owed. No more and no less. A little
‘Don’t seem too much to ask. Anyway, I’ll only be doing it while the battle’s on, then I’m done. I daresay Dow’ll want you for his Second then.’
‘Maybe.’ Another stretch of silence, then Shivers turned to look at him. ‘You’re a decent man, aren’t you, Craw? Folk say so. Say you’re a straight edge. How d’you stick at it?’
Craw didn’t feel like he’d stuck at it too well at all. ‘Just try to do the right thing, I reckon. That’s all.’
‘Why? I tried it. Couldn’t make it root. Couldn’t see the profit in it.’
‘There’s your problem. Anything good I done, and the dead know there ain’t much, I done for its own sake. Got to do it because you want to.’
‘It ain’t no kind o’ sacrifice if you want to do it, though, is it? How does doing what you want make you a fucking hero? That’s just what I do.’
Craw could only shrug. ‘I haven’t got the answers. Wish I did.’
Shivers turned the ring on his little finger thoughtfully round and round, red stone glistening. ‘Guess it’s just about getting through each day.’
‘Those are the times.’
‘You think other times’ll be any different?’
‘We can hope.’
‘Craw!’ His own name echoed at him and Craw whipped around, frowning into the darkness, wondering who he’d upset recently. Pretty much everyone, was the answer. He’d made a shitpile of enemies the moment he said yes to Black Dow. His hand strayed to his sword again, which at least was in the sheath this time around. Then he smiled. ‘Flood! I seem to run into men I know all over the damn place.’
‘That’s what it is to be an old bastard.’ Flood stepped over with a grin of his own, and a limp of his own too.
‘Knew there had to be an upside to it. You know Caul Shivers, do you?’
‘By reputation.’
Shivers showed his teeth. ‘It’s a fucking beauty, ain’t it?’
‘How’s the day been over here with Reachey?’ asked Craw.
‘It’s been bloody,’ was Flood’s answer. ‘Had a few young lads calling me Chief. Too young. All but one back to the mud.’
‘Sorry to hear that.’
‘Me too. But it’s a war. Thought I might come back over to your dozen, if you’ll have me, and I thought I might bring this one with me.’ Flood jerked his thumb at someone else. A big lad, hanging back in the shadows, wrapped up in a stained green cloak. He was looking at the ground, dark hair across his forehead so Craw couldn’t see much more’n the gleam of one eye in the dark. He’d a good sword at his belt, though, gold on the hilt. Craw saw the gleam of that quick enough. ‘He’s a good hand. Earned his name today.’
‘Congratulations,’ said Craw.
The lad didn’t speak. Not full of bragging and vinegar like some might be who’d won a name that day. Like Craw had been the day he won his, for that matter. Craw liked to see it. He didn’t need any fiery tempers landing everyone in the shit. Like his had landed him in the shit, years ago.
‘What about it then?’ Flood asked. ‘You got room for us?’
‘Room? I can’t remember ever having more’n ten in the dozen, and there’s not but six now.’
‘Six? What happened to ’em all?’
Craw winced .‘About the same as happened to your lot. About what usually happens. Athroc got killed up at the Heroes day before yesterday. Agrick a day later. Brack died this morning.’
There was a bit of a silence. ‘Brack died?’
‘In his sleep,’ said Craw. ‘From a bad leg.’
‘Brack’s back to the mud.’ Flood shook his head. ‘That’s a tester. Didn’t think he’d ever die.’
‘Nor me. The Great Leveller’s lying in wait for all of us, no doubt, and he takes no excuses and makes no exceptions.’
‘None,’ whispered Shivers.
‘’Til then, we could certainly use the pair o’ you, if Reachey’ll let you go.’
Flood nodded. ‘He said he would.’
‘All right then. You ought to know Wonderful’s running the dozen for now, though.’
‘She is?’
‘Aye. Dow offered me charge of his Carls.’
‘You’re Black Dow’s Second?’
‘Just ’til the battle’s done.’
Flood puffed out his cheeks. ‘What happened to never sticking your neck out?’
‘Didn’t take my own advice. Still want in?’
