Thieves World 7 – The Dead of Winter by Asprin, Robert

as he knelt to hug both children close against him, finding some deceptive

comfort in the warmth of their young bodies. He and Gilla had made these

children between them. She couldn’t be gone!

“Father, Wedemir told me what happened! What are we going to do?”

Vanda was hurrying toward them with her older brother behind her, her bright

hair coming undone from its Beysib coiffure.

“I’m going to get Gilla back,” Lalo said harshly. “But you’ll have to take care

of the little ones.”

“Here?” She looked around her dubiously.

Wedemir cleared his throat. “They may not be safe at home.”

Vanda frowned. “Well, we already have some other children in quarters in the

basement-that child of the Temple they call Gyskouras, and Illyra’s boy-it’s a

regular nursery. Maybe I can work something out … oh, of course I’ll take

them!” She scooped Alfi into her arms. “Just find Mother!” She stared at Lalo

over Alfi’s dark head, her grey eyes so much like Gilla’s that something twisted

in Lalo’s chest.

“I will …”he managed, and could say no more.

Vanda nodded, shifted Alfi onto her hip and reached out for Latilla’s hand.

“Come on, levies, and I’ll show you some pretty things.”

“Toys?” asked Alfi.

“Toys, and other children, and everything …” Van-da’s voice faded as she went

under the archway. Then she turned a corner and was gone. —

“At least it was convenient to drop them here,” said Wedemir dryly. “Exactly

where in the Palace did that mage tell,you to go?”

“I’ll have to ask at the wicket. It’s like the Maze inside….” Lalo sighed and