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But there are no Claw agents, are there? No scroll scribblers, either We don’t control the black e the above-board economy, much less run a civil administration Yet we continue to proceed as if imperial support is imminent, when it most decidedly is not I don’t understand this at all
Without the Darujhistan gold, Dujek’s arun, as soldier after soldier left with the hope of returning to the i to join mercenary companies or caravanserai Onearm’s army would vanish before his very eyes Loyalty never survives a pinched stomach
After some confusion, the stablers found Paran another uided the aniun to throw cooling shadows onto the city’s bleached streets Pale’s denizens began eered anywhere near the Malazan headquarters The guards held a finely honed sense of suspicion for anyone who hovered overlong, and the assault-issue heavy crossbows cradled in their arms were kept locked back
Blood had been spilled at the headquarters entrance, and within the building itself A Hound of Shadow had attacked, not so long ago, leaving a score dead Paran’s mentary The beast had been driven off by Tattersail… and the captain hiuard at the headquarters, however, a peaceful posting had turned into a nightht woefully unprepared, a carelessness that would not be repeated Such a Hound would still scythe through thehting, not staring slack-jawed
Paran found Quick Ben, Mallet and Spindle awaiting him astride their own horses Of the three, the captain knew Spindle the least The short, bald , or so he’d been told His eternally sour disposition did not invite conversation, nor did the foul-srey hairshirt he wore -- woven from his dead mother’s hair, if the ruside the lanced at that shirt Hood’s breath, that could be an old woman’s hair! The realization made him even more nauseous
’Take point, Spindle’
’Aye, Captain -- we’ll have a real crush to push through e hit North Market Round’
’So find us a way round the place’
’Them alleys ain’t safe, sir-’
’Access your warren, then, and let it bleed enough to make hairs stand on end You can do that, can’t you?’
Spindle glanced at Quick Ben ’Uh, sir, s’
’Serious things?’
’Well, not really-’
’Proceed, soldier’
’Aye, Captain’