The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen

by Steven Erikson

  ‘Glad to hear it. I may be dead, but I’m not easy. I’ll be there. Midnight, until a quarter past. No more. If he can convince me in that time, all and well. If not, too bad.’

  ‘A quarter should be more than enough, Shurq.’

  ‘You are foolish to be so confident of that.’

  Bugg smiled. ‘Am I?’

  ‘Where’s Bugg?’

  ‘He’ll be meeting us here.’ Tehol walked over to the couch and settled down on it, drawing his legs up until he was in a reclining position. He eyed the three women. ‘Now, what is so important that I must risk discovery via this reckless meeting?’

  Shand ran a calloused palm over her shaved head. ‘We want to know what you’ve been up to, Tehol.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Rissarh said.

  Hejun’s arms were crossed, and there was a scowl on her face as she added, ‘We don’t need a bodyguard.’

  ‘Oh, forgot about him. Where is he?’

  ‘Said he had some belongings to collect,’ Shand said. ‘He should be here any time now. No, the others haven’t met him yet.’

  ‘Ah, so they are sceptical of your enthusiasm.’

  ‘She’s been known to exaggerate,’ Rissarh said.

  ‘Besides,’ Hejun snapped, ‘what’s all that got to do with being a bodyguard? I don’t care how big his—’

  The warehouse door creaked, and everyone looked over.

  Ublala Pung’s round face peered timidly inside, from just under the overhang.

  ‘Dear sir!’ Tehol called out. ‘Please, come in!’

  The half-blood hesitated. His pale eyes flitted among Shand, Rissarh and Hejun. ‘There’s…three of them,’ he said.

  ‘Three of what?’

  ‘Women.’

  ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Tehol. ‘And…?’

  Ublala frowned, lips drawing together into something much resembling a pout.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Tehol invited with a wave of a hand, ‘I promise to protect you from them.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Absolutely. Come in, Ublala Pung, and be welcome.’

  The huge man pushed the door back further and edged inside.

  Ublala’s belongings did not, it was clear, include trousers or loincloth. He was as naked as he had been down at the canal. Not that clothing would have much disguised his attributes, Tehol concluded after a moment of despondent reflection. Well, never mind that. ‘Hungry? Thirsty? Relax, friend. Set your bag down…yes, there is just fine. Sit down—no, the bench, not the chair—you’d end up wearing it, which, now that I think on it…no, probably not. Ublala, these women require a bodyguard. I assume you accepted the offer from Shand—’

  ‘I thought it was just her.’

  ‘And that makes a difference?’

  ‘Makes it harder.’

  ‘Granted. But, most of the time you’ll be here…’ Tehol’s voice trailed away, as he finally noticed that Shand, Rissarh and Hejun had neither moved since Ublala’s arrival, nor said a word. Oh, now really…

  Nisall had been the King’s First Concubine for three years. No official power was accorded the title, barring what the personality of the woman in question could achieve. There had been considerable variation throughout history, often dependent upon the fortitude of the king at the time, as well as that of the queen and the chancellor.

  At present, there were six concubines in all, the others young, minor daughters of powerful families. Potential investments in the future, there as much to capture the prince’s attention as the king’s. Like the queen’s four consorts, they were housed in a private, isolated quarter of the palace. Only the First Consort, Turudal Brizad, and the First Concubine were permitted contact with anyone other than the royal personages themselves.

  Brys Beddict bowed to Nisall, then saluted Preda Unnutal Hebaz. He was not surprised to find the First Concubine in the Preda’s office. Nisall had decided her loyalties long ago.

  ‘Champion,’ the young woman smiled. ‘Unnutal and I were just discussing you.’

  ‘More precisely,’ the Preda said, ‘we were conjecturing on the content of your conversation with Finadd Gerun Eberict earlier today.’

  ‘Preda, I regret my delay in reporting to you.’

  ‘A well-rehearsed report by now,’ Nisall said, ‘given that you have already been required to provide it to the First Eunuch and Ceda Kuru Qan. Thus, we will allow you a certain lack of animation in your telling.’

  Brys frowned, his eyes on his commander. ‘Preda, it occurs to me that Gerun Eberict remains one of your officers, regardless of the King’s Leave. I am surprised he has not already reported to you the details of today’s conversation.’

