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’Self-destruction,’ Korlat said, a sharpness in her eyes as she studied Kallor ’An interesting detail Can you explain?’

’Of course Ae was deciphered -- and that effort alone is worthy of lengthyhow you all shift about in your saddles like i the records found, then, it was learned that the Matrons, each coathered to ht, beyond the vast power they already possessed, is not entirely clear Then again, what need there be for reasons when ambition rules? Suffice to say, an ancient breed was … resurrected, returned from extinction by the Matrons; a more primitive version of the K’Chain Che’Malle themselves For lack of a better name, my scholars at the time called them Short-Tails’

Whiskeyjack, his eyes on Korlat, was the only one to see her stiffen at that Behind hi their way back up the slope

’For the singular reason,’ Kallor went on in his dry monotone, ’that they physically deviated fro short, stubby tails rather than the nor, tapered ones This ht, suited to whatever world and civilization they had originally belonged to Alas, these new children were not as tractable as the Matrons were conditioned to expect a their brood -- e their ical talents with their mothers’ The result was a civil war, and the sorceries unleashed were apocalyptic To gauge so the Matrons, one need only travel south on this continent, to a place called Morn’

’The Rent,’ Korlat

Kallor’s sate itself, but not siate Oh no, she elected to open the portal that led to the Realm of Chaos Such hubris, to think she could control -- could assert order -- upon such a thing’ He paused, as if reconsidering his oords, then laughed ’Oh, a bitter lesson or two in that tale, don’t you think?’

Caladan Brood grunted ’Let’s bring this back to the present, shall we? In the valley below, undead K’ell Hunters The question to address is: what are they doing here?’

’They are being used’

Everyone’s eyes fixed on Silverfox, who stood before her horse, reins in hand

’I like not the sound of that,’ Dujek growled

’Used,’ Silverfox repeated, ’by the Pannion Seer’

’Impossible,’ Kallor snapped ’Only a K’Chain Che’Malle Matron could command a Ke’ll Hunter -- even when undead ’

’Then it would appear,’ Korlat said, ’that we have more than one enemy’

’The Pannion Seer has an ally?’ Dujek leaned on his saddle and spat ’There’s not been even so much as a hint-’