For a few moments he debated making one of his rare visits to a temple, but asalways the sheer number of deities to be worshipped, or appeased, daunted him.With petty jealousies rampant among gods and priests it was better to abstaincompletely than risk choosing wrong.
The same coins he could have given as an offering might also buy a glimpse ofthe future from a bazaar-seer. Of course, their ramblings were often so obscurethat one didn't recognize the truth until after it had happened. With a smuggrin, Hakiem made up his mind. Instead of investing in gods or seers he wouldquest for insight and omen in his own way-staring into a cup of wine.
Quickening his step, the storyteller set his course for the Vulgar Unicorn.
EXERCISE IN PAIN by Robert Lynn Asprin
There must be trouble. Saliman had been gone far too long for his mission to begoing smoothly. Some might have had difficulty judging the passage of timeduring the period of time between sundown and sunrise, but not Jubal. His earlyyears as a gladiator in the Rankan capital had included many sleepless nightsbefore arena days, or Blood Days as those in the trade called them; he knew thedarkness intimately. Each phase of the night had its own shade, its own textureand he knew them all ... even with his eyes blurred with sweat and tears of painas they were now.
Too long. Trouble.
The twin thoughts danced in his mind as he tried to focus his concentration, toformulate a contingency plan. If he was right; if he was now alone and woundedwhat could he do? He couldn't travel far pulling himself painfully along the