‘They’ll send Nogusta,’ said Orendo, leaning forward to add a chunk of wood to the fire. It had been a cold night in the hollow and he had slept badly, dreaming awful dreams of pain and death. What had seemed a simple robbery had become a night of murder and shame he would never forget. He rubbed his tired eyes.
‘So what?’ sneered Eris. ‘There’s three of us, and we’re not exactly easy meat. If they send that black bastard I’ll cut his heart out.’ Orendo bit back an angry retort.
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Instead he rose and stepped towards the taller, heavier man.
‘You have never seen Nogusta in action, boy. Pray you never do.’ Stepping past the two younger men Orendo walked to a nearby tree and urinated. ‘The man is uncanny,’ he said, over his shoulder. ‘I was with him once when we tracked four killers into Sathuli lands. He can read sign over rock, and he can smell a trail a hound would miss. But that’s not what makes him dangerous.’ Orendo continued to urinate, the water coming in slow, rhythmic spurts, sending up steam from the snow. He had endured trouble with his bladder for over a year now, needing to piss several times a night. ‘You know what makes him dangerous?’ he asked them. ‘There is no bravado in him. He moves, he kills. It is that quick. When we found the killers he just walked into their camp and they were dead. I tell you it was awesome.’
‘I know,’ came the tomb-deep voice of Nogusta. ‘I was there.’
Orendo stood very still, a feeling of nausea flaring in his belly. His water dried up instantly and he retied his leggings and turned very slowly. Eris was lying flat on his back, a knife through his right eye. Cassin was beside him, a blade in his heart. ‘I knew they’d send you,’ said Orendo. ‘How did you find us so fast?’
‘The girl lived,’ said Nogusta.
‘I thank the Source for that,’ said Orendo, with a sigh. ‘Are you alone?’
‘Yes.’ The black man’s sword was sheathed, and there was no throwing knife in his hands. It does not matter, thought Orendo. I don’t have the skill to best him.
‘I’m glad. I wouldn’t want Bison to see me now. Are you taking me back?’
‘No. You will remain here, with your friends.’
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Orendo nodded. ‘Seems a shame to end a friendship this way, Nogusta. Will you take back our heads?’
‘The White Wolf told me my word was good enough.’
Orendo felt a trickle of hope. ‘Look, man, I was only the look out. I didn’t know there was going to be murder. But it happened. There are enough jewels in that pouch to give us a life … a real life. We could buy a palace with them, you and me.’ Nogusta shook his head. ‘You could just tell them you killed me. And keep half the jewels.’
‘That is what I will tell them. For you will be dead. You were not the look out,’ said Nogusta, sadly. ‘You raped the girl, and you stabbed her. You did this. You must pay for it.’
Orendo moved to the fire, stepping over the bodies of his companions. ‘They were sending me home,’ he said, kneeling down and pulling off his gloves. The fire was warm and he held his hands out to it. ‘How would you feel? How does Bison feel?’ He glanced up at the tall warrior. ‘Ah, it is different for you, isn’t it? The champion. The blade master. You’re not quite as old as us. No-one’s told you you’re useless yet. But they will, Nogusta. The day will come.’ He sat down and stared into the flames. ‘You know, we had no intention of killing the merchant. But he struggled and Eris stabbed him. Then the girl ran in. She had been sleeping, and she was wearing a transparent shift. I still can hardly believe it happened. The room went very cold. I remember that, and I felt something touch me. Then I was filled with rage and lust. It was the same for the others. We spoke about it last night.’ He looked up at Nogusta. ‘I swear to you, Nogusta, that I believe we were possessed. Maybe the merchant was a sorcerer. But there was something evil there. It affected us all. You know me well. In all the