Toll the Hounds

‘If there is no escape, aye, it can twist a mind into madness. But a short ride beyond the north gate, out to the Barrow, and bright day beckons. Same for the fishers sailing Outwater. Without such options, Spi

Spi

Seerdomin had enough burdens, and Spi

‘This one has worn me out,’ the man now said, setting down his empty flagon. ‘I thought I had you-aye, I knew the Gate tile was still unplayed. Two tiles to get past you, though, and everything would have been mine.’

There wasn’t much to say to that. Both understood how that single gamble had decided the game. What was unusual was Seerdomin’s uncharacteristic need to explain himself. ‘Get some sleep,’ Spi

Seerdomin’s smile was wry. He hesitated, as if undecided whether or not to say something, or simply follow Spi

Speak not to me of weakness. Please.

‘I have acquired the habit,’ the man said, squinting as he followed some minor ruckus near the bar, ‘of ascending the ruins. To look out over the Nightwater.

Remebering the old cat-men and their families-aye, It seems they are breed-

ing anew, but of course It will not be the same, not at all the same.’ He fell silent for a moment, then shot Spi

The Tiste Andii’s brows lilted. ‘Anomander Rake?’

A nod. ‘First time was a couple of weeks ago. And now… every time, at about the twelfth bell. He stands on the wall of the new keep. And, like me, he stares out to sea.’

‘He favours… solitude,’ Spi

‘1 am always suspicious of that statement,’ Seerdomin said.

Yes, 1 can see how you might be. ‘It is what comes from lordship, from rule. Most of his original court is gone. Korlat, Orfantal, Sorrit, Pra’iran. Vanished or dead. That doesn’t make it any easier. Still, there are some who remain. Endest Sila

‘When I see him, standing alone like that…’ Seerdomin looked away. ‘It u

‘It is my understanding,’ observed Spi

‘Sentinels with nothing to guard.’

Spi

Seerdomin grimaced. ‘Would that all rulers were as indifferent. No, “indifferent” is not quite the right word. He is there where it matters. The administration and the authority-neither can be challenged, nor is there any reason to do so. The Son of Darkness is… benign.’

Spi

‘You do not convince me, friend,’ Seerdomin said, his eyes narrowing. ‘The Son of Darkness, now that is a title for a bureaucrat? Hardly. Knight of Darkness to keep the thugs off the streets?’

‘It is the curse of a long life,’ Spi

‘Then perhaps he is the one who chafes. Staring out upon the harsh waters of the Cut, the twelfth bell tolling like a dirge in the gloom.’

‘Poetic,’ Spi

Seerdomin’s look was incredulous. ‘But that is absurd!’

‘Is it? See me, Seerdomin, I am too capricious. It is my eternal curse. I wan never one for command, not even a squad. I got lost in Mott Wood, five days stumbling through briar and brush.’ Spi

‘It’s commonly held, Spi

‘You were a soldier, so you know better than that. Oh, there are heroes aplenty among the Andii ranks. But just as many of us who were simply lucky. It’s the way of things. We lost many great heroes in our battles against the Malazans.’

‘A hopeless cause, you claim to be.’ Seerdomin grimaced. ‘Yet a master campaigner in Kef Tanar.’

‘With soldiers of carved wood, I am most formidable. Living ones are another matter entirely.’

The man grunted, and seemed content to leave that one alone.

They sat in companionable silence for a time, as Resto delivered another pitcher of ale, and Spi

And when the moment came when dawn unfurled its poppy blush upon the far eastern horizon, a moment unseen by any within the city of Black Coral, Spi

Before they both got too drunk, they agreed upon the time for a new game. And when Seerdomin finally rose unsteadily to his feet, flinging a careless wave in Spi

A most generous send-off, then, even if delivered in silence.

Anomander Rake would be setting out for the throne room by now, where he would steel himself to face the brutal demands of the day, the allocation of stipends, the merchant grievances to be adjudicated, reports on the status of supplies, one or two emissaries from distant free cities seeking trade agreements and mutual protection pacts (yes, plenty of those).

Oh, the Knight of Darkness fought all ma

Darkness surrendered. But then, it always did. There was no telling how long the journey took in that time within Kurald Galain, nor the vast distances covered, stride by stride by stride. All was in discord, all was unrelieved and unrelieving. Again and again, Nimander Golit seemed to startle awake, realizing with a shiver that he had been walking, an automaton in the midst of his comrades, all of whom glowed dully and appeared to float in an ethereal void, with the one named