Page 313 (1/1)

’No’

’Yet you feel that you have no worth here at this gathering’

’It may be that I am not yet done, sir, but such responsibilities that I must one day embrace are mine to bear, and thus must be borne alone I lead no-one, and so have no role in those discussions that are to be undertaken here I would only listen It is true that you have no cause to be generous-’

’Please,’ Caladan Brood cut in ’Enough You are welcome, Itkovian’

’Thank you’

As if in silent agreenitaries ended their ie, wooden table The priests of the Mask Council sat themselves down at one end Humbrall Taur, Hetan and Cafal took positions behind the chairs closest to thes Gruntle and Stonny sat opposite each other near the middle, the Grey Swords’ new Shield Anvil beside the latter Caladan Brood and the two Malazan commanders -- one of them, Itkovian no, one-arrey-haired warrior in full-length chain stood two paces behind Brood, on his left A Malazan standard-bearer hovered behind his coht

Cups were filled fro of watered wine, yet even before the task had been co

’Awould have been at the Thrall, the palace froovern-’

’Now that the prince is dead, you’The place has no floor, in case you forgot, Priest’

’You could call that a structural metaphor, couldn’t you?’ Gruntle asked her

’Youan idiot’

Rath’Hood tried again ’As I was saying-’

’You weren’t saying, you were posturing’

’This wine is surprisingly good,’ Keruli , the location seems appropriate I, for one, have a question or two for the con arrunted, then said, ’Ask theh Fist, I will First of all, so you? And their legendary leader, Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon’s Spawn, should he not be present? Indeed, one wonders at the disposition of Moon’s Spawn itself -- the tactical advantages of such an edifice-’

’Pause there, if you will,’ Brood interrupted ’Your questions assume …tactics As far as we are concerned, Capustan is but a tehast was a strategic necessity, but only the first of ill doubtless be h Priest, that you wish to contribute to the can in some direct fashion? It would see of your city’

Keruli sed, but as yet, no answers’

Brood frowned ’Anomander Rake and the majority of his Tiste Andii have returned to Moon’s Spawn They -- and it -- shall have a role in this war, but there will be no further elaboration on that subject’

’Just as well Rake isn’t here,’ Rath’Shadowthrone said, his mask fixed in a sneer ’He’s hopelessly unpredictable and outright od can attest,’ Keruli smiled, then turned back to Brood ’Sufficient answers to warrant the like in return As you point out, the Mask Council’s overriding concern is with the reparation of Capustan None the less, overnors -- servants to their respective gods No-one here can be entirely unaware of the tumultuous condition of the pantheon You, Caladan Brood, carry Burn’s hale with the responsibilities that entails Whilst the Grey Swords, bereft of one god, have chosen to kneel before two others -- a mated, if riven, pair My once-caravan captain, Gruntle, is reborn as a new god’s Mortal Sword The Barghast gods have been rediscovered, and so represent an ancient horde of untested power and disposition Indeed, in surveying those gathered here, the only truly unaspected agents at this table are High Fist Dujek and his second, Whiskeyjack The Malazans’

Itkovian saw the suddenly closed expression of the warlord, Caladan Brood, and wondered at the hammer’s responsibilities that Keruli had so blithely rey-haired warrior broke the ensuing silence with a barking laugh ’You conveniently forgot yourself, Priest Of the Mask Council, yet unmasked Indeed, unwelcoods plain, but not you, and why is that?’