Midnight Tides

  ‘From the Azath tower?’ Seren asked. ‘Amusing. Well, you’re as tall as an Edur, Selekis. Can we not see your face?’

  ‘I would rather not, Seren Pedac. Not yet, in any case.’ It seemed its hidden gaze was on Fear as it continued, ‘Perhaps later, once we have quitted this city and have the time to discuss our eventual destinations. It may be, indeed, that we will travel together for some time.’

  ‘I think not,’ Fear said. ‘I go to find Father Shadow.’

  ‘Indeed? And Scabandari Bloodeye still lives?’

  Shocked, Fear said nothing. He must be a Tiste Edur. One of the other tribes, perhaps. Also fleeing. No different from me, then.

  ‘All of you,’ Seren said, ‘inside. We should scrape together some supplies, although I am certain the Rat Catchers’ Guild will be able to supply us… for a price.’

  The wraith softly laughed, ‘It is the Letherii way, of course…’

  ****

  Shurq Elalle stepped clear of the ladder and onto the roof. The sun was up, and people could be seen on the tiers, a little slower in their walking than was usual. Uncertain, filled perhaps with some trepidation. There were Tiste Edur, after all, patrolling in squads. Whilst yet others, in larger groups, were moving through the city as if looking for someone in particular.

  Tehol Beddict and his manservant were standing on the side overlooking the canal, their backs to Shurq as she approached. Tehol glanced over a shoulder and gave her a warm smile. He looked… different.

  ‘Tehol Beddict,’ she said as she came to stand beside him, ‘one of your eyes is blue.’

  ‘Is it? Must be some kind of nefarious infection, Shurq, since I can barely see with it besides.’

  ‘It’ll clear up in time,’ Bugg said.

  ‘So,’ Shurq said, ‘have you resumed plotting the end of civilization, Tehol?’

  ‘I have, and a delicious end it will be.’

  She grunted. ‘I’ll send you Shand, Hejun and Rissarh, then—’

  ‘Don’t you dare. Deliver them to the islands. I work better alone.’

  ‘Alone?’

  ‘Well, with Bugg here, of course. Every man needs a manservant, after all.’

  ‘I imagine so. Well, I am here, then, to say goodbye.’

  ‘Off for some pirating, are we?’

  ‘Why not? I’m simply elaborating on a well-established career.’

  Tehol looked to Bugg, and said, ‘The thief who sank…’

  ‘… has resurfaced,’ Bugg finished.

  The two men smiled at each other.

  Shurq Elalle turned away. ‘Well, that’s one thing I won’t miss.’

  ****

  After she was gone, Tehol and Bugg stared out for a while longer at the reawakening city of Letheras. The city occupied, the throne usurped, strangers in the streets looking rather… lost.

  The two-headed insect clung to Tehol’s shoulder and would not move. After a time, Tehol rubbed at his weak eye and sighed. ‘You know, Bugg, I am glad you didn’t do it.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Make me forget.’

  ‘I figured you could handle it.’

  ‘You’re right. I can. At least, this way, I can grieve.’

  ‘In your own way.’

  ‘In my own way, yes. The only way I know how.’

  ‘I know, master.’

  A short while later, Bugg turned about and walked towards the hatch. ‘I’ll be back shortly.’

  ‘Right. And when you do, clean up down there.’

  The manservant paused at the hatch, considered, then said, ‘I think I will find the time to do just that, master.’

  ‘Excellent. Now I’m going to bed.’

  ‘Good idea, master.’

  ‘Well, of course it is, Bugg. It’s mine, isn’t it?’

  Epilogue

  And it is this moment, my friends,

  When you must look away,

  As the world unfurls anew

  In shapes announced both bright

  And sordid, in dark and light

  And the sprawl of all existence

  That lies between.

  Fisher kel Tath

  The hole was vast and deep. The two kenryll’ah demon princes stood at its edge, staring down into it, as they had been for some time.

