A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

The Betrayal, which was not as the Edur histories would have it. The Andii were the ones betrayed, not the Edur. Scabandari Bloodeye stabbed Silchas Ruin. In the back. All that you learned as a child and hold true to this day, Trull Sengar, was a lie.' His smile grew colder. 'And now you will accuse me of being the liar.'
    'The Bluerose are Tiste Andii?'
    'The blood is thinned, but it remains.'
    Trull looked away once more. After a time, he slowly nodded to himself. 'I see no reason, Ahlrada Ahn, to call you a liar. Indeed, your version makes more sense. After all, had we been the ones betrayed, then we should have been as the Andii today – mere remnants of a broken people—'
    'Not as broken as you think,' Ahlrada said.
    'You do not think Bluerose will capitulate? Is it not already a protectorate of the Letherii? A nation of subjugated people?'
    'They have been waiting for this, Trull Sengar. After all, the truth cannot be hidden – once the Edur occupy Bluerose, it will be discovered that its ruling class possess Andii blood.'
    'Probably.'
    They were silent for a time, then Ahlrada Ahn said, 'I hold no particular hatred for you, Trull Sengar. My hatred is for all the Tiste Edur.'
    'I understand.'
    'Do you? Look upon the shadow wraiths. The ghosts who have been bound to the Edur, who are made to fight this war. To find oblivion beneath swords of Letherii steel, the fatal iron against which they have no defence. They are Tiste Andii, the shades of those who fell in that betrayal, long ago.'
    The demon, Lilac, spoke. 'It is true, Trull Sengar. The wraiths are compelled, as much as we Kenyll'rah. They are not your ancestors.'
    'To all of this,' Trull said, 'I can do nothing.'
    Without another word, he strode away. Through the camp, deftly avoided by all, his path appearing before him devoid of any obstruction, as if by the hand of sorcery. Trull was not immune to regret. He would have liked to have taken back that moment when he'd lost control, when his outrage had broken through. The woman had been right, he supposed. The wounded Edur must be healed first and foremost. There was no time for demons. He should not have struck her.
    No-one cared for his reasons. The act was inexcusable, as simple as that.
    He approached the command tent.
    And saw that the riders they'd seen earlier on the road had arrived. Among them, Uruth, his mother.
    She was standing beside her horse.
    Fear emerged from the tent and strode to her.
    Uruth was speaking as Trull arrived. '... I can barely stand. Should we run low on food on our march south, allow me to be the first to suggest we slaughter the horses.' She noted Trull and faced him. 'You have made terrible mistakes, my son. None the less, this over-reaction on the part of the women in this camp will not be tolerated. It is for me to sanction you, not them.' She returned her attention to Fear. 'Are the warriors naught but children? Grubby hands on their mother's skirts? Did your brother Trull reveal cowardice on the field of battle?'
    'No,' Fear replied, 'there was no question of his courage—'
    'For you and your warriors, Fear, nothing else obtains. I would have thought better of you, my eldest son. Your brother sought the healing of a fallen comrade—'
    'A demon—'
    'And did not demons fight at High Fort? Did not many of them give their lives to win victory? Healers are to accede to the wishes of the warriors after a battle. They are not to make judgements on who is worthy of healing. Had I been here, I myself might well have struck her for her impudence. Shall every Edur woman now assume the flaws of our Empress Mayen? Not if I have a say in the matter. Now, Fear, you will correct your warriors' attitudes. You will remind them of Trull's deeds during the journey to retrieve the emperor's sword. You will tell them to recall his delivery of the news of the Letherii harvest of the tusked seals. Most importantly, Fear, you will not turn away from your brother. Do you challenge my words?'
    It seemed a vast weight lifted from Fear, as he straightened with a wry smile. 'I would not dare,' he said.
    Trull hesitated, then said, 'Mother, Fear's anger with me has been over my disagreement with the necessity of this war. I have been careless in voicing my objections—'
    'A crisis of loyalty to the emperor is a dangerous thing,' Uruth said. 'Fear was right to be angry, nor am I pleased by your words. Only the emperor has the power to halt this conquest, and he will not do that. Neither Fear