  ‘And who is to say he hasn’t?’ Unnutal enquired. Then she waved a hand. ‘An uncharitable response on my part. I apologize, Brys. It has been a long day indeed.’

  ‘No apology required, Preda. I spoke out of turn—’

  ‘Brys,’ Nisall interrupted. ‘You are the King’s Champion now. There is no place where you can speak out of turn. Even unto Ezgara himself. Forgive the Preda her brusque manner. Conversations with Gerun tend to make one exasperated.’

  ‘He has a certain hauteur about him,’ Brys said.

  ‘Arrogance,’ Unnutal snapped. ‘He did not give you cause to call him out?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘How unfortunate,’ Nisall sighed.

  ‘Although I believe I was warned.’

  Both women fixed their eyes on him.

  Brys shrugged. ‘I was reminded that his list is an ongoing project.’

  ‘He considers killing Buruk the Pale.’

  ‘I believe so. The First Eunuch has been made aware of that possibility.’

  ‘Now,’ Nisall said, beginning to pace in the room, ‘should the king be informed of this development, he might be inclined to withdraw Gerun from the delegation. Which will be perceived as a victory by the queen and the Chancellor.’

  ‘Perceptions can be made integral to strategy,’ Brys said.

  ‘Spoken as a duellist,’ Nisall said. ‘But the advantages to the queen granted by Gerun’s absence perhaps outweigh any advantage we might fashion. Besides, we know Buruk the Pale proceeds under directions from her camp, so his loss will not hurt us.’

  Brys considered this, uneasy at such a cavalier dismissal of a man’s life. ‘How well does Buruk sit with his burdens?’

  ‘We have a spy close to him, of course,’ the Preda said. ‘The man is tortured by his conscience. He escapes with white nectar and drink, and dissolute sexual indulgences.’

  ‘The queen…’

  ‘Wants war,’ Nisall finished with a sharp nod. ‘The irresponsible, greedy, short-sighted sea-cow. A fine partner to the stupidest chancellor in the history of Letheras. And a thick, easily led prince waiting impatiently to take the throne.’

  Brys shifted uncomfortably. ‘Perhaps, if Buruk’s conscience is haunting him, he can be swayed to another course.’

  ‘Beneath the hawk gaze of Moroch Nevath? Not likely.’

  The Champion’s eyes narrowed on Nisall. This was all leading to something. He just wasn’t sure what.

  The Preda sighed. ‘Gerun needs to add a name to his list.’

  ‘Moroch Nevath?’

  ‘And that will be difficult.’

  ‘It will. The man is singular. In every way imaginable. Incorruptible, with a history to match.’

  ‘And to whom is the man sworn?’

  ‘Why, the prince, of course. But the King’s Leave does not include killing royalty.’

  ‘Yet his history is far less pure.’

  Nisall added, ‘Gerun would not be able to act directly against the prince. He would need to attack obliquely.’

  ‘First Concubine, I have little understanding of Gerun Eberict’s motivations. I do not comprehend the nature of his cause.’

  ‘I do,’ the Preda said. ‘I know precisely what he’s up to. And I believe we can see that he adds to his list.’

  ‘The concern is,’ N
isall said, ‘what role will his old Finadd, Hull Beddict, have during the playing out of all this.’

  Brys looked away. He was beginning to feel under siege. If not one brother, then the other. ‘I will give it some thought.’

  ‘Not too long, Finadd,’ Unnutal Hebaz said.

  ‘A day or two, perhaps.’

  ‘Agreed. Until then, Brys.’

  ‘Goodnight Preda, First Concubine.’

  He made his way out of the office.

  In the corridor, five paces from the two guards standing vigil at the door through which he had just exited, his steps slowed to a halt. Unmindful of the curious eyes on his back, the King’s Champion stood motionless.

  In the minds of the two guards, three titles. Master of the Sword, Finadd and King’s Champion—all were cause for envy and admiration. They might have wondered at him at that moment, however. The way he stood, as if entirely alone in a large, overwhelming world. Eyes clearly fixed on some inner landscape. Weariness in his shoulders. They might have wondered, but if so it was a brief, ephemeral empathy, quickly replaced by those harder sentiments, envy and admiration. And the gruff assertion that supreme ability purchased many things, including isolation. And the man could damn well live with it.