  Finally, one said, ‘How far down do you think it goes, brother?’

  ‘I suspect, brother,’ the other replied, ‘if we were to vacate our bladders into this abyss the streams would fray into mist long before they reached bottom.’

  ‘I suspect you are right. And that Forkrul Assail went down there, didn’t he?’

  ‘He did. Head first.’

  ‘You shouldn’t have thrown him, then.’

  ‘You are wrong, brother. I simply threw him in the wrong direction.’

  ‘That, or the world suddenly turned.’

  ‘Unlikely. This place doesn’t do things like that.’

  ‘You’re right. It is proving exceedingly dull, isn’t it?’

  ‘Exceedingly.’

  ‘Well, shall we?’

  ‘Why not?’

  The two demons began loosening straps on their ornate baldrics. Dropping flaps. Shifting their stances to adequate width.

  And they stood there, side by side, until, perfectly timed, their flows were done.

  ****

  The storm had risen sudden, impressively fierce as it raged on the seas. Three Nachts huddled at his feet, Withal stood on the beach, feeling the faint wisps of wind that managed to reach through the sorcerous barrier surrounding the island, brushing against his face like a woman’s breath.

  A sweet woman, to be more precise. Unlike the one standing beside him. This tall, iron-eyed, foul-mouthed, humourless apparition who followed him around and never seemed to sleep and certainly would not let him sleep, not a single damned night the whole night through, not once. Always asking, asking and asking. What are you going to do? Besides praying?

  Well, what else could he do?

  Rhulad Sengar came and went, more insane with each time. Shrieks, laughter, screams and wails. How many times could a man die?

  We’ll see, I suppose.

  ‘That storm,’ Sandalath said, ‘it wants to get through, doesn’t it?’

  He nodded. He could feel its wrath, and its impotence.

  ‘It’s waiting for something,’ she continued. ‘Waiting for someone… to do something.’

  He repressed the urge to hit her – she’d kill him if he did – wait. Wait. Wait. ‘Hold on,’ he whispered. ‘Hold on… I’ve thought of something

  ‘A miracle!’ she shouted, throwing up her hands. ‘Oh, I know! Let’s pray!’

  And now he saw it, on the very edge of the thrashing waves beyond the reef. Saw it, and pointed. ‘There! A boat, you black-hearted witch! A boat!’

  ‘So what? So what? Why don’t you do something?’

  He spun round, startling the Nachts, and began running.

  There was anger, plenty of anger, giving strength to his strides. Oh, so much anger. Deliverers of suffering deserved what was coming to them, didn’t they? Oh yes, they surely did. The Nachts had been showing him. Over and over again, the mad grinning apes. Over and over.

  Build a nest.

  Kick it down.

  Build a nest.

  Kick… it… down!

  He saw the hut, that squalid, insipid hovel crouched there on the dead plain. Sensed the Crippled God’s sudden awareness, sudden probings into his mind. But oh no, he laughed silently, it couldn’t work it out. Couldn’t fathom the endless refrain filling his skull.

  Build a nest! Kick it down!

  He reached the hut, not where the doorway made its slash in the wall, but from a blind side. And, with all his weight, the swordsmith flung himself into that flimsy structure.

  It collapsed inward, Withal on top, landing upon a squawking figure beneath. Spitting, hissing with rage and indignation.

  Withal grasped handfuls of rotten canvas, heaved himself back uprig
ht, and dragged the tent away. Pegs snapping, ties breaking. Dragged it away from that horrid little bastard god.

  It shrieked, the brazier tumbling, coals spilling out, sparks lodging in the god’s ratty robes, where they smouldered—

  ‘You will die for this, mortal!’

  Withal stumbled back, laughing.

  And, from behind, the wind suddenly arrived.

  Almost knocking him down.

  He turned into it, facing the beach once more, and saw the storm-clouds billowing, rushing in, growing ever higher, towering, spreading their shadow upon the island.

