Cannon Shear was a Rebel leader active during the events of the 6th chapter of Port of Shadows (released previously as the short story "Smelling Danger").
Port of Shadows[]
Cannon Shear is reportedly a cousin of Whisper, who had been the most dangerous and successful Rebel general of the Circle of Eighteen, until she was Taken by the Lady. He is somehow instructed or influenced by Whisper, despite being on opposite sides, to crush the Black Company, which is garrisoned in the free republic of Aloe. Whisper and her comrade the Limper are using Cannon Shear to effect their revenge on the Company for past transgressions.
Cannon Shear leads two columns in a pincer movement to hit the Company. However, his movements have been anticipated by the Company's Captain. The Rebel leader's first force suffers terrible fatalities when the Captain's group pummels them with concentrated missile fire as they brazenly try to force across two bridges. The Annalist Croaker – a firsthand witness – records "we splattered Cannon Shear" suggesting the Rebel commander himself may have been killed, and also that a river is almost dammed with Rebel bodies. Cannon Shear's second force, described as "panicky amateurs", is ambushed elsewhere and scattered by the Lieutenant.