Reaper's Gale/Chapter 9

Epigraph

Everywhere I looked I saw the signs of war upon the landscape. There the trees had crested the rise, despatching skirmishers down the slope to challenge the upstart low growth in the riverbed, which had been dry as bone until the breaking of the ice dams high in the mountains, where the savage sun had struck in unexpected ambush, a siege that breached the ancient barricades and unleashed torrents of water upon the lowlands. And here, on this tuck and fold of bedrock, the old scars of glaciers were vanishing beneath advancing mosses, creeping and devouring colonies of lichen which were themselves locked in feuds with kin. Ants flung bridges across cracks in the stone, the air above swirling with winged termites, dying in silence in the serrated jaws of rhinazan that swung and ducked as they evaded yet fiercer predators of the sky. All these wars proclaim the truth of life, of existence itself. Now we must ask ourselves, are we to excuse all we do by citing such ancient and ubiquitous laws? Or can we proclaim our freedom of will by defying our natural urge to violence, domination and slaughter? Such were my thoughts – puerile and cynical – as I stood triumphant over the last man I had slain, his lifeblood a dwindling stream down the length of my sword-blade, whilst in my soul there surged such pleasure as to leave me trembling… King Kilanbas in the Valley of Slate Third Letheras Tide – the Wars of Conquest

Outside Letheras

In a glade surrounded by the ruins of a low wall, the sunlit air is filled with clouds of insects; Sukul Ankhadu feels uneasy as she looks around the area. She has just freed her sister, Sheltatha Lore, from a barrow where she was beaten by Silchas Ruin and a Locqui Wyval. Sheltatha was left near-drowned in a bottomless bog in a realm of the Azath, where time seemed to stretch like centuries. As a result, she emerged with a fevered madness, burnt red hair, and a skin the color of a betel nut.

Sukul is frustrated with her sister who raves day after day and is unable to communicate. She thinks about the fact that they are royalty and deserves better than the lean-to they are currently living in. However, when she approaches the lean-to, she sees that Sheltatha's fever has broken and the two sisters begin to talk. Sheltatha asks where Menandore is, as she thinks it was Menandore who struck her from behind during the fight with Silchas Ruin. Sukul explains that she was also a victim of Menandore, who had prepared rituals to drive Sheltatha down and leave Sukul unable to intervene. Sheltatha points out that they were planning to do the same to Menandore.

Letheras, a courtyard restaurant

Taxilian and Samar Dev converse in a restaurant courtyard. Taxilian is an architect and is impressed by the wonder and nightmare that is the city they are in. He tells Samar Dev that an ancient temple collapsed on the day they arrived and mentions that it was a temple devoted to rats. Samar Dev makes a lighthearted reference to the fact that Karsa Orlong, who they traveled with, is known for killing rodents. Taxilian then informs her that the touch of Karsa's sword is considered a blessing by the citizens and that all those who came with him are also destined for death if Karsa fails in his challenge against the Emperor. He then moves on to his main topic of discussion, which is the discovery he made about the city's architecture: the city is built on the bones of countless others and is unlike any other city he has seen. Taxilian believes that the ancient buildings and street patterns in the city were not accidental and that there are secret mystical energies woven through the city. He explains that these energies are revealed through numbers and geometry and that the collapse of a building called Scale House revealed these energies to him. He asks Samar Dev if she believes him.

