Raven tormented the Limper till I could stand no more. Raven, thats really enough. Why dont you back off and keep them covered? He had been given no specific instructions about what to do after we captured Whisper, but I figured the Lady would tell Catcher and he would drop in. We just had to keep things under control till he arrived.

Soulcatchers magic carpet dropped from the sky half an hour after I chased Raven away from the Limper. It settled a few feet from our captives. Catcher stepped off, stretched looked down at Whisper. He sighed, observed, Not a pretty sight, Whisper, in that businesslike female voice. But then you never were. Yes. My friend Croaker found the buried packets.

Whispers hard, cold eyes sought me. They were informed with a savage impact. Rather than face that, I moved. I did not correct Soulcatcher.

He turned to the Limper, shook his head sadly. No. Its not personal. You used up your credit. She ordered this.

The Limper went rigid.

Soulcatcher asked Raven, Why didnt you kill him?

Raven sat on the trunk of the larger fallen tree, bow across his lap, staring at the earth. He did not reply. I said, He figured you could think of something better.

Catcher laughed. I thought about it corning over here. Nothing seemed adequate. Im taking Ravens way out. I told Shifter. Hes on his way. He looked down at the Limper. Youre in trouble, arent you? To me, Youd think a man this old would have garnered some wisdom along the way. He turned to Raven. Raven, he was the Ladys reward to you.

Raven grunted. I appreciate it.

I had figured that out already. But I was supposed to get something out of this too, and I had not seen anything remotely fulfilling any dream of mine.

Soulcatcher did his mindreading trick. Yours has changed, I think. It hasnt been delivered yet. Make yourself comfortable, Croaker. Well be here a long time.

I went and sat beside Raven. We did not talk. There was nothing I wanted to say, and he was lost somewhere inside himself. Like I said, a man cannot live on hatred alone.

Soulcatcher double-checked our captives bonds, dragged his carpet rack into the shadows, then perched himself on the stone pile.

Shapeshifter arrived twenty minutes later, as huge, ugly, dirty, and stinking as ever. He looked the Limper over, conferred with Catcher, growled at the Limper for half a minute, then remounted his flying carpet and soared away. Catcher explained, Hes passing it on too. Nobody wants the final responsibility.

Who could he pass it to? I wondered. The Limper had no heavy enemies left.

Catcher shrugged and returned to the stone pile. He muttered in a dozen voices, drawing into himself, almost shrinking. I think he was as happy to be there as was I.