I was not going to make him happy. For the duration. They want their slice of Narayan Singh. The Old Man still distrusted Uncle Doj.

They know about Smoke?

Of course not! Damnit...!

Keep it that way. You find his library again yet?

I had mentioned having stumbled onto that. Not yet. Fact was, I had made no more than a token effort. I had too much else on my mind.

Try a little harder. He knew. Dont spend so much time with Smoke. And I think it might be useful to look at those old Annals before we head south.

How come you never looked for the library yourself? Youve had years.

I heard it got destroyed the night that Smoke got mauled. Now it looks like that must have happened in some other room. The Radisha wouldnt mislead me about something like that. Would she? Nah.

We paused while a Vehdna cavalry regiment passed in review outside the Palace. It had come from upcountry somewhere and was just paying its respects before taking the field. The robes and turbans of the troopers were clean and gaudy. Their lances were all brightly pennoned. Their spearheads gleamed. Their mounts were beautiful, admirably trained and perfectly groomed.

Too bad pretty dont win wars, I said. The Black Company is not pretty.

Croaker grunted. I glanced at him. And surprised what might have been a teardrop in the corner of his eye.

He knew what awaited all those brave young men.

We crossed behind the horsemen, stepping carefully.

One-Eye met us in the hall way outside Croakers apartment. Whats the word?

Croaker shook his head. No magic answers.

We always get to do it the hard way.

I told him, Im supposed to look for that library room I found the other night. You got something to help keep me from getting confused?

He looked at me like that might be a tall order. I already gave you something. He indicated the yarn on my wrist.

That was for your spells. Theres probably still a bunch of Smokes left over, too.

The runt thought about that. Could be. Give me that. His gaze fell on my amulet as I removed the yarn. Jade? He held my wrist momentarily.

I think so. It belonged to Saries grandmother, Hong Tray. You never met her. She was the old Speakers wife.

You been wearing this all these years and I never noticed?

I never wore it till Sarie...Until the other night. Sarie wore it sometimes, though, when she wanted to dress up.

Ah, yes. I recall. He frowned like he was trying to remember something, then shrugged, went off into a shadow and muttered to the yarn for a while. When he returned he said, That ought to get you through anybodys confusion spells. Except maybe your own.

What?

You had any of your attacks lately?