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Through the dust stepped a T’lan Ileam of bone visible everywhere, a skull-helmed head that had once held horns The flint sword in its hands was so notched it appeared denticulated

Ignoring the Malazans, it turned to the other K’Chain Che’Malle

The Hunter hissed and attacked

Picker’s eyes could not fully register the speed of the exchange of blows All at once, it see severed clean above what passed for a knee A sword clanged on the cobbles as a dismembered arm fell The T’lan Imass had stepped back, and now moved forward once h shoulder, chest, then hip, bursting free to strike the cobbles in a spray of sparks

The K’ell Hunter collapsed

The lone T’lan I

Picker and the others watched the warrior stride past them, continue on up the street

’Hood’s breath!’ Blend muttered

’Come on!’ Picker snapped

’Where?’ Corporal Ai off ’Looks like the safest place to be is in that thing’s shadow’

’But it’s heading for the keep!’

’Then so are we!’

Crusted in , Whiskeyjack’s ar field, and the city beyond it Far to either flank were the Barghast, Ilgres Clan on one side, White Faces on the other