House of Chains/Chapter 23

Who among the pantheon would the Fallen One despise and fear the most? Consider the last chaining, in which Hood, Fener, the Queen of Dreams, Osserc and Oponn all participated, in addition to Anomander Rake, Caladan Brood and a host of other ascendants. It is not so surprising, then, that the Crippled God could not have anticipated that his deadliest enemy was not found among those mentioned…

The Chainings
Istan Hela

Tesem

Mogora cooks for both Apsalar and Cutter within the Temple of Shadow at Tesem. Together the pair speak about Kalam Mekhar and Cotillion. Apsalar thinks Cotillion wants to use all three of them, but is hesitant about Apsalar since she has many of his memories and knows the mortal man Dancer. Cutter asks where they will go, and he has a feeling Apsalar knows.

Warren of Tellann

Trull Sengar and Onrack travel with the other T'lan Imass through the Tellann Warren. Through tundra and jungle, they will journey all the way to the First Throne to defend it from Tiste Edur and renegade T'lan Imass. They journey into the warren together and speak about their mission, and Trull struggles to make the same journey the T'lan Imass does. Trull also alludes to his past, and the story of his shorning. He doubts if there is anything to be learned from it, and says he will tell them about it when they are waiting at the First Throne.

Raraku

Pearl and Lostara are within Raraku. The Whirlwind Goddess has withdrawn her power and they can see the toll she has taken on the land. They speak more then about the Talon, the rebellion and their attraction to each other. Pearl asks her about an object she picked up on the last ridge and put in her pouch, but Lostara insists it was only a shiny rock she has since thrown away. When Pearl reveals he knows she is lying, she angrily tosses him the pouch, distracting him in order to knock him unconscious. As she carries Pearl's body closer to the oasis, she is surprised to spot two members of the Ashok Regiment being brought into the camp as prisoners by desert warriors. She thought them all dead.

Settling in for the night, out of sight of the encampment, she waits as night begins to fall. Eventually, Cotillion emerges from the shadows to speak to her. The god questions whether it was necessary to strike Pearl, a loyal servant of the Empire, so hard it nearly broke his skull. Lostara says it was necessary to keep the Claw from interfering. The god informs her that he foresees Pearl's usefulness in coming matters. As Cotillion moves to depart and perform the other tasks awaiting him, Lostara tosses him the object she found, assuming it is his. It is not, but the god is pleased to receive it, claiming he knows who it really belongs to. Lostara silently regrets turning it over as he departs the way he came.

Tesem

Apsalar faces the desert, and meets with Cotillion. Together they speak of Cutter, and his love for Apsalar. Cotillion wants to use the boy in a way. They speak about Apsalar's power, and her restraint. Cotillion speaks to her of an all encompassing love, a love of multitudes. Apsalar decides to help Cotillion in Cutter's place. Cotillion leaves, and soon after so does Apsalar.

Pan'arak Oasis

Kalam is hidden amongst petrified trees near Sha'ik's camp. He reflects on his otataral knife and senses some foreign power in the forest. Kalam has an acorn.

The First Throne

Trull and Onrack travel together into a warm jungle, they speak about the Imass' past and where they lived. The Imass people's ancestors were the Eres. The Eres were a more primitive people but amongst the first to be aware, they had holy sites that burn through the Warren of Tellann. They use this gate and in it, an Eres Woman takes Trull's seed, leaving him with cuts on his stomach and blood on his lap. Once through the gateway though, they are greeted by Apt and the boy Panek. Panek is defending the First Throne, and says he will lead them to the others.