They presented a plan for harassing Shadowspinner into another trap. I told them, Spinner wont charge into traps. If we separate him from his men maybe we can trap them. But not him.

Narayan leaned close. It wasnt luck, Mistress. It was Kina. Her spirit is loose. It is the time of foreshadowing. The Year of the Skulls approaches. She passes her hand over the eyes of her enemies. She is with us.

I wanted to tell him that the man who counts on the aid of a god deserves the help he doesnt get but I reconsidered. The Deceivers were true believers. Whatever else, however bloodthirsty and criminal their enterprises, they believed in their goddess and mission. Kina was not just a convenient fiction excusing their crimes.

After months of dreams I had trouble not believing in Kina myself. Maybe not as Narayans kind of goddess but as a potent force that fed on death and destruction.

Blade asked, Why not take Shadowspinner out of the picture?

Right. A stroke of genius, Blade. Maybe if we all wish hard enough hell come floating belly up.

He smiled. His smile was no fawning grin like Narayans but it was powerful because he used it so seldom. He offered me a hand up. Take a walk with me, please.

Right on the edge there, Blade. He was not sufficiently impressed, I feared. I reminded myself to remember he probably had his own agenda and I did not have the foggiest what it might be.

We walked away from the others. Narayan and Ram and Swan all watched, each with his particular breed of jealousy.

Well?

Shadowspinner is the main enemy. Kill him and his army would collapse.

Probably.

I have eyes and ears. My brain works. When Im curious I ask questions. I know what Narayan is. I know what you are to him. And I think I know what they want you to become.

No great surprise, that. Probably half the army had some notion, though they might not believe Ram and Narayan deserved their legendary reputation. So?

Ive seen Sindhu in action. I understand Narayan is better.

True.

Then point him at Shadowspinner. He could have the Shadowmaster dead before he knew what hit him.

Strangling a sorcerer is a good way of disposing of him. One of Spinners magnitude relies heavily on voice spells and, secondarily, gesture spells. Stick him with a knife or sword or missile and he can still use both voice and hands unless you kill him instantly. A Narayan could take away the voice. Assuming he could break a neck as fast as he claimed, gestures would not matter.

Stipulated. I think. Leaving one small problem. Moving Narayan near enough to use his rumel.

Uhm.