dead plain. Sensed the Crippled God's sudden awareness, sudden probings into his mind. But oh no, he laughed silently, it couldn't work it out. Couldn't fathom the endless refrain filling his skull.
Build a nest! Kick it down!
He reached the hut, not where the doorway made its slash in the wall, but from a blind side. And, with all his weight, the swordsmith flung himself into that flimsy structure.
It collapsed inward, Withal on top, landing upon a squawking figure beneath. Spitting, hissing with rage and indignation.
Withal grasped handfuls of rotten canvas, heaved himself back upright, and dragged the tent away. Pegs snapping, ties breaking. Dragged it away from that horrid little bastard god.
It shrieked, the brazier tumbling, coals spilling out, sparks lodging in the god's ratty robes, where they smouldered—
'You will die for this, mortal!'
Withal stumbled back, laughing.
And, from behind, the wind suddenly arrived.
Almost knocking him down.
He turned into it, facing the beach once more, and saw the stormclouds billowing, rushing in, growing ever higher, towering, spreading their shadow upon the island.
Leaning into the gale, Withal ran back to the beach.
Thrashing, foaming waves on all sides, but there, before him, a stretch of calm. A stretch opposite Sandalath and the capering, dancing Nachts.
Along which the boat slid gracefully through the reef, its lone sail luffing lightly as it glided to shore, grating to a halt five paces from the waterline.
Withal reached the sand in time to see a squat, nondescript man clamber down from the side and wade ashore.
'This,' he said to Withal in the Letherii trader's tongue, 'is for you. Take your friends and make sail.'
'Who are you?' Sandalath demanded.
'Oh, be quiet!' Withal snarled. 'Climb in, woman!'
The Nachts had already done so, and were scrambling about the rigging.
Scowling, the Tiste Andii woman hurried towards the boat.
Withal stared at the man.
Who grimaced, then said, 'Aye, Withal of Meckros, you pray hard enough ...'
'I knew it.'
'Now, get going. You'll find a way of calm through.'
'And you, Mael?'
'I'll drop in later. I've things for you to do, Withal. But for now,' he faced inland, 'I am going to beat a god senseless.'
This ends the fifth tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen
GLOSSARY
Letherii Titles
Acquitor: a sanctioned position as guide/factor when dealing with non-Letherii peoples
Atri-Preda: military commander who governs a city or town
Ceda: title of King's own mage
Finadd: equivalent of captain in the military
Preda: equivalent of commander or general in the military
Sentinel: the King's Voice in establishing first contact with non-Letherii peoples
The King's Leave: a title relieving the holder of all criminal convictions
Lether Place Names
Burl Square: a square in Letheras
Cedance: the dominant set of Tiles (see the Holds)
Cul Street: a street in Letheras
Down Markets: a district in Letheras
Errant's Heel: an alley in Letheras
Eternal Domicile: the new palace under construction in Letheras
Huldo's: a restaurant in Letheras
Katter Bight: a stretch of water outside Old Katter
Kraig's Landing: upriver from the city of Trate
Lether: the kingdom and its protectorates
Letheras: the capital city of Lether
Merchants' Tolls: equivalent of a stock market in Lether
Purser's District: a district in Letheras
Quillas Canal: one of the main canals in Letheras
Rat Catchers' Guild: a mysterious guild active throughout Lether
Red Lane: a lane in Letheras
Rild's: a restaurant in Letheras
Scale House: headquarters of the Rat Catcher's Guild, Letheras
Sherp's Last Lane: a lane in Letheras
Soulan Bridge: a bridge in Letheras
Stinking House: abode of Selush the Dresser of the Dead
Tarancede Tower: a watchtower overlooking Trate Harbour
Temple School: an educational institution in Letheras
The Temple: a high-end brothel in Letheras
Urum's Lenders: an establishment in Letheras
Windlow's Meatgrinders: an abattoir in Letheras
Letherii Cities, Villages and Forts
Awl
Brans Keep
Bridle
Cargo
Desden
Dissent
Dresh
Fent Reach
First Maiden Fort
First Reach
Five Points
Fort Shake
Gedry
Harness
High Fort
Letheras
The Manse
Miner Sluice
Old Gedure
Old Katter
Second Maiden Fort
Thetil
Third Maiden Fort
Trails
Trate
Truce
Leherii Protectorates
Bluerose
Karn Korshenn
Pilott
Pockface Islands
Neighbouring Ringdoms
Kolanse
Letherii Military
Artisan Battalion
Bluerose Battalion
Cold Clay Battalion
Crimson Rampant Brigade
Fent Garrison
Grass Jackets Brigade
Harridict Brigade
Katter Legion
Maiden Garrison
Merchants' Battalion
Shake Legion
Trate Legion
Wave Wake Brigade
Whitefinder Battalion
Letherii Phrases
Blue Style Steel: an earlier method of ironmongery
Docks: commonest denomination of Lether money
Dresh Ballista: a multi-quarrel war weapon
Letheran Steel: a secret method of ironmongery
Letherii: that of Lether, also the name of the language and of the people
Levels: the coin of the wealthy of Lether
Lupe Fish: a large carnivorous fish resident in Lether River and the canals of Letheras
Ootooloo: a primitive but singular sea-creature from Bluerose
Peaks: the coin of the filthy rich in Lether
(The) Seventh Closure: prophesied renaissance
(The) Shrouded Sisters of the Empty Throne: Educators
Stripling: lowest denomination of Lether money
Truce Fever: a common, curable fever
Tusked Milk: an alcoholic beverage
Tiste Edur Places and Names
Arapay: subjugated and easternmost tribe of Tiste Edur
Beneda: subjugated tribe of Tiste Edur
Calach Breeding Beds: coastline where Tusked Seals breed
Den-Ratha: subjugated, northernmost tribe of Tiste Edur
Hasana Inlet: