The Books of the South (The Chronicles of the Black Company, #3.5-5)

by Glen Cook

And we, O merciless gods, stand witness to the power of names.

Once that lance had flaunted our standard. Now it trailed four feet of tattered black cloth. The symbolism lay on several levels. We knew who we were. It was best that others did not. The Company had too many enemies.

thus we always traveled for we were at war with the world.

That process was accelerating in an empire bereft of its cementing horrors.

They’ve been around four, five hundred years, and no outfit lasts that long without being so damned nasty even the gods don’t screw with them.”