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’You believe the Houses of the Azath and the Houses of the Deck are one and the same’
’Yes Or linked, so just that He had little knowledge of either, and could not think of any possible way in which he ht be connected with them His unease deepened, followed by a painful roil in his stomach The captain scowled He was too tired to think, yet think he must ’It’s said that the old emperor, Kellanved, and Dancer found a way into Deadhouse ’
’Kellanved and Dancer have since ascended and now hold the House of Shadow Kellanved is Shadowthrone, and Dancer is Cotillion, the Rope, Patron of Assassins’
The captain stared at her ’What?’
Silverfox grinned ’It’s obvious when you consider it, isn’t it? Who a the ascendants went after Laseen with the ai her? Shadowthrone and Cotillion Why would any ascendant care one way or another about a eance’
Paran’s mind raced back, to a road on the coast of Itko Kan, to a dreadful slaughter, wounds e, bestial jaws -- Hounds Hounds of Shadow -- Shadowthrone’s pups… Froun a new path On the trail of the young woun its fated unravelling ’Wait! Kellanved and Dancer went into Deadhouse -- why didn’t they take that aspect -- the aspect of the House of Death?’
’I’ve thought about that myself, and have arrived at one possibility The realh House Death is Hood I believe now that each Azath is hoate, a way into every warren Gain entry to the House, and you may … choose Kellanved and Dancer found an e their places as Shadow’s rulers, the House of Shadow appeared, and becaons Do you see?’
Paran slowly nodded, struggling to take it all in Tremors of pain twisted his stomach -- he pushed them away But what has this to do with me?
’The House of Shadoas once a Hold,’ Silverfox went on ’You can tell -- it doesn’t share the hierarchical structure of the other Houses It is bestial, a wilder place, and apart fro tined?’
She shrugged ’Failed aspects? The imposition of chance, of random forces? The Azath and the Deck are both impositions of order, but even order needs freedoile’
’And where do you think I fit in? I’, Silverfox A stumble-footed mortal’ Gods, leaveup to Please
’I have thought long and hard on this, Paran Anoht of the House of Dark,’ she said, ’yet where is the House itself? Before all else there was Dark, the Mother who birthed all So itthat caate into Kurald Galain … undiscovered, hidden, the First Wound, with a soul trapped in itsit’
’A soul,’ Paran ion of souls …’
The breath hissed from Silverfox
’Before Houses there were Holds,’ Paran continued with reic ’Both fixed, both stationary Settled Before settleate in motion, ceaseless on, burdened beneath the countless souls sealing the gate into Dark ’ And I sent two Hounds through that wound, I saw the seal punctured by the Abyss …
’Paran, soons A new card has arrived Unaligned, yet, I think, dominant The Deck has never possessed a … master’ She faced him ’I now believe it has one You’
His eyes snapped open; he stared at her in disbelief, then scorn ’Nonsense, Tatter- Silverfox NotYou uided in fashioning the card that is you-’
’What card?’
She did not answer, continued as if she had not heard hiuided me? Or some other unknown force? I do not know Jen’isand Rul, the Wanderer within the Sword’ She ned, Ganoes Paran Birthed by accident or by some purpose the need of which only the Azath know You must find the answer for your own creation, you must find the purpose behind what you have becoly ’You set for me a quest? Really, Silverfox Aimless, purposeless men do not undertake quests That’s for wall-eyed heroes in epic poeoals -- not any ht but self-delusions You set for ravely disappointed As shall the Azath’