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Coll jerked and moaned.
Mallet gri
«I don't know,» Paran said.
«All right,» Mallet said, removing his hand and wiping it on the blankets. «Move back, everybody. Give me some room. A minute later, Captain, and this man would've been striding through Hood's Gate.» He pressed his hand down on Coll's chest and closed his eyes. «And be glad I'm as good as I am.»
«Now, Captain?»
Paran walked over to the table and motioned for the sergeant to join him. «First, has Adjunct Lorn contacted you yet?»
Whiskeyjack's blank look was sufficient answer.
«Good, I'm in time, then.» Paran glanced up at Kalam, who had stationed himself behind the sergeant. «You've been set up. The plan was to take the city, yes, but also to make certain you were all killed in the process.»
Whiskeyjack held up a hand. «A moment, sir. You and Tattersail worked this out?»
Paran closed his eyes briefly. «She's: dead. Chasing Hairlock out on the Rhivi Plain. Tayschre
Kalam spoke. «I don't like the idea of Opo
Paran nodded. «I have it on good authority that I'm not Opo
«The Adjunct's plan,» Whiskeyjack reminded him, the fingers of one hand tapping slowly on the tabletop.
«She'll have no trouble finding you. She has a talent in that area. But I fear she's not the major threat. There's a T'lan Imass with her. Maybe her mission is simply to lead him to you, then he'll handle the rest.»
Kalam cursed and began pacing behind the sergeant's chair.
Whiskeyjack reached a decision. «The satchel, Corporal.»
The assassin frowned, then picked up the sergeant's standard-issue supply satchel left beside the door. He returned and set it down on the tabletop.
Whiskeyjack released the straps and pulled out an object wrapped in burgundy silk. He removed the cloth, revealing twin yellowed bones of a human forearm. The elbow-end's ball joints were bound together with verdigrised copper wire; the wrist ends were wrapped as well, but as a misshapen knife grip, beyond which jutted a serrated blade.
«What is it?» the captain asked. «I've never seen its like before.»
«Be surprised if you had,» Whiskeyjack said. «Back in the days of the Emperor, the i
A flash of white light erupted from the bones, then contracted to a swirl spi
«I was getting worried, Whiskeyjack,» High Fist Dujek growled.
«Unavoidable,» the sergeant replied, frowning at Paran. «We've had little to report: until now. But I need to know the situation in Pale, High Fist.»
"You want an update before you spill the bad news, eh? Fair enough,» Dujek said. «Tayschre
«We were not aware that Hairlock had done that, High Fist.»
«I believe you, Whiskeyjack. In any case, enough of the Empress's plans have been discovered and, indeed, she seems convinced that the dismantling of my army will pull me back under her wing, in time to saddle me with the command of the Seven Cities» garrisons and put a bloody stop to the rebellion that's brewing. She seriously miscalculated there-if only she'd paid attention to Toc the Younger's reports. Well: Laseen's intentions now seem to be riding on Adjunct Lorn and Onos T'oolan. They've reached the Jaghut barrow, Whiskeyjack.»
Mallet joined them and met Kalam's stu
Dujek continued, «The Moranth Black are ready to march, but it's only for show, and to get them out of the city. So, what are we looking at, friend? The balance of the world is with you, in Darujhistan. If Lorn and Onos T'oolan succeed in unleashing the Tyrant on the city, you can be certain that you and your squad are intended to be on the casualty list.
«Closer to home, here's what you want: we're ready to move. Tayschre
«High Fist,» Whiskeyjack began, «Captain Paran's made it. He's sitting across from me right now. His story is that Opo
Dujek spoke. «Captain?»
«Yes, High Fist?»
«Was Toc any help?»
Paran winced. «He gave his life for this, High Fist. The puppet Hairlock ambushed us, tossed Toc into a-a rent or something.»
There was silence, then Dujek said, his voice hoarse, «I'm sorry to hear that, Captain. More than you know. His father: Well, enough of that. Go on, Whiskeyjack.»
«No success yet in contacting the local Assassins» Guild, High Fist. We've mined the intersections, though. I'll be explaining everything to my men tonight. The question remains what to do about Captain Paran., «Understood,» Dujek replied. «Captain Paran?»
«Sir?»
«Have you come to any conclusions?» Paran glanced at Whiskeyjack. «Yes, sir. I think so.»
«So? What choice will you make, Captain?»
He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in the chair. «High Fist,» he said slowly, «Tayschre
«So, I gather you intend to defy the Empress. But what then? Do we challenge the Empire's hundred legions with ten thousand men? Do we proclaim an independent kingdom and wait for Laseen to make an example of us? I need more details, High Fist, before I decide whether I join you. Because, sir, I want vengeance.»
Dujek responded, «The Empress loses Genabackis, Captain. We've got the support for that. By the time the Malazan Marines arrive to reinforce the campaign, it'll already be over. The Crimson Guard won't even let them disembark. Expect Nathilog to rise up and Genabaris to follow. The Moranth alliance is about to lose its punch-though I'm afraid I can't give you the details on that.
«My plans, Captain? They might not make sense, because I don't have time to explain. But we're readying ourselves to take on a new player in the game-someone completely outside all of this, and that someone is damn nasty. He is called the Pa