Page 168 (1/2)

The warchief wasted no ti the spikedfull circle All eyes held on hi, the rest massed behind them, all the way to the valley’s slopes

Hu trotted across the expanse A well-flung stone sent it sca under his breath, then gestured with his weapon

Paran watched Trotts ehast wore the standard issue Malazan armour for marines: studded boiled leather with iron bands over the shoulders and hips His half-hel the soldiers of Aren, in Seven Cities Bridge-guard and cheek-plates bore a filigreed design of inlaid silver A chain camail protected the sides and back of his neck A round shield was strapped to his left forearm, the hand protected by a spiked, iron-banded cestus A straight, blunt-tipped broadsas in his right hand

His arrival elicited lols frorin, revealing blue-stained, filed teeth

Hu of Trotts’s choice of Malazan weapons over those of the Barghast, then he swung in the opposite direction and gestured once ed from the circle

Paran had not knohat to expect, but the sight of this scrawny, grinning youth -- wearing only leathers, with a single short hook-knife in his right hand -- did not es he had fashioned What is this? Some kind of twisted insult? Does Taur want to ensure his own defeat? At the cost of his youngest son’s life?

The warriors on all sides began thu a rhythmic drumbeat that echoed its way across the valley

The unnamed youth sauntered into the Circle to stand opposite Trotts, five paces between theeburner from head to toe, the boy’s smile broadened

’Captain,’ a voice hissed beside Paran

He turned ’Corporal Aimless, isn’t it? What can I do for you? And be quick’

The lean, stooped soldier’s habitually dour expression was even bleaker than usual ’We were just wondering, sir … If this scrap goes bad, Isoot five of those at hand We could open soood place, we figured, to withdraw to and hold up Those steep sides-’

’Stow it, Corporal,’ Paran growled under his breath ’My orders haven’t changed Everyone sits tight’