“Aged Oak will be dead by then, I'm sure. Scratching Wolf, the Colonel Probing Gaze, the Sorcerer Apprentice Spying Eagle, the Medacor Apprentice Healing Hand, all those formidable and strong ought to lose their positions—at Flaming Arrow's orders.”
Scowling Tiger guffawed, slapping his thigh.
“While he's at it, he can promote a few dullards to sensitive positions.”
“Eh? Then the real Flaming Arrow will merely demote them, Lord Sword. What good will that do?”
“In demoting them, he impugns his own credibility, Lord Tiger. Why did he grant the position if he planned only to take it away? In the taking he'll engender resentment and hostility.”
Scowling Tiger chuckled mightily, liking the young man's strategic bent. “Yes, Seeking Sword, you are the man to lead the bandits to their destiny
