Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

blade. ‘I helped him out, once or twice, that’s all.’

‘That is good,’ the youth across from him approved. ‘Then we will not have to

fight over him. And, too, we could work a certain bargain, service for service,

that would make me happy and you, I modestly estimate, a gentleman of ease for

at least six months.’

‘I’m listening,’ said Shadowspawn, taking a chance, commending his knife to its

sheath. The short sword too, he handled, fitting it in the scabbard and drawing

it out, fascinated by the alert scrutiny of Abarsis the Stepson’s six

companions.

When he began hearing the words ‘diamond rods’ and ‘Hall of Judgement’ he waxed

uneasy. But by then, he could not sec any way that he could allow himself to

appear less than heroic in the pale, blue-grey eyes of Stepson. Not when the

amount of money Stepson had offered hung in the balance, not when the nobly

fashioned sword he had been given as if it were merely serviceable proclaimed

the flashy mercenary’s ability to pay that amount. But too, if he would pay

that, he would pay more. Hanse was not so enthralled by the mercenaries’

mystique to hasten into one’s pay without some good Sanctuary barter.

Watching Stepson’s six formidable companions, waiting like purebred hunting

dogs curried for show, he spied a certain litheness about them, an uncanny

cleanliness of limb and nearness of girded hips. Close friends, these. Very

close.

Abarsis’s sonorous voice had ceased, waiting for Hanse’s response. The

disconcertingly pale eyes followed Hanse’s stare, frank now, to his companions.