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doorway. For a moment Raven seemed
     embarrassed.
    Shed slunk into the hostel where Krage held court. From the outside the place
     was as crummy as the Lily. Timidly, he looked for Count, tried to ignore Asa.
    Count would not torment him for fun. “Count, I need to see Krage.” Count opened
     big brown cow eyes. “Why?” “I brought him some money. On account.” Count heaved
     himself upright. “All right. Wait here.”
    He stalked off.
    Asa sidled up. “Where'd you get the money. Shed?” “Where do you get yours, Asa?”
    Asa did not answer.
    “It isn't polite to ask. Mind your own business or stay away from me.”
    “Shed, I thought we were friends.”
    “I tried to be friends, Asa. I even let you have a place to sleep. And as soon
     as you hooked up with Krage. ...”
    A shadow crossed Asa's face. “I'm sorry, Shed. You know me. I don't think so
     fast. I do dumb things.”
    Shed snorted. So Asa had come to the inevitable conclusion: Krage would dump him
     once he settled with Raven.
    Shed was tempted to betray Raven. The man had to have a fortune hidden. But he
     was afraid of a thousand things, and his guest stood at the top of the list.
    Asa said, “I found a way to get deadwood from the Enclosure.” His face
     brightened in pathetic appeal. “Mostly pine, but it's wood.”
    “The Enclosure?”
    “It's not illegal, Shed. It keeps the Enclosure cleaned up.”
    Shed scowled righteously.
    “Shed, it's less wrong than going through somebody's. ...”
    Shed controlled his anger. He needed allies inside the enemy camp. “Firewood
     could be like money, Asa. No provenance.”
    Asa smiled fawningly. “Thanks, Shed.”
    Count called, “Shed.”
    Shed shook as he crossed the room. Krage's men smirked.
    This wouldn't work. Krage wouldn't listen. He was going to throw his money away.
    “Count says you've got something to give me on account,” Krage said.
    “Uhm.” Krage's den could have been ripped whole from a mansion high up the wall
     of the valley. Shed was stunned.
    “Stop gawking and get on with it. You'd better not give me a handful of copper
     and beg for an extension, either. Picked a warm doorway yet? Your payments are a
     joke, Shed.”
    “No joke. Mr. Krage. Honest. I can pay over half of it.”
    Krage's eyebrows rose. “Interesting.” Shed laid nine silver leva before him.
    “Very interesting.” He fixed Shed with a penetrating stare.
    Shed stammered, “That's over half, counting interest. I hoped maybe seeing as
     how that would put me ahead. ...”
    “Quiet.” Shed shut up. “You think I should forget what happened?”
    “That wasn't my fault, Mr. Krage. I didn't tell him to. ... You don't know what
     Raven is like.”
    “Shut up.” Krage stared at the coins. “Maybe something can be arranged. I know
     you didn't put him up to it. You don't have the guts.”
    Shed stared at the floor, unable to deny his cowardice. “Okay, Shed. You're a
     regular client. Back to the regular schedule.“ He eyed the money. ”You're ahead
     three weeks, looks like.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Krage. Really. You don't know how much this means. ...”
    “Shut up. I know exactly what it means. Get out. Start getting another payment
     together. This is your last reprieve.”
    “Yes. sir.” Shed retreated. Count opened the door.
    “Shed! I may want something sometime. A favor for a favor. Understand?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “All right. Go.”
    Shed left, a sinking feeling replacing relief. Krage would make him help get
     Raven. He almost wept as he tramped homeward. It never got any better. He was
     always in a trap.

Black Company N 2 - Shadows Linger

Chapter Ten:
    TALLY TURNAROUND
     Tome was typical of towns we had garrisoned recently. Small, dirty, boring. One
     wondered why the Lady bothered. What use were these remote provinces? Did she
     insist they bend the knee merely to puff her ego? There was nothing here worth
     having, unless it was power over the natives.
    Even they viewed their country