Free Shadows Linger: A Novel of the Black Company (Chronicles of The Black Company) by Glen Cook

times. “The wood, Shed. Selling the wood.”
    “You’re a liar, Asa. Where’re you getting it?”
    “Shed, you don’t ask questions like that.”
    “Maybe not. But I need money bad. I owe Krage. I almost had him paid off. Then he started buying my little debts from everybody else. That damned Gilbert!… I need to get ahead enough so I don’t have to borrow again.”
    The black castle. Two hundred twenty pieces of silver. How he had been tempted to attack Raven. And Raven just smiled into the wind, knowing exactly what he was thinking. “Where’re you getting that money, Asa?”
    “Where did you get the money you paid Krage? Huh? People are wondering, Shed. You don’t come up with that kind of money overnight. Not you. You tell me and I’ll tell you.”
    Shed backed down. Asa beamed in triumph.
    “You little snake. Get out before I lose my temper.”
    Asa fled. He looked back once, face knotted thoughtfully. Damnit, Shed thought. Made him suspicious. He ground his rag into a tacky mug.
    “What was that?”
    Shed spun. Raven had come to the counter. His look brooked no crap. Shed gave him the gist.
    “So Krage hasn’t quit.”
    “You don’t know him or you wouldn’t ask. It’s you or him, Raven.”
    “Then it has to be him, doesn’t it?”
    Shed gaped.
    “A suggestion, Shed. Follow your friend when he goes wood-gathering.” Raven returned to his seat. He spoke to Darling animatedly, in sign, which he blocked from Shed’s view. The set of the girl’s shoulders said she was against whatever it was he was proposing. Ten minutes later he left the Lily. Each afternoon he went out for a few hours. Shed suspected he was testing Krage’s watchers.
    Darling leaned against the door frame, watching the street. Shed watched her, his gaze sliding up and down her frame. Raven’s, he thought. They’re thick. I don’t dare.
    But she was such a fine looking thing, tall, lean of leg, ready for a man.… He was a fool. He did not need to get caught in that trap, too. He had troubles enough.
    *   *   *
    “I think today would be good for it,” Raven said as Shed delivered his breakfast.
    “Eh? Good for what?”
    “For a hike up the hill to watch friend Asa.”
    “Oh. No. I can’t. Got nobody to watch the place.” Back by the counter, Darling bent to pick something off the floor. Shed’s eyes widened and his heart fluttered. He had to do something. Visit a whore, or something. Or get hurt. But he couldn’t afford to pay for it. “Darling couldn’t handle it alone.”
    “Your cousin Wally has stood in for you before.”
    Caught off balance, Shed could not marshall his excuses quickly. And Darling was driving him to distraction. She had to start wearing something that concealed the shape of her behind better. “Uh.… He couldn’t deal with Darling. Doesn’t know the signs.”
    Raven’s face darkened slightly. “Give her the day off. Get that girl Lisa you used when Darling was sick.”
    Lisa, Shed thought. Another hot one. “I only use Lisa when I’m here to watch her.” A hot one not attached. “She’ll steal me blinder than my mother.…”
    “Shed!”
    “Eh?”
    “Get Wally and Lisa here; then go keep an eye on Asa. I’ll make sure they don’t carry off the family silver.”
    “But.…”
    Raven slapped a palm on the tabletop. “I said go!”
    *   *   *
    The day was clear and bright and, for winter, warm. Shed picked up Asa’s trail outside Krage’s establishment.
    Asa rented a wagon. Shed was amazed. In winter stable-keepers demanded huge deposits. Draft animals slaughtered and eaten had no provenance. He thought it a miracle anyone trusted Asa with a team.
    Asa went directly to the Enclosure. Shed stalked along behind, keeping his head down, confident Asa would not suspect him even if he looked back. The streets were crowded.
    Asa left the wagon in a public grove across a lane running alongside the wall which girdled the Enclosure. It was one of many similar groves where