‘We have long awaited this day,’ the war chief said. He stood in his stirrups and gestured to the south hills. ‘Tregyn and Bhilard both, this day.’ He waved northward. ‘And Can’eld, and Semk, aye, even Tithansi – what’s left, that is. The great tribes of the south odhans, yet who among them all is the most powerful? The answer is with this day.’

‘You’d better hurry,’ Duiker said. We’re running out of soldiers for you to show your prowess on, you pompous bastard.

Coltaine seemed to have similar thoughts, though his temper was cooler. ‘The question belongs to you, nor do I care either way its answer.’

‘Are such concerns beyond the Wickan clans, then? Are you not yourselves a tribe?’

Coltaine slowly settled the lance’s butt in its socket. ‘No, we are soldiers of the Malazan Empire.’

Hood’s breath, I got through to him.

The war chief nodded, unperturbed by that answer. ‘Then be watchful, Fist Coltaine, while you attend to this day.’

The riders wheeled about, parting to rejoin their clans.

‘I believe,’ Coltaine said, looking around, ‘you have selected a good vantage, Historian, so here shall I remain.’

‘Fist?’

A faint smile touched his lean features. ‘For a short time.’

The Crow Clan and the Seventh gave it their all, but the forces holding the mouth of the valley – from their high ground to either side and farther down the valley’s throat – did not yield. The Chain of Dogs contracted between the hammer of Korbolo Dom and the anvil of the Tregyn and Bhilard. It was only a matter of time.

The actions of the Khundryl clans changed all that. For they had come, not to join in the slaughter of Malazans, but to give answer to the one question demanded of their pride and honour. The south mass struck the Tregyn position like a vengeful god’s scythe. The north was a spear thrusting deep into Korbolo Dom’s flank. A third, hitherto unseen force swept up from the valley itself, behind the Bhilard. Within minutes of the perfectly timed contacts, the Malazan forces found themselves unopposed, while the chaos of battle reigned on all sides.

Korbolo Dom’s army quickly recovered, reforming with as much precision as they could muster, and drove back the Khundryl after more than four hours of pitched battle. One aim had been achieved, however, and that was the shattering of the Semk, the Can’eld and whatever was left of the Tithansi. Half an answer, Coltaine had muttered at that point, in a tone of utter bewilderment.

The southern forces broke the Tregyn and Bhilard an hour later, and set off in pursuit of the fleeing remnants.