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Paran took a sip of the heady mead, felt it burn down his throat ’Capustan is not your true enemy, Warchief-’

’The Pannion Doe war on us I know this, Malazan They will take Capustan and use it to marshal their armies on our very borders Then they will march’

’If you understand all that, then why-’

’Twenty-seven tribes, Captain Paran’ Hu, then wiped his ht chiefs will stand with h I need them all Tell me, your new chief Can he sway riain, up until now, he’s had little need We shall see toeburners are still in danger’

The captain stiffened, studied the thick honey wine in his’Why?’ he asked after a moment

’The Barahn, the Gilk, the Ahkrata -- these clans are united against you Even now, they spread tales of duplicity Your healers are necro a ritual of resurrection to bring Trotts back to life The White Faces have no love of Malazans You are allied with the Moranth You conquered the north -- how soon will you turn your hungry gaze on us? You are the plains bear at our side, urging us to lock talons with the southern tiger A hunter always knows the er, but never the mind of a plains bear’

’So it sees in the balance,’ Paran said

’Come the morrow,’ Hu and set it down on the edge of the chest Spot-fires were growing in his stoue, he could taste blood ’I must attend to my soldiers,’ he said

’Give theht, Captain’

Paran nodded, then made his way out of the tent

Ten paces away, Picker and Blend stood waiting for him The captain scowled as the torowled under his breath

’Captain’

’What is it, Corporal?’

Picker blinked ’Well, uh, we’ve ht I should report-’

’Where’s Antsy?’