The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen (853 page)

Once done, she would take a shovel to the underfill, as far down as she could manage.

For the moment, however, the centre stone was defeating her, and she feared she would not have the strength to move it.

‘Pardon my intrusion,' said a man's voice, ‘but it looks as if you need help.'

She looked up from where she leaned on the bar. Squinted sceptically. ‘Not sure you want to risk that, sir,' she said to the old man, and then fell silent. He had a mason's wrists, with large, well-worked hands. She wiped sweat from her brow and frowned down at the pavestone. ‘I know, this must look…unusual. Where everywhere else in the city people are putting things back, here I am…'

The old man approached. ‘Not in the least, Acquitor – you were an Acquitor, were you not?'

‘Uh, yes. I was. Not any more. I'm Seren Pedac.'

‘No, not in the least, then, Seren Pedac.'

She gestured at the centre stone. ‘This one defeats me, I'm afraid.'

‘Not for long, I suspect, no matter what. You seem very determined.'

She smiled, and was startled by how odd it felt. When had she last smiled – no, she would not think back to that.

‘But you should be careful,' the old man continued. ‘Here, let me try.'

‘Thank you,' she said, stepping back to give him room.

The old man promptly bent the bar.

She stared.

Cursing, he set it aside, then crouched down to dig his fingers into one side of the enormous stone block.

And pulled it into its edge, then, hands going out to the sides, he lifted it with a grunt, pivoted, staggered two steps, and laid it down atop the others. He straightened, brushing dust from his hands. ‘Hire a couple of young men to put it back when you're done.'

‘How – no, well. But. How do you know I intend to put it back?'

He glanced across at her. ‘Do not grieve overlong, Seren Pedac. You are needed. Your life is needed.'

And then he bowed to her and left.

She stared after him.

She needed to go inside now, to collect the stone spear and his sword, to bury the weapons beneath the threshold of her home, her terribly empty home.

Yet still she hesitated.

And the old man suddenly returned. ‘I found the Errant,' he said. ‘We had much to…discuss. It is how I learned of you, and of what happened.'

What? Is he addled, then? One of the Errant's new zealots?
She made to turn away—

‘No, wait! Seren Pedac. You have all there is of him, all that's left. Cherish it, please. Seren Pedac, cherish it. And yourself. Please.'

And, as he walked away, it was as if his words had blessed her in some unaccountable way.

‘You have all there is of me, all that's left…'

Unconsciously, her hand lifted to settle on her stomach.

Before too long, she would be doing a lot of that.

 

