Memories of Ice: Book Three of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson

Author:Steven Erikson [Erikson, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781435270329
Publisher: Paw Prints
Published: 2008-06-14T23:00:00+00:00

Even as the import of her words sank in to Whiskeyjack, there came to him another realization. There is another enemy indeed, and from the looks on most of the faces around me—barring Dujek and, no doubt, my own—the revelation is not as surprising as it should be. True, we'd caught a hint, but we'd failed to make the connection.

Brood, Korlat, Kallor—gods, even Kruppe and Artanthos! Remind me to avoid every damn one of them the next time I join a game of bones!

He jerked his gaze back to Silverfox, was met with that sleepy, knowing regard.

No, that won't work again. 'Silverfox,' he growled. 'You spin a tale to sting sympathy from our hearts, yet it seems that your effort was misdirected, and so you end up undermining all you sought to achieve. If there is a deeper threat, a third hand, deftly manipulating both us and the Pannion Seer… will you and your T'lan Imass then focus your attention on that hand?'

'No.'

'Why?'

He was surprised as her steady gaze wavered,—then fell away. Her voice came out in a raw whisper. 'Because, Whiskeyjack, you ask too much of us.'

No-one spoke.

Dread swept through Whiskeyjack. He swung about, locked gazes with Dujek, saw in the old man's face a mirror to his own growing horror. Gods below, we are heading to our deaths. An unseen enemy—but one we've known about for a long time, one we knew was coming, sooner or later, one that—by the Abyss—makes the T'lan Imass recoil…

'Such palpable distraughtness!' Kruppe cried. 'Distraughtness? Is there such a word? If not, then among Kruppe's countless talents we must add linguistic invention! My friends! Attend! Hark! Listen! Take heart, one and all, in the knowledge that Kruppe has placed himself, feet square and ample girth firm, in the path of said—yet unmentioned—formidable enemy of all existence! Sleep calm at night in this knowledge. Slumber as babes in your mother's arms, as each of you once did—even Kallor, though the image shocks and dismays—'

'Dammit!' Caladan Brood roared, 'what in Hood's name are you talking about, little man? You claim to stand in the path of the Crippled God? By the Abyss, you are mad!

If you do not,' he continued in a low tone as he swung down from his horse, 'give instant proof of your efficacy'—he strode towards Kruppe, one hand reaching for the wrapped handle of his hammer—'I will not predict the extremity of my temper.'

'I wouldn't do that, Brood,' Silverfox murmured. The warlord twisted to face her, teeth bared. 'You now extend your protection to this arrogant, fat toad?'

Her eyes widened and she looked to the Daru. 'Kruppe, do you make such a request?'

'Absurd! No offence, dear, in that expostulation, Kruppe sweetly assures you!'

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