Read The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen Online
Authors: Steven Erikson
Iron Bars suddenly moved, a blur, past the Errant, both hands liftingâ
âas a huge white wolf, claws skittering, pitched round from an alley mouth and, head ducking, lunged towards Turudal Brizad, who had only just begun to turn round.
The Avowed caught it in mid-leap, left hand closing on its right leg just beneath the shoulder, right hand clutching its neck beneath the beast's jaws. He heaved the wolf high, pivoted and smashed it head first onto the street. Crushing snout, skull and shoulders. Limbs kicking spasmodically, the Soletaken flopped onto its back, yellow vomit spurting, urine arcing as it died. A moment later, all movement from the limbs ceased, although the urine continued to stream, the arc dwindling, then collapsing.
Iron Bars stepped back.
Halfpeck suddenly laughed. âIt pissed on you!'
âBe quiet,' Iron Bars said, looking down at his wet legs. âHood take me, that stinks.'
âWe should get back to the ship,' Corlo said. âThere's wolves all over the place and I don't think I can keep them away much longer.'
Turudal Brizad; âBut I can. Especially now.'
Bugg asked, âWhat's changed, apart from the Pack getting chopped to pieces?'
The Errant pointed down at the dead Soletaken. âThat was B'nagga, the leader of the Jheck.' He shot Bugg a look, astonished and half disbelieving. âYou chose well,' he said.
âThis squad managed to escape Assail,' Bugg said, shrugging.
The god's eyes widened. He turned to Iron Bars. âI will ensure you a clear path to your shipâ'
âOh, damn,' Bugg cut in, slowly turning. âThey're getting out.'
âMore trouble?' Iron Bars asked, looking round, his hand drifting close to the sword at his hip.
âNot here,' Bugg said. âBut not far.' He faced the Avowed, gauging.
Iron Bars frowned, then said, âCorlo, take the squad back to the ship. All right, old man, lead the way.'
âYou don't have to do thisâ'
âYes I do. With that wolf pissing on me I feel the need to lose my temper. It's another fight, isn't it?'
Bugg nodded. âMight make the Pack seem like kittens, Iron Bars.'
âMight? Will it or won't it?'
âAll right, we might well lose this one.'
âFine,' the Avowed snapped. âLet's get it over with.'
The manservant sighed. âFollow me, then. It's a dead Azath House we're heading to.'
âDead? Hood take me, a garden fête.'
A garden fête? Dear me, I like this man
. âAnd we're inviting ourselves, Avowed. Still with me?'
Iron Bars looked across at Corlo, who had stopped to listen, his face bloodless as he repeatedly shook his head in denial. The Avowed grunted. âOnce you've dropped 'em off, come and find us, Corlo. And try and make your arrival timely.'
âAvowedâ'
âGo.'
Bugg glanced at the Errant. âYou coming?'
âIn spirit,' he replied. âThere is another matter I must attend to, I am afraid. Oh,' he added as Bugg and Iron Bars turned to go, âdear manservant, I thank you. And you as well, Avowed. Tell me, Iron Bars, how many of the Avowed remain among the Crimson Guard?'
âNo idea. A few hundred, I'd imagine.'
âScattered here and thereâ¦'
The grey-haired soldier smiled. âFor the moment.'
Bugg said, âWe shall have to run, I think.'
âCan you keep up?' Iron Bars asked.
âAs swift as a charging wave, that's me,' Bugg said.
Â
Brys stood alone in the corridor. The howling was, thankfully, over. It was the only sound that had managed to penetrate the walls. There was no way to know if the garrison was fighting in the city beyond the Eternal Domicile. It seemed such a pointless thingâ¦
His breath caught upon hearing a strange sound. Brys lowered his gaze, fixed it upon the Ceda, who was lying curled tight in the chamber beyond, with his back to Brys and the throne room behind him.
Kuru Qan's head shifted slightly, then rose a fraction from the floor.
And, from the Ceda, there came low laughter.
Â
The path was unmistakable. Keening with glee, the demon drew itself to the cave's entrance, contracting its massive, corpulent presence, the bloated flesh of its body, away from the river's broad span. Inward, gathering, hovering before the tunnel beneath the city, where old swamp water still flowed, putrid and sweet, a flavour like sweet nectar to the demon.
