He did not add much to rumors I had picked up here and there. He described the place he had gone as a big, drafty box of a room, gloomy and dusty. About what I expected of the Tower. Or of any castle.

What did she look like? That was the most intriguing part of the puzzle. I had a mental picture of a dark haired, ageless beauty with a sexual presence that hit mere mortals with the impact of a mace. Soulcatcher said she was beautiful, but I had no independent corroboration.

I dont know. I dont remember.

What do you mean, you dont remember? How can you not remember?

Dont get all excited, Croaker. I cant remember. She was there in front of me, then.,.. Then all I could see was that giant yellow eye that kept getting bigger and bigger and stared right through me, looking at every secret I ever had. Thats all I remember. I still have nightmares about that eye.

I sighed, exasperated. I guess I shouldve expected that. You know, she could come walking by right now and nobody would know it was her.

I expect thats the way she wants it, Croaker. If it does all fall apart, the way it looked before you found those papers, she can just walk away. Only the Ten could identify her, and she would make sure of them somehow.

I doubt it would be that simple. People like the Lady have trouble assuming a lesser role. Deposed princes keep acting like princes.

Thanks for taking the trouble to tell me about it, Goblin.

No trouble. I didnt have anything to tell. Only reason I put it off was it upset me so much.

Raven finished retrieving his arrows. He came over and told Goblin, Why dont you go put a bug in One-Eyes bedroll, or something? Weve got work to do. He was nervous about my erratic marksmanship.

We had to depend on one another. If either missed, chances were we would die before a second shaft could be sped. I did not want to think about that.

But thinking about it improved my concentration. I got most of my arrows into the rag this time.

It was a pain in the ass damned thing to have to do, night before whatever faced Raven and I, but the Captain refused to part with a tradition three centuries old. He also refused to entertain protests about our having been drafted by Soulcatcher, or demands for the additional knowledge he obviously commanded. I mean, I understood what Catcher wanted done and why, I just could not make sense of why he wanted Raven and I to do it. Having the Captain back him only made it more confusing.

Why, Croaker? he finally demanded. Because I gave you an order, thats why. Now get out there and do your reading.