A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

teeth. 'The precedent is ...
unwelcome. You go bury your head in the sands again,
Mael, but I warn you, the death of one realm is a promise
to every other realm.'
    'As you say,' the Elder God said after a moment. 'And I
do concede that possibility. In any case, Gothos demands
recompense.'
    The fists unclenched, then clenched again. 'Very well.
Now, Jaghut, fashion a Finnest.'
    'This will do,' Gothos said, drawing an object into view
from a tear in his ragged shirt.
    The two Elders stared at it for a time, then Mael grunted.
'Yes, I see, now. Rather curious choice, Gothos.'
    'The only kind I make,' the Jaghut replied. 'Go on, then,
Kilmandaros, proceed with your subtle conclusion to the
Soletaken's pathetic existence.'
    The dragon hissed and screamed in rage and fear as the
Elder Goddess advanced.
    When she drove a fist into Scabandari's skull, centred on
the ridge between and above the draconic eyes, the crack
of the thick bone rang like a dirge down the length of the
crevasse, and with the impact blood spurted from
the Goddess's knuckles.
    The dragon's broken head thumped heavily onto the
broken bedrock, fluids spilling out from beneath the sagging
body.
    Kilmandaros wheeled to face Gothos.
    He nodded. 'I have the poor bastard.'
    Mael stepped towards the Jaghut, holding out a hand. 'I
will take the Finnest then—'
    'No.'
    Both Elders now faced Gothos, who smiled once more.
'Repayment of the debt. For each of you. I claim the
Finnest, the soul of Scabandari, for myself. Nothing remains
between us, now. Are you not pleased?'
    'What do you intend to do with it?' Mael demanded.
    'I have not yet decided, but I assure you, it will be most
curiously unpleasant.'
    Kilmandaros made fists again with her hands and half-raised
them. 'I am tempted, Jaghut, to send my children after you.'
    'Too bad they've lost their way, then.'
    Neither Elder said another word as Gothos departed from
the fissure. It always pleased him, outwitting doddering old
wrecks and all their hoary, brutal power. Well, a momentary
pleasure, in any case.
    The best kind.
     
    Upon her return to the rent, Kilmandaros found another
figure standing before it. Black-coated, white-haired. An
expression of arched contemplation, fixed upon the torn
fissure.
    About to enter the gate, or waiting for her? The Elder
Goddess scowled. 'You are not welcome in Kurald
Emurlahn,' she said.
    Anomandaris Purake settled cool eyes upon the
monstrous creature. 'Do you imagine I contemplate claiming
the throne for myself?'
    'You would not be the first.'
    He faced the rent again. 'You are besieged, Kilmandaros.
I offer you my help.'
    'With you, Tiste Andii, my trust is not easily earned.'
    'Unjustified,' he replied. 'Unlike many others of my kind,
I accept that the rewards of betrayal are never sufficient to
overwhelm the cost. There are Soletaken now, in addition
to feral dragons, warring in Kurald Emurlahn.'
    'Where is Osserc?' the Elder Goddess asked. 'Mael
informed me that he—'
    'Was planning to get in my way again. Osserc imagined I
would take part in slaying Scabandari. Why should I? You
and Mael were more than enough.' He then grunted. 'I can
picture Osserc, circling round and round. Looking for me.
Idiot'
    'And Scabandari's betrayal of your brother? You have no
desire to avenge that?'
    Anomandaris glanced at her, then gave her a faint smile.
'The rewards of betrayal. The cost to Scabandari proved
high, didn't it? As for Silchas, well, even the Azath do not
last forever. I almost envy him his newfound isolation from
all that will afflict us in the millennia to come.'
    'Indeed. Do you wish to join him in a similar barrow?'
    'I think not.'
    'Then I imagine that Silchas Ruin will not be inclined to
forgive you your indifference, the day he is freed.'
    'You might be surprised, Kilmandaros.'
    'You and your kind are mysteries to me, Anomandaris
Purake.'
    'I know. So, Goddess, have we a pact?'
    She cocked her head. 'I mean to drive the pretenders
from the realm – if Kurald Emurlahn must die, then let it
do so on its own.'
    'In other words, you want to leave the Throne of
Shadow unoccupied.'
    'Yes.'
    He thought for a time, then he nodded. 'Agreed.'
    'Do not wrong me, Soletaken.'
    'I shall not. Are you ready, Kilmandaros?'
    'They will forge alliances,' she said. 'They will all war
against us.'
    Anomandaris shrugged. 'I have nothing better to do today.'
    The two Ascendants then walked through the gate, and,
together, they closed the rent behind them. There were
other paths, after