The thunder and lightning continued to strut about. The sound
and flash penetrated the walls as though they were paper. I slept
restlessly, my nerves frazzled more than they should be. The others
were dead to the world. Why couldn’t I be?
It started as a pinprick in a corner, a mote of golden light.
The mote multiplied. I wanted to lunge across and hammer on Goblin
or One-Eye, calling them liars. The amulet was supposed to keep me
invisible . . .
Faintest, most ghostly of whispers, like the cry of a ghost down
a long, cold cavern. “Physician. Where are you?”
I did not respond. I wanted to pull my blanket over my head, but
could not move.
She remained diffuse, wavering, uncertain. Maybe she did have
trouble spotting me. When her face did assume substance
momentarily, she did not look my way. Her eyes seemed blind.
“You have gone from the Plain of Fear,” she called
in that faraway voice. “You are in the north somewhere. You
left a broad trail. You are foolish, my friend. I will find you.
Don’t you know that? You cannot hide. Even an emptiness can
be seen.”
She had no idea where I was. I did the right thing by not
responding. She wanted me to betray myself.
“My patience is not unlimited, Croaker. But you may come
to the Tower still. Make it soon, though. Your White Rose does not
have long.”
I finally managed to pull my blanket to my chin. What a sight I
must have made. Amusing, in retrospect. Like a little boy afraid of
ghosts.
The glow slowly faded. With it went the nervousness that had
plagued me since returning from the Bomanz house.
As I settled down I glanced at Toadkiller Dog. I caught
lightning glinting off a single open eye.
So. For the first time there was a witness to one of the
visitations. But a mutt.
I don’t think anybody believed me about them, ever, except
that what I reported always panned out true.
I slept.
Goblin wakened me. “Breakfast.”
We ate. We made a show of looking for markets for our goods, of
seeking a longer term connection for future loads. Business was not
good, except our host offered to purchase distilled spirits
regularly. There was a demand among the Eternal Guard. The soldiers
had little to do but drink.
Lunch. And while we ate and prepared our thoughts for the
head-butting session to follow, soldiers entered the inn. They
asked the landlord if any of his guests had been out last night.
Good old landlord denied the possibility. He claimed he was the
lightest of sleepers. He knew if anyone came or went.
That was good enough for the soldiers. They left.
“What was that?” I asked when next the proprietor
passed our way.
“Somebody broke into Corbie’s house last
night,” he said. Then his eyes narrowed. He remembered other
questions. My mistake.
“Curious,” I said. “Why would anyone do
that?”
“Yes. Why?” He went about his business, but remained
thoughtful.
I, too, was thoughtful. How had they detected our visit? We were
careful to leave no traces.
Goblin and One-Eye were disturbed, too. Only Tracker did not
seem bothered. His lone discomfort was being there, near the
Barrowland.
“What can we do?” I asked. “We’re
surrounded and outnumbered, and maybe now we’re suspect. How
do we lay hands on this Corbie?”
“That’s no problem,” One-Eye said. “The
real trouble is getting away after we do. If we could call in a
windwhale just in time . . . ”
“Tell me how it’s not so hard.”
“The middle of the night we go over to the Guard compound,
use the sleep spell, get our man and his papers, call his spirit
back, and get him out. But then what? Eh, Croaker? Then
what?”
“Where do we run?” I mused. “And
how?”
“There is one answer,” Tracker said. “The
forest. The Guard couldn’t find us in the forest. If we could
cross the Great Tragic, we’d be safe. They don’t have
the manpower for a hunt.”
I nibbled the edge of a fingernail. Something to what Tracker
said. I assumed he knew the woodlands and tribes well enough for us
to survive with the burden of an injured man. But jumping past that
only led to other problems.
There were still a thousand miles to cross to reach the Plain of
Fear. With the empire alert. “Wait here,” I told
everybody, and left.
I hurried to the imperial compound, entered the office I had
visited before, shook myself dry, examined a map on the wall. The
kid who had checked us for contraband came over. “Help you
somehow?”
