A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 2

important, Karsa realized, to discover the cause of this moral failing. The Sunyd had never been among the strongest of the tribes, yet they were Teblor none the less, and what befell them could, in time, befall all the others. This was a difficult truth, but to close one's eyes to it would be to walk the same path yet again.
    There were failings that must be faced. Pahlk, his own grandfather, had been something far less than the warrior of glorious deeds that he pretended to be. Had Pahlk returned to the tribe with truthful tales, then the warnings within them would have been heard. A slow but inexorable invasion was under way, one step at a time. A war on the Teblor that assailed their spirit as much as it did their lands. Perhaps such warnings would have proved sufficient to unite the tribes.
    He considered this, and darkness settled upon his thoughts. No. Pahlk's failing had been a deeper one; it was not his lies that were the greatest crime, it was his lack of courage, for he had shown himself unable to wrest free of the strictures binding the Teblor. His people's rules of conduct, the narrowly crafted confines of expectations – its innate conservatism that crushed dissent with the threat of deadly isolation – these were what had defeated his grandfather's courage.
    Yet not, perhaps, my father's.
    The wagon jolted once more beneath him.
    I saw your mistrust as weakness. Your unwillingness to participate in our tribe's endless, deadly games of pride and retribution — I saw this as cowardice. Even so, what have you done to challenge our ways? Nothing. Your only answer was to hide yourself away – and to belittle all that I did, to mock my zeal. . .
    Preparing me for this moment.
    Very well, Father, I can see the gleam of satisfaction in your eyes, now. But I tell you this, you delivered naught but wounds upon your son. And I have had enough of wounds.
    Urugal was with him. All the Seven were with him. Their power would make him impervious to all that besieged his Teblor spirit. He would, one day, return to his people, and he would shatter their rules. He would unite the Teblor, and they would march behind him ... down into the lowlands.
    Until that moment, all that came before – all that afflicted him now – was but preparation. He would be the weapon of retribution, and it was the enemy itself that now honed him.
    Blindness curses both sides, it seems. Thus, the truth of my words shall be shown.
    Such were his last thoughts before consciousness once more faded away.
     
    Excited voices awoke him. It was dusk and the air was filled with the smell of horses, dust and spiced foods. The wagon was motionless under him, and he could now hear, mingled with the voices, the sounds of many people and a multitude of activities, underscored by the rush of a river.
    'Ah, awake once more,' Torvald Nom said.
    Karsa opened his eyes but did not otherwise move.
    'This is Culvern Crossing,' the Daru went on, 'and it's a storm swirling with the latest news from the south. All right, a small storm, given the size of this latrine pit of a town. The scum of the Nathii, which is saying a lot. The Malazan company's pretty excited, though. Pale's just fallen, you see. A big battle, lots of sorcery, and Moon's Spawn retreated – likely headed to Darujhistan, in fact. Beru take me, I wish I was there right now, watching it crossing the lake, what a sight that'd be. The company, of course, are wishing they'd been there for the battle. Idiots, but that's soldiers for you—'
    'And why not?' Shard's voice snapped as the wagon rocked slightly and the man appeared. 'The Ashok Regiment deserves better than to be stuck up here hunting bandits and slavers.'
    'The Ashok Regiment is you, I presume,' Torvald said.
    'Aye. Damned veterans, too, one and all.'
    'So why aren't you down south, Corporal?'
    Shard made a face, then turned away with narrowed eyes. 'She don't trust us, that's why,' he murmured. 'We're Seven Cities, and the bitch don't trust us.'
    'Excuse me,' Torvald said, 'but if she – and by that I take you to mean your Empress – doesn't trust you, then why is she sending you home? Isn't Seven Cities supposedly on the edge of rebellion? If there's a chance of you turning renegade, wouldn't she rather have you here on Genabackis?'
    Shard stared down at Torvald Nom. 'Why am I talking to you, thief? You might damn well be one of her spies. A Claw, for all I know.'
    'If I am, Corporal, you haven't been treating me very well. A