In the high-walled arroyo, the Red Blades stationed their lone surviving crossbowman on the south-facing crest, then paused to staunch wounds and regain their breaths. Behind them, their horses nickered at the smell of blood. A soldier splashed water on Lostara’s red-smeared face. She blinked, awareness slowly returning to her eyes.

Tene Baralta scowled down at her. ‘Recover yourself, Sergeant,’ he growled. ‘You are to regain Kalam’s trail – at a safe distance.’

She nodded, reaching up to probe the gash on her forehead. ‘That sword was wood.’

‘Yet as hard as steel, aye. Hood take the Toblakai – and the other one at that. We’ll leave them be.’

A slightly wry expression coming to her face, Lostara Yil simply nodded again.

Tene reached down a gauntleted hand and pulled the sergeant to her feet. ‘A fine shot, Lostara Yil. You killed the god-cursed witch and all that went with her. The Empress shall be pleased. More than pleased.’

Weaving slightly, Lostara went to her horse, pulled herself into the saddle.

‘We ride to Pan’potsun,’ Tene Baralta told her. ‘To spread the word,’ he added with a dark grin. ‘Do not lose Kalam, Sergeant.’

‘I’ve yet to fail in that,’ she said.

You know I’ll count these losses as yours, don’t you! Too clever, lass.

He watched her ride away, then swung his glare on his remaining soldiers. ‘Cowards! Lucky for you that I guarded your retreat. Mount up.’

Leoman laid out the blanket on the flat ground between the two watchtower foundations, and rolled Sha’ik’s linen-wrapped body onto it. He knelt beside it a moment, motionless, then wiped grimy sweat from his brow.

The Toblakai stood nearby. ‘She is dead.’

‘I see that,’ Leoman said dryly, reaching to collect the blood-spattered Book, which he slowly rewrapped in cloth.

‘What do we do now?’

‘She opened the Book. It was dawn.’

‘Nothing happened, except a quarrel going through her head.’

‘Damn you, I know!’

The Toblakai crossed his massive arms, fell silent.

‘The prophecy was certain,’ Leoman said after a few minutes. He rose, wincing at his battle-stiffened muscles.

‘What do we do now?’ the young giant asked again.

‘She said she would be ... renewed ...’ He sighed, the Book heavy in his hands. ‘We wait.’

The Toblakai raised his head, sniffed. ‘There’s a storm coming.’

BOOK TWO - WHIRLWIND

BOOK TWO - WHIRLWIND

I have walked old roads

This day

That became ghosts with

Coming night

And were gone to my eyes

With dawn.

Such was my journey

Leagues across centuries

In one blink of the sun

Pardu epitaph

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

Early in Kellanved’s reign, cults proliferated among the Imperial armies, particularly among the Marines. It should be remembered that this was also the time of Dassem Ultor, First Sword and Supreme Commander of the Malazan forces ... a man sworn to Hood ...

Malazan Campaigns, vol. II

Duiker