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Rent? That would be the red welt in the air Uh
’You have examined the K’Chain Che’Malle tombs, Lady?’
She wrinkled her nose ’Briefly They are all empty, and have been for some time Decades’
Tool’s head tilted with a soft creak ’Only decades?’
’Unpleasant detail, indeed I believe the Matron experienced considerable difficulty in extricating herself, then spent still further ti her children She and her brood made further efforts in the buried city to the northwest, though incomplete, as if the results proved unsatisfactory They then appear to have departed the area entirely’ She paused, then added, ’Itthe Rent Another hapless creature resides there noe must presume’
The T’lan Ie Toc had been busy eating, and was on his second cup of the crisp, cold wine Trying tohim a headache -- he’d mull on it later ’I need to head north,’ he said round a rainy bread ’Is there any chance, Lady, that you can furnish me with suitable supplies? I would be in your debt…’ His words trailed away at seeing the avid flash in her eyes
’Careful what you offer, young man-’
’No offence, but why do you callman"? You look not a day over twenty-five’
’How flattering Thus, despite Tool’s success in identifying e-- the names the T’lan Iged ’Anomander Rake I’ve heard, of course I didn’t know he took a sword from someone else -- nor when that event occurred It strikessome animosity towards him, since he killed your father -- as his name? Draconus The Malazan E enemies-’
’We are perforce allies A reasonable surardless, I would be pleased to provide what food and drink you are able to carry, though I have nothing in the way of weapons, I’m afraid In return, I rand, of course So small and relatively painless Is this acceptable?’
Toc felt his appetite draining away He glanced at Tool, got no help from the undead warrior’s expressionless face The Malazan scowled ’You have e, Lady Envy’
She set past the polite civility to so with the wrong brain -
Her s, he reached for his cup ’Very well, I agree to your proposal’
’Your equanier’
He almost choked on his wine If I wasn’t a sword-kissed one-eyed bastard, I’d be tempted to call that a flirt