He made himself breakfast.

Soulcatcher wakened while he cooked. He didnt notice. A dramatic pink flash startled him. He whirled. Pinkish smoke swirled beyond the sorceress. A child-sized creature pranced out, flipped the woman a salute, sauntered over to him. How they hanging, chief? Long time, no see.

Want an honest answer or one that will please you, Frogface?

Hey! You aint surprised to see me.

No. I figured you were a plant. One-Eye doesnt have what it takes to manage a demon.

Hey! Hey! Lets watch our tongue, eh, Cap? I aint no demon. Im an imp.

Sorry about the ethnic slur. You did fool me, some. I thought you belonged to Shapeshifter.

That lump? What could he offer?

Croaker shrugged. You been in Dejagore? He contained an old anger. The imp, supposedly helping the Black Company, had been absent in the final debacle there. Whats the news?

The imp stood only two feet tall though he had the proportions of an adult. He glanced at Soulcatcher, received some intangible permission. That Mogaba is one bad actor, chief. Hes giving the Shadowmasters boys all the trouble they ever wanted. Making them look like fools. Eating them up a nibble at a time. Course, it cant last. He keeps getting into it with your old buddies One-Eye, Goblin, and Murgen. They dont like the way he operates. He dont like them all the time telling him about it. You get a split there, or Shadowspinner breaks loose, you got a whole new game.

Croaker settled with his meal. Shadowspinner breaks loose?

Yeah. He got hurt in the fight, you know. His old buddy from down south, Longshadow, got a whammy in on him while he was down. Keeps him from using his talents. Them Shadowmasters was a lovely bunch, all the time trying to slide around behind each other even when they was up to their asses in alligators. Longshadow, hes got a notion he can play Shadowspinner just loose enough to let him wipe Dejagore, then squish the clown and make himself king of the world.

In a voice little more than a whisper the sorceress said, He has the Howler to consider, now. And me.

The imps grin faded. You aint as secret as you think, boss. They know youre down here. They all did, from the beginning.

Damn! She paced. I thought Id been more careful.

Hey! Not to worry. None of them got the faintest where you are now. And maybe when we get done with them theyll wish they was nicer to you in the old days. Eh? Eh? He laughed, childlike.

Croaker had encountered Frogface first in Gea-Xle, far to the north. One-Eye, one of the Company wizards, had bought him there. Everyone but One-Eye had doubted the imps provenance and loyalty, though Frogface had made himself useful.

Croaker asked Soulcatcher, You have something planned?