before I

decide on the final design…’

Morning sunlight shone cheerfully on the clean-swept floor, cleared now of

strangers’ laundry, gleamed on Lalo’s palette knife and glowed through the

petals of the flowers he had given to Zorra to hold.

‘That’s right -‘ he said, draping a wisp of gauze around her hips and adjusting

the angle of her arms. ‘Hold the flowers as if you were offering them to the