Steven Erikson: Gardens of the Moon

«Those of the Cabal,» Derudan said slowly, «who are now dead, yes? Stubborn, convinced of their own invincibility. No doubt they paced restless steps, awaiting the assassin's imminent arrival.»

Baruk paused to reply, but was interrupted by a loud, inhuman scream from outside. This was followed immediately by a concussion that rattled the walls. The alchemist made a move towards the door.

«Wait!» Derudan called from the circle. «Appease not this curiosity, Baruk, for Vorcan will surely take advantage, yes?»

«A ward was shattered,» Baruk said. «My defences are breached.»

«More the reason for caution,» Derudan admonished. «Friend, I plead with you, join me here.»

«Very well,» Baruk sighed, moving towards her. A gust of air brushed the left side of his face. Derudan cried out a warning even as the alchemist turned.

Vorcan, her gloved hands glowing red, surged towards Baruk. He raised his arms, knowing full well that he would be too late. At that moment, however, another figure appeared, emerging from darkness to intercept the Master Assassin with a flurry of blows. Vorcan reeled back, then lashed out with a hand, catching her attacker a glancing blow.

An agonized shriek rang through the chamber. Baruk stared, only now realizing that his protector was a Tiste And? woman. He stepped aside lithely as she flew past him to strike the floor then the wall, where she lay unmoving. The alchemist pulled his gaze back to Vorcan, seeing that one of her hands no longer glowed.

He gestured, and virulent sorcery erupted from his arm, arcing yellow lightning. Vorcan hissed a counter-spell and the lightning was swallowed by a red haze before her that dimmed quickly, then disappeared. She advanced.

Vaguely, Baruk heard the witch Derudan shouting at him. Yet it was the Mistress of the Assassins» death-filled eyes that held him. The ease with which she'd dispelled his power made it clear that she was his master in sorcery. All he could do now, he understood with clarity, was await his death.

But Baruk heard a grunt behind him, then Vorcan gasped. The hilt of a dagger protruded from the assassin's chest. Frowning, she reached for it, then pulled it out and tossed it aside.

«All:» the alchemist heard the Tiste And? woman gasp from the floor behind him «: all I can do. My apologies, Lord.»

Derudan appeared behind Vorcan. As she raised her hands and began an incantation, Vorcan whirled and something sped from her hand. The witch grunted, then crumpled.

Anguish flooded Baruk. With a wordless roar he launched himself at Vorcan. She laughed and ducked to one side, throwing out her glowing hand. The alchemist twisted, off-balance, narrowly avoiding the killing touch, then staggered past. He heard her laughter again, as she moved in. A dozen feet in front of Baruk was the door. The alchemist's eyes widened to find it open. A youth crouched there, holding bricks. Expecting at any moment to feel Vorcan's touch, Baruk threw himself forward. He saw the boy straighten at the same time and thrust forward first his right arm, then his left. As the alchemist fell towards the floor, two bricks flew over him. He heard them strike the woman behind him, one making a crunching sound, the other crackling. A flash of red. As he struck the floor, the breath was hammered from Baruk's lungs.

Agonized seconds passed as he struggled to draw air into his tortured chest He rolled on to his back. Vorcan, he saw, lay motionless almost against his feet. The boy's face came into view, streaked with sweat, brow e boy sighed, then grinned. «You're alive. Good. Rallick sent me to. Baruk sat up. «The witch,» he said hoarsely. He pointed. «Tend to her, He felt his strength returning as he watched the boy crouch beside her. «She's breathing,» Crokus announced. «There's some kind of knife in her looks like it's covered in paralt.» He reached down to touch it.

«Poison,» the alchemist said, climbing to his feet. «Help me to her, quickly.» A moment later he knelt beside Derudan. A quick glance at the sap-like substance coating the blade confirmed his suspicion. While Baruk laid a hand on Derudan. «Your knowledge surprises me, boy,» he said. «Fortunately, she's in the home of the one man who possesses its antidote.» He muttered something and a phial appeared in his hand «Rallick said there was no antidote to white paralt.»

«It's not something I'm likely to announce.» Baruk unstoppered the phial and poured the contents down the witch's throat, triggering coughing fit. As Derudan's breathing became even, Baruk leaned back and eyed Crokus. «You seem well acquainted with Rallick. What's your name?»

«Crokus. Mammot was my uncle, sir. I saw him die.»

Derudan's eyelids flickered, then opened. She smiled lazily. «What I see pleases me,» she said weakly. «Yes?»

Baruk returned the smile. «Yes, my friend. But I make no claim for defeating Vorcan. That falls to Crokus, nephew of Mammot.»

Derudan's gaze swung to the youth. «Ah, the one I came near to treading on earlier this evening.» The amusement left her expression. «I am sorry for Mammot, child.»

«So am I,» he replied.

Baruk rose and turned. He hissed a vehement curse. Vorcan's body was gone. «She's fled.» He hurried over to the Tiste And? woman, he bent down and examined her. She was dead. «I will soon know your name,» he whispered, «and I will remember it.»

«I have to go!» Crokus announced.

Baruk wondered at the sudden panic in the boy's face.

«I mean,» Crokus continued, «if everything's over here, that is.»

«I believe it is,» the alchemist answered. «I thank you, Crokus, for your skill at throwing bricks.»

The boy went to the door. He paused, then tossed a coin into the air. He caught it, and grinned tightly. «Just lucky, I suppose.» Then he was gone.

Captain Paran crouched beside Coll's bed. «Still asleep,» he said, rising, and facing Whiskeyjack. «Go ahead.»

Kalam and the two saboteurs had arrived minutes earlier. So far, the sergeant mused, no losses, though the captain's armour had taken a beating and the look in his face when he'd entered the room with Lorn's body in his arms warned Whiskeyjack away from probing Paran's state of mind too deeply. The Adjunct's body now occupied a second bed, motionless and pale, a strange ironic smile curving her bloodless lips.

The sergeant studied everyone in the small room, the faces he knew so well all watching him, waiting. His gaze held on Sorry, or Apsalar as she now called herself. Whatever Mallet had done to her, she was a changed woman from the one he'd known. Less, and somehow more as well.

Even Mallet was unsure of what he'd done. Certain memories, skills had been freed, and with them a brutal knowledge. The pain was there in the woman's eyes, a pain layered in years of horror-yet it seemed that she had it under control, that she'd found a way, a strength, to live with what she'd been. Her only words upon meeting him had been: «I wish to return home, Sergeant.»

He had no objection, though he wondered how she planned to cross two continents and the ocean between them. Whiskeyjack reached for the wrapped forearm bones lying on the table. «Yes, sir." he said, in answer to Paran's command.

The hot sweaty air in the room thickened with tension. Whiskeyjack hesitated. There'd been a battle in Darujhistan's streets, and Quick Ben had confirmed the Galayn lord's death. In fact, the black wizard seemed still in shock. The sergeant sighed under his breath and massaged his newly healed leg, then drove the forearm's blade into the tabletop.

Contact was immediate. High Fist Dujek's gravelly voice filled the room. «About time, Whiskeyjack! Don't bother telling me about the Galayn lord-Tayschrenn's in a coma or something. Everyone in Headquarters heard his scream. So Anomander Rake took out the beast.