Page 323 (1/2)

‘You do poorly at reading a Letherii’s expression,’ Tehol said sadly

‘That is too bad, for you’

‘Yes,’ Tehol replied, ‘I iloved fist

Pitching Tehol’s head back, his nose cracking loudly He bent over, both hands to his face, then a foot sla both bones He fell A heel crunched down on his chest, breaking ribs

Tehol could feel his body trying to curl up as heels and fists battered at hi bone and bursting that eye White fire blazed in his brain, swiftly darkening to murky black

Another kick dislocated his left shoulder

Beneath yet another heel, his left elboas crushed As kicks haut, he tried to draw his knees up, only to feel theut and he felt hi out

Then a heel landed on the side of his head

Fifty paces up the street, Hull Beddict approached He saw a crowd of Tiste Edur, and it was clear they were kicking someone to death A sudden uneasiness in his stomach, he quickened his pace There were bodies, he saw, beyond the circle A soldier in the garb of a palace guard, the shaft of a spear jutting from him And… an Edur woman

‘Oh, Errant, what has happened here?’

He made to run-

– and found his path blocked

A Nerek, and a nized hi, wondering how he had come to be here, Hull moved to step around the man – who sidestepped once more to block him

‘What is this?’

‘You have been judged, Hull Beddict,’ the Nerek said ‘I aed? Please, I must-’