A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

to force your way past us.'
    'I seek the soul of Scabandari Bloodeye. I do not understand
that you would object to such a goal.'
    'We see the truth of that,' said Ordant Brid.
    A long moment of silence. The five Onyx Wizards faced
a nonplussed Silchas Ruin, who seemed at a loss for words.
    'It is,' said Penith Vinandas, 'a question of . . .
compassion.'
    'We are not fools,' said Ordant Brid. 'We cannot oppose
you. Perhaps, however, we can guide you. The journey to
the place you seek is arduous – the path is not straight.
Silchas Ruin, it is with some astonishment that I tell you
that we have reached something of a consensus on this.
You have no idea how rare such a thing is – granted, I speak
of a compromise, one which sits uneasier with some of us
than with others. Nonetheless, we have agreed to offer you
a guide.'
    'A guide? To lead me on this crooked path, or tug me
ever astray from it?'
    'Such deceit would not work for very long.'
    'True; nor would I be merciful upon its discovery.'
    'Of course.'
    Silchas Ruin crossed his arms. 'You will provide us with
a guide. Very well. Which of you has volunteered?'
    'Why, none of us,' said Ordant Brid. 'The need for us
here prevents such a thing. As you said, a spear of ice is
directed at us, and while we cannot shatter it, perhaps we
can . . . redirect it. Silchas Ruin, your guide shall be the
Mortal Sword of the Black-Winged Lord.' At that,
the wizard gestured.
    Clip rose to his feet, then began his descent to the Disc
of Concordance. The chain and its rings appeared in his
hand, whirring, then snapping, then whirring out again.
    'He is Anomander's Mortal Sword?' Silchas Ruin asked
in obvious disbelief as he stared up at this meeting's
audience of one.
    Clip smiled. 'Do you think he would be displeased?'
    After a moment, the brother of Rake grimaced, then
shook his head. 'Probably not.'
    'Come the morrow,' Ordant Brid said, 'we will begin
preparing the way for the continuation of your journey.'
    Reaching the edge of the lowest tier, Clip dropped
lightly onto the polished stone of the Disc, then
approached Silchas Ruin, the chain in his hand spinning
and clacking.
    'Must you always do that?' Silchas Ruin demanded.
    'Do what?'
    Silchas Ruin walked into the chamber, followed a moment
later by the Tiste Andii, Clip.
    Seren Pedac felt a sudden chill, although she could not
determine its source. Clip was smiling, but it was a cynical
smile, and it seemed his eyes held steady on Fear Sengar, as
if awaiting some kind of challenge.
    'Acquitor,' said Silchas Ruin, releasing the clasp of his
cloak as he walked over to the stone table against a far wall,
where waited wine and food, 'at least one mystery has been
answered.'
    'Oh?'
    'The preponderance of wraiths here in the Andara, the
countless ghosts of dead Tiste Andii – I know why they are
here.'
    'I am sorry, I did not know this place was crowded with
wraiths. I've not even seen Wither lately.'
    He glanced across at her, then poured himself a goblet of
wine. 'It is extraordinary,' he murmured, 'how something as
basic as the absence of a taste on the tongue can prove the
most excruciating torture . . . when one is buried for
thousands of years.'
    She watched him take a mouthful of the watery wine,
watched him savour it. Then he said, 'Time, Acquitor. The
Omtose Phellack ritual, which froze all in place, defied
Hood himself – apologies, Hood is the Lord of Death. The
ghosts – they had nowhere to go. Easily captured and
enslaved by the Tiste Edur, but many others managed to
evade that fate, and they are here, among their mortal kin.
The Onyx Wizards speak of compassion and balance, you
see . . .'
    No, I do not, but I think that is of no matter . 'Will the
wizards help us?'
    A wry grimace from Silchas Ruin, then he shrugged.
'Our fell party now has a new member, Acquitor,
who is charged with guiding us to what we seek.'
    Fear Sengar, suddenly tense, stepped close to Clip. 'Tiste
Andii,' he said, 'know this, please. I possess no enmity
towards you or your people. If indeed you will lead us to
where the soul of Scabandari is bound, I will be in your debt
– indeed, all of the Edur will be in your debt.'
    Clip grinned. 'Oh, you don't want that, warrior.'
    Fear seemed taken aback.
    'You,' said Silchas Ruin to the Tiste Edur, 'pose the
gravest threat to these Andii. Your kind has good reason to
hunt down every last one of them; nor are the Letherii well
disposed to them, given their resistance to the annexation
– a resistance