  ‘There’s no place for sentiment here,’ Tehol said, ‘sad to say. Letheras is unforgiving. We can’t afford to make mistakes. For Errant’s sake, Ublala, relax. You’re turning blue. Anyway, as I was saying, Shand, it’s careless being careless. In other words, we can’t keep meeting like this.’

  ‘Do you practise?’ Rissarh asked.

  ‘At what?’

  Bugg cleared his throat. ‘I have a meeting tomorrow with the royal architects.’

  ‘Finally!’ Shand sighed from where she sat at the table, knuckling her eyes before continuing, ‘As far as we could tell nothing was happening about anything.’

  ‘Well,’ Tehol said, ‘that’s precisely the impression we want.’

  ‘Fine, but that’s the outside impression. It’s not supposed to apply to us, you idiot. If we aren’t in on the scheme then no-one is.’

  ‘Preparation, Shand. The groundwork. This can’t be rushed. Now, I’ve got to go.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘It’s late. My bed beckons. Fix up a room for Ublala. Get him some clothes. Maybe even a weapon he knows how to use.’

  ‘Don’t leave me here!’ Ublala moaned.

  ‘This is all business,’ Tehol assured him. ‘You’re safe here. Isn’t he, Shand?’

  ‘Of course,’ she murmured.

  ‘Cut that out. Or I’ll hire a bodyguard for our bodyguard.’

  ‘Maybe Ublala has a brother.’

  Tehol gestured for Bugg to follow as he headed for the door. ‘I suppose meetings like this are useful. Every now and then.’

  ‘No doubt,’ Bugg replied.

  They emerged onto the street. The night crowd was bustling. Shops stayed open late in the summer, to take advantage of the season’s frenzy. Heat made for restlessness, which made for a certain insatiability. Later in the season, when the temperatures became unbearable, there would be enervation, and debt.

  Tehol and Bugg left the high street fronting the canal and made their way down various alleys, gradually leaving the spending crowds behind and finding themselves among the destitute. Voices called out from shadows. Dishevelled children followed the two men, a few reaching out grubby hands to pluck at Tehol’s skirt before running away laughing. Before long, they too were gone, and the way ahead was empty.

  ‘Ah, the welcoming silence of our neighbourhood,’ Tehol said as they walked towards their house. ‘It’s the headlong rush that always troubles me. As if the present is unending.’

  ‘Is this your contemplative moment?’ Bugg asked.

  ‘It was. Now over, thankfully.’

  They entered and Tehol strode straight for the ladder. ‘Clean the place up tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Remember, you’ll have a visitor tonight.’

  ‘Not just in my dreams?’

  Tehol clambered onto the roof. He closed the hatch then stood and studied the stars overhead until she emerged from the darkness to one side and spoke. ‘You’re late.’

  ‘No, I’m not. Midnight. Still a quarter off.’

  ‘Is it? Oh.’

  ‘And how’s life, Shurq? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.’

  ‘And I’ve never heard that particular quip before. It’s a miserable existence. Day after day, night after night. One step in front of the other, on and on to nowhere in particular.’

  ‘And being dead has changed all that?’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh, Tehol Beddict. I cough up stuff when I laugh. You want to offer me a contract. To do what?’

  ‘Well, a retainer, actually.’

  ‘Ongoing employment. I refused all retainers when I was alive; why should I do anything else now?’

  ‘Job security, of course. You’re not young any more.’ He walked over to his bed and sat down, facing her. ‘All right. Consider the challenges I offer. I have targets in mind that not a thief alive today would touch. In fact, only a high mage or someone who’s dead could defeat the wards and leave no trail. I don’t trust high mages, leaving only you.’

  ‘There are others.’

  ‘Two others, to be precise. And neither one a professional thief.’

  ‘How did you know there were two others?’

  ‘I know lots of things, Shurq. One is a woman who cheated on her husband, who in turn spent his life savings on the curse against her. The other is a child, origin of curse unknown, who dwells in the grounds of the old tower behind the palace.’