Ready now, at last, for the lunge, the breaking away from the grip of its master. Who was so regrettably preoccupied at the moment.
Now.
Surging forward, filling the cave, then into the narrow, twisting tunnel.
To the heart. The wondrous, blessed heart of power.
Joy and hunger burning like twin fires within it. Close, so close now.
Squirming down, the path narrowing, squeezing with the vast pressure of overlying stone and earth. A little further.
Reaching out, the space suddenly opening, blissfully wide and high, spreading out to all sides, the water welcoming in its warmth.
A storm of long-still silts sweeping up, blinding, shadows of dead things cavorting before its countless eyes.
The heart, the enormous cavern beneath the lake, the city's very soulâthe powerâ
Â
And Brys heard Kuru Qan speak.
âNow, friend Bugg.'
Â
Thirty paces from the overgrown yard of the Azath tower, Bugg skidded to a halt. He cocked his head, then smiled.
Ahead, Iron Bars slowed, then turned round. âWhat?'
âFind the girl,' the manservant said. âI'll join you when I can.'
âBugg?'
âIn a moment, Avowed. I must do something first.'
The Crimson Guardsman hesitated, then nodded and swung back.
Bugg closed his eyes.
Jaghut witch, hear me. Recall my favour at the quarry? The time has come forâ¦reciprocity.
She replied in his mind, distant, yet swiftly closing.
âI hear you, little man. I know what you seek. Ah, you are a clever one indeedâ¦'
Oh, I cannot take all the credit, this time.
Â
The demon expanded to fill the cavern. The heart was all about, the power seeping in to enliven its flesh. The chains of binding melted away.
Now, it need only reach out and grasp hold.
The strength of a thousand gods awaited it.
Reaching.
Countless grasping, clutching hands.
Findingâ¦
nothing
.
Then, a mortal's voiceâ
Â
From the Ceda, two more words, uttered low and clear,
âGot you.'
A lie! Illusion! Deceit! The demon raged, spun in a conflagration of brown silt, seeking the way outâonly to find the tunnel mouth sealed. A smooth surface, fiercely cold, the cold burningâthe demon recoiled.
Then, the lake overhead. Upwardâfast, fasterâ
Â
Ursto Hoobutt and his sometime lover, Pinosel, were both drunk as they awaited the fall of Letheras. They had been singing, celebrating the end of their debts, sprawled on the mouldy walkway surrounding Settle Lake amidst nervous rats and head-jutting pigeons.
When the wine ran out, they began bickering.
It had begun innocently enough, as Pinosel loosed a loud sigh and said, âAnd now you can marry me.'
It was a moment before her words registered, upon which, bleary-eyed, he looked over in disbelief. âMarry you? What's wrong wi' 'ow it is now, Cherrytart?'
âWhat's wrong? It's respectable I want, you fat, flea-bit oaf. I earned it. Respectable. You marry me, Ursto Hoobutt, now that the Edurians done conquered us. Marry me!'
âAll right, I will.'
âWhen?' she demanded, sensing the out he was angling towards.
âWhenâ¦whenâ¦' Hah! He had his answerâ
And, at that instant, the fetid green water of Settle Lake, sprawled out before them like a turgid plain of seaweed fertilizer, paled into murky white. And clouds began rising from its now frozen surface.
An icy breeze swept over Ursto Hoobutt and Pinosel.
There was a sudden deep thump from somewhere beneath the frozen lake's ice, although not a single crack showed.
Ursto Hoobutt stared, disbelieving. Opened his mouth, then closed it.
Then his shoulders sagged. âToday, love. I'll marry ya todayâ¦'
When the gods of dust were young
They swam in blood.
W
HITEFORTH'S
D
REAM ON THE
D
AY OF THE
S
EVENTH
C
LOSURE
F
EVER
W
ITCH
Shurq Elalle walked down the tunnel to the crypt door. Her thoughts were on Gerun Eberict; her concern was for Tehol Beddict. The Finadd was of the most vicious sort, after all, and Tehol seemed soâ¦helpless. Oh, fit enough, probably quite capable of running fast and far should the need arise. But it was clear that Tehol had no intention of running anywhere. The silent bodyguards Brys had assigned to him were some comfort, although, the way Gerun worked, they might prove little more than a minor inconvenience.
