Thieves World 3 – Shadows of Sanctuary by Asprin, Robert

‘We should stop at the first inn we find,’ Quartz said.

‘All right,’ Wess said.

By the time they reached the street’s end, darkness was complete and the market

was deserted. Wess thought it odd that everyone should disappear so quickly, but

no doubt they were tired too and wanted to get home to a hot fire and dinner.

She felt a sudden stab of homesickness and hopelessness: their search had gone

on so long, with so little chance of success.

The buildings closed in around them as the street narrowed suddenly. Wess

stopped: three paths faced them, and another branched off only twenty paces

farther on.

‘Where now, my friends?’

‘We must ask someone,’ Aerie said, her voice soft with fatigue.

‘If we can find anyone,’ Chan said doubtfully.

Aerie stepped towards a shadow-filled corner.

‘Citizen,’ she said, ‘would you direct us to the nearest inn?’

The others peered more closely at the dim niche. Indeed, a muffled figure

crouched there. It stood up. Wess could see the manic glitter of its eyes, but

nothing more.

‘An inn?’

‘The closest, if you please. We’ve travelled a long way.’

The figure chuckled. ‘You’ll find no inns in this part of town, foreigner. But

the tavern around the corner – it has rooms upstairs. Perhaps it will suit you.’

‘Thank you.’ Aerie turned back,.a faint breeze ruffling her short black hair.

She pulled her cloak closer.

They went the way the figure gestured, and did not see it convulse with silent

laughter behind them.

In front of the tavern, Wess puzzled out the unfamiliar script: the Vulgar