“No,” Canker said pointedly. “He ain’t. But we are. Got left behind to clean up. If that don’t speak to the truth of your aim, nout does. And we should be runnin’ down that rascal cat and getting back before Swinehelm has us branded for deserters.”

Nape settled back down with a careless sigh. “Swinehelm’s on his own errand. Don’t give a fig for us out here. Been more moon’s turns than I can count, runnin’, scoutin’, trackin’ and hard camps at the end o’every day…and more often we march through the night as well! No, says I. No more. Not until I can enjoy me a little leave time.”

Nape closed his eyes and Canker just watched him.

“Drowning,” Nape said after a moment. “That would do for our cat. I’ll make like some filthy gruagach…hold her head down in the rain barrel.”

“Shouldn’t talk such,” Canker mumbled.

“Why and not?”

“About them. ‘Tisn’t right.”

Nape sat up on his elbows, grinning. “I could be one. Some skinchanger out here in the wilds! Real Nape is lying over in that stream yonder. Poor Canker…you’d never know it. Not till I was behind ya and turnin’ yer head backwards!”

“S’not funny!” Canker jumped off the dog.

Nape laughed at him. “If’n you’re too craven to wait with me, go ahead into them woods while we still have some day left. Might be you’ll stumble on that cat. Just remember, I won them bones so I gets to do her proper.”

Canker snatched his poleaxe off the ground and made for the trees.

“Watch for changelings!” Nape advised before he got there.

Canker stopped and stood for an uncomfortably long moment. He pulled the grimy, blood-colored hat off his broad head and fidgeted, glancing at the trees and then back to where Nape lounged in the dying sun. Finally, Canker went back and sat on the dog without a word. The goblins waited.

And Deglan waited with them.

He could see them. He could hear them, forced to listen to their foul tongues wag for hours. The collier laid not a dozen steps away. He had not died straight away. The spear Nape had claimed to throw had pierced a lung and Deglan had watched as the helpless man twitched, trying to pull himself away by his fingertips, slowly, almost noiselessly, drowning in his own blood. He was still at last, but his paling eyes stared at Deglan, pitiful and accusing. Deglan tried to ignore the dead gaze. Even in the man’s final moments it would have been impossible for the collier to see him. The Earth embraced him. Hid him. Allowed him to watch from safety as this innocent man died within reach while he did nothing.