A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 2

well drain those life-forces dry.
    Further, it is said that the Elder warrens resist the deadening effect of otataral, suggesting that the world's levels of energy are profoundly multilayered. One need only contemplate the life energy of corporeal flesh, compared to the undeniable energy within an inanimate object, such as rock. Careless examination might suggest that the former is alive, whilst the latter is not. In this manner, perhaps otataral is not quite as negating as it would first appear ...
    Musings on the Physical Properties of the World
Tryrssan of Mott
     
    The 9th, 11th and 12th squads, medium infantry, had been attached to the marines of the 9th Company. There were rumours, as well, that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd squads – the heavy infantry with their oversized muscles and sloping brows – would soon join them to form a discrete fighting unit.
    None from the newly arrived squads were entirely strangers to Strings. He had made a point of learning names and memorizing faces throughout the 9th Company.
    Footsore and weary from interrupted nights, the sergeant
and his squad were sprawled around a cookfire, lulled by the incessant roar of the Whirlwind Wall a thousand paces north of the encamped army. Even rage could numb, it seemed.
    Sergeant Balm of the 9th squad strode over after directing his soldiers into their new camp. Tall and wide-shouldered, the Dal Honese had impressed Strings with his cool indifference to pressure. Balm's squad had already done its share of fighting, and the names of Corporal Deadsmell, Throatslitter, Widdershins, Galt and Lobe were already among the tales travelling through the legion. The same was true of some from the other two squads. Moak, Burnt and Stacker. Thom Tissy, Tulip, Ramp and Able.
    The heavy infantry were yet to wet their swords, but Strings had been impressed with their discipline – easier with slope-brows, of course. Tell'em to stand firm and they take root down to the bedrock. A few of them were wandering in, he noted. Flashwit, Bowl, Shortnose and Uru Hela. Mean-looking one and all.
    Sergeant Balm squatted down. 'You're the one named Strings, aren't you? Heard it's not your real name.'
    Strings raised his brows. 'And "Balm" is?'
    The dark-skinned young man frowned, his heavy eyebrows meeting as he did so. 'Why, yes, it is.'
    Strings glanced over at another soldier from the 9th squad, a man standing nearby looking as if he wanted to kill something. 'And what about him? What's his name again, Throatslitter? Did his ma decide on that for her little one, do you think?'
    'Can't say,' Balm replied. 'Give a toddler a knife and who knows what'll happen.'
    Strings studied the man for a moment, then grunted. 'You wanted to see me about something?'
    Balm shrugged. 'Not really. Sort of. What do you think of the captain's new units? Seems a little late to make changes like this ...'
    'It's not that new, actually. Greymane's legions are
sometimes set up in the same manner. In any case, our new Fist has approved it.'
    'Keneb. Not sure about him.'
    'And you are about our fresh-faced captain?'
    'Aye, I am. He's noble-born, is Ranal. Enough said.'
    'Meaning?'
    Balm looked away, started tracking a distant bird in flight. 'Oh, only that he's likely to get us all killed.'
    Ah. 'Speak louder, not everyone heard that opinion.'
    'Don't need to, Strings. They share it.'
    'Sharing it ain't the same as saying it.'
    Gesler, Borduke and the sergeants from the 11th and 12th squads came over and muttered introductions went round the group. Moak, of the 11th, was Falari, copper-haired and bearded like Strings. He'd taken a lance down his back, from shoulder to tailbone, and, despite the healer's efforts, was clearly struggling with badly knitted muscles. The 12th's sergeant, Thorn Tissy, was squat, with a face that might be handsome to a female toad, his cheeks pocked and the backs of his hands covered in warts. He was, the others saw when he removed his helm, virtually hairless.
    Moak squinted at Strings for a long moment, as if seeking to conjure recognition, then he drew out a fish spine from his belt pouch and began picking his teeth. 'Anybody else hear about that killer soldier? Heavy infantry, not sure what company, not even sure what legion. Named Neffarias Bredd. I heard he killed eighteen raiders all in one night.'
    Strings lifted his gaze to meet Gesler's, but neither man's expression changed.
    'I heard it was eighteen one night, thirteen the next,' Thorn Tissy said. 'We'll have