Raker was on his own, hunted, haunted, a whipped dog running the alleys of the night. He could trust no one. I felt sorry for him. Almost.

He was a fool. Only a fool keeps betting against the odds. The odds against Raker were getting longer by the hour.

I jerked a thumb at the darkness near the window. Sounds like a convening of the Brotherhood of Whispers.

Raven glanced over my shoulder, said nothing. We were playing head to head Tonk, a dull time-killer of a game.

A dozen voices murmured over there. I smell it.

Youre wrong.

Its in from the south.

End it now.

Not yet.

Its time.

Needs a while longer.

Pushing our luck. The game could turn.

Ware pride.

Its here. The stench of it runs before it like the breath of a jackal.

Wonder if he ever loses an argument with himself?

Still Raven said nothing. In my more daring moods I have been trying to draw him out. Without luck. I was doing better with Soulcatcher.

Soulcatcher rose suddenly, an angry noise rising from deep inside him.

What is it? I asked. I was tired of Roses. I was disgusted with Roses. Roses bored and frightened me. It was worth a mans life to go into those streets alone.

One of those spook voices was right. We were approaching a point of diminishing returns. I was developing a grudging admiration for Raker myself. The man refused to surrender or run.

What is it? I asked again

The Limper. Hes in Roses.

Here? Why?,

He smells a big kill. He wants to steal the credit.

You mean muscle in on our action?

Thats his style.

Wouldnt the Lady?...

This is Roses. Shes a long way off. And she doesnt care who gets him.

Politics among the Ladys viceroys. It is a strange world. I do not understand people outside the Company.

We lead a simple life. No thinking required. The Captain takes care of that. We just follow orders. For most of us the Black Company is a hiding place; a refuge from yesterday, a place to become a new man.

What do we do? I asked.

Ill handle the Limper. He began seeing to his apparel.

Goblin and One-Eye staggered in. They were so drunk they had to prop each other up. Shit, Goblin squeaked. Snowing again. Goddamned snow. I thought winter was over.

One-Eye burst into song. Something about the beauties of winter. I could not follow him. His speech was slurred and he had forgotten half the words.

Goblin fell into a chair, forgetting One-Eye. One-Eye collapsed at his feet. He vomited on Goblins boots, tried to continue his song. Goblin muttered, Where the hell is everybody?

Out carousing around. I exchanged looks with Raven. Do you believe this? Those two getting drunk together?

Where you going, old spook? Goblin squeaked at Soulcatcher. Soulcatcher went out without answering. Bastard. Hey. One-Eye, old buddy. That right? Old spook a bastard?