Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

his favourite knife must feel when he sheathed it.

‘One-Thumb,’ Hanse called out, making for the bar, ‘what is going on out there?’

There had been soldierly commotion at the Common Gate.

‘You haven’t heard?’ scoffed the night-tumed-day barman. ‘Some prisoners escaped

from the palace dungeon, certain articles were thieved from the Hall of

Judgement, and none of the regular security officers were around to get their

scoldings.’

Looking at the mirror behind the bar, Hanse saw the ugly man grin without

humour. Gaze locked to mirror-gaze, Hanse drew the hide-wrapped bundle from his

tunic. ‘These are for you. You are supposed to give them to your benefactor.’ He

shrugged to the mirror.

One-Thumb turned and wiped the dishrag along the shining bar and when the rag

was gone, the small bundle was gone, also. ‘Now, what do you want to get

involved in something like this for? You think you’re moving up? You’re not.

Next time, when it’s this sort of thing, come round the back. Or, better, don’t

come at all. I thought you had more sense.’

Hanse’s hand smacked flat and loud upon the bar. ‘I have taken enough offal for

one day, cup-bearer. Now I tell you what you do, Wide-Belly: You take what I

brought you and your sage counsel, and you wrap it all together, and then you

squat on it!’ And stiff-kneed as a roused cat, Shadowspawn stalked away,

towards the door, saying over his shoulder: ‘As for sense, I thought you had

more.’

‘I have my business to think of,’ called out One-Thumb, too boldly for a

whine. ‘Ah, yes! So have I, so have I.’