Free Shadows Linger by Glen Cook

was
     neither a fool nor stupid. The alternative, that he wasn't scared, made no
     sense. Not to a Matron Shed. Asa remained on Krage's payroll, but visited
     regularly, bringing firewood. By the wagonload, sometimes. “What're you up to?”
    Shed demanded one day. “Trying to build credit,” Asa admitted.
    “Krage's guys don't like me much.”
    “Hardly anybody does, Asa.”
    “They might try something nasty. ...”
    "Want a place to hide when they turn on you, eh? What're you doing for Krage?
    Why is he bothering with you?"
    Asa hemmed and hawed. Shed pushed. Here was a man he could bully. “I watch
     Raven, Shed. I report what he does.”
    Shed snorted. Krage was using Asa because he was expendable. He'd had two men
     disappear early on. Shed thought he knew where they were. Sudden fear. Suppose
     Asa reported Raven's night adventures? Suppose he'd seen Shed. . . .
    Impossible. Asa couldn't have kept quiet. Asa spent his life looking for
     leverage.
    “You've been spending a lot lately, Asa. Where are you getting the money?”
    Asa turned pale. He looked around, gobbled a few 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