Sindhu said, The Festival of Lights is our great gathering, when each band sends men to the rites at the Grove of Doom.

Narayan silenced him with a gesture. A great holy day but little different than the Shadar festival of the same name. Many of the band captains, come but bring few of their followers. The priests attend, of course. Decisions are made and cases judged but I would guess that not one in twenty believers attends. I would guess that there are between one and two thousand of us today, more than half living in Taglian territory.

Not many at all, then. And only a minority of those truly skilled murderers. But what a force to unleash in the darkness if I could make it my instrument.

And now the true question, Narayan. The heart of the thing. Where do I fit? Why have you chosen me? And for what?

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Crowing and clatter wakened Croaker. He rose and went to the temple entrance. Ghostly dawn light permeated the misty wood.

Soulcatcher had returned. The black stallions were lathered. They had run long and hard. The sorceress was besieged by squawking crows. She cursed them and beat them back, beckoned him. He went out, asked, Where have you been? Things have been happening.

So I gather. I went for your armor. She indicated the horse she hadnt ridden.

You went all the way to Dejagore? For that? Why?

Well need it. Tell me what happened.

How were they? My men.

Holding out. Better than I expected. They may hang on for quite a while. Shadowspinner isnt at his best. The voice she chose rasped with irritation. When she continued, though, it had become that of

a cajoling child. Tell me. Itll take forever to get it out of them. They all try to tell me at once.

The Howler came past yesterday.

She raised that wooden box to eye level, though she didnt make him look at the face inside. The Howler? Tell me.

He did.

The game grows more interesting. How did Longshadow lure him out of his swamp?

I dont know.

I was speaking rhetorically, Croaker. Go inside. Im tired. I was in a bad mood already.

He went. He didnt want to test her temper. Outside, she chattered with a flock of crows so dense she disappeared among them. Somehow she brought confusion out of chaos. Minutes later the temple vibrated to the beat of countless wings. A black cloud flew away south.

Soulcatcher came inside. Croaker kept his distance, kept his mouth shut. Not much intimidated him but he wasnt one to stick his hand in a cobras mouth.

Morning came. Croaker wakened. Soulcatcher appeared to be sleeping soundly. He resisted temptation. It was less than a flutter of a thought, anyway. He wouldnt catch her off guard that easily. Chances were she wasnt asleep at all. Resting, yes. Maybe testing him. He couldnt recall ever having seen her sleep.