A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 1

would he recognize hope if it came to him. Too much a stranger, too long a ghost.
    As he neared the inn's entrance, Rallick saw Crokus approaching from down the street. He increased his pace. 'Crokus,' he called.
    The boy flinched, then, seeing Rallick, he stopped and waited.
    Rallick took his arm and steered him towards the alley without saying a word. Once in the shadows he tightened his grip, swung Crokus round and pulled him close. 'Listen to me,' he hissed, his face inches from the boy's own astonished visage, 'the Guild's best were slaughtered tonight. This isn't a game. You stay off the rooftops, do you understand me?'
    Crokus nodded.
    'And tell your uncle this. There's a Claw in the city.'
    The boy's eyes widened.
    'And,' Rallick continued, 'there's someone else. Someone coming down from the sky, killing everything in sight.'
    'Uncle Mammot?'
    'Just tell him. And now listen carefully, Crokus. What I'm about to say is from me to you, one to one, understand?'
    Crokus nodded again, his face pale.
    'You stay on this path and you'll end up dead. I don't give a damn how exciting it all seems – what's excitement to you is desperation to others. Stop feeding off the city's lifeblood, lad. There's no hero's role in sucking others dry. Am I understood?'
    'Yes,' Crokus whispered.
    Rallick released the boy's arm and stepped back. 'Now, leave.' He shoved Crokus up the street, watched the boy stagger away and disappear around a corner. He drew a deep breath, surprised to find his hands trembling as he loosened his cloak's collar.
    Murillio stepped from the shadows. 'I'm not sure it'll work, friend, but it was a good try.' He laid a hand on the assassin's shoulder. 'Master Baruk has a job for us. Kruppe insists we bring Crokus along.'
    Rallick frowned. 'Along? Are we leaving Darujhistan, then?'
    'Afraid so.'
    'Go without me,' Rallick said. 'Tell Baruk I can't be found. Everything's at a critical juncture – our planning included.'
    'Something else happening, Nom?'
    'You heard the message I gave Crokus for his uncle?'
    Murillio shook his head. 'I came late to your scene. Saw you dragging the lad into the alley.'
    'Well,' Rallick said, 'let's go inside. It's been a night to make Hood smile, friend.'
    Together, the two men strode from the alley. In the street outside the Phoenix Inn, dawn's light crept through the mists of the lingering rain.
     
    In the centre of the rooftop lay a large patch of ash and bone that crackled faintly and cast out the occasional hissing spark. Anomander Rake slammed his sword into its sheath. 'I sent twelve of you,' he said, to the black-caped figure standing beside him, 'and I see but eight. What happened, Serrat?'
    The Tiste Andii woman was clearly exhausted. 'We've been working hard, Lord.'
    'Details,' Rake said abruptly.
    Serrat sighed. 'Jekaral has a broken neck and three cracked ribs. Boruld's face is a mess, broken nose, broken cheekbone, broken jaw—'
    'Who were they fighting?' Rake asked, turning to his lieutenant in exasperation. 'Has the Guild Master come out of hiding?'
    'No, Lord. Both Jekaral and Boruld fell to a single man, not of the city's Guild.'
    Rake's eyes flashed dangerously. 'Claw?'
    'Possibly. He was accompanied by a High Mage. The one who gave us this Kprvalah to play with.'
    'It had the smell of Empire about it,' Rake muttered, his gaze on the smouldering patch that had begun to eat its way into the roof. 'One of Tayschrenn's conjurings, I should think.' A savage grin flashed. 'Pity to have disturbed his sleep this night.'
    'Dashtal was struck by a poisoned quarrel,' Serrat said. 'One of the Guild's assassins managed that.' She hesitated. 'Lord. We were hard pressed in Brood's campaign. We're in need of rest. Mistakes were made this night. Some of the Guild slipped through our fingers and, had you not answered my request, we would have suffered more casualties destroying this demon.'
    Rake placed his hands on his hips and surveyed the morning sky. After a moment he sighed. 'Ah, Serrat. Don't think me insensitive. But the Guild Master must be flushed. This Guild must be shut down.' He eyed his lieutenant. 'This Claw you encountered, do you think a meet was being established?'
    'Not a meet,' Serrat answered. 'A trap.'
    Rake nodded. 'Good.' He paused, his eyes matching Serrat's with a shade of violet. 'Return to Moon's Spawn, then. Have the High Priestess herself attend to Jekaral.'
    Serrat bowed. 'Thank you, Lord.' She turned and gestured to the others.
    'Oh,' Rake