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A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

Titel: A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4 Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Steven Erikson
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skin. The sorcery is now
within you.'
    'B-but . . . why? Why have you done this to me?'
    'I could sense the labouring of your heart, Witch. Your
trek to my temple would have been your last—'
    'Oh, I knew that!' snapped the witch.
    The sudden irritation shocked the High Priestess for a
moment. She reassessed this woman tottering before her.
'I see. Then . . .'
    'Then yes , I prayed my sacrifice would be worth it. Salind
is so precious – what has been done to her is despicable. Is
. . . evil.'
    'Then you have not come in the name of the Redeemer,
have you?'
    'No. I came for a friend.'
    A friend. 'Witch, Spinnock Durav is no longer in Black
Coral. It grieves me to hear of Seerdomin's death. And it
grieves me more to learn of Salind's fate. Tell me, what else
are you feeling?'
    The witch was hunched over, as if in visceral pain. 'Fine,'
she hissed reluctantly. 'I can see that there is no risk of the
poison spreading. I never thought there was.'
    'I know that,' said the High Priestess, her voice soft.
    'But I needed to bargain for your help.'
    'That is ever the assumption among you humans. Do
you know, when the delegates from the Free Cities came to
treat with us, when the Rhivi and the man who pretended
to be Prince K'azz D'Avore of the Crimson Guard came to
us – they all thought to bargain. To buy our swords, our
power. To purchase our alliance. Lord Anomander Rake but
lifted one hand – before any of them could even so much
as say one beseeching word. And he said this: "We are the
Tiste Andii. Do not seek to bargain with us. If you wish our
help, you will ask for it. We will say yes or we will say no.
    There will be no negotiations."'
The witch was staring across at her.
    The High Priestess sighed. 'It is not an easy thing for a
proud man or woman, to simply ask.'
    'No,' whispered the witch. 'It's not.'
    Neither spoke then for a dozen heartbeats, and then the
witch slowly straightened. 'What have you done to me?'
    'I expect Kurald Galain has done its assessment. Your
aches are gone, yes? Your breathing has eased. Various
ailments will disappear in the next few days. You may find
your appetite . . . diminished. Kurald Galain prefers forces
in balance.'
    The witch's eyes were wide.
    The High Priestess waited.
    'I did not ask for such things.'
    'No. But it did not please me to realize that your journey
to my temple would prove fatal.'
    'Oh. Then, thank you.'
    The High Priestess frowned. 'Am I not yet understood?'
    'You are,' replied the witch, with another flash of
irritation, 'but I have my own rules, and I will voice my
gratitude, whether it pleases you or not.'
    That statement earned a faint smile and the High Priestess
dipped her head in acknowledgement.
    'Now, then,' said the witch after yet another brief stretch
of silence, 'I ask that you help Salind.'
    'No.'
    The witch's face darkened.
    'You have come here,' said the High Priestess, 'because of
a loss of your own faith. Yes, you would have the Temple act
on behalf of Salind. It is our assessment that Salind does
not yet need our help. Nor, indeed, does the Redeemer.'
    'Your . . . assessment?'
    'We are,' said the High Priestess, 'rather more aware of
the situation than you might have believed. If we must
act, then we will, if only to pre-empt Silanah – although,
I admit, it is no easy thing attempting to measure out the
increments of an Eleint's forbearance. She could stir at any
time, at which point it will be too late.'
    'Too late?'
    'Yes, for Salind, for the usurpers, for the pilgrim camp
and all its inhabitants.'
    'High Priestess, who is Silanah? And what is an Eleint?'
    'Oh, I am sorry. That was careless of me. Silanah
commands the spire of this keep – she is rather difficult
to miss, even in the eternal gloom. On your return to
your home, you need but turn and glance back, and up, of
course, and you will see her.' She paused, and then added,
'Eleint means dragon.'
    'Oh.'
    'Come, let us return to the others. I am sure more tea has
been brewed, and we can take some rest there.'
    The witch seemed to have run out of commentary, and
now followed meekly as the High Priestess strode from the
chamber.
    The return journey did not take nearly as long.
    It should have come as no surprise to Samar Dev when
Karsa Orlong rode back into the camp at dusk at the end
of the third day since leaving them. Riding in, saying
nothing, looking oddly thoughtful.
    Unscathed. As if challenging the Hounds of Shadow was
no greater risk than, say, herding sheep, or staring down

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