‘I am no longer a priest of Fener,’ Heboric said, raising both stumps. ‘If the boar god is here, among us, then I am not aware of it, nor do I much care. The sorcerer riding this storm pursues us, seeking to destroy us. I know not why.’

‘He is the madness of Otataral,’ the female said.

The two Imass sent to the cabin now returned. Though no words were spoken aloud, the female nodded. ‘They are dead, then. And our kin have departed. We must continue the hunt.’ She swung her gaze back to Heboric. ‘I would lay hands upon you.’

Felisin barked another laugh. ‘That’ll make him complete.’

‘Shut up, girl,’ Kulp growled, pushing past to descend to the main deck. ‘We’re not Servants of the Chained One,’ he said. ‘Hood’s breath, what is the Chained One? Never mind, I don’t even want to know. We’re on this ship by accident, not design—’

‘We did not anticipate this warren would be flooded,’ the female said.

‘It’s said you can cross oceans,’ the mage muttered, frowning. Felisin could see he was having trouble following the “Plan Imass’s statements. So was she.

‘We can cross bodies of water,’ the female acknowledged.

‘But we can only find our shapes on land.’

‘So, like us, you came to this ship to get your feet dry—’

‘And complete our task. We pursue renegade kin.’

‘If they were here, they’ve since left,’ Kulp said. ‘Before we arrived. You are a Bonecaster.’

The female inclined her head. ‘Hentos Ilm, of Logros T’lann

Imass.’

‘And the Logros no longer serve the Malazan Empire. Glad to see you’re staying busy.’ ‘Why?’

‘Never mind.’ Kulp looked skyward. ‘He’s eased up some.’ ‘He senses us,’ Hentos Ilm said. She faced Heboric again.

‘Your left hand is in balance, it is true. Otataral and a power unknown to me. If the mage in the storm continues to grow in power, the Otataral shall prevail, and you too shall know its madness.’

‘I want it gone from me,’ Heboric growled. ‘Please.’ Hentos Ilm shrugged, and approached the ex-priest. ‘We must destroy the one in the skies. Then we must seal the warren’s wound.’

‘In other words,’ Felisin said, ‘you’re probably not worth the trouble, old man.’

‘Bonecaster,’ Kulp said. ‘What warren is this?’

Hentos Ilm paused, attention still on Heboric. ‘Elder.

Kurald Emurlahn.’

‘I’ve heard of Kurald Galain – the Tiste Andii warren.’ ‘This is Tiste Edur. You surprise me, Mage. You are Meanas

Rashan, which is the branch of Kurald Emurlahn accessible to mortal humans. The warren you use is the child of this place.’

Kulp was scowling at the Bonecaster’s back. ‘This makes no sense. Meanas Rashan is the warren of Shadow. Of Ammanas and Cotillion, and the Hounds.’

‘Before Shadowthrone and Cotillion,’ Hentos Ilm said, ‘there were Tiste Edur.’ The Bonecaster reached towards Heboric. ‘I would touch you.’

‘Be my guest,’ he said.