Croaker confuses me. In some ways he has become dangerously unpredictable. At the same time he becomes more and more the high priest of the Black Company legend, admitting no other gods before his precious Annals.

That was not true. Croaker grew less interested all the time. But allow Mogaba his hyperbole. He wanted to sell something.

Mogaba continued, I fear he may become so skewed hell attack in a way so novel we wont recognize it until its too late.

As long as he comes. Only disaster awaits him.

Hell come. But is the overall outcome so certain? I got the feeling both men nurtured major doubts, but each mostly about the other.

You circle back upon my constraints. Desist. You fear him?

I dread him. More than I dread Lady. Lady is straightforward in her enmity. She comes right at you with everything she has. Croaker is determined to flim-flam you into looking somewhere else while he sticks a knife in your back. He will come at you with everything he has, too, but how will he use it? He is not a man of honor.

Mogaba didnt really mean that Croaker was dishonorable but that he was not a gentleman in the sense that meant so much to Mogaba who could not be considered a cavalier himself anymore.

Mogaba continued, He is no longer sane. I do not believe he is sure what he is doing himself. These days he has to face much for which there is no precedent in his Annals.

Wrong again, chappie. After four hundred years there is a precedent for everything in the Annals somewhere. The trick is knowing how to look.

He has limits, General.

Of course. Those Taglians are factious and divisive.

And that could be his undoing. Politically he will have no option but to try his luck at Charandaprash soon. Where we will crush him.

And if I do? We should consider the possibilities of life unplagued by this disease called the Black Company.

Oh?

Winning one battle will not be enough. If even one of them survives and maintains possession of the Lance of Passion new armies will rise against us. Lady proved that.

Then you will have the pleasure of crushing them again. Mogaba wanted to argue but elected not to bark into the wind.

Once Overlook is complete you can hare off on any adventure you like, with my approval and with my total support.

Adventure?

I understand you better than you suppose. You were Gea-Xles greatest warrior but you could not prove that to yourself. In the Black Company you were overshadowed by your captain and Senjak. It was necessary for you to have command in order to demonstrate your scope and genius. When you did have an opportunity all your efforts were sabotaged and suborned. You came to me because the Black Company would not allow you the opportunity you need.