Men at Arms

1993

After the guards' successful actions against the dragon a year previously, the watch has been vastly expanded and all sorts of people are being enlisted. They have a troll and a dwarf - blood enemies and Angua who claims she was enlisted 'cause she's a woman. But it must be said that she's never seen out on moonlit nights...

And, of course, corporal Carrot is still charming his way through the low-lives of Ankh-Morpok whilst sergeant Colon and corporal Nobbs try to take things as easy as they can. Their commander, Captain Vimes, finds himself engaged to lady Sybil Ramkin and in imminent retirement from the watch.

This idyll is in danger of collapsing when an impoverished nobleman gets strange thoughts about one of those new watchmen. As a qualified Assassin, he also has access to their museum which contains a strange one-of-a-kind device. Edward d'Eath, thinking on his impoverishment sees a way of putting these two discoveries together in a fashion that could cause the people to call for the Return of the King.

Nothing ordinary could cause the normally sceptical citizens of Ankh-Morpok to panic, but the inexplicable deaths of leading citizens, and a growing number of lesser luminaries, brings things to a boil especially when Lord Vetinari tries to stand down the Night Watch and replace them with the Day Watch. Amongst the near casualties were lance-corporals Cuddy, and Detrius who took three lead projectiles meant for the Dwarf.

Will the Patrician be able to bring things back under control or will he become a casualty himself? And will the friendship between lance-corporals Cuddy and Detrius be life long, and does that necessarily mean a long life?

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