Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

while the grey horse reared, uttered a shrill, demonic scream, and clattered

off by the time Zaibar’s hand had said head: human; and his eyes had

said, head: Razkuli’s and then begun to fill with tears.

Kadakithis listened to his story, looking beyond him out of the window the

entire time. When Zaibar had finished, the prince said, ‘Well, I don’t know what

you expected, trying to take him down so clumsily.’

‘But he said it was a message for me,’ Zaibar entreated, caught his own pleading

tone, scowled and straightened up.

‘Then take it to heart, man. I can’t allow you two to continue feuding. If it is

anything other than simple feuding, I do not want to know about it. Stepson,

called Abarsis, told me to expect something like this! I demand a stop to it!’

‘Stepson!’ Tall, lank Zaibar snarled like a man invoking a vengeful god in close

fighting. ‘An ex-Sacred Bander looking for glory and death with honour, in no

particular order! Stepson told you? The Slaughter Priest? My lord prince, you

are keeping deadly company these days! Are all the gods of the armies in

Sanctuary, then, along with their familiars, the mercenary hordes? I had wanted

to discuss with you what could be done to curb them-‘

‘Zaibar,’ interrupted Kadakithis firmly. ‘In the matter of gods, I hold firm: I

do not believe in them. In the matter of mercenaries, let them be. You broach

subjects too sensitive for your station. In the matter of Tempus, I will talk to

him. You change your attitude. Now, if that is all… ?’

It was all. It was nearly the end of Zaibar the Hell Hound’s entire career; he