House of Chains/Chapter 18

The rage of the Whirlwind Goddess
was an inferno, beaten on the forge
of Holy Raraku.

The legions that marched in the dust
of blood burned by the eye of the sun
were cold iron.

There, on the dry harbour of the dead city
where the armies joined to battle
Hood walked the fated ground

where he walked many times before.

The Divided Heart
Fisher

Raraku

In the Army of the Apocalypse's camp in Raraku, Felisin Paran recalls her youth, with Tavore using toy soldiers to recreate a famous battle of Kenussen D'Avore. Now as Sha'ik, she looks out on the desert in front of her where Korbolo Dom wants to engage the Malaz 14th Army. Mathok is nearby with bodyguards. She does not know why he fears assassins, as she feels protected by the growing power of the Whirlwind, which will soon demand a place in the Deck of Dragons. She thinks on how to deal with Tavore after victory.

L'oric, arriving at her summons, says he has been unwell. They talk of Heboric, who has barred himself in his tent for weeks, according to L'oric in distress at Sha'ik's sacrifice. They speak of the coming battle and Korbolo Dom's certainty, which L'oric distrusts. L'oric says that veterans speak of cold iron and hot iron, and calls Mathok to explain. Rather than a definition, Mathok gives examples, including Coltaine, Dujek Onearm, Admiral Nok and K'azz D'Avore as cold iron, whereas the Army of the Apocalypse is hot iron. Sha'ik staggers when he says they must pray Tavore too is hot iron, because cold defeats hot three or four times to one. L'oric realises that Sha'ik knows Tavore and understands she is cold iron. Questioned by L'oric, Mathok says that Leoman wields the will of cold iron, and Toblakai is capable of both.

Southwest of Raraku

With Leoman's riders, we are introduced to Corabb Bhilan Thenu'alas. Corabb had been rescued from torture by Leoman and would give his life for him. Hidden in sand on a crest, he and Leoman observe scouts riding not far in front of the main 14th Army. Leoman says they will attack tonight, despite Sha'ik's orders.

Raraku

L'oric

L'oric, using sorcery to elude the probes of the Whirlwind Goddess, visits Karsa's grove, which may be sanctified and shielded from the Goddess's view. He wonders why Sha'ik has not asked about Felisin Younger. Does she already know what Bidithal did, and not care? He thinks instead she is obsessed with Tavore.

He speaks with Felisin, who says that Sha'ik does know, but needs Bidithal to expose the plotters. She believes that Sha'ik Elder had been uncaring, a tool of the Whirlwind Goddess, but that Sha'ik Reborn was different, until the Goddess became too strong. Felisin Younger says all are orphans: Bidithal from his temple; Heboric; Korbolo Dom from great soldiers; Febryl who murdered his parents; Toblakai, who lost his own people; L'oric himself, who thinks of Osric—leaving only Leoman, whom she calls "our flawed diamond", and unchained. Both feel that Toblakai's statues of his gods in the grove around them are haunting. Felisin Younger says L'oric must act soon, and they have more to discuss this night.

Felisin Paran

Sha'ik approaches Heboric's tent, which is surrounded by powerful wards. He permits her to enter, but as she does so, she is freed from the Whirlwind Goddess's influence. Feeling bereft, she remembers Beneth and his twisted world. She notices that Heboric has hands and his tattoos have transformed. He is building a temple to Treach he says, addressing her as Sha'ik, but she replies that for a moment she is Felisin Paran. Suddenly she remembers Felisin Younger, and sees knowledge in Heboric's eyes, but he pushes her out of the tent saying she must attend to Tavore and Febryl, and rely on Bidithal. When she is beyond the wards again, the Goddess returns to her. The stars shimmer above with the Goddess's presence. Unperceived, a barbed shape slips out of the tent towards a distant glade.

