A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

regalia of a High Fist.
Seeing the man's smug, contemptuous expression, Pearl's
palms itched. Two knives, my favourite ones, slowly slicing
that face away – all of it – gods, never mind that – I could bury
a blade in his damned throat right now – maybe I'd be fast
enough, maybe not. That's the problem. The hidden Claw in
this room will take me down, of course, but maybe they're not
anticipating ... no, don't be a fool, Pearl. He glanced once
more at the Empress and something in her look told him
she had comprehended, in full, the desires with which he
struggled ... and was amused.
    Still, he hesitated. Now was the time, he realized, to speak
out against this. To seek to convince her that she'd invited
two vultures, perched now on each shoulder, and what they
hungered for was not the ones who would in a short time be
seated before them – no, they wanted the throne they
flanked. And they will kill you, Laseen. They will kill you.
    'You may now go,' Mallick Rel said in a sibilant voice.
    'Empress,' Pearl forced himself to say, 'please, consider
well Tavore's words this night. She is your Adjunct, and
nothing has changed that. No-one can change that—'
    'Thank you for the advice, Pearl,' Laseen said.
    He opened his mouth to add more, then closed it again.
He bowed to his Empress, turned about and strode from the
chamber. And so, Pearl, you fling it into Tavore's lap. All of it.
You damned coward.
    Still, who killed Lostara Yil? Well, Adjunct, such disregard
ever comes home to roost.
    So be it. Tonight belonged to them. Korbolo Dom he
could take another night, at his leisure, and yes indeed, he
would do just that. And maybe that grinning lizard of a
priest as well. Why not? Topper was missing, probably dead.
So, Pearl would act, in the name of the empire. Not in
Laseen's name, but in the empire's, and this was one
instance – clearer than any other he could think of – where
the two loyalties clashed. But, as ever with the Claw, as with
you once, long ago, Empress, the choice is obvious. And
necessary.
    For all the bravado of his thoughts, as he made his way
down to the courtyard, another voice whispered over and
over, cutting through again and again. One word, burning
like acid, one word ...
    Coward.
    Scowling, Pearl descended the levels of the keep. A
Hand was waiting, to be given the task of assassinating a
drunk ex-priest. And in this, as well, Pearl had waited too
long. He could have forced things into the open, reached
through to Tayschrenn – that bastard had virtually
entombed himself, never mind that nest of hidden helpers.
Oh, the Imperial High Mage wanted to be close to things.
Just not involved.
    Poor Banaschar, a haunted, befuddled scholar who
simply wanted to talk to an old friend. But Mallick Rel did
not want Tayschrenn disturbed. Because the Jhistal priest has
plans.
    Was Laseen truly a fool? There was no possible way she
trusted them. So, what was the value in placing those two
men in that chamber? To unbalance Tavore? Unbalance?
More like a slap in the face. Is that really necessary, Empress?
Never mind Tavore, you cannot just use men like Mallick Rel
and Korbolo Dom. They will turn on you, like the vipers they
are.
    The risk in unleashing false rumours was when they
proved too successful, trapping the liar in the lie, and Pearl
began to realize something ... a possibility. To ruin the
name of Coltaine, that of his enemy must be raised.
Korbolo Dom, from traitor to hero. Somehow ... no, I don't
want to know the details. Laseen could not then execute or
even imprison a hero, could she? Indeed, she'd have to promote
him. Empress, you have trapped yourself. Now, I cannot
believe you are not aware of it ...
    His steps slowed. He had reached the main floor, was ten
paces from the postern door that would take him out along
the base of the wall, a path of shadows leading him to the
Gate.
    What do you seek to tell your Adjunct, then? The extremity
of the danger you are in? Do you ask Tavore ... for help? Will
she, upon walking into that chamber, be in any condition to see
and understand your plea? For Hood's sake, Laseen, this could
go very, very wrong.
    Pearl halted. He could do what was necessary, right now.
Walk to the east tower and kick down Tayschrenn's door.
And tell the fool what he needed to hear. He could—
    Two hooded figures stepped into view before him. Claws.
Both bowed, then the one on the left spoke. 'Claw, we are
informed that our target is ensconced in the Hanged Man
Inn. There