  Leaning into the gale, Withal ran back to the beach.

  Thrashing, foaming waves on all sides, but there, before him, a stretch of calm. A stretch opposite Sandalath and the capering, dancing Nachts.

  Along which the boat slid gracefully through the reef, its lone sail luffing lightly as it glided to shore, grating to a halt five paces from the waterline.

  Withal reached the sand in time to see a squat, nondescript man clamber down from the side and wade ashore.

  ‘This,’ he said to Withal in the Letherii trader’s tongue, ‘is for you. Take your friends and make sail.’

  ‘Who are you?’ Sandalath demanded.

  ‘Oh, be quiet!’ Withal snarled. ‘Climb in, woman!’

  The Nachts had already done so, and were scrambling about the rigging.

  Scowling, the Tiste Andii woman hurried towards the boat.

  Withal stared at the man.

  Who grimaced, then said, ‘Aye, Withal of Meckros, you pray hard enough…’

  ‘I knew it.’

  ‘Now, get going. You’ll find a way of calm through.’

  ‘And you, Mael?’

  ‘I’ll drop in later. I’ve things for you to do, Withal. But for now,’ he faced inland, ‘I am going to beat a god senseless.’

  This Ends the Fifth Tale

  of the Malazan

  Book of the Fallen

  Glossary

  Letherii Titles

  Acquitor: a sanctioned position as guide/factor when dealing with non-Letherii peoples

  Atri-Preda: military commander who governs a city or town

  Ceda: title of King’s own mage

  Finadd: equivalent of captain in the military

  Preda: equivalent of commander or general in the military

  Sentinel: the King’s Voice in establishing first contact with non-Letherii peoples

  The King’s Leave: a title relieving the holder of all criminal convictions

  Lether Place Names

  Burl Square: a square in Letheras

  Cedance: the dominant set of Tiles (see the Holds)