If that was not troubling enough, there was the ominous silence from Kettle at the dead Azath tower. Was that a result of the child's returning to life, thus severing the link that bound the dead? Or had something terrible happened?
She reached the portal and pushed it open.
Light flared from a lantern, and she saw Ublala seated on the sarcophagus, the lantern on his lap as he adjusted the flame.
She saw his expression and frowned. âWhat is wrong, my love?'
âThere's no time,' he said, rising, bumping his head on the ceiling, then ducking into a hunch. âBad things. I was about to go.' He set the lantern down on the lid. âCouldn't wait for you any longer. I've got to go.'
âWhere?'
âIt's the Seregahl,' he mumbled, hands wringing. âIt's bad.'
âThe Seregahl? The old Tarthenal gods? Ublala, what are you talking about?'
âI have to go.' He headed for the doorway.
âUblala, what about Harlest? Where are you going?'
âThe old tower.' He was in the tunnel, his words dwindling. âI love you, Shurq Elalleâ¦'
She stared at the empty doorway. Love? That soundedâ¦final.
Shurq Elalle went to the sarcophagus and slid the lid to one side.
âAarrgh! Hiss! Hiss! Hissâ'
âStop that, Harlest!' She batted the clawing hands away. âGet out of there. We have to goâ'
âWhere?' Harlest slowly sat up, practising baring his long fangs and making growling sounds.
She studied him for a moment, then said, âA cemetery.'
âOh,' Harlest sighed, âthat's
perfect
.'
Â
Sitting in the street, in a pool of darkening blood, the emperor of the Tiste Edur had one hand held against his face and seemed to be trying to claw his eyes out. He still screamed every now and then, a shrill, wordless release of raw anguish.
On the bridge, thirty paces distant, the Letherii soldiers were silent and motionless behind their shields. Other citizens of the city were visible along the edge of the canal on the other side, a row of onlookers, their numbers growing.
Trull Sengar felt a hand settle on his shoulder and he turned to find Uruth, her face twisted with distress.
âSon, something must be doneâhe's losing his mindâ'
Udinaas, the damned slave who had become so essential, so integral to Rhuladâto the young Edur's sanityâhad vanished. And now the emperor railed, recognizing no-one, froth on his lips, his cries those of a panicked beast. âHe must be hunted down,' Trull said. âThat slave.'
âThere is moreâ'
Hannan Mosag had moved to stand close to Rhulad, and now spoke, his words carrying easily. âEmperor Rhulad, hear me! This is a day of dark truths. Your slave, Udinaas, has done what we would expect of a Letherii. Their hearts are filled with treachery and they serve none but themselves. Rhulad, Udinaas has run away.' He paused, then said, âFrom you.'
The triumph was poorly hidden as the Warlock King continued. âHe has made himself into your white nectar, and now leaves you in pain. This is a world without faith, Emperor. Only your kin can be trustedâ'
Rhulad's head snapped up, features ravaged with hurt, a dark fire in his eyes. âTrusted? You, Hannan Mosag? My brothers? Mayen?' Blood-smeared gold, matted bear fur, sword-blade threaded through bits of human meat and intestines, the emperor staggered upright, chest heaving with emotion. âYou are all as
nothing
to us. Liars, cheats, betrayers! All of you!' He whipped the sword, spattering red and pink fragments onto the cobbles and against the shins of those standing nearest him, and bared his teeth. âThe emperor shall reflect his people,' he rasped, an ugly grin spreading. âReflect, as it must be.'
Trull saw Fear take a step forward, halting as Rhulad's sword shot upward, the point hovering at Fear's throat.
âOh no, brother, we want nothing from you. We want nothing from any of you. Except obedience. An empire must be shaped, and that shaping shall be by the emperor's hands. Warlock King!'
âSire?'
The sword slid away from Fear's throat, waved carelessly towards the soldiers blocking the bridge. âGet rid of them.'
