Dust of Dreams

divination,’ said Throatslitter. ‘I’m changing my mind. It was a stupid idea. You think Fid’s playing with the Deck right now? Not a chance. Forget it, I’m going to bed. Not that I’ll get any sleep. In fact—’
    Balm stepped up and punched Widdershins. The man fell in a heap.
    Throatslitter yelped again. ‘Sergeant! What did you do that for?’
    Frowning, Balm rubbed at his knuckles. ‘He said he wasn’t gonna get any sleep. He’s asleep now. You two, drag him to his tent. It’s time to take charge of things and that’s what I’m doing. Once you get him tucked in, why, we can go find Ebron. We’ll get a divination tonight if it kills us.’
     
    ‘I need more corporals,’ Hellian announced to the night sky. She’d been sitting by the hearth, staring into the flames. But now she was on her back, beneath spinning stars. The world could change in an instant. Who decided things like that? ‘One ain’t enough. Ballsgird, you’re now a corporal. You too, Probbly.’
    ‘It’s Maybe.’
    ‘No, I made up my mind.’
    ‘And Balgrid.’
    ‘Tha’s what I said. As soon as the earthquake’s over, we’ll get right on it. Who am I missing? How many in my squad? Four of ya, right? That last one, he’s a corporal now, too. I want four corporals, t’take my orders.’
    ‘What orders?’
    ‘The ones I come up with. Firs’ off, you’re all my bodyguards—I’m done with Skulldumb—keep him away from me.’
    ‘He’s convinced you’re royalty, Sergeant.’
    ‘An’ I am, Iffy, so you got to do what I say. Where my ’riginal corporal? Touchy Breath? You here?’
    ‘Aye, Sergeant.’
    ‘Yes, Sergeant.’
    ‘I can’t be looking at this mess any longer. Take me to my tent—no, quit that, don’t help me up, you idiots. Take my feet. Nice an’ slow now—ow, who put rocks under me? Corperl Marble, clear them rocks, will ya? Gods, where’s my tent? Letheras?’
    ‘We’re looking, Sergeant—didn’t you put it up?’
    ‘Me? You’re my corperl, that was your job.’
    ‘Hold on, Sergeant. Just rest here—we’re on it.’
    ‘So I should think. Derliction of duty. Gi’me a wax and a stick, someone, got to write you up. I’m bustin’ you down, to . . . to, uh, undercorperl. What’s that pounding?’
    ‘Putting the stakes down, Sergeant. Not long now.’
    ‘Hey! Look at those green things! In the sky! Who put those there—get rid of ’em!’
    ‘Wish I could, Sergeant.’
    ‘You’re now an unnerunnercorperl—for disobeying unners. Orners. Oars. Udders. Hold on.’ She rolled on to her side and was sick, but in a lazy way. ‘Orders. Hah. Hey, where you dragging me to? I wasn’t done there. Something’s in the sky—I saw it—cut right across those greens. Saw it, corperls, you lissinin’? Big wings—I saw . . . oh, whatever. Someone’s in turble, but it ain’t me. Check that tent now—no spiders allowed—stupid stars, how’d they get in here?’
     
    Gesler brought the lantern close. ‘Look at that, will you? One of Bottle’s rats did that, I bet. Chewed right through the Hood-damned strap. If I catch ’im, I’m going to twist his tiny head right off.’
    ‘The rat or Bottle?’ Stormy asked.
    ‘Either. Both. I knew it was hanging funny, down on one shoulder—’
    ‘Aye,’ Stormy said, ‘you looked ridiculous. Lopsided. Like some green recruit ain’t figured out how to wear the slingwork.’
    Gesler glared across at his corporal. ‘And you didn’t say nothing all day—some friend you are. What if I got snot smeared across half my face—you just going to stand there?’
    ‘Count on it,’ Stormy said, ‘assuming I can keep a straight face.’
    ‘Next time I see you with bark-hair hanging from your back end, I ain’t saying a thing.’
    ‘Pays to check twice—I learned that much. Think we should go find Flashwit? She’s way overdue.’
    ‘Send Mayfly and Shortnose.’
    ‘You can’t be serious.’
    Gesler paused in his tugging loose the chewed-through strap. ‘Huh. Right. Off you go, then.’
    ‘Sure you don’t need any help there?’
    ‘Naw, you done too much already.’
    ‘That’s just it—I’m all wore out, Ges. I’m too old to march the way we’re marching right now. I’ll be walking on stumpy knees if this goes on much longer.’
    ‘Thus matching your intellectual height. Know what your problem is, Stormy? You’ve gone all edgy.’
    The huge Falari snorted. ‘Ges, we just saw a hundred or so squad mages fall out of line,