'Bethod's going north and we'll be following.' Threetrees said it in a way that made it clear it weren't a matter for discussion. 'Keep an eye on him, hope to move fast and keep ahead, so that if your friend Burr comes blundering through these woods, we can warn him where Bethod's at before he stumbles on him like a blind man falling down a fucking well.'

The Prince slapped angry at the ground. 'I demand to know what is being said!'

'That Bethod is heading north with his army,' hissed West at him through gritted teeth. 'And that they intend to follow him.'

'This is intolerable!' snapped the fool, tugging at his filthy cuffs. 'That course of action puts us all in danger! Please inform them that we will be setting out southwards without delay!'

'That's settled, then.' They all turned to see who spoke, and got quite the shock. Grim, talking Union as smooth and even as the Prince himself. 'You're going south. We're going north. I need to piss.' And he got up and wandered off into the dark. Dogman stared after him, mouth open. Why did he need to learn someone else's language when he never spoke more than two words together in his own?

'Very well!' squawked the Prince, shrill and panicky. 'I should have expected no better!'

'Your Highness!' hissed West at him. 'We need them! We won't make it to Ostenhorm or anywhere else without their help!'

The girl's eyes slid sideways. 'Do you even know which way south is?' Dogman stifled a chuckle, but the Prince weren't laughing.

'We should head south!' he snarled, dirty face twitching with anger.

Threetrees snorted. 'The baggage don't get a vote, boy, even supposing this was a voting band, which it ain't.' He was finally speaking Union, but Dogman didn't reckon the Prince would be too happy to know what was being said. 'You had your chance to give the orders, and look where it's got you. Not to mention those were fools enough to do what you told 'em. You'll not be adding any of our names to their list, I can tell you that. If you want to follow us, you'd best learn to keep up. If you want to give the orders, well—'

'South is that way,' said the Dogman, jerking his thumb into the woods. 'Good luck.'

Scant Mercy

Scant Mercy

« ^ »

To Arch Lector Sult,
head of his Majesty's Inquisition.

Your Eminence,