Binadas among them, the K'risnan shambled forward at Hannan Mosag's ges
ture. Behind them were four slaves with two large leather sacks which they dragged over the cobbles to where the K'risnan waited in a row. Noting the sacks, the Warlock King shook his head. âNot here, I think. Somethingâ¦simpler.' He faced the emperor. âA moment, sire, in which to prepare. I shall do this myself.'
Uruth tugged Trull round again. âIt is more than just Udinaas,' she said. âMayen has escaped.'
He stared at her, not quite comprehending. âEscaped?'
âWe must find herâ¦'
âShe ran awayâ¦from us? From her own people?'
âIt is the hunger, Trull. Please.'
After a moment, he pulled away, looked round until he saw a company of warriors grouped behind Theradas and Midik Buhn. Trull walked over to them.
Theradas scowled. âWhat do you want, Trull Sengar?'
âThe emperor's mother has orders for you and your warriors, Theradas.'
His expression lost its ferocity, was replaced with uncertainty. âWhat are they?'
âMayen is lost, somewhere in the city. She must be found. As for Udinaasâ¦if you see himâ¦'
âIf we see him he will die terribly, Trull Sengar.'
He betrayed Rhulad. When I warned him
â¦Trull glanced over at Rhulad. A return from this madness? Not likely. It was too late. âAs you like, Theradas. Just find Mayen.'
He watched them head off, then turned and met Uruth's eyes. She nodded.
The soldiers on the bridge knew what was coming. He saw them duck lower behind their shields. Pointless. Pathetic, yet there was courage here, among these Letherii.
Udinaas, I did notâ¦did not think you would
â
A seething, spitting grey wave rose suddenly at the foot of the bridge, churning higher.
The shield wall flinched back, contracted.
The wave plunged forward.
From the banks of the canal to either side citizens shrieked and scatteredâ
âas the sorcery rushed over the bridge, striking the soldiers in a spray of blood and strips of flesh. A heartbeat, then past, spreading out to wash over the fleeing citizens. Devouring them in writhing hunger.
Trull saw it strike nearby buildings, smashing down doors and bursting through shuttered windows. Screams.
âEnough!' Rhulad roared, stepping towards Hannan Mosag, who lowered his arms, which looked twisted and gnarled.
The sorcery vanished, leaving only heaps of bones, polished shields and armour on the bridge. From the sundered buildings, silence. Hannan Mosag sagged, and Trull saw how misshapen he had become beneath his furs.
The emperor suddenly giggled. âSo eager, Hannan Mosag! Your secret god is so
eager
!'
Secret god? Trull looked over at Fear, and found his brother staring back.
âBrothers,' the emperor cried, waving his sword, âwe march to the Eternal
Domicile! To the throne! None can deny us! And should they dare, their flesh shall be rendered from their bones! They will know pain. They will suffer! Brothers, this shall be a day of
suffering
'âhe seemed to find sweetness in tasting the wordââfor all who would oppose us! Now, walk with your Sire!'
He isâ¦transformed. Lost to us. And all for the treachery of a slave
â¦
Â
An overgrown yard, just visible through the old, battered stones of the gateway. From the skeletal, twisted branches of leaning trees, something like steam billowed upward. There was no-one about. Iron Bars slowed his steps and looked back up the street. That manservant had yet to appear from beyond the corner of the building he had jogged round moments earlier.
âFine, then,' the Avowed muttered, drawing his sword, âwe'll just have to see for ourselvesâ¦' He approached the gateway, strode onto the winding stone path. The squat, square tower was opposite, stained and leaning and dead. From his left, the sounds of stones grinding together, the snap of wood, and thumps that trembled the ground beneath his feet.
Over there, then.
Iron Bars walked into the yard.
Round a mud-smeared barrow, over a fallen tree, to come to a halt ten paces from what had once been an extensive, elongated mound, now torn apart and steaming, mud sliding down as five huge figures dragged themselves free. Flesh darkened by peat, skin mapped by the tracks of countless roots, dangling hair the colour of copper. Tugging weapons freeâmassive two-handed swords of black, polished wood.
The five were chanting.
Iron Bars grunted. âTartheno Toblakai. Hood-damned Fenn. Well, this won't be fun.'
One of the warriors heard him and fixed black, murky eyes on the Avowed. The chant ceased, and it spoke. âA child, my brothers.'
