A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

happen if it does die, Kettle?'
    'Everything will get out.'
    'Oh.'
    'I like it here.'
    'Kettle, from now on,' Shurq said, 'I will tell you who to kill – don't worry, there should be plenty.'
    'All right. That's nice of you.'
    Among the hundreds of creatures buried in the grounds of the Azath, only one was capable of listening to the conversation between the two undead on the surface above. The Azath was relinquishing its hold on this denizen, not out of weakness, but out of necessity. The Guardian was anything but ready. Indeed, might never be ready. The choice itself had been flawed, yet another sign of faltering power, of age crawling forward to claim the oldest stone structure in the realm.
    The Azath tower was indeed dying. And desperation forced a straying onto unprecedented paths.
    Among all the prisoners, a choice had been made. And preparations were under way, slow as the track of roots through stone, but equally inexorable. But there was so little time.
    The urgency was a silent scream that squeezed blood from the Azath tower. Five kin creatures, taken and held since the time of the K'Chain Che'Malle, were almost within reach of the surface.
    And this was not good, for they were Toblakai.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Against the flat like thunder
Where the self dwells between the eyes,
Beneath the blow the bone shattered
And the soul was dragged forth
To writhe in the grip
Of unredeemed vengeance ...
    The Last Night of Bloodeye
Author unknown
(compiled by Tiste Andii scholars
of Black Coral)
    The Shadow's laughter was low, a sound that promised madness to all who heard it. Udinaas let the netting fall away from his fingers and leaned back against the sun-warmed rock. He squinted up at the bright sky. He was alone on the beach, the choppy waves of the bay stretching out before him. Alone, except for the wraith that now haunted him at every waking moment.
    Conjured, then forgotten. Wandering, an eternal flight from the sun, but there were always places to hide.
    'Stop that,' Udinaas said, closing his eyes.
    'Why ever? I smell your blood, slave. Growing colder. I once knew a world of ice. After I was killed, yes, after. Even darkness has flaws, and that's how they stole me. But I have dreams.'
    'So you're always saying. Then follow them, wraith, and leave me alone.'
    'I have dreams and you understand nothing, slave. Was I pleased to serve? Never. Never ever never and again, never. I'm following you.'
    Udinaas opened his eyes and stared down at the sliver of shadow between two rocks, from which the voice was emerging. Sand fleas scampered and darted on the flanking stone, but of the wraith itself there was no visible sign. 'Why?'
    'Why ever why? That which you cast beckons me, slave. You promise a worthy journey – do you dream of gardens, slave? I know you do – I can smell it. Half dead and overgrown, why ever not? There is no escape. So, with my dreams, it serves me to serve. Serves to serve. Was I not once a Tiste Andii? I believe I was. Murdered and flung into the mud, until the ice came. Then torn loose, after so long, to serve my slayers. My slavers, whose diligence then wavered. Shall we whisper of betrayers, slave?'
    'You would bargain?'
    'Hither when you call me, call me Wither. I have dreams. Give me that which you cast. Give me your shadow, and I will become yours. Your eyes behind you, whom no-one else can see or hear, unless they guess and have power but why would they guess? You are a slave. Who behaves. Be sure to behave, slave, until the moment you betray.'
    'I thought Tiste Andii were supposed to be dour and miserable. And please, Wither, no more rhymes.'
    'Agreed, once you give me your shadow.'
    'Can other wraiths see you? Hannan Mosag's—'
    'That oaf? I will hide in your natural casting. Hidden. Never found. See, no rhymes. We were bold in those days, slave. Soldiers in a war, an invasion. Soaked in the cold blood of K'Chain Che'Malle. We followed the youngest child of Mother Dark herself. And we were witness.'
    'To what?'
    'To Bloodeye's betrayal of our leader. To the dagger driven into our lord's back. I myself fell to a blade wielded by a Tiste Edur. Unexpected. Sudden slaughter. We stood no chance. No chance at all.'
    Udinaas made a face, studied the tossing waves that warred with the river's outpouring current. 'The Edur claim it was the other way round, Wither.'
    'Then why am I dead and they alive? If we were the ambushers that day?'
    'How should I know? Now, if you intend to lurk in my shadow,