Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

mercenary with the expensive taste in accoutrements could be no older than he.

And yet, only a king’s son could afford such a blade as that before him. He

reached out hesitantly to touch its silvered guard, its garnet pommel, his gaze

locked in the sell-sword’s soulless pale one, his hand slipping closer and

closer to the elegant sword of its own accord.

‘Ah, you do like it then,’ said Stepson. ‘I was not sure. You will take it, I

hope. It is customary in my country, when meeting a man who has performed

heroically to the benefit of one’s house, to give a small token.’ He

withdrew a silver scabbard from his belt, laid it with the sword, which

Hanse put down as if burned.

‘What did I ever do for you?’

‘Did you not rescue the Riddler from great peril?’

‘Who?’ The tanned face grinned ingenuously. ‘A truly brave man does not boast. I

understand. Or is it a deeper thing? That -‘ He leaned forward; he smelled

sweet like new-mown hay ‘- is truly what I need to know. Do you comprehend me?’

Hanse gave him an eagle’s look, and shook his head slowly, his fingers flat on

the table, near the magnificent sword that the mercenary Stepson had offered to

give him. The Riddler? He knew no one of that name. ‘Are you protecting him?

There is no need, not from me. Tell me, Shadowspawn, are you and Tempus

lovers?’

‘Mother-!’ His favourite knife leapt into his palm, unbidden. He looked at it in

his own grasp in consternation, and dropped his other hand over it, and began

paring his nails. Tempus! The Riddler? Hanse’s eyes caressed the covetable