'Alright,' said Shivers, turning and trudging up the slope, hands still up in the air, 'but watch what you do with that shaft, eh? I don't want to get stuck for you not looking where you're stepping.'

'Don't worry about me, big lad, the Dogman don't miss no—gah!'

His foot caught on a root and he lurched a step and fumbled his string. The arrow shot past Shivers' head and thudded wobbling into a tree just beyond. Dogman ended up on his knees in the dirt, looking up at him looming over, clutching an empty bow in one hand. 'Piss,' he muttered. If the man had wanted to, Dogman had no doubt he could have swung one of those big fists down and knocked his head off.

'Lucky you missed me,' said Shivers. 'Can I put my hands down now?'

Dow started as soon as they walked into the camp, of course. 'Who the hell's this bastard?' he snarled, striding straight up to Shivers and staring him out, bristling up to him with his axe clutched in his hand. It might have looked a touch comical, Dow being half a head shorter, but Shivers didn't seem much amused. Nor should he have.

'He's—' the Dogman started, but he didn't get any further.

'He's a tall bastard, eh? I ain't talking up to a bastard like him! Sit down, big lad!' and he threw his arm out and shoved Shivers over on his arse.

The Dogman thought he took it well, considering. He grunted when he hit the dirt, of course, then he blinked, then he propped himself on his elbows, grinning up at them. 'I reckon I'll just stay down here. Don't hold it against me though, eh? I didn't choose to be tall, any more than you chose to be an arsehole.'

Dogman winced at that, expecting Shivers to get a boot in the fruits for his trouble, but Dow started to grin instead. 'Chose to be an arsehole, I like that. I like him. Who is he?'

'His name's Shivers,' said the Dogman. 'He's Rattleneck's son.'

Dow frowned. 'But didn't Ninefingers—'

'His other son.'

'But he'd be no more 'n a—'

'Work it out.'

Dow frowned, then shook his head. 'Shit. That long, eh?'

'He looks like Rattleneck,' came Tul's voice, his shadow falling across them.

'Bloody hell!' said Shivers. 'I thought you didn't like tall folk? It's two of you standing on top of each other ain't it?'

'Just the one.' Tul reached down and pulled him up by one arm like he was a child fell over. 'Sorry 'bout that greeting, friend. Those visitors we get we usually end up killing.'

'I'll hope to be the exception,' said Shivers, still gawping up at the Thunderhead. 'So that must be Harding Grim.'