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Back Bleak Seasons Save as PDF
Chapters (102)
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The Annals arent magic. What they say about sieges is plain commonsense stuff. Be stubborn. Ration. Dont support the nonproductive. Control the spread of plague. Dont exhaust your enemys patience if there is no hope of outlasting him. If surrender is inevitable do it while your enemy is still amenable to terms.

This enemy never offered.

I wondered about that, although the Shadowmasters did have a tendency to think like gods.

Thank you, Standardbearer. We will examine our options and keep you informed of what we mean to do.

Goblin and One-Eye helped me ease my chair back. They settled me into the litter. Mogaba said nothing else and I could think of nothing I wanted to tell him. The other Nar just stood there awkwardly and watched us go.

What was that in aid of? I asked once we were clear. I expected yelling and threats.

He wanted to pick your brains, Goblin said.

While he made up his mind if he was going to kill you, One-Eye added cheerfully.

Oh, thats real encouraging.

He did decide, Murgen. And he didnt pick the option you want to hear. Its time to start being real careful.

We did make it home unharmed.

64

64

sDont bother dragging me up there till we find out what Uncle wants. Goblin and One-Eye were at the foot of steps leading to the battlements. Doj was up top, looking down.

I wasnt planning to carry your dead ass anywhere anyhow anymore, One-Eye told me. Far as Im concerned this exercise was for camouflage.

Uncle Doj started downward.

I stared at the wall. Tiny beads of sweat covered it, but that was because the stone was cooler than the air, not because water had begun seeping through from outside.

The Shadowmasters were good builders.

Stone Soldier. You are well?

Not bad for a guy with the runs. Ready to dance on your grave, Stubby. We got business?

The Speaker wishes to see you. Your excursion was not successful? He moved his head to indicate my trip outside.

If you call spending two weeks as a guest of the Shadowmaster a success I tore them up, Uncle. Otherwise, all I did was get sick, lose some weight, then have barely enough sense left to run for it when some Taglians hit Shadowspinners camp with a nuisance raid. Thats all right. I can walk that far. Just dont let me fall down any rabbit holes.

I could walk to the Speakers place easily but why give up the pretense of weakness if it might be useful?

Nothing changed with the Speakers crew. Except that this time one smell was absent. I noticed that as soon as I stepped inside. I could not identify the missing odor, though.

The Speaker was ready. Hong Tray was in place. The beautiful one had tea brewing.