Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

into the darkness of the tent. Its supports began to shine with the eerie

luminescence. Gradually, the barrier-ropes and the carpets on the platform and

the awning over the prince and the canvas of the tent became covered with a soft

gentle glow.

The prince applauded, nodding and smiling towards Bauchle Meyne, and his people

followed his lead.

With a sharp cry, a jester tumbled through the Processional gates and

somersaulted along the path. After him came the flutists and drummers, and then

three ponies with bedraggled feathers attached to their bridles. Three children

in spangled shorts and halters rode them. The one in front jumped up and stood

balanced on her pony’s rump, while the two following did shoulder-stands, braced

against the ponies’ withers. Wess, who had never been on a horse in her life and

found the idea quite terrifying, applauded. Others in the audience applauded

too, here and there, and the prince himself idly clapped his hands. But nearby a

large grizzled man laughed sarcastically and yelled, ‘Show us more!’ That was

the way most of the audience reacted, with hoots of derision and laughter. The

child standing up stared straight ahead. Wess clenched her teeth, angry for the

child but impressed by her dignity. Quartz’s oldest child was about the same

age. Wess took her hand, and Quartz squeezed her fingers gratefully.

A cage, pulled by a yoke of oxen, passed through the dark gate. Wess caught her

breath. The oxen pulled the cage into the light. It carried an elderly troll,

hunched in the corner on dirty straw. A boy poked the troll with a stick as the