Elmos eyes spoke tortured volumes. But he did not question his orders. He is a good soldier. And, as did I, he knew they came from above the Captains head. Perhaps from the Tower itself.

Hitherto, night had brought a tacit truce. The rigors of the days had left both armies unwilling to take one needless step after dark. There had been no nighttime contact.

Even those hours of respite, when the storm slept, were not enough to keep the armies from marching with their butts drooping against their heels. Now our high lords wanted an extra effort, hoping to gain some tactical advantage. Get to the Stair by night, get dug in, make the Rebel come at us out of perpetual storm. It made sense. But it was the sort of move ordered by an armchair general three hundred miles behind the fighting.

You hear that? the Captain asked me.

Yeah. Sounds dumb.

I agree with the Taken, Croaker. The travelling will be easier for us and more difficult for the Rebel. Are you caught up?

Yes.

Then try to stay out of the way. Go hitch a ride. Fake a nap.

I wandered away, cursing the ill fortune that had stripped us of most of our mounts. Gods, walking was getting old.

I did not take the Captains advice, though it was sound. I was too keyed up to rest. The prospect of a night march had shaken me.

I roamed around seeking old friends. The Company had scattered throughout the larger mob, as cadre for the Captains will. Some men I hadnt seen since Lords. I did not know if they were still alive.

I could find no one but Goblin, One-Eye, and Silent. Today Goblin and One-Eye were no more communicative than Silent. Which said a lot about morale.

They trudged doggedly onward, eyes on the dry earth, only rarely making some gesture or muttering some word to maintain the integrity of our bubble of peace. I trudged with them. Finally, I tried breaking the ice with a Hi.

Goblin grunted. One-Eye gave me a few seconds of evil stare. Silent did not acknowledge my existence.

Captain says were going to march through the night, I told them. I had to make someone else as miserable as I was.

Goblins look asked me why I wanted to tell that kind of lie. One-Eye muttered something about turning the bastard into a toad.

The bastard youre going to have to turn is Soulcatcher, I said smugly.

He gave me another evil look. Maybe Ill practice on you, Croaker.

One-Eye did not like the night march, so Goblin immediately approved the genius of the man who had initiated the idea. But his enthusiasm was so slight One-Eye did not bother taking the bait.

I thought I would give it another try. You guys look as sour as I feel.