The Heroes

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?’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘Happy to have you back, then. And your lad too, if you say he’s up to it.’
    ‘Oh, he’s up to it, ain’t you boy?’
    The boy didn’t say a thing.
    ‘What’s your name?’ asked Craw.
    ‘Beck.’
    Flood thumped him on the arm. ‘
Red
Beck. Best get used to using the whole thing, eh?’
    The lad looked a bit sick, Craw thought. Small wonder, given the state of the town. Must’ve been quite a scrap he’d been through. Quite an introduction to the bloody business. ‘Not much of a talker, eh? Just as well. We got more’n enough talk with Wonderful and Whirrun.’
    ‘Whirrun of Bligh?’ asked the lad.
    ‘That’s right. He’s one of the dozen. Or the half-dozen, leastways. Do you reckon I need to give him the big speech?’ Craw asked Flood. ‘You know, the one I gave you when you joined up, ’bout looking out for your crew and your Chief, and not getting killed, and doing the right thing, and all that?’
    Flood