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’Do you not think I welcomed all that he has delivered? Treach promised me souls, and his human servant has provided theer of Suh on their sides of the deal Now, you’d better do the sa Talaree from the mistakes you made with Dasseeon frood rerowled, ’think on that In theto ease loose your power, sufficient to carry hast, and into the plaza in front of the Thrall Then you’re going to withdraw, far enough to give Talamandas the freedom he’s supposed to have Hover behind his painted eyes, if you so desire, but no closer Until I decide I need you once more’
’You will be mine one day, mortal -’
’No doubt, Hood In the meantime, let’s just luxuriate in the anticipation, shall we?’ With these words, the wizard released his grip on the god’s cloak The presence flinched back
Power flowed steady, the currents of air drawing Quick Ben and the sticksnare clinging to his shoulder over the tops of the canopies
Talamandas hissed ’What has happened? I, uh, vanished for a ’s fine,’ the wizard murmured ’Does the power feel true, Sticksnare?’
’Aye, it does This, this I can use’
’Glad to hear it Now, guide us to the plaza’
A thin gauze of old smoke dulled the stars overhead Captain Paran sat on the wide steps of the Thrall’s main entrance Directly ahead, at the end of a wide avenue, stood the gatehouse Visible through its open doorway, in the plaza beyond, firelight fro mists
The Malazan was exhausted, yet sleep would not cohts had wandered countless paths since he’d left Cafal’s cohast shoulder- the canoes, collecting ancient weapons Outside that room and beyond that activity, the Thrall seemed virtually deserted, lifeless
The eined his parents’ estate in Unta ht now look like, with his mother and father dead, Felisin chained to a line in soues away, and dear sister Tavore dwelling in a score opulent chambers in Laseen’s palace
A house alone with its utter rats Did the Adjunct ever ride past? Did her thoughts turn to it in the course of her busy day?
She was not one to spare a moment to senties -- to cut open anyone foolish enough to come close
The Empress would be well pleased with her new Adjunct