  Cul Street

  : a street in Letheras

  Down Markets: a district in Letheras

  Errant’s Heel: an alley in Letheras

  Eternal Domicile: the new palace under construction in Letheras

  Huldo’s: a restaurant in Letheras

  Katter Bight: a stretch of water outside Old Katter

  Kraig’s Landing: upriver from the city of Trate

  Lether: the kingdom and its protectorates

  Letheras: the capital city of Lether

  Merchants’ Tolls: equivalent of a stock market in Lether

  Purser’s District: a district in Letheras

  Quillas Canal: one of the main canals in Letheras

  Rat Catchers’ Guild: a mysterious guild active throughout Lether

  Red Lane

  : a lane in Letheras

  Rild’s: a restaurant in Letheras

  Scale House: headquarters of the Rat Catcher’s Guild, Letheras

  Sherp’s Last Lane

  : a bridge in Letheras

  Stinking House: abode of Selush the Dresser of the Dead

  Tarancede Tower: a watchtower overlooking Trate Harbour

  Temple School: an educational establishment in Letheras

  The Temple: a high-end brothel in Letheras

  Urum’s Lenders: an establishment in Letheras

  Letheris Cities, Villages and Forts

  Awl

  Brans Keep

  Bridle

  Cargo

  Desden

  Dissent

  Dresh

  Fent Reach

  First Maiden Fort

  First Reach

  Five Points

  Fort Shake

  Gedry

  Harness

  High Fort

  Letheras

  The Manse

  Miner Sluice

  Old Gedure

  Old Katter

  Second Maid Fort

  Trails

  Trate

  Truce

  Letherii Prorectorates

  Bluerose

  Karn

  Korshenn

  Pilott

  Pockface Islands

  Neighbouring Kingdoms

  Kolanse

  Letherii Military

  Artisan Battalion

  Bluerose Battalion

  Cold Clay Battalion

  Crimson Rampant Brigade

  Fent Garrison

  Grass Jackets Brigade

  Harridict Brigade

  Katter Legion

  Maiden Garrison

  Merchants’ Battalion

  Shake Legion

  Trate Legion

  Wave Wake Brigade

  Whitefinder Battalion

  Letherii Phrases

  Blue Style Steel: an earlier method of ironmongery

  Docks: commonest denomination of Lether money

  Dresh Ballista: a multi-quarrel war weapon

  Letheran Steel: a secret method of ironmongery

  Letherii: that of Lether, also the name of the language and of the people

  Levels: the coin of the wealthy Lether

  Lupe Fish: a large carnivorous fish resident in Lether River and the canals

  Ootooloo: a primitive but singular sea-creature from Bluerose

  Peaks: the coin of the filthy rich in Lether

  (The) Seventh Closure: prophesied renaissance

  (The) Shrouded Sisters of the Empty Throne: Educators

  Stripling: lowest denomination of Lether money

  Truce Fever: a common, curable fever

  Tusked Milk: an alcoholic beverage

  Tiste Edur Places and Names

  Arapay: subjugated and easternmost tribe of Tiste Edur

  Beneda: subjugated tribe of Tiste Edur

  Calach Breeding Beds: coastline where Tusked Seals breed

  Den-Ratha: subjugated northernmost tribe of Tiste Edur

  Hasana Inlet: an inlet claimed by the Tiste Edur

  Hiroth: dominant tribe of the Tiste Edur

  Kachan Inlet: an inlet claimed by the Tiste Edur

  Knarri: a whaling and fishing craft

  K’orthan: raider longboats

  K’risnan: the Warlock King’s cadre of sorcerors

  Merude: subjugated tribe of Tiste Edur

  Morok Tree: a blue-leafed tree used in funeral practices

  Sollanta: subjugated tribe of Tiste Edur

  Stonebowl: a natural depression at the base of a gorge north of the main Hiroth village

  Other Names, Titles and Terms

  (The) Eres’al: the spirit goddess of the Nerek

  Faraed: an assimilated people in Lether

  Fent: an assimilated people in Lether

  Jheck: a northern tribe

  Ken’ryllah: a type of demon

  Kenyll’rah: a type of demon

  Khalibaral: a type of demon

  Meckros: a civilization of mobile, floating cities

  N’purel: the Whiskered Fish of the Kenyll’rah homeworld

  Nachts: Jaghut-bred versions of bhoka’rala

  Nerek: an assimilated people in Lether

  Onyx Wizards: sorcerors of Bluerose (defeated in conquest)

  Tarthenal: an assimilated people in Lether

  The Seregahl: the five gods of the Tarthenal

  Mythos (Letheri
l, Edur and Other)

  (The) Black Winged Lord: divinity worshipped in Bluerose

  Kilmandaros: an Elder Goddess

  Mael: an Elder God

  Menandore: (Betrayer, Dawn)

  Scabandari Bloodeye: (Father Shadow, Emurlahnis)

  Sheltatha Lore: (Daughter Dusk)

  Silchas Ruin: (The Betrayer)

  Sukul Ankhadu: (The Fickle)

  The Holds

  The Tiles

  The Beast Hold

  Bone Perch

  Elder

  Crone

  Seer

  Shaman

  Hunter

  Tracker

  The Azath Hold

  Heartstone

  Keeper

  Portal

  Path

  Mason

  Tomb

  Guest

  Barrow

  Root

  Wall

  The Dragon Hold

  Queen

  Consort

  Liege

  Knight

  Gate

  Wyval

  The Lady

  Blood-Drinker

  Path-Shaper

  The Ice Hold

  Ice Throne

  Walker

  Huntress

  Shaper

  Bearer

  Child

  Seed

  The Empty Hold

  Empty Throne

  Wanderer

  Mistress

  Watcher

  Walker

  Saviour

  Betrayer

  The Fulcra (unaligned)

  Shapefinder

  The Pack

  The Errant

  Axe (Eres)

  Crow (White Crow)

  Fire

  Dolmen

  Blade

  Knuckles