The Heroes

coward to ask.’ And he couldn’t wait to leave. Win a big name with high deeds. He hardly even knew the man who’d thought that way. ‘Didn’t really know what I wanted back then, just thought I didn’t have it, and I could get it with a sword.’
    ‘Think about her, at all?’ asked Wonderful.
    ‘Not often.’
    ‘Liar.’
    Craw grinned. She knew him too bloody well. ‘Call it half a lie. I don’t think about her, really. Can’t hardly remember her face half the time. But I think about what my life might’ve been, if I’d taken that path ’stead o’ this.’ Sitting with his pipe, under his porch, smiling at the sunset on the water. He gave a sigh. ‘But, you know, choices made, eh? What about your husband?’
    Wonderful took a long breath. ‘Probably he’s getting ready to bring the harvest in about now. The children too.’
    ‘Wish you were with ’em?’
    ‘Sometimes.’
    ‘Liar. How often you been back this year? Twice, is it?’
    Wonderful frowned down into the still valley. ‘I go when I can. They know that. They know what I am.’
    ‘And they still put up with you?’
    She was silent a moment, then shrugged. ‘Choices made, eh?’
    ‘Chief!’ Agrick was hurrying over from the other side of the Heroes. ‘Drofd’s back! And he ain’t alone.’
    ‘No?’ Craw winced as he worked some movement into his dodgy knee. ‘Who’s he got with him?’
    Agrick had a face like a man sat on a thistle. ‘Looked like Caul Shivers.’
    ‘Shivers?’ growled Yon, head snapping sideways. Athroc seized his moment, stepped around Yon’s drooping shield and kneed him in the fruits. ‘Awwww, you little bastard …’ And Yon went down, eyes bulging.
    Craw might’ve laughed half his teeth out any other time, but Shivers’ name had chased the fun right out of him. He strode across the circle of grass, hoping all the way Agrick might’ve got it wrong but knowing it wasn’t likely. Craw’s hopes had a habit of coming out bloodstained, and Caul Shivers was a difficult man to mistake.
    Up he came towards the Heroes now, riding up that steep track on the north side of the hill. Craw watched him all the way, feeling like a shepherd watching a storm-cloud blow in.
    ‘Shit,’ muttered Wonderful.
    ‘Aye,’ said Craw. ‘Shit.’
    Shivers left Drofd to hobble their horses down at the drystone wall and came the rest of the way on foot. He looked at Craw, and Wonderful, and Jolly Yon too, half-ruined face slack as a hanged man’s, the left side not much more’n a great line of burn through that metal eye. A spookier-looking bastard you never did see.
    ‘Craw.’ Said in his whispery croak.
    ‘Shivers. What brings you down here?’
    ‘Dow sent me.’
    ‘That much I guessed. It’s the why I’m after.’
    ‘He says you’re to keep hold o’ this hill and watch for the Union.’
    ‘He told me that already.’ Bit more snappish than Craw had meant. There was a pause. ‘So why send you here?’
    Shivers shrugged. ‘To make sure you do it.’
    ‘Many thanks for the support.’
    ‘Thank Dow.’
    ‘I will.’
    ‘He’ll like that. Have you seen the Union?’
    ‘Not since Hardbread was up here, four nights ago.’
    ‘I know Hardbread. Stubborn old prick. He might come back.’
    ‘If he does there’s only three ways across the river, far as I know.’ Craw pointed ’em out. ‘The Old Bridge over west near the bogs, the new bridge in Osrung and the shallows at the bottom of the hill there. We got eyes on all of ’em, and the valley’s open. We could see a sheep cross the river from here.’
    ‘Don’t reckon we need to tell Black Dow about a sheep.’ Shivers brought the ruined side of his face close. ‘But we better if the Union come. Maybe we can sing some songs, while we wait?’
    ‘Can you carry a tune?’ asked Wonderful.
    ‘Shit, no. Don’t stop me trying, though.’ And he strolled off across the circle of grass, Athroc and Agrick backing away to give him room. Craw couldn’t blame ’em. Shivers was one of those men seemed to have a space around him where you’d better not be.
    Craw turned slowly to Drofd. ‘Great.’
    The lad held his hands up. ‘What was I supposed to do? Tell him I didn’t want the company? Least you didn’t have to spend two days riding with him, and two nights sleeping next to him at the fire. He never closes that eye, you know. It’s like he’s looking at you all night long. I swear I haven’t slept a wink since we set out.’
    ‘He can’t see