Page 67 (1/2)

’Could ?’ Dujek grinned sourly ’Stow that thought, old friend, stow it deep so it never again sees the light of day We’re about to march off and sword-kiss a tyrant -- what happens afterwards is a discussion that will have to await another ti around a deadly pit-’

’Aye, we are Kallor’

’Kallor’

’He will try to kill the child,’ Whiskeyjack said

’He won’t,’ Dujek countered ’If he tries, Brood will go for him’ The one-armed man leaned forith his tankard and Whiskeyjack refilled it Settling back, the High Fist studied the commander, then said, ’Caladan Brood is the real shaved knuckle in the hole, old friend I’ve read of his ti Histories Hood’s breath, you don’t want to get him riled -- whether you’re an ally or an enee is unleashed At least with Anomander Rake, it’s a cold, taut power Not so with the warlord That ha that can awaken Burn Swing it against the ground, hard enough, and the goddess will open her eyes And the truth is, if Brood didn’t have the strength to do so, he wouldn’t be carrying the hammer in the first place’

Whiskeyjack mused on this for a while, then said, ’We have to hope that Brood remains as the child’s protector’

’Kallor ork to sway the warlord,’ Dujek asserted, ’with argument rather than with his sword He may well seek Rake’s support, as well…’

The coh Fist ’Kallor’s paid you a visit’

’Aye, and he’s a persuasive bastard Even to the point of dispelling his enmity towards you -- he’s not been physically struck in centuries, or so he said He also said he deserved it’

’Generous of him,’ Whiskeyjack drawled When it’s politically expedient ’I’ll not stand to one side in the butchering of a child,’ the commander added in a cold voice ’No matter what power or potential is within her’

Dujek glanced up ’In defiance of ive it?’

’We’ve known each other a long time, Dujek’