Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

‘You asked questions of me – may I ask one of you?’

‘I’ll answer if I can.’

‘Bauchle Meyne – if he hadn’t behaved so stupidly, he could have killed me. But

he taunted me till I recovered myself. He made himself vulnerable to me. His

friend knew I had a knife, but he attacked me unarmed. I’ve been trying to

understand what happened, but it makes no sense.’

Lythande drew a deep breath. ‘Westerly,’ she said, ‘I wish you had never come to

Sanctuary. You escaped for the same reason that I first chose to appear as I now

must remain.’

‘I still don’t understand.’

‘They never expected you to fight. To struggle a little, perhaps, just enough to

excite them. They expected you to acquiesce to their wishes whether it was to

beat you, to rape you, or to kill you. Women in Sanctuary are not trained to

fight. They are taught that their only power lies in their ability to please, in

bed and in flattery. Some few excel. Most survive.’

‘And the rest?’

“The rest are killed for their insolence. Or-‘ She smiled bitterly and gestured

to herself. ‘Some few … find their talents are stronger in other areas.’

‘But why do you put up with it?’

‘That is the way it is. Westerly. Some would say that is the way it must be

that it is ordained.’

‘It isn’t that way in Kaimas.’ Just speaking the name of her home made her want

to return. ‘Who ordains it?’

‘Why, my dear,’ Lythande said sardonically, ‘the gods.’

‘Then you should rid yourselves of gods.’

Lythande arched one eyebrow. ‘You should, perhaps, keep such ideas to yourself

in Sanctuary. The gods’ priests are powerful.’ She drew her hand up the side of