Fail in this and there will be but one answer left. I shall have to loose one of the big ones off the Plain.

The Howlers concentration broke momentarily. A terrible wail tore through his lips. Then the little bundle of rags chuckled. Consider her caught. I have a score to settle myself.

Longshadow watched the ragbag drift out, taking its odor with it. Maybe its first torment would consist of soap and water.

He sent for his best three Guards and briefed them, then tried contacting Shadowspinner again.

Spinner did not respond. He was preoccupied. Or dead.

He retreated to his crystal tower. Crows perched on its top peered down. It was time he did something about them. Permanently. After he sent shadows to Dejagore.

Chapter Forty-Six

Chapter Forty-Six

Mogaba was much more surprised to see me than I was to see him. An immense displeasure marred his features, a grand measure of his surprise. He was always in control of what he showed the world.

The look persisted only a moment. He altered his course to join me. Before he reached me Ram was beside me, between him and me, and Abda had materialized to my left. Narayan was making certain no outsider caused me grief.

Up ahead Sindhu cursed the light and ordered men to move. It was hit fast or die.

Lady, Mogaba said. We thought you dead. He was a big man without an ounce of waste on him, muscled like a fictional hero. He was blacker than Blade and a consummate commander, one of the Nar, descendants of the original Black Company. Croaker had enlisted him in Gea-Xle during our southward journey. The Nar constituted a separate warrior class there. With a thousand Nar I could have cleaned the Shadowmasters out as fast as the men could march.

There were only fifteen or twenty left alive, I guessed. All loyal to Mogaba.

Did you? Im tougher than you think. His men piled into the camp with mine, trying to reach Shadowspinner before he reacted. I suspected Mogabas men had triggered the lights. In Spinners place I would have expected an attack from him before one from me.

Do you have the Lance? he asked. The question took me from the blind side. I would have thought hed want to talk about the siege or which of us had the stronger claim to the Captaincy.

What lance?

He smiled. Relieved. The standard. Murgen lost it.

He was stretching the truth somehow. I turned the conversation to business. We would not have much time. The Shadowlanders were getting ready to interrupt. How bad off are you? I have no veterans and few trained men. I can only harass them, not break you out.

We arent in good shape. Their last assault nearly overcame us. Where did you get your power? Who are you riding with? Murgen saw Croaker die.