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‘Shattered,’ the other prisoner said as he walked over to the door, which the first guard unlocked and swung open ‘The brand makes your face look like it’s been shattered’
Two guards escorted theKarsa, waited for their return One of the crossbow the Teblor to speculate that he was the one naainst the opposite wall and said, ‘I don’t know, I’h to start with, now he looks dauard drawled ‘There’s plenty of hill-grubbing savages that carve up their own faces to frighten weak-kneed recruits like you, Gullstreaainst a Malazan legion just the sa routed these days, though, are they?’
‘That’s only because the Fist’s cowering in his keep and wants us all to put ’iht Nobleborn officers-what do you expect?’
‘Might change when the reinforceiment knows these parts-’
‘And that’s the problem,’ the other retorted ‘If this rebellion actually happens this tiet sh with the Red Blades stirrin’ things up in the streets…’
The guards returned
‘You, Fenn, now it’s your turn Make it easy for us and it’ll be easy for you Walk Slow Not too close And trustthe alternatives All right, coive theed onto a sunlit coround A nus projected out fro the fourth wall there was a line of prisoners shackled to a heavy chain that ran its entire length, bolted to the foundation stones at regular intervals Near the heavily fortified gate was a row of stocks, of which only tere occupied-Silgar and Dalinted a copper-coloured ring
Neither man had lifted his head at Karsa’s appearance, and the Teblor considered shouting to attract their attention; instead, he siuards escorted him to the line of chained prisoners, Karsa turned to the one named Jibb and spoke in Malazan ‘What will be the slavemaster’s fate?’
The ed ‘Ain’t been decided yet He claims to be rich back in Genabackis’
Karsa sneered ‘He can buy his way out from his crimes, then’
‘Not under iht be he’ll just be fined He may be a merchant who deals in flesh, but he’s still a merchant Always best to bleed ’e, Jibb,’ another guard growled
They approached one end of the line, where oversized shackles had been attached Once ht enough to cause him pain The Teblor noted that he was beside the blue-eyed native
The squad checked the fittings one more tih buckets of ater had been positioned at intervals down the line Karsa re for a tiainst the wall,the position of most of the other prisoners There was little in the way of conversation as the day slowly dragged on Towards late afternoon shade finally reached the flies soon descended
As the sky darkened overhead, the blue-eyed native stirred, then said in a low voice, ‘Giant, I have a proposal for you’
Karsa grunted ‘What?’
‘It’s said that theone can carve out favours-make life easier The kind of place where it pays to have soest a partnership’
Karsa thought about it, then he nodded ‘Agreed But if you attempt to betray me, I will kill you’
‘I could see no other answer to betrayal,’ the ,’ Karsa said
‘Good, so aht to ask the h for that later For now, he was content to stretch the silence, to give space for his thoughts It see him to these otataral mines after all Karsa would have preferred a more direct-a siinally intended Too h