A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

in the Domicile's Annexe, in Letheras.'
    'Letheras? What?' He struggled to rise, pausing a moment
to look wonderingly at the Cabalhii monk; then, using the
wall behind him, he straightened and met Twilight's eyes.
'But that is impossible. We'd two entire oceans to cross, at
the very least—'
    'Your escape proved a terrible ordeal, Lieutenant,' Yan
Tovis said. 'You have lain in a coma for many, many
months. I expect you are feeling weak—'
    A grimace. 'Exhausted, sir.'
    'What do you last recall, Lieutenant?'
    Dread filled his wan features and his gaze fell away from
hers. 'Slaughter, sir.'
    'Yes. The barbarian known as Taralack Veed survived, as
did the Jhag, Icarium—'
    Varat Taun's head snapped up. 'Icarium! Yes – Atri-Preda, he – he is an abomination !'
    'A moment!' cried the Senior Assessor, eyes now
piercing as he stared at the lieutenant. 'Icarium, the Jhag
Warrior? Icarium, Lifestealer? '
    Suddenly frightened, Yan Tovis said, 'Yes, Cabalhii. He is
here. Like you, he will challenge the Emperor—' She
stopped then, in shock, as the monk, eyes bulging, flung
both hands to his face, streaking across the thick paint,
and, teeth appearing to clench down hard on his lower lip,
bit. Until blood spurted. The monk reeled back until he
struck the wall beside the doorway – then, all at once,
he whirled about and fled the room.
    'Errant take us,' Varat Taun hissed, 'what was all that
about?'
    Forbidden laughter? She shook her head. 'I don't know,
Lieutenant.'
    'Who . . . what . . .?'
    'A healer,' she replied in a shaky voice, forcing herself to
draw a steadying breath. 'The one who awakened you,
Varat. A guest of the Emperor's – from Uruth's fleet.'
    Varat Taun licked chapped, broken lips. 'Sir.'
    'Yes?'
    'Icarium . . . Errant save us, he must not be awakened.
Taralack knows, he was there, he saw. The Jhag . . . have
him sent away, sir—'
    She approached him, boots hard on the floor. 'The Gral's
claims are not exaggerated, then? He will bring destruction?'
    A whisper: ' Yes .'
    She could not help herself then, and reached out, gloved
hands grasping the front of Varat's ragged shirt, dragging
him close. 'Tell me, damn you! Can he kill him? Can Icarium kill him? '
    Horror swirled in the soldier's eyes as he nodded.
    Errant's blessing, maybe this time . . . 'Varat Taun. Listen to
me. I am leading my company out in two days. Back to the
north. You will ride with me, as far up the coast as necessary
– then you ride east – to Bluerose. I am assigning you to the
Factor's staff there, understood? Two days.'
    'Yes sir.'
    She released him, suddenly embarrassed at her own outburst.
    Yet her legs were weak as reeds beneath her still. She
wiped sweat from her eyes. 'Welcome back, Lieutenant,'
she said in a rough voice, not meeting his gaze. 'Are you
strong enough to accompany me?'
    'Sir. Yes, I shall try.'
    'Good.'
    Emerging from the room, they came face to face with the
Gral barbarian. Breath hissed from Varat Taun.
    Taralack Veed had halted in the corridor and was staring
at the lieutenant. 'You are . . . recovered. I did not think—'
He shook his head, then said, 'I am pleased, soldier—'
    'You warned us again and again,' Varat Taun said.
    The Gral grimaced and seemed ready to spit, then
decided otherwise. Gravely, he said, 'I did. And yes, I was
foolish enough to be an eager witness . . .'
    'And next time?' The question from Varat Taun was a
snarl.
    'You do not need to ask me that.'
    The lieutenant stared hard at the savage, then he seemed
to sag, and Yan Tovis was astonished to see Taralack Veed
move forward to take Varat's weight. Ah, it is what they have shared. It is that. That. The Gral glared over at her. 'He is half dead with
exhaustion!'
    'Yes.'
    'I will help him now – where would you lead us, Atri-Preda?'
    'To more hospitable quarters. What are you doing here,
Veed?'
    'A sudden fear,' he said as he now struggled with Varat's
unconscious form.
    She moved to help him. 'What sort of fear?'
    'That he would be stopped.'
    'Who?'
    'Icarium. That you would stop him – now, especially,
now that this man is sane once more. He will tell you – tell
you everything—'
    'Taralack Veed,' she said in a harsh tone, 'the lieutenant
and I leave this city in two days. We ride north. Between
then and now, Varat Taun is under my care. No-one else's.'
    'None but me, that is.'
    'If you insist.'
    The lieutenant between them, the Gral studied her. 'You
know, don't you. He told you—'
    'Yes.'
    'And you mean to say nothing, to