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That cut into Narasan like the edge of a very sharp knife

‘Absolutely not!’ Narasan told the pale-faced Gunda ‘Just put it in a suitable container and bury it in the arht you htly clenched teeth, ‘but it wasto coalta’s related to Adnari Estarg?’

‘No, actually, I didn’t How did you find that out?’

‘That young officer Keselo tracked it down He told alta are cousins, and it was one of Bergalta’s servants who delivered Astal’s head here to the co was very put out with you when you refused to fight those southern armies that came here and put that fellow Udar on the throne of the Naos, and I’ odor of church involvement in our recent defeat I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to find out that the money that paid all those scoundrels ca h to step into it,’ Narasan added glumly

‘Don’t beat yourself over the head with it, old friend,’ Gunda advised bleakly ‘There’s probably a big celebration going on down there, but I don’t think it’s going to last very er’

‘We aren’t in any position to put a stop to it, Gunda They tricked us, and then they killed a very large number of our men’

‘You ht not approve of this, Narasan, but Padan and I recently had a little talk with soht have heard about They’re the ones who specialize in the business of providing the guests of honor at funerals It won’t be long before three armies won’t have commanders any more and two ducal thrones will be empty’

‘That’s hardly honorable, Gunda’

‘Well that’s just too bad, Narasan Their scheme ay past "honorable", and if that’s the way they want to play, we’ll take the gaht-lipped grin ‘We could send flowers to the funerals, if you’d like, though There’s a weed that grows along the coast near Castano that stinks to high heaven That ht just let everybody down there know exactly e think of them’

‘You’re a very nasty fellow, Gunda’

‘I know It’s a failing of mine’

Narasan’s satisfaction with the clever schee didn’t alter the cold hard facts about the disastrous war in the south To soalta’s offer because it had given hi the h that ive Astal a greater degree of self-confidence, but the ht about it, the rown out of his own egotiser as an act of stupid pride His grief returned, and it was overlaid with a tremendous amount of shame It had been his foolish decision that had killed Astal and twelve cohorts of his ar around could alter that painful truth He was quite obviously no longer fit for command