The Books of the South: Tales of the Black Company (Chronicles of the Black Company) Read Online Free PDF Page A

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 do.”
    “There’s stuff we’ve got to do, according to you. Who says what we got to do has to wait on what she’s got to do?”
    And Goblin jumped on me. With both feet. “We put up with your infatuation for about twenty years, Croaker,” he exaggerated. “Because it was amusing. Something to ride you about when times got boring. But it ain’t nothing I mean to get killed over, I absodamnlutely guarantee. Even if she makes us all field marshals.”
    I warded a flash of anger. It was hard, but Goblin was right. I had no business hanging around there, keeping everyone at maximum risk. The longer we waited, the more certain it was that something would go sour. We were having enough trouble getting along with the Tower Guards, who resented our being so close to their mistress after