Page 262 (1/2)

’I’ood at it When I’m sober, that is’

’You are the master of war in the name of the Lord of Summer-’

’We’ll call that a hobby’

’A -- a what!?’

They heard laughter Captain Paran, still crouching beside Itkovian, was looking their way, and had clearly heard the conversation The Malazan grinned at Rath’Trake ’It never goes how you think it should, does it, priest? That’s the glory of us huod had bestby your own rules’

’I hadn’t planned otherwise, Captain,’ Gruntle replied ’How fares the Shield Anvil?’

Itkovian glanced over ’I am well, sir’

’Now that’s a lie,’ Stonny said

’None the less,’ the Shield Anvil said, accepting Mallet’s shoulder as he slowly straightened

Gruntle looked down at the thite cutlasses in his hands ’Hood take ly’ He forced the blades into their scarred, tattered sheaths

’They are not to leave your hands until this war is done,’ Rath’Trake snapped

’Another word from you, priest,’ Gruntle said, ’and you’ll be done’

No-one else had ventured onto the plaza Corporal Picker stood with the other Bridgeburners at the alleyon Conversations surrounded her, as the soldiers conjectured in tiestures and nitaries

Picker glared about ’Blend, where are you?’

’Here,’ she replied at the corporal’s shoulder

’Why don’t you sidle out there and find out what’s happening?’

She shrugged ’I’d get noticed’

’Really?’

’Besides, I don’t need to It’s plain to me what’s happened’