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ed finding a bright side。 〃Maybe they got into a game and got away with cheating。 If One…Eye let Goblin do it。〃 One…Eye is as inept at cheating as at games of chance themselves。 There are times I think he has a positive death wish。
〃You and your damned amulet；〃 Goblin squeaked。 〃The Lady can't find him。 That's great。 But neither can we。〃
〃My amulet？ My amulet？ Who the hell gave it to him in the first place？〃
〃Who designed the spell that's on it now？〃
〃Who cast it？ Tell me that； toad face。 Tell me that。〃
I moved to the edge of the woods。 They had passed already。 Tracker joined me。 Even Toadkiller Dog came to watch。
〃Freeze； Rebel！〃 I shouted。 〃First one moves is dead meat。〃
Stupid； Croaker。 Real stupid。 Their response was swift and gaudy。 It damned near killed me。
They vanished in shining clouds。 Around Tracker and me insects erupted。 More kinds of bugs than I imagined existed； every one interested only in having me for supper。
Toadkiller Dog snarled and snapped。
〃Knock it off； you clowns；〃 I yelled。 〃It's me。 Croaker。〃
〃Who's Croaker？〃 One…Eye asked Goblin。 〃You know anybody named Croaker？〃
〃Yeah。 But I don't think we ought to stop；〃 Goblin replied； after sticking his head out of the shining to check。 〃He deserves it。〃
〃Sure；〃 One…Eye agreed。 〃But Tracker is innocent。 I can't fine…tune it enough to get just Croaker。〃
The bugs returned to routine bug business。 Eating each other； I guess。 I constrained my anger and greeted One…Eye and Goblin； both of whom had donned expressions of innocence and contrition。 〃What you got to say for yourselves； guys？ Nice horses。 Think the people they belong to will e looking for them？〃
〃Wait up；〃 Goblin squawked。 〃Don't go accusing us of 。 。 。 〃
〃I know you guys。 Get down off those animals and e eat。 We'll decide what to do with them tomorrow。〃
I turned my back on them。 Tracker had returned to our cook fire already。 He dished up supper。 I went to work on it； my temper still frayed。 Stupid move； stealing horses。 What with the uproar they had caused already 。 。 。 The Lady has agents everywhere。 We may not be enemies of the grand sort； but we are what she has。 Someone was bound to conclude that the Black pany was back in the north。
I fell asleep contemplating turning back。 The least likely direction for hunters to look would be on the route to the Plain of Fear。 But I could not give the order。 Too much depended on us。 Though now my earlier optimism stood in serious jeopardy。
Damned irresponsible clowns。
Way back down the line the Captain； who perished at Juniper； must have felt the same。 We all gave him cause。
I braced for a golden dream。 I slept restlessly。 No dream came。 Next morning I packed Goblin and One…Eye into the wagon； beneath all the clutter we deemed necessary for our expedition； abandoned the horses； and took the wagon past Meystrikt。 Toadkiller Dog ran point。 Tracker strolled along beside。 I drove。 Under the tucker； Goblin and One…Eye sputtered and grumbled。 The garrison at the fort merely asked where we were bound； in such a bored manner I knew they did not care。
These lands had been tamed since last I passed through。 This garrison could not conceive of trouble lifting its naughty head。
Relieved； I turned up the road that led to Elm and Oar。 And to the Great Forest beyond。
Chapter Twenty…Seven：OAR
〃Don't this weather ever let up？〃 One…Eye whined。 For a week we had slogged northward； had been victimized by daily showers。 The roads were bad and promised to get worse。 Practicing my Forsberger on wayside farmers； I learned that this weather had been mon for years。 It made getting crops to town difficult and； worse； left the grains at risk from disease。 There had been an outbreak of the firedance in Oar already； a malady traceable to infected rye。 There were a lot of insects； too。 Especially mosquitos。
The winters； though abnormal in snow and rainfall； were milder than when we had been stationed here。 Mild winters do not augur well for pest control。 On the other hand； game species were diminished because they could not forage in the deep snows。
Cycles。 Just cycles； the old…timers assured me。 The bad winters e around after the Great et passes。 But even they thought this a cycle among cycles。
Today's weather is already the most impressive of all time。
〃Deal；〃 Goblin said； and he did not mean cards。 That fortress； which the pany took from the Rebel years ago； loomed ahead。 The road meanders beneath its scowling walls。 I was troubled； as always I was when our path neared an imperial bastion。 But there was no need this time。 The Lady was so confident of Forsberg that the great fortress stood abandoned。 In fact； close up； it looked ragged。 Its neighbors were stealing it piece by piece； after the custom of peasants the world over。 I expect that is the only return they get on taxes； though they may have to wait generations for the worm to turn。
〃Oar tomorrow；〃 I said as we left the wagon outside an inn a few miles past Deal。 〃And this time there will be no screwups。 Hear？〃
One…Eye had the grace to look abashed。 But Goblin was ready to argue。
〃Keep it up；〃 I said。 〃I'll have Tracker thrash you and tie you up。 We aren't playing games。〃
〃Life is a game； Croaker；〃 One…Eye said。 〃You take it too damned serious。〃 But he behaved himself； both that night and the next day when we entered Oar。
I found a place well outside areas we frequented before。 It catered to small…time traders and travelers。 We drew no especial attention。 Tracker and I kept a watch on Goblin and One…Eye。 They did not seem inclined to play the fool again； though。
Next day I went looking for a smith named Sand。 Tracker acpanied me。 Goblin and One…Eye stayed behind； constrained by the most terrible threats I could invent。
Sand's place was easily found。 He was a longtime member of his trade； well…known among his peers。 We followed directions。 They led me through familiar streets。 Here the pany had had some adventures。
I discussed them with Tracker as we walked。 I noted； 〃Been a lot of rebuilding since then。 We tore the place up good。〃
Toadkiller Dog was on point； as often he was of late。 He stopped suddenly； looked around suspiciously； took a few tentative steps； sank onto his belly。 〃Trouble；〃 Tracker said。
〃What kind？〃 There was nothing obvious to the eye。
〃I don't know。 He can't talk。 He's just doing his watch…out…for…trouble act。〃
〃Okay。 Don't cost anything to be careful。〃 We turned into a place that sold and repaired harness and tack。 Tracker yakked about needing a saddle for a hunter of large beasts。 I stood in the doorway watching the street。
I saw nothing unusual。 The normal run of people went about their normal business。 But after a while I noted that Sand's smithy had no custom。 That no smithery sounds came forth。 He was supposed to supervise a platoon of apprentices and journeymen。
〃Hey。 Proprietor。 Whatever happened to the smith over there？ Last time we were here he did us some work。 Place looks empty。〃
〃Grey boys is what happened。〃 He looked unfortable。 Grey boys are imperials。 The troops in the north wear grey。 〃Fool didn't learn back when。 Was in