Bidithal

Bidithal rests in shadows, thinking that Febryl seeks the warren for himself, and wonders why; he reflects that even betrayers can be betrayed. Bidithal does not intend to fail Sha'ik, but has goals of his own: vengeance against pretenders to the Throne of Shadow. He begins the Closing Chant to shadows in his temple, calling them his children, asking if they remember the dark. He hears the soft call of the pretenders, who are coming closer.

Korbolo Dom

In his tent, Korbolo Dom, ignoring the drugged woman who had amused him earlier, sits with his team of eleven assassins, drawn from the Dogslayers. Some of them had worked with the Holy Falah'dan; others are Malazans he had selected long ago; and the remainder are from local Seven Cities tribes, including one who had slain Sormo E'nath. He tells them that Kamist Reloe has chosen some of them for a "singular task", but that all are essential, and two of them will guard Korbolo himself. Then he dismisses them.

Kamist is waiting in a side chamber. Korbolo asks him what he fears now. Kamist accuses him of foolish complacency. Korbolo counts off those who need not be feared: Sha'ik; L'oric; Heboric; and Leoman and Toblakai, both far away. Of Bidithal he says that Febryl just has to offer the vice he desires. But Kamist first offends then alarms Korbolo by suggesting the Whirlwind Goddess may suspect them. Korbolo admits she might allow a Claw to infiltrate the camp to strike at himself, Kamist and Febryl, but thinks she is not insidious enough. Kamist says she would only have to acquiesce in a scheme by Topper, but Korbolo concludes that they are well protected and need not fret. Kamist says he will proceed on his own terms, then at Korbolo's order departs. Korbolo finishes his wine and takes to his sleeping bed.

Scillara

Scillara, the woman who had been with Korbolo and has added sleeping drops to his wine, leaves the tent and staggers through the camp, less affected by durhang than she appears. She thinks of the reward of death that—in her master's words—under balance she will both offer to others and take for herself. She recalls her childhood when her now dead mother was a camp follower of the Ashok Regiment. At the latrines, she calls "I remember the dark", and is answered by a small girl to whom she gives coins for food, and a message for their master of what she has heard this night.

Heboric

Heboric, moving with a gait which has become almost ape-like, approaches Toblakai's glade, where he sees two figures. He realises that he has ceased to be mindful, permitting a terrible crime. Noting that the two have not exposed Bidithal, he withdraws. He acknowledges that if as Treach's new Destriant he attacked Bidithal, the clash might be uncontrollable: Bidithal's temple is sanctified, even if no longer to Shadow. With rage he thinks he can do nothing. Heading for his tent he sneaks behind a small girl who is catching rhizan, but after he passes she asks herself if the funny man remembers the dark.

Southwest of Raraku

Corabb by Dejan Delic

Corabb, amongst Leoman's warriors who attack the Malazans with fire bolas for the supply wagons, loses his axe-like weapon stuck in an enemy helmet, and miraculously recovers when his horse rolls.

On the Malazan side, Lutes, Borduke, Maybe and Hubb watch as Corabb rides off.

Leoman, waiting for Corabb to catch up, tells his riders that Seti, Wickans and Khundryl will pursue them. They will lead the Seti to their death.

Raraku

The mage Febryl sits to watch the sunrise, with the city awakening at his back—slowly, he is aware, because the Whirlwind Goddess is consuming life's forces. He thinks on Sha’ik, who can speak alarmingly in his mind, though lately she does so less frequently. Does she know his plans? He understands they all hide themselves, from allies as much as enemies, but he has faith in Kamist Reloe. Febryl maintains his own deadly nuances, but trusts in simplicity not complication.

Suddenly Sha'ik speaks almost at his side, making his heart hammer. She tells him he is misled by the opacity of the Whirlwind Wall, and is facing not east but northeast. Further she says that the Goddess does not feed on her followers' energy as he thinks, but instead provides them with focus: like the Wall, which though seeming diffuse actually traps sunlight, gathering heat which would burn him to the bone. He considers belatedly that living simply is laudable, but seeing simply is a deadly flaw. It is too late to change his plans.