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She drowned? More likely she noble end that alain … She was not yet immortal, as subject to the world’s cruel indifference as anyone He pushed the thought away for the molanced up ‘How did you find‘It is my task Now, if you can walk, it is time to leave’

The Daru pushed hi was alifts,’ he observed ‘I am named… Cutter’

‘You may call me Darist We must not delay The very presence of life in this place risks his awakening’

The ancient Tiste Andu turned to face the stone wall At a gesture, a doorway appeared, beyond which were stone stairs leading upward ‘That which survived the wrecking of your craft awaits you above, Cutter Co? Who ht awaken?’

Darist did not reply

The steps orn and slick, the ascent steep and seeth, and his pace grew ever slower Again and again Darist paused to await hi, his expression closed

They eventually e the walls, pillars of rough-skinned cedars The air was musty and damp beneath the sharp scent of the wood There was no-one else in sight ‘Darist,’ Cutter asked as they walked down the aisle, ‘are we still beneath ground level?’

‘We are, but we shall proceed no higher for the ti The island is assailed’

‘What? By who round, the glow in his eyes so ‘A question carelessly unasked What has brought you, human, to Drift Avalii?’

Cutter hesitated There was no love lost between the present rulers of Shadow and the Tiste Andu Nor had Cotillion even reested actual contact be made with the Children of Darkness They had been placed here, after all, to ensure that the true Throne of Shadow ree-a scholar, whose studies had led hier He seeks to discover the nature of that threat’

Darist was silent for a moment, his lined face devoid of expression Then he said, ‘What is this scholar’s name?’

‘Uh, Baruk Do you know him? He lives in Darujhistan-’

‘What lies in the world beyond the island is of no concern to me,’ the Tiste Andu replied

And that, old ht‘The Tiste Edur have returned, haven’t they? To reclaim the Throne of Shadow But it was Anomander Rake who left you here, entrusted with-’

‘He lives still, does he? If Mother Dark’s favoured son is displeased with hoe have ed this task, then he e who sent you here, was it? Do you kneel before the Wielder of Dragnipur? Does he renew his claims to the blood of the Tiste Andu, then? Has he renounced his Draconian blood?’

‘I wouldn’t know-’

‘Does he now appear as an old man-older by far than me? Ah, I see by your face the truth of it He has not Well, you o back to him and tell him-’

‘Wait! I do not serve Rake! Aye, I saw hih at the time But I did not kneel to him-Hood knows, he was too busy at the ti a demon to converse withabout, Darist Sorry And I am most certainly not in any position to find him and tell him whatever it is you want me to say to him’

The Tiste Andu studied Cutter for aabout and resuhts ith confusion It was one thing to accept the charge of a god, but the further he travelled on this dread path, the uments between Anomander Rake and these Tiste Andu of Drift Avalii… well, that was no proper business of his The plan had been to sneak onto this island and remain unseen To deterh what Cotillion would do with such knowledge was anyone’s guess

But that’s so I should think about, I suppose Damn it, Cutter-Crokus would’ve had questions! Mowri knows, he would’ve hesitated a lot longer before accepting Cotillion’s bargain If he accepted at all ! This new persona was iht it would bring hi to appear that the truly free one had been Crokus