Thieves World 4 – Storm Season by Asprin, Robert

“That’s nonsense.”

Illyra put the sword on the table again. “It is the clearest thing I’ve seen in

a week, Walegrin. You will not go north; you will not leave Sanctuary.”

“Then you cannot say no harm will come to me. What of the spy we trapped this

morning. The stranger who got away. Do you see him?”

“No-he can mean nothing to you, but I’ll try my cards.” She picked up the deck,

took his hand and pressed it against the cards.”Perhaps your future is distinct

from the steel. Make three piles then turn over the top card of each.”

He placed the three piles where she pointed and flipped over the cards. The

first showed two men dueling. Though blood dripped from their blades neither

seemed injured. It was a card Walegrin had seen before. The second was

unfamiliar and damaged by water running through the colors. It seemed to show a

great mass of ships on the open sea. The third card showed an armored hand

clutching a sword-hill that changed to flame halfway up the blade. Without

thinking Walegrin moved to touch the flame. Illyra’s fingers closed over his and

restrained him.

“Your first: the Two of Ores: steel. It means many things, but for you it is

simply this steel itself. But you already know this.

‘”Your second: this is the Seven of Ships, or it was the Seven of Ships. It was

the fishing fleet, but ithas become something else.” She squeezed his hand.

“Here is all danger and opportunity. Not even the gods see this card as we see

it now. The Seven of Ships sails out of the future; it sails for Sanctuary and