âThe one who spoke through the earth?' another asked.
âI don't know. Does it matter?'
âIt would not help us, that child. We have promised a terrible death.'
âThen let usâ'
The Toblakai's words were cut short as Iron Bars rushed forward.
A roar, a keening sweep of a wooden sword flung into the path of the Avowed's own weapon, which slid under, point gliding back round and over the warrior's enormous wrist, following in its swishing wake, to intercept the instinctive back-swing. Slashing through hard, thick skin, the edge scoring against muscle tough as wood.
A huge presence lunging in from the Avowed's right. But Iron Bars continued forward, ducking beneath the first Toblakai's arm, then pivoting round as the second attacker slammed into the first warrior. Disengaging his sword, thrusting upward, seeking the soft space between the lower mandiblesâa jerk of the giant's head, and the Avowed's sword point speared its right eye, plunging deep in a spurt of what seemed to be swamp water.
A shriek.
Iron Bars found himself scrambling over the ruined barrow, the other Toblakai stumbling as they swung round to face him againâwith a heap of boulders, mud and ripped-up roots in the way.
The Avowed leapt down onto level ground once more.
Black blood dripping from one arm, a hand pressed over a gouged socket and burst eye, the Toblakai he had attacked was staggering back.
The other four were spreading out, silent now, intent.
Until they could edge round the entire barrow, their approach would be difficult, the footing treacherous.
One down. Iron Bars was pleasedâ
And then the fifth one shook itself and straightened. One-eyed, but turning to face the Avowed once more.
âYou hurt our brother,' one said.
âThere's more to come,' Iron Bars said.
âIt's not good, hurting gods.'
Gods?
âWe are the Seregahl,' the lead Toblakai said. âBefore you hurt us, you might have begged for mercy. You might have knelt in worship, and perhaps we would have accepted you. But not now.'
âNo,' the Avowed agreed, âI suppose not.'
âThat is all you would say?'
He shrugged. âNothing else comes to mind.'
âYou are frowning. Why?'
âWell, I've already killed a god today,' Iron Bars said. âIf I'd known this was going to be a day for killing gods, I might have paced myself better.'
The five were silent for a moment, then the first one said, âWhat god have you killed this day, stranger?'
âThe Pack.'
A hiss from the Toblakai on the far right. âThe ones that escaped us! The fast ones!'
âThey were fast,' Iron Bars said, nodding. âBut not, it seems, fast enough.'
âD'ivers.'
âYes,' the Avowed said. âSix of themâ¦and only five of you.'
The first Toblakai said to its brothers, âCareful with this one, then.'
âWe are free,' the one-eyed one growled. âWe must kill this one to remain so.'
âTrue. This is cause enough.'
They began advancing again.
Iron Bars inwardly sighed. At least he'd made them nervous. And that might serve to keep him alive a little while longer. Then again, he reminded himself, he'd faced worse.
Well, maybe not. Maybe? Who am I kidding?
He shifted his weight, rising to the balls of his feet, readying himself to begin the dance. The dance of staying alive.
Until help came.
Helpâ¦from a short, pudgy, balding man. Oh, Hood, Iron Bars, just try and stay alive as long as you canâmaybe they'll die of exhaustion.
âLook,' one whined, âhe's smiling.'
Â
Unseen storms, raging through the streets, battering the city. Bugg's head was aching with the chaos of power, of the clash of fierce wills. He could still feel the impotent fury, of the ancient god trapped beneath the ice of Settle Lakeâthe Ceda's trap had worked well indeed, and even now the ice was slowly thickening, closing in around the creature in the sealed cavern, and before the sun set it would find itself encased in the ice, feeling the unbearable cold, seeping into its being, stealing sensation, stealing its life.
Good things came of being nice to a Jaghut, something the T'lan Imass never understood.
Bugg made his way towards the end of the alley beyond which the old Azath tower was visible. He hoped Iron Bars had not done anything precipitous, such as entering the yard alone. Kettle would have warned him against that in any case. With luck, the child's buried ally was buried no longer. The Avowed was intended to give support, that was all, and only if necessity demanded it. This wasn't that man's fight, after allâ