I stumbled into a parade of big ones at my new fortress.

The first thing they did was arrest all three of us and shove us into a cell. Nobody bothered to explain. Nobody said anything. They seemed surprised I did not go berserk.

We sat in gloom and waited. I was afraid Smoke had won his point at last and had turned the Prahbrindrah Drah against me. Narayan said maybe Id missed a few priests and this was all their fault.

We did not talk much. We used only sign and cant when we did. No telling who was listening.

Three hours after we went into the cell the door opened. The Radisha Drah strode in, backed by a squad of her guards. It got crowded in there. She glared at me. Who are you?

What kind of question is that? Lady. Captain of the Black Company. Who should I be?

She even takes a deep breath, kill her. The Radisha wheeled on Ram. You. Stand up.

Faithful Ram might not have heard. He looked to me. I nodded. Then he stood. The Radisha grabbed a torch from a guard, held it close to Ram, circled him slowly. She sniffed and sniffed. After her third circuit she relaxed. Sit. Youre who youre supposed to be. But the woman. Who is she?

That seemed a little too tough for Ram. He had to think about it. He looked at me again. I nodded. He said, She told you.

She looked at me. Can you prove youre Lady? Can you prove youre the Radisha Drah? I have no need. No one is masquerading as me. I got it. That bitch! She never was short on nerve. Walked in here and took over, eh? What did she do? The Radisha considered some more. We have the right one this time. Guards. You may go. They went. TheRadisha said, She didnt do much. Mostly played up to my brother. She wasnt here that long. Then somebody called the Howler knocked her out and carried her off. Thinking she was you, Croaker said.

Ha! Serves the bitch... Who said? Croaker. Your Captain. She brought him with her, disguised as that one. She indicated Ram.

Some sort of impenetrable membrane lay between my ears and my heart. Very carefully, before it broke, I asked, Did Howler take him, too? Where is he?

He and my brother went to find you. Disguised. He said she would look for him as soon as she got free of the Howler and Longshadow.

My mind slid away from the unbelievable, dwelt on crows. Now I knew why there had been none spying till shortly before we reached the fortress. She had been in unfriendly hands. He went to Dejagore?

Thats my guess. My fool brother went with him. And I came here. I laughed, maybe crazily. That membrane was giving. Id appreciate it if everyone would leave. I need some time alone.