A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 2

own slain. Nil and I – we were blind to it. We'd forgotten the ways of ... of seeing. The cattle dog, Adjunct. Bent. It should have died at Coltaine's feet. At the Fall. But some soldiers saved it, saw to the healing of its wounds.'
    'A cattle dog? What are you talking about?' Tavore demanded, revealing, for the very first time, an edge of exasperation.
    'Bent and Roach,' Nil said. 'The only creatures still living to have walked the Chain the entire way. Two dogs.'
    'Not true,' Temul said from behind the two Wickan shamans. 'This mare. It belonged to Duiker.'
    Nil half turned to acknowledge the correction, then faced Tavore once more. 'They came back with us, Adjunct—'
    'The dogs.'
    He nodded. 'And the spirits of the slain. Our own ghosts, Adjunct, have marched with us. Those that fell around
Coltaine at the very end. Those that died on the trees of Aren Way. And, step by step, more came from the places where they were cut down. Step by step, Adjunct, our army of vengeance grew.'
    'And yet you sensed nothing?''
    'Our grief blinded us,' Nether replied.
    'Last night,' Nil said, 'the child Grub woke us. Led us to the ridge, so that we could witness the awakening. There were legions, Adjunct, that had marched this land a hundred thousand years ago. And Pormqual's crucifed army and the legions of the Seventh on one flank. The three slaughtered clans of the Wickans on the other. And still others. Many others. Within the darkness last night, Tavore, there was war.'
    'Thus,' Nether said, smiling, 'you were right, Adjunct. In the dreams that haunted you from the very first night of this march, you saw what we could not see.'
    'It was never the burden you believed it to be,' Nil added. 'You did not drag the Chain of Dogs with you, Adjunct Tavore.'
    'Didn't I, Nil?' A chilling half-smile twisted her thin-lipped mouth, then she looked away. 'All those ghosts ... simply to slay the Dogslayers?'
    'No, Adjunct,' Nether answered. 'There were other ... enemies.'
    'Fist Gamet's ghost joined them,' Nil said.
    Tavore's eyes narrowed sharply. 'You saw him?'
    Both Wickans nodded, and Nether added, 'Grub spoke with him.'
    The Adjunct shot Keneb a querying look.
    'He can be damned hard to find,' the captain muttered, shrugging. 'As for talking with ghosts ... well, the lad is, uh, strange enough for that.'
    The Adjunct's sigh was heavy.
    Keneb's gaze caught movement and he swung his head round, to see Tene Baralta riding back in the company of two soldiers wearing little more than rags. Both were
unshaven, their hair long and matted. Their horses bore no saddles.
    The Fist reined in with his charges. His face was dark with anger. 'Adjunct. That Claw has stolen Sha'ik's body!'
    Keneb saw the woman approaching on foot, still twenty paces distant. She looked ... smug.
    Tavore ignored Tene Baralta's statement and was eyeing the two newcomers. 'And you are?' she asked.
    The elder of the two saluted. 'Captain Kindly, Adjunct, of the Ashok Regiment. We were prisoners in the Dogslayer camp. Lieutenant Pores and myself, that is.'
    Keneb started, then leaned forward on his saddle. Yes, he realized, through all that filth ... 'Captain,' he said in rough greeting.
    Kindly squinted, then grimaced. 'Keneb.'
    Tavore cleared her throat, then asked, 'Are you two all that's left of your regiment, Captain?'
    'No, Adjunct. At least, we don't think so—'
    'Tell me later. Go get cleaned up.'
    'Aye, Adjunct.'
    'One more question first,' she said. 'The Dogslayer camp ...'
    Kindly made an involuntary warding gesture. 'It was not a pleasant night, Adjunct.'
    'You bear shackle scars.'
    Kindly nodded. 'Just before dawn, a couple of Bridgeburners showed up and burned out the locks.'
    'What?'
    The captain waved for his lieutenant to follow, said over one shoulder, 'Don't worry, they were already dead.'
    The two rode into the camp.
    Tavore seemed to shake herself, then faced Keneb. 'You two know each other? Will that prove problematic, Captain?'
    'No.'
    'Good. Then he won't resent your promotion to Fist. Now ride to your new legion. We will follow the fleeing
tribes. If we have to cross this entire continent, I will see them cornered, and then I will destroy them. This rebellion will be ashes on the wind when we are done. Go, Fist Keneb.'
    'Aye, Adjunct.' And he gathered his reins.
    'Weapons out!' Temul suddenly shouted.
    And all spun to see a rider cantering down from the hill where Sha'ik had first appeared.
    Keneb's eyes thinned, even as he drew his sword.