Letheras, champions' compound

Taralack Veed

Taralack Veed leans against the wall within the entranceway while Icarium walks slowly along the outer wall of the compound, brushing the stone with his fingertips. The frieze on the wall is faded with images of imperial heroes and glory-soaked kings, but now it is scarred by weapons of foreigners sparring with each other. Icarium reaches the far end of the compound where a huge barred gate blocks the way into the street beyond, guarded by the figures of soldiers. Icarium pauses and looks skyward at a flock of unfamiliar birds and then stands motionless facing the gate, appearing as a statue. Taralack reflects on how Icarium is not a hero, but a weapon, and yet he lives, breathes and has thoughts and feelings. The Nameless Ones worship the house and not the living, breathing ones who dwell within it. Taralack wonders about his place in this scheme, and if he is the evil one. He reflects on how his predecessor, Mappo, had left such struggles behind and wonders if his own evil choice was the right one. He walks over to Icarium and tells him that he is free to wander the city if he leaves his weapons. Icarium responds that he's not yet ready and the Emperor is afraid of him. Icarium walks back into the compound and Taralack staring after him, wondering what the Emperor knows.

Yan Tovis

Atri-Preda Yan Tovis is visiting her former second in command, Varat Taun, who has become a shell of his former self after the expedition to the First Throne. He is huddled in a corner and babbling incoherently, and the healers have been unable to help him recover from his trauma. Yan Tovis grapples with the thought of delivering such a broken man to his wife and child in Bluerose. Just as she is about to leave, a Cabalhii monk arrives, garishly painted, and Yan Tovis knows that he is a healer. He is the Cabalhii Senior Assessor, a monk from the Unified Sects of Cabal, and he explains that Varat Taun's madness is the result of a trauma that disrupted the balance of his body's secretions and left an infection of chaos tainted by a false god. Yan Tovis presses the monk for information about his religion. The Assessor explains that the Cabal people follow the One God but there are three thousand and twelve sects, each with their own doctrine. The monk himself is from the sect of the Mockers, whose tenet is that the One God is insane.

Letheras, Old Palace

The Errant

The Errant, the Master of the Holds, has entered the Temple. He finds himself in darkness with a stale, dry air. He recalls the time when he had much power and could walk through walls. He has since grown old, and his powers have waned. The Errant reflects on how the world resisted him and how he thinks he's the last thread connecting the Holds. As he reflects, he notices that he's not alone in the temple. In one of the passageways is a man who looks like an ogre. The man has a broad, bullet-shaped head with a pronounced lower face and large yellowed tusks. He has long, curling hair and a thick beard, and he smells rank and bitter. The man recognizes the Errant and says that the temple was a safe place, as people have forgotten about the Holds. The man says he knows that he will eventually be found and that the Errant's arrival has accelerated that. The man says that he was once a gift from a mortal, but he failed (a common fate among mortals). The man then attempts to speak further, but no words come out of his mouth.

Feather Witch

Feather Witch, with her tiles, is trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounds her. The Dragon Hold is virtually dead, yet it is vying for dominance with the Empty Hold. She thinks about the bandit in the Bluerose Mountains who claims the title of White Crow, and wonders if he has any power to back up his bold claim. She collects the tiles and puts them away before consulting a book of the gods. The ghost of Kuru Qan that has been lurking in her room speaks to her and challenges her to a game, also demanding to know what she intends to do with the severed finger she keeps around her neck.

Letheras, Scale House

Samar Dev and Taxilian

Samar Dev and Taxilian visit the site of an old temple that has been destroyed. The place is filled with rubble and fragments of the façade. Samar Dev, being a witch, senses a large number of spirits in the area, all of which are associated with rats. Taxilian recalls a creature called Gryllen, a terrible demonic entity that once traveled the merchant roads of Seven Cities, and wonders if it might be behind the destruction. However, Samar Dev explains that what she senses is much older and feels different from Gryllen. She is not sure what has caused the bleeding of power that she senses, but she has a feeling that some things, long ago forgotten, should remain that way. Taxilian tries to get more information from her, but she says that she needs time to think and come to any conclusions. She also mentions that it will soon be curfew, and that guards kill lawbreakers on sight, so it is time for them to leave.

