Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

Goddess.’ She twitched as he touched her, but his awareness of her flesh was

already giving way to his perception other body as a form in space. ‘Generally I

would do only a quick sketch or two,’ he explained, ‘but this must be complete

enough to give Lord Molin an idea of what the finished work will be like, so I’m

using colour …’

He stepped back, seeing the picture as he had visualized it-the fresh beauty of

the girl in the sunlight with her bright hair flowing down her back and her arms

filled with bright flowers. He picked up his brush and took a deep breath,

focusing on what he saw.

His awareness of the murmur of conversation at the other end of the room, where

Gilla and their middle daughter were preparing the noon meal, faded. He did not

turn when one of his sons came in, was shushed by his mother and sent outdoors.

The sounds slid past him as his mind stilled, as the tensions of the past days

slipped away.

Now he was himself at last, serenely confident that his hand would obey his eye,

that both would reflect the perceptions of his soul. And he knew that not the

commissions, but this confidence in himself, was the true gift of Enas Yorl.

Lalo dipped his brush in the paint and began to work.

The bar of light had moved halfway across the floor when Zorra abruptly

straightened and let her flowers fall to the floor.

‘This had better be worth it!’ she complained. ‘My back hurts, and my arms are

falling off.’ She flexed her shoulders and bent back and forth to ease the

strain.

Lalo blinked, trying to orient himself. ‘No, not yet – it’s not finished -‘ he