Reaper's Gale/Chapter 14

__NOTOC__
==Omtose Phellack==
Hedge and Emroth, a ghost and a T'lan Imass, are walking across a frozen wasteland dotted with the scattered remnants of Jaghut dwellings. Hedge is struggling to understand the ghosts' existence, feeling that their sense of touch and sound is a deception. He questions Emroth about her involvement in the Jaghut hunt, to which she replies that it's possible but can't be certain. The two pass into the ice of Omtose Phellack and where they come across a hump on the plateau, ringed in dark objects. As they approach, they see that it is The Frozen Throne on which sits the mummy of a male Jaghut. The surrounding objects are revealed to be the cloth-swaddled bodies of other Jaghut. Night falls the eerie atmosphere of the frozen wasteland intensifies; Emroth tells Hedge that the Throne was dying as there was nothing left to rule.
==The Refugium==
Onrack kneels beside a stream marveling at his newfound life after his transformation. He picks up polished stones, tastes lichen and moss, and walks through a field of arctic roses, marveling at the beauty of his surroundings. He is a tall, powerful warrior with a mane of black hair, a flaring nose, and deep-set eyes. He is muscular and moves with a furtive grace. In this world, Onrack is king, hunting with discipline and delight. He collects materials from his environment, including skins and gut, spines, charcoal, tree sap, lichens, and moss, to make a hide bag. He has become animated, expressing genuine pleasure and delight in his surroundings.
Trull Sengar is moved by his friend's rebirth. Onrack's smile invites friendship and trust, and Trull has no interest in resisting this charm. However, he notices that Quick Ben sometimes shows suspicion, as if he is wary of Onrack's newfound charisma. Trull feels no worry, as he believes that Onrack is not interested in manipulating his companions. Onrack has emerged from a haunted past, dead in a demonic nightmare, but has now been reborn into a paradise.
Onrack notes from trail signs that they have entered the territory of an Emlava and that a pack of Ay cautiously follows them. The Imass brings them to the emlava's lair where he challenges the saber-toothed beast before it can hunt them down. Once the cat is dead with the ay's help, they realise it is a female and discover it has kittens.
==Bluerose Mountains==
====Udinaas====
Udinaas, the ex-slave, is sitting by a fire with Wither, who is trying to get Udinaas to talk about his experiences. Wither speaks of the memories that stones carry and the conversations they hold, but Udinaas dismisses him, saying that stones can't see. Udinaas claims that his knowledge comes from his imagination and not from any mentor. Wither doesn't believe him and accuses him of keeping secrets. Udinaas becomes angry and explains that the ruins they are in were caused by something falling from the sky, not by any mystical or cause. The others, who had been woken by their argument, join the conversation, and Udinaas tells them that he's failed at everything, but Fear Sengar recalls that Udinaas was skilled at mending nets. This seems like a painful reminder to Udinaas of his time as a slave.
====Seren Pedac====
Meanwhile, Seren Pedac walks alone, her thoughts drifting to her suspicions about Silchas Ruin, who she believes has led them astray. She begins to hear whispers and realizes she is on the verge of madness. Suddenly, she hears a voice speaking to her in a language that is not that of Wither, the wraith. The voice begins to explain to her about the nature of warrens and magic and the importance of a living body for the warrens to thrive. Seren does not understand and asks who is speaking to her. The voice continues, saying that there is another way, a way to bring back life, but at great cost, and then the voice announces who it is: Mockra.
==Road's End==
Yan Tovis and Yedan Derryg have arrived at a village where the sea level has risen and saturated the ground beneath the village, making the residents to build their homes on stilts. Yan Tovis is the Queen of the Last Blood and Queen of the Shake, and she must decide on what to do as the Letherii Empire is at war and her people have been invaded. They arrive at Road's End and find that the ferry landing has not been used in some time due to flooding in the area. Yan Tovis decides that she must summon the witches and warlocks and send them to war, and Yedan warns her not to do so. Yan Tovis goes to the inn to meet the witches and warlocks, and upon entering the room, she is greeted by a familiar figure, Pully, who has already informed everyone of her return. She quickly alienates and disappoints the gathered Shake by declaring her intention to lead much differently than they hope and expect.
==Letherii Countryside==
====Fiddler====
Fiddler wakes up at dusk in a glade after sleeping on the ground. He talks to Koryk about the lack of action in the war they are fighting against the Tiste Edur. Fiddler mentions that they need the support of the farmers and swineherds, but Koryk is eager to start fighting. Fiddler reflects on the legacy of the Bonehunters and how they have failed in past battles such as Y'Ghatan and Malaz City. He feels the need for the army to fight for real and hopes that the situation will change soon. He also reflects on his own temptation to use the Deck of Dragons, which is a powerful tool that he is trying to resist. When he walks over to the other squad, he finds that Gesler, the sergeant in charge of the squad, is missing. Stormy doesn't know where Gesler has gone. Fiddler orders Stormy to go and look for Gesler if he doesn't return soon.
