Free Water Sleeps: A Novel of the Black Company (Glittering Stone) by Glen Cook

Grilling Swan could get expensive. I am not one of the better tonk players in the gang. “What happened to the horses?”
    “Far as I know, they’re all dead. Time or magic or wounds got them. And the queen bitch wasn’t happy about that, either. She don’t like walking and she ain’t fond of flying.”
    “Flying?” Startled, I discarded a card I should have kept. That allowed one of the Guptas to go down and take me for another couple of coppers.
    Swan said, “I think I’m going to like playing with you. Yeah. Flying. She’s got a couple of them carpets that was made by the Howler. And she just ain’t real good with them. I can tell you that from personal experience. Your deal. Ain’t nothing like falling off of one of them suckers while it’s hauling ass, even if you’re only five feet high.”
    One-Eye materialized. He looked about as bright and alert as he ever did these days. “Room for one more?” His breath smelled of alcohol.
    Swan grumbled, “I know that voice. No. I figured you out twenty-five years ago. I thought we got your ass at Khadighat. Or maybe it was Bhoroda or Nalanda.”
    “I’m quick on my feet.”
    Slink said, “You’re in only if you show some money up front and you agree not to deal.”
    “And you keep your hands on top of the table all the time,” I added.
    “You smite me to the heart, Little Girl. People might get the idea you don’t trust me not to cheat.”
    “Good. That’ll save them a lot of time and pain.”
    “Little girl?” Swan asked. There was a whole different look in his eye suddenly.
    “One-Eye’s got diarrhea of the mouth. Sit down, old man. Swan was just telling us about Soulcatcher’s magic carpets and how she doesn’t like flying. And I’m wondering if we couldn’t find some way to take advantage of that.”
    Swan looked from one of us to the other. I watched One-Eye’s hands as he picked up his first bunch of cards. Just in case he might have done something to this deck sometime in the past. “Little girl?”
    “Is there an echo in here?” Slink asked.
    “Is that suddenly a problem?” I asked.
    “No! No.” Swan showed me the palm of his free hand. “I’m just getting a lot of surprises here. Soulcatcher thought she was pretty solid on the Company survivors. But I’ve already run into four people who are known to be dead, including the world’s ugliest wizard and that Nyueng Bao woman who acts like she’s in charge.”
    One-Eye growled, “Don’t you go talking about Goblin that way. He’s my pal. I’ll have to stand up for him. Someday.” He snickered.
    Swan ignored him. “And you. That we had down as a man.”
    I shrugged. “Not many knew. And it’s not important. The dope with the eye patch and smelly hat should’ve had sense enough not to mention it in front of an outsider.” I glared.
    One-Eye grinned, drew a card from the pile, discarded. “She’s feisty, Swan. Smart, too. Designed the plan that pulled you in. You started on another one, Little Girl?”
    “Several. I think Sahra will want the Inspector-General next, though.”
    “Gokhale? He can’t tell us anything.”
    “Say it’s personal. Swan. You know anything about Gokhale? He dabble in little girls like Perhule Khoji used to?”
    One-Eye gave me an evil look. Swan stared. My mess-up this time. I had given something away.
    Too late to fuss about it. “Well?”
    “Actually, yes.” Swan was pale. He focused on his cards, having trouble keeping his hands steady. “Those two and several others in that office. Common interests brought them together. The Radisha doesn’t know. She doesn’t want to know.” He discarded out of turn. He had lost his zest for the game.
    I realized what the problem was. He thought my speaking freely meant I expected to elevate him to a higher plane before long. “You’re all right, Swan. Long as you behave. Long as you answer questions when you’re asked. Hell, I got to save you. There’s a bunch of guys buried under the