You got a name, short and wide? I asked. If you dont have one you prefer I guarantee you these guys will hang one on you and I promise you wont like it.

Hear hear, Goblin agreed, chuckling.

I am Doj. All Nyueng Bao call me Uncle Doj.

All right, Uncle. You going up there with us? Or did you just come over to direct traffic? Already Goblin was whispering instructions to the guys creeping up behind us. No doubt he had left a few soft spells of sleepiness or confusion amongst the southerners as he was scouting.

Little discussion was needed. We would drive into their soft spot, kill anything that moved, split them in half, butcher anybody who didnt run away, then we would back away before Mogaba began feeling too confident.

I will accompany you although that stretches the Speakers instructions to extremes. You Bone Warriors surprise us continually. I wish to watch you at your work.

I never considered killing people to be my profession but did not care to argue. You speak Taglian very well, Uncle.

He smiled. I am forgetful, though, Stone Soldier. I may not remember a word after tonight. Unless the Speaker jogged his memory, I supposed.

Uncle Doj did a great deal more than watch us hack and stab southerners. He turned into a one-man cyclone flailing around with a lightning sword. He was as sudden as the lightning but as graceful as a dancer. Each time he moved another Shadowlander fell.

Damn, I told Goblin a while later. Remind me not to get into a quarrel with that character.

Ill remind you to bring a crossbow and let him have it in the back from thirty feet is what Ill do. After I put a deafness and a stupidity spell on him to even things up a little.

Dont be surprised if its me distracting you someday when One-Eye sneaks up and offers you a cactus suppository.

Speaking of the runt. Tell me. Whos being conspicuously absent without leave lately?

I sent messages to the various units suggesting that we had done our part to relieve Mogabas troops. We should all go back to our part of town, patch ourselves up, take naps, like that. I told the Nyueng Bao elder, Uncle Doj, please inform the Speaker that the Black Company extends its gratitude and friendship. Tell him he is free to call upon that at any time. We will extend ourselves as much as possible.

The short, wide man bowed far enough that his movement had to mean something. I bowed back, almost as deeply. That must have been the right move because he smiled slightly, bowed shallowly for himself, hustled off.

Runs like a duck, Candles observed.

Im glad that duck was on our side, though.

You can say that again.

Im glad that duck...Argh! Candles had me by the throat.

Somebody help me shut him up.