====Gesler====
Gesler wanders through some old ruins. The light is rapidly fading, and he comes across several round wells that are intricately cut and fitted together. Gesler seats himself on the edge of one of the wells and looks down into the darkness, thinking about all the things he has seen and experienced during his life as a soldier. Stormy appears, having come to tell Gesler that they are about to head out on another mission, and Gesler asks him what he thinks of the war they are currently fighting. Stormy is noncommittal, saying he will have an opinion once they start "busting heads."
====Bottle====
Koryk tightens the straps of his bulky pack while expressing his desire to kill someone. Bottle tries to deflect his attention from the weakest member of the squad, himself, by suggesting that Koryk target Smiles or Tarr. Koryk tells Bottle that he wouldn't kill him because he would curse him with his last breath and misery is always worse when it has a reason. He then shows Bottle his new weapon, a long-knife, and explains that it's just like the kind Kalam used despite being ineffective against armor. Smiles returns from the forest and Bottle talks about their squad not being a "mailed fist" kind of unit and being better suited for subterfuge and covert operations. Koryk clarifies that he meant he wanted to kill the enemy (Tiste Edur) and not just any enemy, but Letherii bandits. Fiddler orders everyone to get moving and find some Edur. Koryk jokes about starting a forest fire but Tarr reminds them they're already in the forest.
====Corabb====
The squad of fourteen Malazan soldiers marches through the forest. Corabb is assigned to protect the mage, Bottle, and stay close to him. Although Corabb is unsure about mages and their dealings with gods, he is familiar with guarding someone else's back. As he walks alongside Bottle, they engage in conversation about Bottle's pets, including the rats and bats he likes to talk to. Bottle explains that he shipped his pets onto the Froth Wolf to protect them from the fire and to spy on the Adjunct. Corabb scowls when Bottle brings up the subject of Leoman's bargain with the Queen of Dreams, saying that he doesn't like the subject and that it's old history. Someone up ahead hisses at them to stop talking.
==Boaral Keep==
====Trantalo Kendar====
Meanwhile, we are introduced to Trantalo Kendar, a young member of the Beneda Tiste Edur. He was an apprentice to a healer during the war and was disturbed by the carnage and destruction he saw on the battlefields. Despite his youth, he is proud to be at the head of the column of Edur warriors, including his eldest brother, Estav Kendar, who is the troop commander. They are riding down a coastal track to Boaral Keep where there is some sort of Letherii impropriety that the Edur need to address. Trantalo is apprehensive about what will happen at the keep and suspects that it will involve bloodshed. When they reach the keep, Trantalo sees that it appears to be abandoned, with no lights coming from any of the windows; the front door stands wide open. They enter anyway and are brutally and fatally ambushed.
====Hellian====
Hellian, a sergeant in the group of soldiers who ambushed Trantalo and his fellow soldiers, exits the stable and walks over to two dead Edur in front of the keep. She orders Tavos Pond to check the two bodies and directs the others to gather up the horses. The group found a keep but it was empty except for a recently dead Letherii in the hallway. There was food in the cold rooms but no alcohol, which Hellian believes is a sign that the foreign empire is a mess and worth destroying.
==Letherii Countryside==
Captain Faradan Sort and Beak seek out a way station to steal horses. Beak is honored when Captain Sort seeks his advice and thinks to himself that he is now in love with her. Beak uses magic, specifically the Grey Candle (Mockra), to glamour the Letherii in the small house beside the road and make it easier for Captain Sort to take the horses. Beak then uses the White Candle (Hood) to pull bones from the realm of death and the Purple Candle to make them follow him to the stables, where he leaves them. He then uses the Orange Candle (Tellann) to create a fire in the stables which will leave nothing but ashes and the bones, preventing the Letherii from noticing the theft of the horses. After that, Captain Sort leads the horses out of the stables, and the two of them can go.
==Second Maiden Fort==
Throatslitter recalls his father talking about the Emperor Kellanved's conquest of Li Heng, which was led by the Emperor's undead army, the Logros T'lan Imass. The father was there on the streets when the city was taken over, and saw the warriors himself. He tells Throatslitter that the real power is not in command of thousands of soldiers or imperial fleets, but in the knife in one's hand. Throatslitter, at the age of 14, found himself in the company of old people who were keeping secrets. He had found his future set out before him, in a cold and patient path, but now wonders if he is still on that path since he was torn away from the Malazan Empire. He is currently serving the Adjunct, who has asked for his loyalty, but has told Throatslitter and the others that they will be unwitnessed.
14