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Back Bleak Seasons Save as PDF
Chapters (102)
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Ky Dam traded looks with his wife. I sighed. I get it. Its more of the Black Company claptrap everybody does. You think were something our predecessors were supposed to have been four hundred years ago, only probably werent because oral history exaggerates ridiculously. Speaker, listen. The Black Company is just a gang of outcasts. Really. Were plain old mercenary soldiers caught up in circumstances we dont understand and really dont like. Were just passing through. We came this way because our Captain has a bug up his ass about the Companys history. Most of the rest of us couldnt think of anything else we wanted to do more. I told him about Silent and Darling and others who had parted with the brotherhood rather than hazard the long journey south. I promise you, whatever scares everybody and I wish somebody would tell me what that is it would have to involve way more work than Im willing to put into anything.

The old man eyed, me, glanced at his wife. She said and did nothing but something passed between them. Ky Dam nodded.

Uncle Doj materialized. The Speaker told me, Perhaps we misjudge you. Even I allow prejudice to guide me at times. There is a chance I will know better when next we speak.

Uncle Doj made a small gesture. Time for me to leave.

44

44

Goblin caught me hitting the Jaicuri books. Murgen! I started. Huh?

About goddamn time.

What? Whatre you talking about?

I been standing here watching you for ten minutes. You never turned a page. You never blinked an eye. I couldnt tell if you was breathing.

I started to make an excuse.

Wont sell. I had to yell four times and slap you on the back of the head to get your attention.

So I was thinking. Only I could not recall even one thought.

Yeah. Right. Mogaba wants your scrawny ass over to the citadel.

A lot of southerners have sneaked off to meet this relief column, I told Mogaba. At first I thought they were trying to trick us. Pull back and hit us when we tried to take advantage. But Goblin and One-Eye promise me theyve just kept going. There cant be a relief army, though. Where would the soldiers come from? Who would lead them? Would Mogaba believe that I had not heard the more interesting rumors? He heard more than I did. And Croakers survival probably figured in a lot of those.

What would he do if the Old Man turned up alive?

I was pretty sure Mogaba thought about that a lot.

I was thanked and told to return to my people with no other comment. I did not find out why he sent for me.