The Crippled God

time, studying the roiling clouds marring the way ahead. Then he spoke. ‘I so dislike moments of revelation, Captain. One is invited to infer all manner of deliberation leading us to this place, this time. When the truth of it is chance and mischance rule our every step.’ He sighed. ‘Very well, I am not indifferent to your … needs. This possibility only gained life when two usurpers reawakened the remnants of Kurald Emurlahn – the Realm of Shadow – and then set out to travel the warrens, and indeed the Holds. Seeking knowledge. Seeking the truth of things. What they eventually discovered did not please them. And in the boldness of their … youth, they decided that something must be done.’
    ‘Two new gods,’ Shurq Elalle murmured. ‘They came to you?’
    ‘Not at first. Instead, they sought out loyal allies among the mortals they had once commanded. Well, perhaps “mortals” is not quite accurate in some instances. No matter. Let us call it a wondrous conflagration of circumstance and character, a kind of audacity which made anything possible. Before long, they found the need to gather additional allies. Shall I list them for you?’
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘The Son of Darkness, who understood the true burden of a surrendered future, the fatality of empty faith. The Warlord of the Sleeping Goddess, who would defy the eternal patience of the earth itself, and Stonewielder, the One who stood facing Caladan Brood, ensuring the world’s balance. These two are destined to walk disparate paths, but what they seek is much the same. The Queen of Dreams, whose pool had grown still as death itself. The Lord of Tragedy – and, well, a host of others, all drawn into the fold.’
    ‘Those you have named – are they gods?’
    Hood shrugged. ‘Ascendants. The complexity of this beggars belief,to be honest. The sheer scale of contingencies … well, for all his peculiarities, let no one accuse Shadowthrone of failings in the matter of intelligence. The same can be said for Cotillion, for the patron of assassins well comprehended that just as certain individuals deserve a knife through the heart, so too do certain … ideas.’
    ‘Yet mortals are part of this plan, too.’
    ‘Indeed.’
    ‘The Adjunct Tavore Paran?’
    Hood was silent for a moment. ‘This congress, Captain, is not above cruel use of mortals.’
    ‘That is … unfair.’
    ‘But consider what may be won here, Shurq Elalle.’
    ‘I have – I am, Hood. But … no. That is unfair .’
    ‘The storm, Captain—’
    ‘Why does that surprise you?’ she retorted. ‘Try telling me something that doesn’t break my heart, then. Try telling me something that doesn’t make me furious – at your arrogance. Your contempt.’
    ‘We do not hold the Adjunct Tavore Paran in contempt.’
    ‘Really?’ she asked, the word dripping with derision.
    ‘Captain, she takes our arrogance and humbles us.’
    ‘And what’s her reward?’ Shurq demanded.
    Hood looked away, and then shook his head. ‘For her, there is none.’
    ‘Tell me,’ Shurq said in a rasp, ‘tell me she did not agree to this.’
    ‘To that, Captain, I shall say nothing.’ He stepped past her then and raised his hands. ‘We cannot survive the violence your thoughts have conjured, Captain. Thus, I have no recourse but to intervene. Fortunately,’ he turned to eye her briefly, ‘Mael concurs.’
    ‘Push it away, then,’ Shurq Elalle snapped. ‘But I will bring it back, I swear it. To so use an innocent woman …’
    ‘You begin to try me, Captain Elalle. If you intend to fight me for the rest of this voyage, I must find us another captain.’
    ‘Please do, Hood. I barely knew the Adjunct, but—’
    He twisted round. ‘Indeed, you barely know her. I will tell you this, then. I looked out through her sister’s eyes, through a helm’s visor – in the moment that she died – and I stared up at my slayer, the Adjunct Tavore Paran. And the blood dripping from her sword was mine. You will speak to me of innocence? There is no such thing.’
    Shurq Elalle stared at Hood. ‘So, in using her now … is this punishment?’
    ‘Consider it so, if it eases your conscience.’
    ‘She murdered her sister?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Is it guilt that drives her now, Hood? Does she seek redemption?’
    ‘I imagine she does.’
    ‘Will she find it?’
    Hood shrugged.
    What is it you’re not telling me? I can sense … something. The sister … a helm’s visor . ‘Hood, that murder – was it