“I don’t think so. Just wanted to check the map. It
pretty accurate?”
“Not anymore. The river has shifted more than a mile this
way. And most of the flood plain isn’t covered with woods
anymore. All washed away.”
“Hmm.” I laid fingers on, making estimates.
“What do you want to know that for?”
“Business,” I lied. “Heard we might be able to
contact one of the bigger tribes around a place called Eagle
Rocks.”
“That’s forty-five miles. You wouldn’t make
it. They’d kill you and take what you had. The only reason
they don’t bother the Guard and the road is that those have
the Lady’s protection. If this coming winter is as bad as the
last few, that won’t stop them, either.”
“Uhm. Well, it was an idea. You the one called
Case?”
“Yes.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Heard you been taking care of some
guy . . . ” I let it drop. His reaction
was not what I expected. “Well, that’s what
they’re saying around town. Thanks for the advice.” I
got out. But I feared I had goofed.
I soon knew I had goofed.
A squad commanded by a major showed up at the inn only minutes
after my return. They had the bunch of us under arrest before we
knew what was happening. Goblin and One-Eye barely had time to cast
spells of concealment on their gear.
We played ignorant. We cursed and grumbled and whined. It did us
no good. Our captors knew less about why we were being grabbed than
we did. Just following orders.
The landlord had a look which made me certain he had reported us
as suspicious. I expect Case said something about my visit that
tipped a balance somewhere. Whatever, we were on our way to
cells.
Ten minutes after the door clanged shut, the very commander of
the Eternal Guard turned up. I sighed in relief. He hadn’t
been here before. At least he was no one we knew. He
shouldn’t know us.
We had had time to rehearse using the deaf speech. All but
Tracker. But Tracker seemed lost within himself. They had not
allowed his mutt to accompany him. He had been angry about that.
Scared the crap out of the guys who arrested us. For a minute they
thought they would have to fight him.
The commander studied us, then introduced himself.
“I’m Colonel Sweet. I command the Eternal Guard.”
Case hovered behind him, anxious. “I asked you men here
because aspects of your behavior have been unusual.”
“Have we unwittingly broken a rule not publicly
posted?” I asked.
“Not at all. Not at all. The matter is entirely
circumstantial. What you might call a question of undeclared
intent.”
“You’ve lost me, sir.”
He began pacing up and down the passageway outside our cell. Up
and down. “There is the old saw about actions speaking louder
than words. I’ve had reports on you from several sources.
About your excessive curiosity about matters not connected with
your business.”
I did my best to appear baffled. “What’s unusual
about asking questions in new country? My associates haven’t
been here before. It’s been years since I was. Things have
changed. Anyway, this is one of the most interesting places in the
empire.”
“Also one of the most dangerous, trader. Candle, is it?
Mr. Candle, you were stationed here in service. What
unit?”
That I could answer without hesitation. “Drake Crest.
Colonel Lot. Second Battalion.” I was here, after all.
“Yes. The Roses mercenary brigade. What was the
Colonel’s favorite drink?”
Oh, boy. “I was a pikeman, Colonel. I didn’t drink
with the brigadier.”
“Right.” He paced. I could not tell if that answer
worked or not. Drake Crest hadn’t been a flashy, storied
outfit like the Black Company. Who the hell would remember anything
about them? After a time. “You must understand my position.
With that thing buried out there paranoia becomes an occupational
hazard.” He pointed in the direction the Great Barrow must
lie. Then he stalked off.
“What the hell was all that?” Goblin asked.
“I don’t know. And I’m not sure I want to find
out. Somehow, we got ourselves into big trouble.” That for
the benefit of eavesdroppers.
Goblin accepted his cue. “Damnit, Candle, I told you we
shouldn’t come up here. I told you the Oar people would have
an arrangement with the Guard.”
One-Eye jumped in then. They really ragged me. Meantime, we
talked it over with the finger speech, decided to wait the Colonel
out.
Not much choice anyway, without tipping our hands.