This ends the seventh tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen

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

Ahkrata
: a Barghast tribe

Andara
: temple of the cult of the Black-Winged Lord

Arapay
: the easternmost tribe of Tiste Edur

Artisan Battalion
: a military unit in Lether

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

Awl
: a town in Lether. Also the name of a tribe

Awl'dan
: grasslands east of Drene

Barahn
: a Barghast tribe

Barghast
: pastoral nomadic warrior people

Bast Fulmar
: battle site

Beneda
: a Tiste Edur tribe

Blue Style Steel
: a Letherii steel once used for weapons

Bluerose
: a subjugated nation in Lether

Bluerose Battalion
: a military unit in Lether

Caladara whip
: an Awl weapon

Cabil
: an archipelago nation south of Perish

Ceda
: a High Mage of the Letherii Empire

Cedance
: a chamber of tiles representing the Holds, in Letheras

Crimson Rampant Brigade
: a military unit in Lether

Den-Ratha
: a Tiste Edur tribe

Docks
: coin of Lether

Down Markets
: a district in Letheras

Drene
: a Lether city east of Bluerose

Emlava
: a sabre-toothed cat

Eternal Domicile
: seat of Lether Emperor

Faraed
: a subjugated people of Lether

Fent
: a subjugated people of Lether

Finadd
: equivalent of captain in the Letherii military

Froth Wolf
: Adjunct Tavore's command ship

Gilani
: tribe in Seven Cities

Gilk
: a Barghast tribe

Harridict Brigade
: a Lether military unit

Hiroth
: a Tiste Edur tribe

Ilgres
: a Barghast tribe

Jheck
: a northern tribe

Just Wars
: mythical conflict between the Tiste Liosan and the Forkrul Assail

K'risnan
: Tiste Edur sorcerers

Kenryll'ah
: demon nobility

Liberty Consign
: a loose consortium of businesses in Lether

Lupe fish
: a large carnivorous fish of Lether River

Meckros
: a seafaring people

Merchants' Battalion
: a Lether military unit

Merude
: a Tiste Edur tribe

Nerek
: a subjugated people of Lether

Nith'rithal
: a Barghast tribe

Obsidian Throne
: traditional throne of Bluerose

Onyx Wizards
: Andii wizards ruling the Andara of Bluerose

Patriotists
: Lether Empire's secret police

Pamby Doughty
: comic poem

Preda
: equivalent of a general or commander in Letherii military

Quillas Canal
: a main canal in Letheras

Rat Catchers' Guild
: a now outlawed guild in Lether

Refugium
: a magical realm surrounded by Omtose Phellack

Rhinazan
: a winged lizard

Rise (The)
: Shake title

Rygtha
: Awl crescent axe

Scale House
: centre of Rat Catchers' Guild in Letheras

Senan
: a Barghast tribe

Settle Lake
: a decrepit lake in the centre of Letheras

Second Maiden Fort
: a penal island now independent

Shake
: a subjugated people in the Lether Empire

Shore (The)
: religion of the Shake

Sollanta
: a Tiste Edur tribe

Thrones of War
: Perish ships

Twilight
: Shake title

Watch (The)
: Shake title

Verdith'anath
: the Jaghut Bridge of Death

Zorala Snicker
: comic poem

Cutter,
an assassin

Scillara,
his companion

Iskaral Pust,
High Priest of Shadow, the Magi, God of the Bhokarala

Sister Spite,
a Soletaken

Mogora,
Iskaral's occasional wife

Barathol Mekhar,
a tourist

Chaur,
a gentle man

Mappo Runt,
a Trell

Picker,
a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K'rul's Bar

Blend,
a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K'rul's Bar

Antsy,
a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K'rul's Bar

Mallet,
a retired Bridgeburner and healer

Bluepearl,
a retired Bridgeburner

Fisher,
a bard, a regular at K'rul's Bar

Duiker,
once the Malazan Empire's Imperial Historian

Bellam Nom,
a young man

Rallick Nom,
an awakened assassin

Torvald Nom,
a cousin of Rallick

Tiserra,
Torvald's wife

Coll,
a Council Member in Darujhistan

Estraysian D'Arle,
a Council Member in Darujhistan

Hanut Orr,
a Council Member in Darujhistan, nephew of the late Turban Orr

Shardan Lim,
a Council Member in Darujhistan

Murillio,
a consort

Kruppe,
a round little man

Meese,
proprietor of the Phoenix Inn

Irilta,
a regular at the Phoenix Inn

Scurve,
barkeep at the Phoenix Inn

Sulty,
server at the Phoenix Inn

Challice,
wife of Vidikas, daughter of Estraysian D'Arle

Gorlas Vidikas,
newest Council Member in Darujhistan, past Hero of the Fete

Krute of Talient,
an agent of the Assassins' Guild

Gaz,
a killer

Thordy,
Gaz's wife

Master Quell,
Trygalle Trade Guild navigator and sorceror

Faint,
a shareholder

Reccanto Ilk,
a shareholder

Sweetest Sufferance,
a shareholder

Glanno Tarp,
a shareholder

Amby Bole,
a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Jula Bole,
a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Precious Thimble,
a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Gruntle,
a caravan guard on extended leave

Stonny Menackis,
owner of duelling school

Harllo,
a child

Bedek,
Harllo's ‘uncle'

Myrla,
Harllo's ‘aunt'

Snell,
a child

Bainisk,
a worker in the mines

Venaz,
a worker in the mines

Scorch,
a newly hired bodyguard

Leff,
a newly hired bodyguard

Madrun,
a newly hired compound guard

Lazan Door,
a newly hired compound guard

Studlock
(or
Studious Lock),
a castellan

Humble Measure,
a mysterious presence in Darujhistan's criminal underworld

Chillbais,
a demon

Baruk,
a member of the T'orrud Cabal

Vorcan,
Mistress of the Assassins' Guild

Seba Krafar,
Master of the Assassins' Guild

Apsal'ara,
one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Kadaspala,
one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Derudan,
a witch of Tennes

K'rul,
an Elder God

Draconus,
one of the Slain within Dragnipur

Korlat,
a Tiste Andii Soletaken

Orfantal,
a Tiste Andii Soletaken, Korlat's brother

Kallor,
a challenger

Lady Envy,
a bystander

Anomander Rake,
Son of Darkness, Knight of Darkness, Ruler of Black Coral

Spinnock Durav,
a Tiste Andii

Endest Silann,
a Tiste Andii wizard

Caladan Brood,
a warlord

Hood,
the God of Death

Ditch,
one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Samar Dev,
a witch

Karsa Orlong,
a Teblor Toblakai warrior

Traveller,
a stranger

Shadowthrone,
the God of Shadow

Cotillion,
The Rope, Patron God of Assassins

Prophet Seech,
the High Priest of the Fallen One, once a middling artist named Munug

Silanah,
an Eleint

Crone,
a Great Raven

Raest,
a Jaghut Tyrant (retired)

Clip,
Mortal Sword of Darkness

Nimander Golit,
a Tiste Andii

Skintick,
a Tiste Andii

Nenanda,
a Tiste Andii

Aranatha,
a Tiste Andii

Kedeviss,
a Tiste Andii

Desra,
a Tiste Andii

Sordiko Qualm,
a High Priestess

Salind,
a High Priestess

Seerdomin,
a resident of Black Coral

Gradithan,
a thug

Monkrat,
a mage

Baran,
a Hound of Shadow

Gear,
a Hound of Shadow

Blind,
a Hound of Shadow

Rood,
a Hound of Shadow

Shan,
a Hound of Shadow

Pallid,
a new Hound of Shadow

Lock,
a new Hound of Shadow

Edgewalker,
a wanderer

Dog walkers,
two witnesses