Shadows Linger by Glen Cook

wouldn't have to live frugally. The body business would be lucrative.
    He invested? In shipping? Odd the way he said that. Where the money went might
     be as interesting as whence it came. “You threatened my friend,” Raven said.
    "Oh. Excuse me, Shed. A misstatement. It's partner, not friend. Partners don't
     have to like each other. Little man. You have something to say for yourself?''
    Shed shuddered. Damn Raven. He'd said that so Asa would spread it around.
    Bastard was taking control of his life. Nibbling away at it like a mouse slowly
     destroying a head of cheese. “Honest, Mr. Raven. I didn't mean nothing. I was
     scared. Krage thinks I tipped you. I got to hide, and Shed's scared to put me
     up. I was just trying to get him to. ...”
    “Shut up. Shed, I thought he was your friend.”
    “I just did him some favors. I felt sorry for him.”
    "You'd shelter him from weather, but not from enemies. You're a real gutless
     wonder, Shed. Maybe I made a mistake. I was going to make you a full partner.
    Going to give you the whole business eventually. Thought I'd do you a favor. But
     you're a yellow-dog creep. Without the guts to deny it.“ He whirled. ”Talk,
    little man. Tell me about Krage. Tell me about the Enclosure." Asa went white.
    He didn't open up till Raven threatened to call the Custodians.
    Shed's knees racketed off one another. The hilt of his butcher knife was
     sweat-moist and slippery. He could not have used the blade, but Asa was too
     scared to see that. He just squeaked at his team and started rolling. Raven
     followed them in his own wagon. Shed glanced across the valley. The black castle
     brooded on the northern skyline, casting its dread shadow across Juniper. Why
     was it there? Where had it come from? He rejected the questions. Best to ignore
     it.
    How had he gotten into this? He feared the worst. Raven had no sensibilities.
    They left the wagons in the grove, entered the Enclosure. Raven examined Asa's
     wood stash. “Move these bundles to the wagons. Stack them alongside for now.”
    “You can't take my wood,” Asa protested. “Shut up.” Raven pushed a bundle
     through the wall.
    “You first, Shed. Little man, I'll hunt you down if you run off.”
    They had moved a dozen bundles when Asa whispered, “Shed, one of Krage's goons
     is watching us.” He was about to panic.
    Raven was not displeased with the news. “You two go get bundles from the woods.”
    Asa protested. Raven glared. Asa headed uphill. “How does he know?” he whined at
     Shed. “He never followed me. I'm sure of that.”
    Shed shrugged. “Maybe he's a sorcerer. He always
     knows what I'm thinking.”
    Raven was gone when they returned. Shed looked around, nervously decided, “Let's
     get another load.”
    Raven was waiting next trip. “Take those bundles to Asa's wagon.”
    “An object lesson,” Shed said, pointing into the wagon. Blood ran across the
     floorboards, seeping from under a pile of wood.
    “See what kind of man he is?”
    “Up the hill now,” Raven ordered when they returned. “Lead off, Asa. Collect
     your tools and torches to start.”
    Suspicion nagged Shed as he watched Raven build a litter. But no. Even Raven
     wouldn't stoop that low. Would he?
    They stood looking down into the dark mouth of the underworld. “You first, Asa,”
    Raven said. Reluctantly, Asa descended.
    “You're next, Shed.”
    “Have a heart, Raven.”
    “Get moving.”
    Shed moved. Raven came down behind him.
    The Catacombs had a carnal smell, but weaker than Shed had anticipated. A draft
     stirred Asa's torch.
    “Stop,” Raven said. He took the brand, examined the gap through which they had
     entered, nodded, passed the torch back. “Lead on.” The cavern widened and joined
     a larger cave. Asa halted halfway across. Shed stopped, too. He was surrounded
     by bones. Bones on the cave floor, bones on racks on the walls, skeletons
     hanging from hooks. Loose bones in tumbles and piles, all mixed