‘In this instance, aye, I’ll not deny it. Yet listen to this wise old creature before stepping into this tent, child. There are those waiting within who will view the extent of your awareness – should you be foolish enough to reveal it – as the deadliest threat. Revelations could mean your death. And know this: you are not yet able to protect yourself. Nor can the Mhybe, whom I cherish and love, hope to defend you – hers is not a violent power. You will both need protectors, do you understand?’

Her smile unperturbed, Silverfox nodded.

The Mhybe’s hand tightened instinctively around her daughter’s, even as a tumult of emotions assailed her. She was not blind to the threats to Silverfox and herself, nor was she unaware of the powers burgeoning within the child. But I sense no power within me, violent or otherwise. Though spoken with affection, Crone named me ‘clay pot’ in truth, and all that it once protected is no longer within me, but standing here, exposed and vulnerable, at my side. She glanced up at the Great Raven one last time as Silverfox led her inside. She met Crone’s black, glittering eyes. Love and cherish me, do you, crow? Bless you for that.

The command tent’s central chamber was dominated by a large map table of rough-hewn wood, warped and misshapen as if cobbled together by a drunken carpenter. As the Mhybe and Silverfox entered, the veteran Whiskeyjack – helmet unstrapped and under one arm – was laughing, his eyes fixed upon the table.

‘You bastard, Warlord,’ he said, shaking his head.

Brood was frowning at the object of Whiskeyjack’s attention. ‘Aye, I’ll grant you it’s not pretty—’

‘That’s because Fiddler and Hedge made the damned thing,’ the Malazan said. ‘In Mott Wood—’

‘Who are Fiddler and Hedge?’

‘My two sappers, when I was commanding the Ninth Squad. They’d organized one of their notorious card games, using the Deck of Dragons, and needed a surface on which to play it. A hundred fellow Bridgeburners had gathered for the game, despite the fact that we were under constant attack, not to mention bogged down in the middle of a swamp. The game was interrupted by a pitched battle – we were overrun, then driven back, then we retook the position, all of which consumed maybe a bell – and lo, someone had walked off with a two hundred pound table in the meantime! You should have heard the sappers cursing...’

Caladan Brood crossed his arms, still frowning at the table. After a few moments he grunted. ‘A donation from the Mott Irregulars. It has served me well – my, uh, compliments to your sappers. I can have it returned—’

‘No need, Warlord ...’ It seemed the Malazan was about to say something more, something important, but then he simply shook his head.