several. They could not survive without them.
Thai Dei reflected Croaker’s gaze impassively, unimpressed
by the presence of the great dictator. He might say, “He is
one man. I am one man. We begin even.”
Croaker examined my prizes. “Tell it.”
I told it. “But I missed Narayan. I was this close. That
bastard has a guardian angel. There’s no way he should have
slipped Goblin’s sleep spell. We chased him for two days but
even Goblin and One-Eye couldn’t hang onto his track
forever.”
“He had help. Maybe from his guardian demon. Maybe from
his new buddy the Shadowmaster, too.”
“How come they went back to the grove? How did you know
they would be there?”
I thought he would say a big black bird told him.
They are less numerous these days but the crows still follow him
everywhere. He talks to them. Sometimes they talk to him, too. So
he says.
“They had to come someday, Murgen. They are slaves to
their religion.”
But why this particular Festival of Lights? How did you
know?
I did not press. You don’t press Croaker. He has grown
cranky and secretive in his old age. In his own Annals he did not
always tell the whole truth about personal things, his age
especially.
He kicked the shadowweaver. “One of Longshadow’s pet
spook doctors. You’d think he wouldn’t have enough left
to waste them anymore.”
“I don’t reckon he expected us to jump
them.”
Croaker tried to smile. He produced a nasty, sarcastic sneer
instead. “He’s got lots of surprises coming.” He
kicked the Deceiver. “Let’s don’t hide them.
Let’s take them to the Palace. What’s the
matter?”
Ice had blasted my back, like I was out on the wind of the Grove
of Doom again. I didn’t know why but I had a grim sense of
foreboding.
“I don’t know. You’re the boss. Anything
special you want in the Annals?”
“You’re the Annalist now, Murgen. You write what you
have to write. I can always bitch.” Unlikely. I send
everything over but I don’t think much gets read. He asked,
“What was special about the raid?”
“It was colder than a well digger’s ass out
there.”
“And that walking sack of camel snot Narayan Singh got
away from us again. So that’s what you write. Him and his
kind are going to get back into our story before we’re done.
When we’re roasting him, I hope. Did you see her? Was she all
right?”
“All I saw really was a bundle that Singh carried. I think
it was her.”
“Had to be. He never lets her out of his sight.” He
pretended he did not care. “Bring them to the Palace.”
That chill hit me again. “I’ll make sure the guards
know you’re coming.”
Thai Dei and I exchanged looks. This might get tough. People in
the streets would recognize the prisoners. And the prisoners might
have friends. And for sure they did have enemies by the thousand.
They might not survive the trip. Or we might not.
The Old Man said, “Tell your wife I said hello and I hope
she likes the new apartment.”
“Sure.” I shivered. Thai Dei frowned at me.
Croaker produced a sheaf of papers rolled into a tube.
“This came in from Lady while you were gone. It’s for
the Annals.”
“Someone must have died.”
He grinned. “Bang it around and fit it in. But don’t
polish it so much she gets all righteous again. I can’t stand
it when she flays me with my own arguments.”
“I learned the first time.”
“One-Eye says he thinks he knows where he left his papers
from when he thought he was going to have to keep the
Annals.”
“I’ve heard that one before.”
Croaker grinned again, then ducked out.
----
----
16
Four hundred men and five elephants swarmed around an incomplete
stockade. The nearest friendly outpost lay a hard day’s march
northward. Shovels gnawed the earth. Hammers pounded. Elephants
swung timbers off wagons and helped set them upright. Only the oxen
stood around, lazing in their harnesses.
This nameless post was barely a day old, the newest point in
Thai Dei reflected Croaker’s gaze impassively, unimpressed
by the presence of the great dictator. He might say, “He is
one man. I am one man. We begin even.”
Croaker examined my prizes. “Tell it.”
I told it. “But I missed Narayan. I was this close. That
bastard has a guardian angel. There’s no way he should have
slipped Goblin’s sleep spell. We chased him for two days but
even Goblin and One-Eye couldn’t hang onto his track
forever.”
“He had help. Maybe from his guardian demon. Maybe from
his new buddy the Shadowmaster, too.”
“How come they went back to the grove? How did you know
they would be there?”
I thought he would say a big black bird told him.
They are less numerous these days but the crows still follow him
everywhere. He talks to them. Sometimes they talk to him, too. So
he says.
“They had to come someday, Murgen. They are slaves to
their religion.”
But why this particular Festival of Lights? How did you
know?
I did not press. You don’t press Croaker. He has grown
cranky and secretive in his old age. In his own Annals he did not
always tell the whole truth about personal things, his age
especially.
He kicked the shadowweaver. “One of Longshadow’s pet
spook doctors. You’d think he wouldn’t have enough left
to waste them anymore.”
“I don’t reckon he expected us to jump
them.”
Croaker tried to smile. He produced a nasty, sarcastic sneer
instead. “He’s got lots of surprises coming.” He
kicked the Deceiver. “Let’s don’t hide them.
Let’s take them to the Palace. What’s the
matter?”
Ice had blasted my back, like I was out on the wind of the Grove
of Doom again. I didn’t know why but I had a grim sense of
foreboding.
“I don’t know. You’re the boss. Anything
special you want in the Annals?”
“You’re the Annalist now, Murgen. You write what you
have to write. I can always bitch.” Unlikely. I send
everything over but I don’t think much gets read. He asked,
“What was special about the raid?”
“It was colder than a well digger’s ass out
there.”
“And that walking sack of camel snot Narayan Singh got
away from us again. So that’s what you write. Him and his
kind are going to get back into our story before we’re done.
When we’re roasting him, I hope. Did you see her? Was she all
right?”
“All I saw really was a bundle that Singh carried. I think
it was her.”
“Had to be. He never lets her out of his sight.” He
pretended he did not care. “Bring them to the Palace.”
That chill hit me again. “I’ll make sure the guards
know you’re coming.”
Thai Dei and I exchanged looks. This might get tough. People in
the streets would recognize the prisoners. And the prisoners might
have friends. And for sure they did have enemies by the thousand.
They might not survive the trip. Or we might not.
The Old Man said, “Tell your wife I said hello and I hope
she likes the new apartment.”
“Sure.” I shivered. Thai Dei frowned at me.
Croaker produced a sheaf of papers rolled into a tube.
“This came in from Lady while you were gone. It’s for
the Annals.”
“Someone must have died.”
He grinned. “Bang it around and fit it in. But don’t
polish it so much she gets all righteous again. I can’t stand
it when she flays me with my own arguments.”
“I learned the first time.”
“One-Eye says he thinks he knows where he left his papers
from when he thought he was going to have to keep the
Annals.”
“I’ve heard that one before.”
Croaker grinned again, then ducked out.
----
----
16
Four hundred men and five elephants swarmed around an incomplete
stockade. The nearest friendly outpost lay a hard day’s march
northward. Shovels gnawed the earth. Hammers pounded. Elephants
swung timbers off wagons and helped set them upright. Only the oxen
stood around, lazing in their harnesses.
This nameless post was barely a day old, the newest point in
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