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Painted plaster exploded in a cloud of dust The wall shook, cru a hole through to whatever was on the other side The last sight Quick Ben had of thedust and twisting tendrils of power obscured the wall

There was the sound of a heavy thump beyond, in as probably a corridor, then the patter of plaster on the hearthstone was all that broke the silence

Quick Ben slowly settled back into his chair

’More wine?’ Bauchelain asked

’Please Thank you Apologies for theof it I have never before seen -- what -- six, perhaps seven warrens all unleashed at once, all intricately bound together in such complementary fashion You, sir, are an artist Will Korbal Broach recover?’

’I auest, Bauchelain It would be poor for I auest, as well’

With the chi with smoke

’True,’ Bauchelain adht to kill you’

’No need for disreatly inconvenienced’

’And that is what I find n of chaotic poison in your sorcery, Quick Ben You can iine the plethora of questions I would like to ask’

There was a groan from the corridor

’And, I confess,’ Bauchelain continued, ’that curiosity is a rather obsessive trait ofquestioned, particularly when he or she is not as forthco as I would like Now, six, seven warrens-’

’Six’

’Six warrens, then -- all at once -- your clai little inconvenience in the effort strikes me as bravado Therefore, I conclude that you are, shall we say it bluntly: used up ’

’You make it clear thatas he set down the goblet

’Not necessarily You need only tell , and we can continue in this civil fashion’

’I’m afraid that won’t be possible,’ the Malazan replied ’None the less, I will infor the warrens is the Crippled God You will have to consider … retaliation … against hiht think’

’Thank you I’ll not deny I am impressed by your mastery of six warrens, Quick Ben In retrospect, you should have held back on at least half of what you command’ The man made to rise

’But, Bauchelain,’ the wizard replied, ’I did’