A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

nature. It may be that the nefarious, incestuous,
nepotistic quagmire of a priest's life well suits the majority
of its adherents. Unfortunately, I discovered too late that I
could not adapt to such an existence. You must understand,
actual worship was the least among daily priorities. I made
the error of objecting to this unnatural, nay, unholy
inversion.'
    'Very noble of you,' Paran remarked. 'Oddly enough, I
heard a different tale about your priestly demise. More
specifically, you lost a power struggle at the temple in
Kartool. Something about the disposition of the treasury.'
    'Clearly, such events are open to interpretation. Tell me,
Captain, since you can walk through walls thicker than a
man is tall, do you possess magical sensitivities as well? Can
you feel the foul hunger in the air? It is hateful. It wants us,
our flesh, where it can take root and suck from us every
essence of health. This is Poliel's breath, and even now it
begins to claim us.'
    'We are not alone, cutter.'
    'No. I would be surprised if we were. She will spare her
followers, her carriers. She will—'
    'Quiet,' Paran said, reining in. 'I meant, we are not alone
right now.'
    Eyes darting, Noto Boil scanned the immediate area.
'There,' he whispered, pointing towards an alley mouth.
    They watched as a young woman stepped out from the
shadows of the alley. She was naked, frighteningly thin, her
eyes dark, large and luminous. Her lips were cracked and
split, her hair wild and braided in filth. An urchin who had
survived in the streets, a harvester of the discarded, and
yet ...
    'Not a carrier,' Paran said in a murmur. 'I see about her
... purest health.'
    Noto Boil nodded. 'Aye. In spite of her apparent condition.
Captain Kindly, this child has been chosen ... by
Solid.'
    'I take it, not something you even thought possible, back
when you were a priest.'
    The cutter simply shook his head.
    The girl came closer. 'Malazans,' she said, her voice
rasping as if from lack of use. 'Once. Years – a year? Once,
there were other Malazans. One of them pretended he was
a Gral, but I saw the armour under the robes, I saw the sigil
of the Bridgeburners, from where I hid beneath a wagon. I
was young, but not too young. They saved me, those
Malazans. They drew away the hunters. They saved me.'
    Paran cleared his throat. 'And so now Soliel chooses you
... to help us.'
    Noto Boil said, 'For she has always blessed those who
repay kindness.' The cutter's voice was tremulous with
wonder. 'Soliel,' he whispered, 'forgive me.'
    'There are hunters,' the girl said. 'Coming. They know
you are here. Strangers, enemies to the goddess. Their
leader holds great hatred, for all things. Bone-scarred,
broke-faced, he feeds on the pain he delivers. Come with
me—'
    'Thank you,' Paran said, cutting in, 'but no. Know that
your warning is welcome, but I intend to meet these hunters.
I intend to have them lead me to the Grey Goddess.'
    'Brokeface will not permit it. He will kill you, and your
horse. Your horse first, for he hates such creatures.'
    Noto Boil hissed. 'Captain, please – this is an offer from Soliel —'
    'The offer I expect from Soliel,' Paran said, tone hardening,
'will come later. One goddess at a time.' He readied his
horse under him, then hesitated, glanced over at the cutter.
'Go with her, then. We will meet up at the entrance to the
Grand Temple.'
    'Captain, what is it you expect of me?'
    'Me? Nothing. What I expect is for Soliel to make use of
you, but not as she has done this child here. I expect something
a lot more than that.' Paran nudged his mount
forward. 'And,' he added amidst clumping hoofs, 'I won't
take no for an answer.'
     
    Noto Boil watched the madman ride off, up the main
avenue, then the healer swung his horse until facing the
girl. He drew the fish spine from his mouth and tucked it
behind an ear. Then cleared his throat. 'Goddess ... child.
I have no wish to die, but I must point out, that man does
not speak for me. Should you smite him down for his disrespect,
I most certainly will not see in that anything unjust
or undeserving. In fact—'
    'Be quiet, mortal,' the girl said in a much older voice. 'In
that man the entire world hangs in balance, and I shall not
be for ever known as the one responsible for altering that
condition. In any way whatsoever. Now, prepare to ride – I
shall lead, but I shall not once wait for you should you lose
the way.'
    'I thought you offered to guide me—'
    'Of lesser priority now,' she said, smirking.