He could feel his every muscle, every tendon and bone, could concentrate on each one to the exclusion of all the others, achieving a spatial sensitivity that made control absolute. He could walk a forest floor in absolute silence, if he so wished. He could freeze, shielding even the breath he drew, and become perfectly motionless.
But the changes he felt were far more profound than these physical manifestations. The violence residing within him was that of a killer. Cold and implacable, devoid of compassion or ambiguity.
And this realization terrified him.
The Tiger of Summer's Mortal Sword. Yes, Trake, I feel you. I know what you have made of me. Dammit, you could've at least asked.
He looked upon his followers, knowing them to be precisely that. Followers, his very own Sworn. An appalling truth. Among them, Stonny Menackis — no, she isn't Trake's. She's chosen Keruli's Elder God. Good. If she was ever to kneel before me we wouldn't be thinking religious thoughts. and how likely is that? Ah, lass.
Sensing his gaze, she looked at him.
Gruntle winked.
Her brows rose, and he understood her alarm, making him even more amused — his only answer to his terror at the brutal murderer hiding within him.
She hesitated, then approached. 'Gruntle?'
'Aye. I feel like I've just woken up.'
'Yeah, well, the hangover shows, believe me.'
'What's been going on?'
'You don't know?'
'I think I do, but I'm not entirely sure … of myself, of my own memories. We defended our tenement, and it was uglier than what's between Hood's toes. You were wounded. Dying. That Malazan soldier there healed you. And there's Itkovian — the priest in his arms has just turned to dust — gods, he must've needed a bath-'
'Beru fend us all, it really is you, Gruntle. I'd thought you were lost to m- to us for good.'
'I think a part of me is, lass. Lost to us all.'
'Since when were you the worshipping type?'
'That's the joke on Trake. I'm not. He's made a terrible choice. Show me an altar and I'm more likely to piss on it than kiss it.'
'You might have to kiss it, so I'd suggest you reverse the gestures.'
'Ha ha.' He shook himself, rolling his shoulders, and sighed.
Stonny recoiled slightly at the motion. 'Uh, that was too cat-like for me — your muscles rippled under that barbed skin.'
'And it felt damned good. Rippled? You should be considering new … possibilities, lass.'
'Keep dreaming, oaf.'
The banter was brittle, and they both sensed it.
Stonny was silent for a moment, then the breath hissed between her teeth. 'Buke. I guess he's gone-'
'No, he's alive. Circling overhead right now, in fact. That sparrowhawk — Keruli's gift to help the man keep an eye on Korbal Broach. He's Soletaken, now.'
Stonny was glaring skyward, hands on her hips. 'Well, that's just great!' She swung a venomous look upon Keruli — who was standing well off to one side, hands within sleeves, unnoticed, watching all in silence. 'Everybody gets blessed but me! Where's the justice in that?'
'Well, you're already blessed with incomparable beauty, Stonny-'
'Another word and I'll cut your tail off, I swear it.'
'I haven't got a tail.'
'Precisely.' She faced him. 'Now listen, we've got some' thing to work out. Something tells me that for both of us, heading back to Darujhistan isn't likely — at least not for the next while, anyway. So, now what? Are we about to part ways, you miserable old man?'
'No rush on ail that, lass. Let's see how things settle-'
'Excuse me.'
Both turned at the voice, to find that Rath'Trake had joined them.
Gruntle scowled at the masked priest. 'What?'
'I believe we have matters to discuss, you and I, Mortal Sword.'
'You believe what you like,' the Daru replied. 'I've already made it plain to the Whiskered One that I'm a bad choice-'
Rath'Trake seemed to choke. 'The Whiskered One?' he sputtered in indignation.
Stonny laughed, and clouted the priest on the shoulder. 'He's a reverent bastard, ain't he just?'
'I don't kneel to anyone,' Gruntle growled. 'And that includes gods. And if scrubbing would do it, I'd get these stripes off my hide right now.'
The priest rubbed his bruised shoulder, the eyes within the feline mask glaring at Stonny. At Gruntle's words he faced the Daru again. 'These are not matters open to debate, Mortal Sword. You are what you are-'