Coll sat watching him, then a low, rumbling chuckle rose from his chest. He reached back, retrieved a handful of sticks and tossed them into the fire, one at a time. 'Well, dammit, Paran,' he said, amused lines crinkling around his eyes, 'you've come out of the blue like a god-sent bolt of lightning. And I appreciate it. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.'

Paran wiped tears from his eyes. 'Hood's Breath,' he said. 'Just one War Mule talking to another, right?'

'I guess so, Paran. Now, if you'll look in that pack of mine, you'll find a jug of Worrytown wine. Its vintage is about a week.'

The captain rose. 'Meaning?'

'Meaning it's running out of time.'

BOOK SIX - THE CITY OF BLUE FIRE

BOOK SIX - THE CITY OF BLUE FIRE

Rumours like tattered flags

wind-snapped and echoing

in the streets below

told the tale of the days upon us ...

'Twas said an eel had slipped ashore

or not one but a thousand

under a jagged moon that might be dead,

'twas whispered that a claw scraped slow

on the city's cobbles, even as a dragon

was seen sailing high silver and black in the nightsky.

'Twas heard, they say, a demon's death cry

on the rooftops on a night of blood, even

as the master's hundred hands lost

a hundred daggers to the dark,

and 'twas rumoured then, a lady

masked highborn had offered to unbidden guests

a fete to remember ...

Rumour Born

Fisher (b.?)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Few can see

the dark hand

holding aloft

the splinter, or

the notched chains

fated to be heard

before death's rattle,

but hark the wheel

of minions and victims

who moan the

lord's name

in the dark heart

of Moon's Spawn ...

Silverfox

Outrider Hurlochel,

6th Army

As Rallick Nom approached the Phoenix Inn from the alleyway, a large, beefy woman stepped out from a shadowed niche and confronted him. He raised an eyebrow. 'You want something, Meese?'

'Never mind what I want.' She grinned invitingly. 'You've known about that for years. Anyway, I come to tell ya something, Nom. So relax.'

He crossed his arms and waited.

Meese glanced back up the alley, then hunched close to the assassin. 'There's someone in the bar. Been asking for ya. By name.'

Startled, Rallick straightened. 'What's he look like?' he asked casually.

'Like a soldier outa uniform,' Meese replied. 'Never seen him around before. So what do ya think, Nom?'

He looked away. 'Nothing. Where's he sitting?'

Meese grinned again. 'At Kruppe's table. Home ground. Now ain't that fine?'

Rallick stepped past the woman and headed towards the inn. As she moved to follow he held out his hand. 'A minute between us, Meese,' he said, without turning. 'Where's Irilta?'

'Inside,' she said, behind him. 'Good luck, Nom.'