I became conscious of a shadow across my lap. I glanced up. Soulcatcher extended a hand, inviting me to take my turn with the bow. Raven had recovered his arrows, and was standing by, waiting for me to step to the mark.

My first three shafts plunked into the rag. How about that? I said, and turned to take a bow.

Soulcatcher was reading my little fantasy. He raised his gaze to mine. Really, Croaker! It wasnt like that at all. Didnt you know that she murdered her twin sister when she was fourteen?

Rats with icy claws scrambled around on my spine. I turned, let a shaft fly. It ripped wide right of the butt. I sprayed a few more around, and did nothing but irritate the pigeons in the background.

Catcher took the bow. Your nerves are going, Croaker. In a blur, he snapped three arrows into a circle less than an inch across. Keep at it. Youll be under more pressure out there. He handed the bow back. The secret is concentration. Pretend youre doing surgery.

Pretend Im doing surgery. Right. I have managed some fancy emergency work in the middle of battlefields. Right. But this was different.

The grand old excuse. Yes, but.... This is different.

I calmed down enough to hit the butt with the rest of my shafts. After recovering them, I stood aside for Raven.

Goblin handed me my writing materials. Irritably, I crumpled my little fable.

Need something for your nerves? Goblin asked.

Yeah. The iron filings or whatever it is Raven eats. My self-esteem was pretty shaky.

Try this. Goblin offered me a little six-pointed silver star hanging on a neck chain. At its center was a medusa head in jet.

An amulet?

Yes. We thought you might need it tomorrow.

Tomorrow? Nobody was supposed to know what was happening.

We have eyes, Croaker. This is the Company. Maybe we dont know what, but we can tell when something is going on.

Yeah. I suppose so. Thanks, Goblin.

Me and One-Eye and Silent, we all worked on it.

Thanks. What about Raven? When somebody makes a gesture like that, I feel more comfortable shifting the subject.

Raven doesnt need one. Raven is his own amulet. Sit down. Lets talk.

I cant tell you about it.

I know. I thought you wanted to know about the Tower. He had not talked about his visit yet. I had given up on him.

All right. Tell me. I stared at Raven. Arrow after arrow skewered the rag.

Arent you going to write it down?

Oh. Yeah. I readied pen and paper. The men are tremendously impressed by the fact that I keep these Annals. Their only immortality will be here. Glad I didnt bet him.

Bet who?

Raven wanted to make a wager on our marksmanship.

Goblin snorted. Youre getting too smart to get hooked by a sucker bet? Get your pen ready. He launched his story.