Bugg and Tehol Beddict

Bugg and Tehol are walking down the street, Bugg carrying a sack that is clucking. Tehol is worried about having to kill the chickens in the sack, but Bugg tells him they'll figure something out. As they walk, Tehol tries to cheer Bugg up by suggesting they build a coop on their roof and make the chickens happy. Bugg mentions that they are not actually pigeons and can't fly, but the idea still beats having to kill them. As they come to the Scale House, a ruined building, Bugg observes that there must be a door even though it has collapsed. He suggests that the best course of action is to do nothing. Tehol is surprised that doing nothing is Bugg's solution to many problems.

Letheras, Eternal Domicile

Sirryn Kanar

Sirryn Kanar, a lieutenant in the Palace Cell of the Patriotists, has a strong sense of his own dominance over others in his life. He fears what he does not understand and despises it, but does not believe this makes him a coward. He sees himself as at war with all that threatens him, including his wife and conspirators against the empire of Lether. Sirryn joined the Patriotists after being impressed by Karos Invictad's vision of an empire under siege and how to protect it. Sirryn now leads his men in a raid on the First Concubine's chambers to capture her and another handmaiden. They dispose of two other handmaidens and take the senior one for questioning. Sirryn is confident that the First Concubine will break under interrogation, just like other traitors before her. He believes that women hide behind mysteries and airs of superiority, but they ultimately fall before the power of a man's will. Sirryn envies the interrogators who will extract confessions from the women.

Bruthen Trana

Bruthen Trana and the Arapay warlock K'ar Penath find the bodies of the two handmaidens in the First Concubine's chamber and Bruthen Trana orders ten Edur warriors to accompany him to the headquarters of the Patriotists. The warlock worries about the interrogation process and if the Patriotists have already obtained confessions from the women. Bruthen Trana dismisses the concern and decides to proceed without informing Hannan Mosag. The Chancellor arrives at the scene and expresses regret at the deaths of the handmaidens, but Bruthen Trana is done with the Chancellor's attempts to assert control and proceeds to kill his bodyguards and throw the Chancellor aside. He orders his warriors to follow him as he marches down the corridor. The Chancellor is left behind with a broken hand and swears revenge against Bruthen Trana. He plans to find new bodyguards and also decides to make the widows and children of the bodyguards pay the price of their failure. The Chancellor then sets off to find a healer for his broken hand.

Nisall

Nisall, who is half-naked and torn, is pushed into a dark, windowless room lit by a single candle. She is shivering from the cold and the fear. She knows that two young innocent women were killed and Tissin, who is close to being a mother figure to her, is next. Nisall thinks that they cannot win against the people who are behind this: they are too clever and too ruthless. They want to destroy Rhulad's mind and leave him unable to see anyone who might help him. The door of the room is suddenly thrown open and Nisall sees Karos Invictad, the head of the secret police, entering the room. He wants Nisall to sign a confession of her treason. He informs Nisall that Tissin has already signed a confession and has been beheaded. He tells Nisall that he wants to be merciful and that he has no intention of harming her. Nisall follows Karos Invictad to his office where she is offered a robe to keep herself warm. She sees a sheet of vellum, a horsehair brush and a pot of squid ink on the desk and a strange box to the side of the ink pot. When she tries to take a look at the box, Karos Invictad tells her it is none of her concern.

Letheras, Patriotists Headquarters

Bruthen Trana

Bruthen Trana enters Invictad's office to find the master of the Patriotists holding a sceptre with a crimson-stained blade. The sceptre had been used to kill Nisall, the First Concubine, who had confessed to something. Bruthen Trana picks up a sheet of vellum with her confession and tells the Tiste Edur warriors in the corridor to collect Nisall's body. Invictad objects, calling it an outrage, but Bruthen Trana beats him severely, leaving him bloodied and unconscious. A warrior informs Bruthen Trana that the other woman has been beheaded. Bruthen Trana takes the confession and drags Invictad to his feet, but K'ar Penath intervenes, stopping Bruthen Trana from breaking Invictad's neck. He tells Bruthen Trana that the First Concubine's death was Invictad's doing, and that it is not Bruthen Trana's place to exact punishment. The bodies of Nisall and the other woman will be taken back to the Eternal Domicile, and Bruthen Trana is not concerned about the dead Letherii guards below. K'ar Penath bows and confirms that he will wrap the bodies well.

