Witches Abroad (Discworld 12)

'Word for word translation,' said Nanny. 'I can speak foreign like a native, you know that.'

'Mrs Ogg? Is that you, my love?'

They all looked up towards the barred window. There was a small face peering in.

'Casanunda?' said Nanny.

'That's me, Mrs Ogg.'

'My love,' muttered Granny.

'How did you get up to the window?' said Nanny, ignoring this.

'I always know where I can get my hands on a step-ladder, Mrs Ogg.'

'I suppose you don't know where you can get your hands on a key?'

'Wouldn't do any good. There's too many guards outside your door, Mrs Ogg. Even for a famous swordsman like me. Her ladyship gave strict orders. No-one's to listen to you or look at you, even.'

'How come you're in the palace guard, Casanunda?'

'Soldier of fortune takes whatever jobs are going, Mrs Ogg,' said Casanunda earnestly.

'But all the rest of 'em are six foot tall and you're - of the shorter persuasion.'

'I lied about my height, Mrs Ogg. I'm a world-famous liar.'

'Is that true?'

'No.'

'What about you being the world's greatest lover?'

There was silence for a while.

'Well, maybe I'm only No. 2,' said Casanunda. 'But I try harder.'

'Can't you go and find us a file or something, Mr Casanunda?' said Magrat.

'I'll see what I can do, Miss.'

The face disappeared.

'Maybe we could get people to visit us and then we could escape in their clothes?' said Nanny Ogg.

'Now I've gone and stuck the pin in my finger,' muttered Granny Weatherwax.

'Or maybe we could get Magrat to seduce one of the guards,' said Nanny.

'Why don't you? said Magrat, as nastily as she could manage.

'All right. I'm game.'

'Shut up, the pair of you,' said Granny. 'I'm trying to think - '

There was another sound at the window.

It was Legba.