Crummock chuckled softly. 'Ah, the good work's never done.'

'They'll be causing mischief sooner or later,' said Dogman, 'small doubt o' that.'

'Someone needs to stay back here and keep a watch on things. Hunt those two bastards out if they can.'

'I'll do it,' said Black Dow.

'You sure?'

Dow shrugged. 'I don't like boats and I don't like the Union. Don't need to take no voyage to work that out. And I've got scores enough to settle with Calder and Scale. I'll pick me some Carls out o' what's left, and I'll pay 'em a visit.' He flashed his nasty grin, and clapped Dogman on the arm. 'Good luck to the rest o' you down there with the Southerners, eh? Try not to get yourselves killed.' He narrowed his eyes at Logen. 'You especially, eh, Bloody-Nine? Wouldn't want to lose us another King o' the Northmen, now, would we?' And he sauntered out, arms folded.

'How many men we got left over?'

'Might be three hundred, now, if Dow takes a few.'

Logen gave a long sigh. 'Best get 'em ready to leave then. Wouldn't want Furious to go without us.'

'Who'll want to go?' asked Dogman. 'After what they been through these past months? Who'll want more killing now?'

'Men who don't know how to do much else, I guess.' Logen shrugged. 'Bethod had gold down there, didn't he?'

'Aye, some.'

'Then share it out. Plenty for each man comes with us. Some now, some when we get back. Reckon a good few'll take the offer.'

'Maybe. Men'll talk hard for gold. Not sure they'll fight hard for it, when the time comes.'

'I reckon we'll see.'

Dogman stared at him for a long moment. Stared him right in the eye. 'Why?'

'Because I gave my word.'

'And? Never bothered you before, did it?'

'Can't say it did, and there's the problem.' Logen swallowed, and his mouth tasted bad. 'What else can you do, but try and do better?'

Dogman nodded, slow, his eyes not leaving Logen's face. 'Right you are then, chief. South it is.'

'Uh,' said Grim, and the two of them walked out the doorway, leaving just Crummock behind.

'Off to the Union for you is it, your Majesty? South and kill you some brown men in the sun?'

'South.' Logen worked one sore shoulder beside his sore neck, and then the other. 'You coming?'

Crummock pushed himself away from the wall and walked forward, finger bones clicking round his thick neck. 'No, no, no, not me. I've relished our time together, so I have, but everything's got an end, don't it. I've been away from my mountains for far too long, and my wives'll be missing me.' The chief of the hillmen held his arms out wide, took a step forward, and hugged Logen tight. A little too tight for comfort, if he was being honest.

'They can have a king if they want one,' whispered Crummock in his ear, 'but I can't say I do. Especially not the man who killed my son, eh?' Logen felt himself go cold, from the roots of his hair to the tips of his fingers. 'What did you think? That I wouldn't know?' The hillman leaned back to look Logen in the eye. 'You slaughtered him before the whole world, now, didn't you? You butchered little Rond like a sheep for the pot, and him just as helpless as one.'