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Her expression softened to so doe-like

The irrational desire returned Toc scratched his scar, looked away

’I did not intend to sting you-’

Right, and the Queen of Dreaize’ She faced Tool again ’Very well, we shall all of us undertake a journey How exciting!’ She gestured to her Seguleh servants ’Begin preparations at once!’

Tool said to Toc, ’I shall collect materials for your bow and arro We can complete them on the way’

The scout nodded, then added, ’I wouldn’t e …’

The T’lan Imass seemed to consider, then tilted his head ’We found it so’

They all turned at a loud grunt froained consciousness, to find the ay standing over hi with obvious pleasure the painted patterns on his mask

’The medium,’ Tool explained in his usual deadpan tone, ’appears to be a mixture of charcoal, saliva and human blood’

’Now that,’ Toc ’

Lady Envy brushed close to hilance as she passed ’Oh, I a!’

The anything but casual contact slipped a nest of serpents into Toc’s gut Despite his thudding heart, the Malazan was not sure if he should be pleased, or terrified

CHAPTER TWO

Onearn, successive defeats followed by even costlier victories But of all the wounds borne by the arravest

Silverfox