‘I won’t be trying anything, Crokus,’ Fiddler said. ‘But I still say you’ve some growing up to do. Sooner or later it will occur to you that you can’t speak for Apsalar. She’ll do what she decides, like it or not. The possession may be over, but the god’s skills remain in her bones.’ He slowly turned and faced the boy. ‘What if she decides to put those skills to use?’

‘She won’t,’ Crokus said, but the assurance was gone from his voice. He gestured and Moby flapped sloppily into his arms. ‘What did you call him – a bhoka ... ?’

‘Bhok’aral. They’re native to this land.’

‘Oh.’

‘Get some sleep, lad, we’re leaving tomorrow.’

‘So is Kalam.’

‘Aye, but we won’t be in each other’s company. Parallel paths southward, at least to start with.’

He watched Crokus head back inside, Moby clinging to the lad like a child. Hood’s breath, I’m not looking forward-to this journey.

A hundred paces inside the Caravan Gate was a square in which the land traders assembled before leaving Ehrlitan. Most would strike south along the raised coastal road, following the line of the bay. Villages and outposts were numerous on this route, and the Malazan-built cobble road itself was well patrolled, or, rather, would have been had not the city’s Fist recalled the garrisons.

As far as Fiddler could learn in speaking with various merchants and caravan guards, few bandits had yet to take advantage of the troop withdrawal, but from the swollen ranks among the mercenary guards accompanying each caravan, it was clear to the sapper that the merchants were taking no chances.

It would have been fruitless for the three Malazans to disguise themselves as merchants on their journey south; they had neither the coin nor the equipment to carry out such a masquerade. With travel between cities as risky as it now was, they had chosen to travel in the guise of pilgrims. To the most devout, the Path of the Seven – pilgrimage to each of the seven Holy Cities – was a respected display of faith. Pilgrimage was at the heart of this land’s tradition, impervious to the threat of bandits, or war.

Fiddler retained his Gral disguise, playing the role of guardian and guide to Crokus and Apsalar – two young, newly married believers embarking on a journey that would bless their union under the Seven Heavens. Each would be mounted, Fiddler on a Gral-bred horse disdainful of the sapper’s imposture and viciously tempered, Crokus and Apsalar on well-bred mounts purchased from one of the better stables outside Ehrlitan. Three spare horses and four mules completed the train.