Tanal Yathvanar

Tanal Yathvanar is at the headquarters of the Patriotists when he realizes something is wrong. He hears shouting and sees guards running; the front entrance to the building is wide open with a guard lying dead on the threshold. Tanal demands to know what happened and is told that the Edur have launched a vicious ambush. The Master of the Patriotists, Karos Invictad, is alive but badly beaten by the Edur liaison, Bruthen Trana. Tanal rushes to the office and finds Karos sitting in his chair, covered in blood and urine, and holding cloths to his swollen and bruised face. Karos is angry and demands to know why Tanal was not present. Tanal explains that he was not informed and asks if Bruthen Trana has retrieved the woman, Nisall. Karos tells Tanal that Bruthen Trana has Nisall's dead body but not her spirit and that he carries a written confession. Tanal offers Karos wine to help with the pain and also pours himself a goblet. Karos tells Tanal that a war has begun and that the Letherii will not lose.

Bruthen Trana

Bruthen Trana and K'ar Penath discuss the aftermath of recent events. The warlock asks Bruthen if they are seeking an audience with the Emperor, to which Bruthen replies that they are not and that they will watch the situation unfold for a time. The warlock then asks about the bodies and Bruthen instructs him to hide them well and to inform Hannan Mosag that he wishes to speak with him as soon as possible. K'ar expresses concern as Hannan is not in the Emperor's favor, but Bruthen clarifies that this has nothing to do with the Emperor, Rhulad, but rather with a civil war being waged behind the Emperor's back. He believes that the Tiste Edur need to awaken and make their displeasure clear after the recent murder (of Nisall, the First Concubine). He also mentions that Hannan Mosag will pursue the trail to find out what has caused this chain of events. K'ar expresses his support for Bruthen's advice to Hannan and his pride in being awakened by Bruthen. Bruthen mentions that the Chancellor may speak to the Emperor but only if he is inclined to panic, and that he needs to be pushed off balance.

Letheras, Tehol Beddict's residence

Tehol and Bugg are looking down through the roof hatch of Tehol's house, which has now been taken over by a group of chickens. Tehol is horrified and Bugg is trying to make light of the situation. Tehol is blaming Bugg for bringing the chickens into the house and threatening to make him sleep in the room with them. Bugg, on the other hand, is looking for a way to make the best of the situation. Janath, a former tutor of Tehol's, has just woken up in Tehol's bed, looking confused and disoriented. Bugg and Tehol approach her, with Tehol trying to hide behind Bugg. Janath recognizes Tehol and calls him out for his past behavior towards her. Tehol tries to defend himself, but Janath is not impressed. Bugg offers to get her some new clothes from Selush, who has an extensive wardrobe, and Tehol offers her his blanket.

Tehol and Bugg by Slaine69

Letheras, Liberty Consign council chambers

Rautos Hivanar, the Master, enters the tense council room. The issue of the shortage of hard coin in the empire is foremost on everyone's mind, and Rautos announces that the source of the problem is within Letheras itself. He explains that the Patriotists are investigating, but the trails are cleverly hidden. Rautos believes that the saboteur will become overt soon, and the key to catching them will be observing which enterprise is the first to topple. Rautos then moves on to the second matter on the agenda, which is news from Drene that has caused panic among the Patriotists. The night before, Karos Invictad, the head of the Patriotists, had arrested the First Concubine, which led to a clash between the Patriotists and the Tiste Edur. The First Concubine is dead, as are a number of guards, including two bodyguards to the Chancellor. Rautos explains that Karos Invictad was not forthcoming about what happened and rumors say he was beaten nearly to death. The members of the council begin to discuss whether they need to distance themselves from the Patriotists, as they are worried they may not be reliable in the future.