The blue-eyed man – who had collected a sword from one of the dead guards – now gestured. ‘Stay close. There are ways out of Ehrlitan the Malazans know nothing of. Follow, and quietly.’

He set off. Karsa slipped into his wake.

Their route twisted through the lower city, down countless alleys, some so narrow that the Teblor was forced to sidle sideways along their crooked lengths. Karsa had thought that his guide would lead them towards the docks, or perhaps the outer walls facing onto the wasteland to the south. Instead, they climbed towards the single massive hill at Ehrlitan’s heart, and before long were moving through the rubble of countless collapsed buildings.

They arrived at the battered base of a tower, the native not hesitating as he ducked in through the gaping, dark doorway. Following, Karsa found himself in a cramped chamber, its floor uneven with heaved flagstones. A second portal was barely visible opposite the entrance, and at its threshold the man paused.

‘Mebra!’ he hissed.

There was movement, then: ‘Is it you? Dryjhna bless us, I had heard that you had been captured – ah, the alarms down below . . . well done—’

‘Enough of that. Do the provisions remain in the tunnels?’

‘Of course! Always. Including your own cache—’

‘Good, now move aside. I’ve someone with me.’

Beyond the portal was a rough series of stone steps, descending into even deeper darkness. Karsa sensed the man Mebra’s presence as he edged past, heard his sharp intake of breath.

The blue-eyed man below the Teblor halted suddenly. ‘Oh, and Mebra, tell no-one you have seen us – not even your fellow servants to the cause. Understand?’

‘Of course.’

The two fugitives continued on, leaving Mebra behind. The stairs continued down, until Karsa had begun to think that they were approaching the bowels of the earth. When it finally levelled out, the air was heavy with damp, smelling of salt, and the stones underfoot were wet and streaked in slime. At the tunnel’s mouth a number of niches had been carved into the limestone walls, each one holding leather packs and travel gear.

Karsa watched as his companion strode quickly to one niche in particular. After a moment’s examination, he dropped the Malazan sword he had been carrying and drew forth a pair of objects that moved with the sound of rustling chain.

‘Take that food-pack,’ the man instructed, nodding towards a nearby niche. ‘And you will find a telaba or two – clothes – and weapon-belts and harnesses – leave the lanterns, the tunnel ahead is long but has no branches.’

‘Where does it lead?’

‘Out,’ the man replied.