A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

similar enemies before. The Nerek had their spirit goddess – what was it called?'
    'The Eres'al.'
    'Yes, that's it. The Eres'al. And the Tarthenal their five Seregahl, the Wrath Wielders. Warlocks and witches, curses and demons, we obliterated them one and all. And the Ceda and his cadre barely broke a sweat.'
    'I fear this time it will be different, Finadd.'
    He cocked his head. 'Acquitor, when you think of the Merchant Tolls, what do you imagine it to be?'
    'I don't understand—'
    'The commercial core, the heart of the financial system which drives all of Lether, its every citizen, its very way of looking at the world. The Tolls are not simply coins stacked high in some secret vault. Not just traders howling their numbers before the day's close. The Tolls are the roots of our civilization, the fibres reaching out to infest everything. Everything.'
    'What is your point, Finadd?'
    'You are cleverer than that, Acquitor. You understand full well. That heart feeds on the best and the worst in human nature. Exaltation and achievement, ambition and greed, all acting in self-serving concert. Thus, four facets of our nature, and not one sits well with constraints on its behaviour, on its expression. We win not just with armies, Seren Pedac. We win because our system appeals to the best and worst within all people, not just humans.'
    'Destiny.'
    He shrugged. 'Call it what you will. But we have made it inevitable and all-devouring—'
    'I see little of exaltation and achievement in what we do, Finadd. It would seem there is a growing imbalance—'
    His laugh cut her off. 'And that is the truth of freedom, Seren Pedac.'
    She could feel her anger rising. 'I always believed freedom concerned the granted right to be different, without fear of repression.'
    'A lofty notion, but you won't find it in the real world. We have hammered freedom into a sword. And if you won't be like us we will use that sword to kill you one by one, until your spirit is broken.'
    'What if the Tiste Edur surprise you, Finadd? Will you in turn choose to die in defence of your great cause?'
    'Some can die. Some will. Indeed, unlikely as it is, we may all die. But, unless the victors leave naught but ashes in their wake, the heart will beat on. Its roots will find new flesh. The emperor may have his demons of the seas, but we possess a monster unimaginably vast, and it devours. And what it cannot devour, it will smother, or starve. Win or lose, the Tiste Edur still lose.'
    She stepped back. 'Finadd Gerun Eberict, I want nothing to do with your world. And so you need not wait for my answer, for I have just given it.'
    'As you like, but know that I will think no less of you when you change your mind.'
    'I won't.'
    He turned away. 'Everyone has to work to eat, lass. See you in Letheras.'
    Udinaas had stood quietly in the gloom during the audience with the delegation. His fellow Letherii had not marked his presence. And, had they done so, it would not have mattered, for it was the emperor who commanded the exchange. After the dismissal of the delegation and the Acquitor's departure, Rhulad had beckoned Hull Beddict closer.
    'You swear your fealty to us,' the emperor said in a murmur, as if tasting each word before it escaped his mangled lips.
    'I know the details you need, Emperor, the location and complement of every garrison, every frontier encampment. I know their tactics, the manner in which armies are arrayed for battle. The way sorcery is employed. I know where the food and water caches are hidden – these are the military repositories, and they are massive.'
    Rhulad leaned forward. 'You would betray your own people. Why?'
    'Vengeance,' Hull Beddict replied.
    The word chilled Udinaas.
    'Sire,' Hull continued, 'my people betrayed me. Long ago. I have long awaited an opportunity such as this one.'
    'And so, vengeance. A worthy sentiment?'
    'Emperor, there is nothing else left for me.'
    'Tell us, Hull Beddict, will the mighty Letherii fleet take to the waves to challenge us?'
    'No, I don't think so. Not at first, anyway.'
    'And their armies?'
    'The doctrine is one of an initial phase of rolling, mobile defence, drawing your forces ever forward. Then counterattack. Deep strikes to cut your supply lines. Attack and withdraw, attack and withdraw. By the third phase, they will encircle your armies to complete the annihilation. Their fleets will avoid any sea engagement, for they know that to conquer Lether you must make landing. Instead, I suspect they will