Steven Brust exerpt

Here's a lovely exchange toward the beginning of _Athyra_ that captures the spirit of the character of Vlad Taltos.

"May I ask you something?"
"Certainly. I might not answer."
"If you don't tell stories, what do you do?"
"You mean, everyone must do something?"
"Well, yes."
"I'm not too bad a hunter."
"Oh."
"And I have a few pieces of gold, which I show around when I have to."
"You just show them around?"
"That's right."
"What does that do?"
"Makes people want to take them away from me."
"Well yes, but --"
"And when they try, I end up with whatever they're carrying, which is usually enough for my humble needs."