Page 272 (1/1)
’So we are to crush the Pannion Seer, only to have soh Fist of the Malazan Empire take his place?’
Rake handed the warlord a cup of wine The Tiste Andii’s eyes were veiled, almost sleepy as he studied Brood ’The Do its own people,’ Rake said ’None of us here would deny that Thus, for ethical reasons alone, there was just cause forupon it’
’Which is e’ve been saying all along-’
’I heard you the first time, Kallor Your penchant for repetition is wearisome I have described but one … excuse One reason Yet it appears that you have all allowed that reason to overwhelm all others, whilst to my mind it is the least in importance’ He sipped his wine, then continued ’However, let us stay with it for a moment Horror and oppression, the face of the Pannion Domin Consider, if you will, those cities and territories on Genabackis that are now under Malazan rule Horror? No more so than mortals overnment requires laws, and fro the least repressive of any empire I have known
’Now The Seer is reovernance replaces it The result? Peace, reparation, law, order’ He scanned the others, then slowly raised a single eyebrow ’Fifteen years ago, Genabaris was a fetid sore on the northwest coast, and Nathilog even worse And now, under Malazan rule? Rivals to Darujhistan herself If you truly wish the best for the common citizens of Pannion, why do you not welcome the Empress?
’Instead, Dujek and Whiskeyjack are forced into an elaborate charade to win us as allies They’re soldiers, in case you’ve forgotten Soldiers are given orders If they don’t like them, that’s just too bad If itevery private in the ar the chance of it ever reets on with it
’The truth is siht the Malazans as liberators in truth Asking no coin, no land Our ine how they must seem to the Empress? Inexplicable We appear to be bound to lofty ideals, to nearly outrageous notions of self-sacrifice We are her enemy, and I don’t think she even knohy ’
’Sing me the Abyss,’ Kallor sneered ’In her Empire there would be no place for us -- not one of us’
’Does that surprise you?’ Rake asked ’We cannot be controlled The truth laid bare is we fight for our own freedo peace that would enerals and ainst the imposition of order and the mailed fist thatthat fist’
’Nor would I ever wish to,’ Brood growled
’Precisely So why begrudge the E the desire and its attendant responsibilities?’
Korlat stared at her Lord Stunned once again, thrown off-balance yet one more time The Draconian blood within hi else? She had no answer, no true understanding of theof pride filled her He is the Son of Darkness Afealty to -- perhaps the only one For me For the Tiste Andii
Caladan Brood let out a gusting sigh ’Pour me another, daust,’ Kallor said, rising from his chair in a rustle of chain arinally related to what’s been said thus far Capustan has been cleansed Before us, the river South of that, three cities to le army will slow us considerably Setta, in particular, is not on our path to Coral So, the arain south of Lest and Setta, perhaps at Maurik, before striking for Coral Now, the question: along what lines do we divide?’
’A reasonable subject,’ Rake ’
’And none other, aye,’ Caladan Brood rumbled ’Won’t they be surprised?’
They will indeed Regret seeped through Korlat’s thoughts And more, I have done Whiskeyjack an injustice I hope it is not too late to e in haste My vision was clouded Clouded? No, more like a storive me, Whiskeyjack?
The tent flap was drawn back and the two Malazan commanders entered, trailed by the standard-bearer, Artanthos Dujek’s face was dark ’Sorry ere delayed,’ he growled ’I have just been inforht for us’