She wakened him as the sun rose. We reenter the world today, my love. Sorry I havent been as attentive as I should. He could tell nothing from her choice of voices. This one he thought was her own, much like her sisters, always neutral. Ive had a lot on my mind. I should bring you up to date.

That would be nice.

Your flair for sarcasm hasnt disappeared.

It keeps me going.

Maybe. This is how things stand. Last week Spinner attacked Dejagore in force. He was thrown back. He would have succeeded if hed used all his skills. But he couldnt without Longshadow finding out hes not as feeble as he pretends. Hell try again tonight. He could succeed. Your One-Eye and Goblin have broken with their commander.

My beloved sister has obtained a strong position in and around Taglios. She has five or six thousand men, none of them worth a damn.

She left the man Blade at Ghoja when she headed north. He has the same problems and none of her expertise but some of the men he has have legionary experience. Hes decided to let them learn the hard way. Hes begun occupying surrounding territories, especially southward along the road to Dejagore.

Makes it easier to feed his men, probably.

Yes. He has a force exceeding three thousand men now. His scouts have skirmished with Shadowspinners patrols.

And the big news, of course, is that the wizard Smoke has been seduced by Longshadow.

Say what? That little bastard. I never did trust him.

Longshadow appealed to his idealism. And to his fear of my sister and the Black Company. Offered him assurances he couldnt help but believe, made him think he could become a hero by saving Taglios from its supposed saviors while he made peace with the Shadowlands.

That man is a fool. I thought you had to be smart to be a wizard.

Smart doesnt mean sensible, Croaker. And he isnt a complete fool. He didnt trust Longshadow. He used every device he could to make Longshadow keep his word. His real mistake was going to visit Longshadow at Shadowcatch.

What?

The Howler and Longshadow combined their talents to create a flying carpet like those we had back when, before they were destroyed. Its a puny one but good enough for Howler to fly the wizard to Shadowcatch and to drop spies into Taglios. Smoke is down there now. Frogface is watching him. Longshadow is trying to do a poor mans Taking of Smoke. Hell go back to Taglios as Longshadows creature.

Croaker did not like the sums he came up with. Three major wizards against Taglios now, and Taglios only magical defender was a creature of the enemy. Lady might be doing well but could not be doing as well as she must to manage both the Shadowmasters and her enemies behind her.

Doom would be stalking Taglios long before anyone expected it.

Khatovar was farther away than ever.