A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

cutting, murderous and evil. Sometimes all at once. Language was war, vaster than any host of swords, spears and sorcery. The self waging battle against everyone else. Borders enacted, defended, sallies and breaches, fields of corpses rotting like tumbled fruit. Words ever seeking allies, ever seeking iconic verisimilitude in the heaving press.
    And, she realized, she was tired. Tired of it all. Peace reigned in silence, inside and out, in isolation and exhaustion.
    'Why do you say nothing, Acquitor?'
    He sat alone, unspeaking, a cloak of bear fur draped over his hunched shoulders, sword held point-down between his gold-clad feet, the long banded blade and broad bell-hilt in front of him. Somehow, he had managed to open his eyes, and the glitter was visible within the hooded shadows beneath his brow, framed in waxed braids. His breath came in a low rasp, the only sound in the massive chamber in the wake of the long, stilted exchange between Tomad Sengar and Hannan Mosag.
    The last words had fallen away, leaving a sense of profound helplessness. None among the hundreds of Edur present moved or spoke.
    Tomad could say no more on behalf of his son. Some subtle force had stolen his authority, and it came, Trull realized with dread, from the seated figure of black fur and glittering gold, from the eyes shining out from their dark holes. From the motionless sword.
    Standing in the centre dais, the Warlock King's hard eyes had slowly shifted from Tomad to Rhulad, and they held there now, calculating and cold.
    The sword needed to be surrendered. Hannan Mosag had sent them to retrieve it, and that task could not be called complete until Rhulad placed it in the hands of the Warlock King. Until that happened, Fear, Binadas, Trull, Theradas and Midik Buhn all stood in dishonour.
    It fell now, finally, to Rhulad. To make the gesture, to heal this ragged wound.
    Yet he made no move.
    Trull was not even sure his brother was capable of speaking, given the terrible weight encasing his chest. Breathing sounded difficult, excruciatingly laboured. It was extraordinary that Rhulad was able to keep his arms up, the hands on the grip of the sword. From a lithe, supple youth, he had become something hulking, bestial.
    The air in the hall was humid and rank. The smell of fear and barely restrained panic swirled amidst the smoke from the torches and the hearth. The rain outside was unceasing, the wind creaking the thick planks of the walls.
    The rasping breath caught, then a thin, broken voice spoke. 'The sword is mine.'
    A glitter of fear from Hannan Mosag's eyes. 'This must not be, Rhulad Sengar.'
    'Mine. He gave it to me. He said I was the one, not you. Because you were weak.'
    The Warlock King recoiled as if he had been struck in the face.
    Who? Trull shot the question with a sharp glance at Fear. Their eyes met, and Fear shook his head.
    Their father was facing Rhulad now. Emotions worked across his face for a moment and it seemed he was ageing centuries before their very eyes. Then he asked, 'Who gave you this sword, Rhulad?'
    Something like a smile. 'The one who rules us now, Father. The one Hannan Mosag made pact with. No, not one of our lost ancestors. A new ... ally.'
    'This is not for you to speak of,' the Warlock King said, his voice trembling with rage. 'The pact was—'
    'Was something you intended to betray, Hannan Mosag,' Rhulad cut in savagely, leaning forward to glare past his hands where they were folded about the sword's grip. 'But that is not the Edur way, is it? You, who would lead us, cannot be trusted. The time has come, Warlock King, for a change.'
    Trull watched as Rhulad surged to his feet. And stood, balanced and assured, back straight and head held high. The bear cloak was swept back, revealing the rippling coins. The gold mask of Rhulad's face twisted. 'The sword is mine, Hannan Mosag! I am equal to it. You are not. Speak, then, if you would reveal to all here the secret of this weapon. Reveal the most ancient of lies! Speak, Warlock King!'
    'I shall not.'
    A rustling step forward. 'Then ... kneel.'
    'Rhulad!'
    'Silence, Father! Kneel before me, Hannan Mosag, and pledge your brotherhood. Think not I will simply cast you aside, for I have need of you. We all have need of you. And your K'risnan.'
    'Need?' Hannan Mosag's face was ravaged, as if gripped by a physical pain.
    Rhulad swung about, glittering eyes fixing on his three brothers, one by one. 'Come forward, brothers, and pledge your service to me. I am the