A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

learned a lot, Apsalar, about a lot of
things.'
    A heavy thud to starboard, as the harbour patrol arrived
to collect the mooring fees. The slap of lines. More voices.
    'K'rul played a very active role against the Pannion
Domin,' Paran went on. 'Since that time, I've grown less
easy with his presence – the Elder Gods are back in the
game—'
    'Yes, you've already said something to that effect. They
are opposing the Crippled God, and one cannot find fault
in that.'
    'Are they? Sometimes I'm convinced ... other times,' he
shook his head. Then rose. 'We're pulling in. I need to
make arrangements.'
    'What kind of arrangements?'
    'Horses.'
    'Paran.'
    'Yes?'
    'Are you now ascended?'
    His eyes widened. 'I don't know. Nothing feels different.
I admit I'm not even sure what ascendancy means.'
    'Means you're harder to kill.'
    'Why?'
    'You have stumbled onto power, of a personal nature, and
with it, well, power draws power. Always. Not the mundane
kind, but something other, a force in nature, a confluence
of energies. You begin to see things differently, to think
differently. And others take notice of you – that's usually
bad, by the way.' She sighed, studying him, and said,
'Perhaps I don't need to warn you, but I will. Be careful,
Paran; of all the lands in this world, there are two more
dangerous than all others—'
    'Your knowledge, or Cotillion's?'
    'Cotillion's for one, mine for the other. Anyway, you're
about to set foot on one of those two. Seven Cities, Paran, is
not a healthy place to be, especially not for an ascendant.'
    'I know. I can feel that ... what's out there, what I have
to deal with.'
    'Get someone else to do your fighting for you, if possible.'
    His gaze narrowed on her. 'Now that's a clear lack of
faith.'
    'I killed you once—'
    'And you were possessed by a god, by the Patron of
Assassins himself, Apsalar.'
    'Who played by the rules. There are things here that do
not.'
    'I'll give that some consideration, Apsalar. Thank
you.'
    'And remember, bargain from strength or don't bargain
at all.'
    He gave her a strange smile, then headed topside.
    A skittering sound from one corner, and Telorast and
Curdle scampered into view, bony feet clattering on the
wooden floor.
    'He is dangerous, Not-Apsalar! Stay away, oh, you've
spent too long with him!'
    'Don't worry about me, Telorast.'
    'Worry? Oh, we have worries, all right, don't we, Curdle?'
    'Endless worries, Telorast. What am I saying? We're not
worried.'
    Apsalar said, 'The Master of the Deck knows all about
you two, no doubt compounding those worries.'
    'But he told you nothing!'
    'Are you so certain of that?'
    'Of course!' The bird-like skeleton bobbed and weaved
in front of its companion. 'Think on it, Curdle! If she knew
she'd step on us! Wouldn't she?'
    'Unless she has a more devious betrayal in mind,
Telorast! Have you thought of that? No, you haven't, have
you? I have to do all the thinking.'
    'You never think! You never have!'
    Apsalar rose. 'They've dropped the gangplank. Time to
leave.'
    'Hide us under your cloak. You have to. There are dogs
out there, in the streets!'
    She sheathed the knife. 'All right, but no squirming.'
     
    A squalid port, four of the six piers battered into treacherous
hulks by Nok's fleet a month earlier, Kansu was in no
way memorable, and Apsalar was relieved as they rode past
the last sprawl of shanties on the inland road and saw
before them a scattering of modest stone buildings, marking
the herders, the pens and the demon-eyed goats
gathered beneath guldindha trees. And beyond that,
tharok orchards with their silvery, thread-like bark prized
for rope-making, the uneven rows looking ghostly with
their boles shimmering in the wind.
    There had been something odd in the city behind them,
the crowds smaller than was normal, the voices more
muted. A number of merchant shops had been shut, and
this during peak market time. The modest garrison of
Malazan soldiers was present only at the gates and down at
the docks, where at least four trader ships had been denied
berths. And no-one seemed inclined to offer explanations
to outsiders.
    Paran had spoken quietly with the horse trader and
Apsalar had watched as more coin than was necessary
changed hands, but the ex-captain had said nothing during
their ride out.
    Reaching a crossroads, they drew rein.
    'Paran,' Apsalar said, 'did you note anything strange
about Kansu?'
    He grimaced. 'I don't think we need worry,' he said.
'You've been possessed by a god, after all, and as for