  ‘Yes. I visit her on occasion. She doesn’t know who cursed her. In fact, the child has no memory of her life at all.’

  ‘Probably an addition to the original curse,’ Tehol mused. ‘But that is curious indeed.’

  ‘It is. Half a peak was the going price. How much for sorcery to steal her memories?’

  ‘Half as much again, I’d think. That’s a lot to do to a ten-year-old child. Why not just kill her and bury her in some out of the way place, or dump her in the canal?’ He sat forward. ‘Tell you what, Shurq, we’ll include the pursuit of that mystery—I suspect it interests you in spite of yourself.’

  ‘I would not mind sticking a knife in the eye of whoever cursed the child. But I have no leads.’

  ‘Ah, so you’ve not been entirely apathetic, then.’

  ‘Never said I was, Tehol. But, finding no trail at all, I admit to a diminishment in motivation.’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  The dead woman cocked her head and regarded him in silence for a moment. ‘You were a genius once.’

  ‘Very true.’

  ‘Then you lost everything.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘And with that, presumably, a similar loss in confidence.’

  ‘Oh, hardly, Shurq Elalle.’

  ‘All part of your diabolical plan.’

  ‘Every worthwhile plan is diabolical.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh.’

  ‘I’m trying not to, Shurq. Do we have a deal?’

  ‘The secret of the curse upon the child was not your intended payment for my services, Tehol. What else?’

  ‘I’m open to suggestions. Do you want the curse undone? Do you long for eternal night? The final stealthy departure of your slinking soul? Do you want to be resurrected in truth? Gifted life once more? Revenge against the one who cursed you?’

  ‘I already did that.’

  ‘All right. I admit I’m not surprised. Who was blamed for it?’

  ‘Gerun Eberict.’

  ‘Oh, that’s clever. Speaking of him…’

  ‘Is he one of your targets?’

  ‘Very much so.’

  ‘I don’t like assassination, in principle. Besides, he’s killed more than one knave.’

  ‘I don’t want you to kill him, Shurq. Just steal his fortune.’

  ‘Gerun Eberict has been
getting more brazen, it’s true.’

  ‘An actual liability.’

  ‘Assuming maintaining the status quo is a worthwhile endeavour.’

  ‘Make no assumptions, Shurq. It’s more a matter of who’s controlling the dissolution of said status quo. The Finadd is losing control of his own appetites.’

  ‘Are you one of his targets, Tehol?’

  ‘Not that I’m aware of, not yet, anyway. Preferably not at all.’

  ‘It would be quite a challenge defeating his estate’s defensive measures.’

  ‘I’m sure it would.’

  ‘As for my retainer, I’m not interested in living again. Nor in dying with finality. No, what I want is to be granted the semblance of life.’

  Tehol’s brows rose.

  ‘I want my skin glowing with palpable vigour. I want a certain dark allure to my eyes. My hair needs styling. New clothes, a flowery scent lingering in my wake. And I want to feel pleasure again.’

  ‘Pleasure?’

  ‘Sexual.’

  ‘Maybe it’s just the company you’ve been keeping.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh.’

  ‘You’ll cough up stuff.’

  ‘You don’t want to know, Tehol Beddict. Maybe we can do something about that, too. That river water is three years old.’

  ‘I’m curious. How do you manage to speak without breath?’

  ‘I don’t know. I can draw air into my throat. It starts drying out after a while.’

  ‘I’ve noticed. All right, some of those things can be achieved easily enough, although we’ll have to be circumspect. Others, for example the reawakening of pleasure, will obviously be more problematic. But I’m sure something can be managed—’

  ‘It won’t be cheap.’

  ‘I’m sure Gerun Eberict will be happy to pay for it.’

  ‘What if it takes all he has?’

  Tehol shrugged. ‘My dear, the money is not the point of the exercise. I was planning on dumping it in the river.’

  She studied him in silence for a moment longer, then said, ‘I could take it with me.’

  ‘Don’t make me laugh, Shurq. Seriously.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because it’s a very infectious laugh.’

  ‘Ah. Point taken.’

  ‘And the retainer?’ Tehol asked.

  ‘Taken, as well. Presumably, you don’t want me hanging around you.’