The thunder and lightning continued to strut about. The sound
and flash penetrated the walls as though they were paper. I slept
restlessly, my nerves frazzled more than they should be. The others
were dead to the world. Why couldn’t I be?
It started as a pinprick in a corner, a mote of golden light.
The mote multiplied. I wanted to lunge across and hammer on Goblin
or One-Eye, calling them liars. The amulet was supposed to keep me
invisible . . .
Faintest, most ghostly of whispers, like the cry of a ghost down
a long, cold cavern. “Physician. Where are you?”
I did not respond. I wanted to pull my blanket over my head, but
could not move.
She remained diffuse, wavering, uncertain. Maybe she did have
trouble spotting me. When her face did assume substance
momentarily, she did not look my way. Her eyes seemed blind.
“You have gone from the Plain of Fear,” she called
in that faraway voice. “You are in the north somewhere. You
left a broad trail. You are foolish, my friend. I will find you.
Don’t you know that? You cannot hide. Even an emptiness can
be seen.”
She had no idea where I was. I did the right thing by not
responding. She wanted me to betray myself.
“My patience is not unlimited, Croaker. But you may come
to the Tower still. Make it soon, though. Your White Rose does not
have long.”
I finally managed to pull my blanket to my chin. What a sight I
must have made. Amusing, in retrospect. Like a little boy afraid of
ghosts.
The glow slowly faded. With it went the nervousness that had
plagued me since returning from the Bomanz house.
As I settled down I glanced at Toadkiller Dog. I caught
lightning glinting off a single open eye.
So. For the first time there was a witness to one of the
visitations. But a mutt.
I don’t think anybody believed me about them, ever, except
that what I reported always panned out true.
I slept.
Goblin wakened me. “Breakfast.”
We ate. We made a show of looking for markets for our goods, of
seeking a longer term connection for future loads. Business was not
good, except our host offered to purchase distilled spirits
regularly. There was a demand among the Eternal Guard. The soldiers
had little to do but drink.
Lunch. And while we ate and prepared our thoughts for the
head-butting session to follow, soldiers entered the inn. They
asked the landlord if any of his guests had been out last night.
Good old landlord denied the possibility. He claimed he was the
lightest of sleepers. He knew if anyone came or went.
That was good enough for the soldiers. They left.
“What was that?” I asked when next the proprietor
passed our way.
“Somebody broke into Corbie’s house last
night,” he said. Then his eyes narrowed. He remembered other
questions. My mistake.
“Curious,” I said. “Why would anyone do
that?”
“Yes. Why?” He went about his business, but remained
thoughtful.
I, too, was thoughtful. How had they detected our visit? We were
careful to leave no traces.
Goblin and One-Eye were disturbed, too. Only Tracker did not
seem bothered. His lone discomfort was being there, near the
Barrowland.
“What can we do?” I asked. “We’re
surrounded and outnumbered, and maybe now we’re suspect. How
do we lay hands on this Corbie?”
“That’s no problem,” One-Eye said. “The
real trouble is getting away after we do. If we could call in a
windwhale just in time . . . ”
“Tell me how it’s not so hard.”
“The middle of the night we go over to the Guard compound,
use the sleep spell, get our man and his papers, call his spirit
back, and get him out. But then what? Eh, Croaker? Then
what?”
“Where do we run?” I mused. “And
how?”
“There is one answer,” Tracker said. “The
forest. The Guard couldn’t find us in the forest. If we could
cross the Great Tragic, we’d be safe. They don’t have
the manpower for a hunt.”
I nibbled the edge of a fingernail. Something to what Tracker
said. I assumed he knew the woodlands and tribes well enough for us
to survive with the burden of an injured man. But jumping past that
only led to other problems.
There were still a thousand miles to cross to reach the Plain of
Fear. With the empire alert. “Wait here,” I told
everybody, and left.
I hurried to the imperial compound, entered the office I had
visited before, shook myself dry, examined a map on the wall. The
kid who had checked us for contraband came over. “Help you
somehow?”
