A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

where the
Nathii had made slaves of my people. Each night, after
hauling nets on the lake, those slaves were all shackled to
a single chain. Not a single Teblor so bound could break
that chain. Together, their strengths and wills combined,
no chain could have held them.'
    'So, for all your claims of returning to your people and
shattering all that they believe, you will, in truth, need
their help to manage such a thing. It sounds as if it is not
just your father from whom you require forgiveness, Karsa
Orlong.'
    'I shall take what I require, witch.'
    'Were you one of those slaves in the Nathii fishing
village?'
    'For a time.'
    'And, to escape – and clearly you did escape – you ended
up needing the help of your fellow Teblor.' She nodded. 'I
can see how that might gnaw on your soul.'
    He eyed her. 'You are truly clever, Samar Dev, to discover
how all things fit so neatly in place.'
    'I have made long study of human nature, the motivations
that guide us, the truths that haunt us. I do not
think you Teblor are much different from us in such things.'
    'Unless, of course, you begin with an illusion – one that
suits the conclusion you sought from the start.'
    'I try not to assume veracity,' she replied.
    'Indeed.' He handed her a strip of meat.
    She crossed her arms, refusing the offer for the moment.
'You suggest I have made an assumption, an erroneous one,
and so, although I claim to understand you, in truth I
understand nothing. A convenient argument, but not very
convincing, unless you care to be specific'
    'I am Karsa Orlong. I know the measure of each step I
have taken since I first became a warrior. Your selfsatisfaction
does not offend me, witch.'
    'The savage now patronizes me! Gods below!'
    He proffered the meat again. 'Eat, Samar Dev, lest you
grow too weak for outrage.'
    She glared at him, then accepted the strip of bhederin.
'Karsa Orlong, your people live with a lack of sophistication
similar to these Anibar here. It is clear that, once,
the citizens of the great civilizations of Seven Cities lived
in a similar state of simplicity and stolid ignorance,
haunted by omens and fleeing the unfathomable. And no
doubt we too concocted elaborate belief systems, quaint
and ridiculous, to justify all those necessities and
restrictions imposed upon us by the struggle to survive.
Fortunately, however, we left all that behind. We discovered
the glory of civilization – and you, Teblor, hold still
to your misplaced pride, holding up your ignorance of such
glory as a virtue. And so you still do not comprehend the
great gift of civilization—'
    'I comprehend it fine,' Karsa Orlong replied around a
mouthful of meat. 'The savage proceeds into civilization
through improvements—'
    'Yes!'
    'Improvements in the manner and efficiency of killing
people.'
    'Hold on—'
    'Improvements in the unassailable rules of degradation
and misery.'
    'Karsa—'
    'Improvements in ways to humiliate, impose suffering
and justify slaughtering those savages too stupid and too
trusting to resist what you hold as inevitable. Namely, their
extinction. Between you and me, Samar Dev,' he added,
swallowing, 'who should the Anibar fear more?'
    'I don't know,' she said through gritted teeth. 'Why don't
we ask him?'
    Boatfinder lifted his head and studied Samar Dev with
hooded eyes. 'In the frozen time,' he said in a low voice,
'Iskar Jarak spoke of the Unfound.'
    'Iskar Jarak was not a god, Boatfinder. He was a mortal,
with a handful of wise words – it's easy to voice warnings.
Actually staying around to help prepare for them is another
thing altogether!'
    'Iskar Jarak gave us the secrets, Samar Dev, and so we
have prepared in the frozen time, and prepare now, and will
prepare in the Unfound.'
    Karsa barked a laugh. 'Would that I had travelled here with
Iskar Jarak. We would find little to argue over, I think.'
    'This is what I get,' muttered Samar Dev, 'in the
company of barbarians.'
    The Toblakai's tone suddenly changed, 'The intruders
who have come here, witch, believe themselves civilized.
And so they kill Anibar. Why? Because they can. They
seek no other reason. To them, Samar Dev, Karsa Orlong
will give answer. This savage is not stupid, not trusting, and
by the souls of my sword, I shall give answer.'
    All at once, night had arrived, and there in that silent
forest it was cold.
    From somewhere far to the west, rose the howl of wolves,
and Samar Dev saw Karsa Orlong smile.
     
    Once, long ago, Mappo Runt had stood with a thousand
other Trell