House of Chains

Gall swung about and raised both hands skyward, the crow-wings attached to the forearms seeming to snap open beneath them. ‘Let the Dogslayers cower!’ he roared. ‘The Burned Tears have begun the hunt!’



Cuttle leaned close to Strings. ‘That’s one problem solved-the Wickan lad’s finally on solid ground. One wound sewn shut, only to see another pried open.’



‘Another?’ Oh. Yes, true enough. That Wickan Fist’s ghost keeps rearing up, again and again. Poor lass .



‘As if Coltaine’s legacy wasn’t already dogging her heels… if you’ll excuse the pun,’ the sapper went on. ‘Still, she’s putting a brave face on it…’



No choice . Strings faced his squad. ‘Collect your gear, soldiers. We’ve got pickets to raise… before we eat.’ At their groans he scowled. ‘And consider yourselves lucky-missing those scouts don’t bode well for our capabilities, now, does it?’



He watched them assemble their gear. Gesler and Borduke were approaching with their own squads. Cuttle grunted at the sergeant’s side. ‘In case it’s slipped your mind, Fid,’ he said, low, ‘ we didn’t see the bastards, either.’



‘You’re right,’ Strings replied, ‘it’s slipped my mind completely. Huh, there it goes again. Gone.’



Cuttle scratched the bristle on his heavy jaw. ‘Strange, what were we talking about?’



‘Bhederin and boar, I think. Fresh meat.’



‘Right. My mouth’s watering at the thought.’



Gamet paused outside the command tent. The revelry continued unabated, as the Khundryl roved through the camp, roaring their barbaric songs. Jugs of fermented milk had been broached and the Fist was grimly certain that more than one bellyful of half-charred, half-raw meat had returned to the earth prematurely out beyond the fires, or would in the short time that remained before dawn.



Next day’s march had been halved, by the Adjunct’s command, although even five bells’ walking was likely to make most of the soldiers regret this night’s excesses.



Or maybe not.



He watched a marine from his own legion stumble past, a Khundryl woman riding him, legs wrapped around his waist, arms around his neck. She was naked, the marine nearly so. Weaving, the pair vanished into the gloom.



Gamet sighed, drawing his cloak tighter about himself, then turned and approached the two Wickans standing guard outside the Adjunct’s tent.



They were from the Crow, grey-haired and looking miserable. Recognizing the Fist they stepped to either side of the entrance. He passed between them, ducking to slip between the flaps.



All of the other officers had left, leaving only the Adjunct and Gall, the latter sprawled on a massive, ancient-looking wooden chair that had come on the Khundryl wagons. The warchief had removed his helm, revealing a mass of curly hair, long and black and shimmering with grease. The midnight hue was dye, Gamet suspected, for the man had seen at least fifty summers. The tips of his moustache rested on his chest and he looked half asleep, a jug gripped by the clay handle in one huge hand. The Adjunct stood nearby, eyes lowered onto a brazier, as if lost in thought.



Were I an artist, I would paint this scene. This precise moment, and leave the viewer to wonder . He strode over to the map table, where another jug of wine waited. ‘Our army is drunk, Adjunct,’ he murmured as he poured a cup full.



‘Like us,’ Gall rumbled. ‘Your army is lost.’



Gamet glanced over at Tavore, but there was no reaction for him to gauge. He drew a breath, then faced the Khundryl. ‘We are yet to fight a major battle, Warchief. Thus, we do not yet know ourselves. That is all. We are not lost-’



‘Just not yet found,’ Gall finished, baring his teeth. He took a long swallow from his jug.



‘Do you regret your decision to join us, then?’ Gamet asked.



‘Not at all, Fist. My shamans have read the sands. They have learned much of your future. The Fourteenth Army shall know a long life, but it shall be a restless life. You are doomed to search, destined to ever hunt … for what even you do not know, nor, perhaps, shall you ever know. Like the sands themselves, wandering for eternity.’



Gamet was scowling. ‘I do not wish to offend, Warchief, but I hold little faith in divination. No mortal-no god- can say we are doomed, or destined. The future remains unknown, the one thing we cannot force a pattern upon.’



The Khundryl grunted. ‘Patterns, the lifeblood of the shamans. But not them alone, yes? The Deck of Dragons-are they not used for divination?’



Gamet shrugged. ‘There are some who hold much store in the Deck, but I am not one of them.’