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Lostara grih ? ‘Indeed she has’

‘Aye, I agree It’s a fair exchange in any case-we save Felisin and are rewarded with a principal agent of the Talons The E out on the Otataral Isle in the first place-’

‘You will have to lie to her, won’t you?’

Pearl’s smile broadened ‘We both will, lass As would the Adjunct, and Fist Gamet if it came to that Unless, of course, I take what the Adjunct has offered me Offered me personally, that is’

Lostara slowly nodded ‘You are at a loose end Yes Out of favour with the Clawer to make reparations An independent mission-you somehow latched onto the rumour of a true Talon, and set off on his trail Thus, the credit for unravelling the Talons is to be yours, and yours alone’

‘Or ours,’ Pearl corrected ‘If you so desire’

She shrugged ‘We can decide that later Very well, Pearl Now,’ she moved to his side, ‘what are these details hich the Adjunct has so kindly provided us?’

Adaze on its cold ashes At the sound of the door opening, he slowly turned, his expression as impassive as ever

‘Thank you,’ the Adjunct said, ‘for your patience’

The ad to Gaht bell’sThe Fist was exhausted, feeling fragile and scattered, unable to ht, he’d been little more than the Adjunct’s pet, or worse, a familiar Tacitly conjoined with her plans within plans, bereft of even so much as the illusion of a choice When Tavore had first drawn hie-shortly after Felisin’s arrest-Ga in the time-honoured tradition of Malazan soldiers who found themselves in unwelco the Adjunct’s core of advisers-not that they were ever invited to advise- had, upon ruthless self-reflection, proved less than laudable He had been driven by macabre curiosity Tavore had ordered the arrests of her parents, had sent her younger sister into the horrors of the otataral mines For her career’s sakeHer brother, Paran, had in soraced on Genabackis He had subsequently deserted An eranted, but surely not sufficient to warrant Tavore’s reaction Unless … There were ruent of Adjunct Lorn’s, and that his desertion had led, ultimately, to the woman’s death in Darujhistan Yet, if that were true, then why did the Eaze upon another child of the House of Paran? Why make Tavore the new Adjunct? ‘Fist Gamet’ He blinked ‘Adjunct?’

‘Seat yourself, please I would have so’

Nodding, Gah-backed chair set against one of the s but coiven his weariness

Orimaced ‘No wonder Pormqual didn’t send this one off with all the rest,’ he ,’ Nok said, ‘that the transport ship in question sank in the harbour of Malaz City, taking the late High Fist’s loot with it’

Gamet’s wiry brows rose ‘All that way… just to sink in the harbour? What happened?’

The aded ‘None of the crew reached the shore to tell the tale’

None?

Nok seemed to note his scepticism, for he elaborated, ‘Malaz Harbour is well known for its sharks A number of dories were found, all awash but otherwise empty’

The Adjunct had, uncharacteristically, been per Ganificance to the mysterious loss of the transport ship Now she spoke ‘It res, empty dories, lost crews Malaz Harbour is indeed notorious for its sharks, particularly since they see no remnants whatsoever’

‘There are sharks that can do just that,’ Nok replied ‘I know of at least twelve ships on the muddy botto the Twisted ,’ the Adjunct drawled, ‘the old es the night after the assassinations, then pro its resident demon with it’