“I don’t think so. Just wanted to check the map. It
pretty accurate?”
“Not anymore. The river has shifted more than a mile this
way. And most of the flood plain isn’t covered with woods
anymore. All washed away.”
“Hmm.” I laid fingers on, making estimates.
“What do you want to know that for?”
“Business,” I lied. “Heard we might be able to
contact one of the bigger tribes around a place called Eagle
Rocks.”
“That’s forty-five miles. You wouldn’t make
it. They’d kill you and take what you had. The only reason
they don’t bother the Guard and the road is that those have
the Lady’s protection. If this coming winter is as bad as the
last few, that won’t stop them, either.”
“Uhm. Well, it was an idea. You the one called
Case?”
“Yes.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Heard you been taking care of some
guy . . . ” I let it drop. His reaction
was not what I expected. “Well, that’s what
they’re saying around town. Thanks for the advice.” I
got out. But I feared I had goofed.
I soon knew I had goofed.
A squad commanded by a major showed up at the inn only minutes
after my return. They had the bunch of us under arrest before we
knew what was happening. Goblin and One-Eye barely had time to cast
spells of concealment on their gear.
We played ignorant. We cursed and grumbled and whined. It did us
no good. Our captors knew less about why we were being grabbed than
we did. Just following orders.
The landlord had a look which made me certain he had reported us
as suspicious. I expect Case said something about my visit that
tipped a balance somewhere. Whatever, we were on our way to
cells.
Ten minutes after the door clanged shut, the very commander of
the Eternal Guard turned up. I sighed in relief. He hadn’t
been here before. At least he was no one we knew. He
shouldn’t know us.
We had had time to rehearse using the deaf speech. All but
Tracker. But Tracker seemed lost within himself. They had not
allowed his mutt to accompany him. He had been angry about that.
Scared the crap out of the guys who arrested us. For a minute they
thought they would have to fight him.
The commander studied us, then introduced himself.
“I’m Colonel Sweet. I command the Eternal Guard.”
Case hovered behind him, anxious. “I asked you men here
because aspects of your behavior have been unusual.”
“Have we unwittingly broken a rule not publicly
posted?” I asked.
“Not at all. Not at all. The matter is entirely
circumstantial. What you might call a question of undeclared
intent.”
“You’ve lost me, sir.”
He began pacing up and down the passageway outside our cell. Up
and down. “There is the old saw about actions speaking louder
than words. I’ve had reports on you from several sources.
About your excessive curiosity about matters not connected with
your business.”
I did my best to appear baffled. “What’s unusual
about asking questions in new country? My associates haven’t
been here before. It’s been years since I was. Things have
changed. Anyway, this is one of the most interesting places in the
empire.”
“Also one of the most dangerous, trader. Candle, is it?
Mr. Candle, you were stationed here in service. What
unit?”
That I could answer without hesitation. “Drake Crest.
Colonel Lot. Second Battalion.” I was here, after all.
“Yes. The Roses mercenary brigade. What was the
Colonel’s favorite drink?”
Oh, boy. “I was a pikeman, Colonel. I didn’t drink
with the brigadier.”
“Right.” He paced. I could not tell if that answer
worked or not. Drake Crest hadn’t been a flashy, storied
outfit like the Black Company. Who the hell would remember anything
about them? After a time. “You must understand my position.
With that thing buried out there paranoia becomes an occupational
hazard.” He pointed in the direction the Great Barrow must
lie. Then he stalked off.
“What the hell was all that?” Goblin asked.
“I don’t know. And I’m not sure I want to find
out. Somehow, we got ourselves into big trouble.” That for
the benefit of eavesdroppers.
Goblin accepted his cue. “Damnit, Candle, I told you we
shouldn’t come up here. I told you the Oar people would have
an arrangement with the Guard.”
One-Eye jumped in then. They really ragged me. Meantime, we
talked it over with the finger speech, decided to wait the Colonel
out.
Not much choice anyway, without tipping our hands.