He could not manage that mission on his own. Taking the Annals back... He did not have them. They were trapped inside Dejagore. He could not get to them.

Was Murgen keeping them up? Hed better be.

You havent said anything about our part in all this.

But I have. Often. Were just going to have fun with it. Were going to kick the props out from under people. Tonight well have this whole end of the world wondering whats going on and whos doing what to who.

He began to understand soon after she told him to start getting ready.

Ready how?

Get your armor on. Its time to scare the shit out of Spinners men and save Dejagore.

He just stood there, puzzled. She asked, Would you rather let them be wiped out?

No. The Annals were in the city. They had to be preserved. He unpacked the armor they had lugged all the way from the temple. I cant get this on by myself.

I know. Youll have to help me with mine, too.

With hers? He had assumed she would use her old Soulcatcher guise. He began to see her subtlety.

The armor she had made at the temple was a copy of Ladys Lifetaker rig. Their appearance would leave all the principals completely confused. His Widowmaker was supposed to be dead. Ladys Lifetaker was supposed to be in Taglios. Neither was supposed to amount to anything in sorcerous terms. The besieged would be stunned. Spinners men would be dismayed. Longshadow might suspect the truth but would not be sure. Smoke and the Taglian prince and his sister would be baffled. Even Lady would be confused.

He was sure she believed him dead.

Damn you, he said as he settled her helmet over her head. Damn you to hell. He could not refuse to cooperate. Dejagore would fall and its defenders would be massacred if he and she did not intercede.

Relax, my love. Relax. Put emotion aside. Have fun with it. Look. The lance. She pointed.

It was the lance that had carried the Company standard for centuries. He had searched in vain for it at the temple. He had not seen it coming down. Now it stood beyond the fire they had lighted for illumination. It glowed gently. A banner hung from it but he could not make it out.

How did you...? To hell with her. Sorcery. He would play her game only as far as he had to. He would give her no pleasure.

Get it, Croaker. Mount up. Its time. Shed even conjured the armor that went with the stallions, baroque and beginning to show highlights of witchfire.

He did as he was told. And was startled. Her armor had a subtly different look from that which Lady had created for her Lifetaker character. This was more intimidating. It radiated menace. It had the feel of an archetypal doom.