Shadow Games: The Fourth Chronicles of the Black Company: First Book of the South Read Online Free PDF Page A

context of
     later events . . . ”
    One-Eye had started to stroll, pulling me along in his wake. He came to a place
     that was not marked at all, except in his memory. A thing called a forvalaka had
     perished there. A thing that had slaughtered his brother—maybe—way back in the
     days when we first became involved with Soulcatcher, the Lady’s legate to Beryl.
    The forvalaka was a sort of vampirous wereleopard originally native to One-Eye’s
     own home jungle, somewhere way down south. It had taken One-Eye a year to catch
     up with and have his revenge upon this one.
    “You’re thinking about how hard it was to get rid of the Limper,” he said. His
     voice was thoughtful. I knew he was recalling something I thought he had put out
     of mind.
    We were never certain that the forvalaka which killed Tom-Tom was the forvalaka
     that paid the price. Because in those days the Taken Soulcatcher worked closely
     with another Taken called Shapeshifter and there was evidence to suggest Shifter
     might have been in Beryl that night. And using the forvalaka shape to assure the
     destruction of the ruling family so the empire could take over on the cheap.
    If One-Eye had not avenged Tom-Tom on the right creature it was far too late for
     tears. Shifter was another of the victims of the Battle at Charm.
    “I’m thinking about Limper,” I admitted. “I killed him at that inn, One-Eye. I
     killed him good. And if he hadn’t turned up again, I’d never have doubted that
     he was gone.”
    “And no doubts about these?”
    “Some.”
    “You want to sneak out after dark and dig one of them up?”
    “What’s the point? There’ll be somebody in the grave, and no way to prove it
     isn’t who it’s supposed to be.”
    “They were killed by other Taken and by members of the Circle. That’s a little
     different than getting worked on by a no-talent like you.”
    He meant no talent for sorcery. “I know. That’s what keeps me from getting
     obsessed with the whole mess. Knowing that those who supposedly killed them
     really had the power to do them in.”
    One-Eye stared at the ground where once a cross stood with the forvalaka nailed
     upon it. After a while he shivered and came back to now. “Well, it doesn’t
     matter now. It was long ago, if not very far away. And far away is where we’ll
     be if we ever get out of here.” He pulled his floppy black hat forward to keep
     the sun out of his eyes, looked up at the Tower. We were being watched.
    “Why does she want to go with us? That’s the one I keep coming back to. What’s
     in this for her?”
    One-Eye looked at me with the oddest expression. He pushed his hat back, put his
     hands on his hips, cocked his head a moment, then shook it slowly. “Croaker.
    Sometimes you’re too much to be believed. Why are you hanging around here
     waiting for her instead of heading out, putting miles behind?”
    It was a good question and one I shied off anytime I tried to examine it. “Well,
    I guess I kind of like her and think she deserves a shot at some kind of regular
     life. She’s all right. Really.”
    I caught a transient smirk as he turned to the unmarked grave. “Life wouldn’t be
     half fun without you in it, Croaker. Watching you bumble through is an education
     in itself. How soon can we get moving? I don’t like this place.”
    “I don’t know. A few more days. There’re things she has to wrap up first.”
    “That’s what you said—”
    I am afraid I got snappish. “I’ll let you know when.”
    When seemed never to come. Days passed. Lady remained ensnared in the web of the
     administrative spider.
    Then the messages began pouring in from the provinces, in response to edicts
     from the Tower. Each one demanded immediate attention.
    We had been closed up in that dread place for two weeks.
    “Get us the hell out of here, Croaker,” One-Eye demanded. “My nerves can’t take
     this place anymore.”
    “Look, there’s stuff she’s got to