The Bonehunters/Chapter 20

__NOTOC__ 
== Northeast of G'danisban ==
High Fist Ganoes Paran is riding in the midst of his army and wondering if he made a mistake unleashing the Deragoth. Paran asks Noto Boil to tell his story. Noto tells how he used to break dog's legs so that children could stone them for the festival of D'rek. Paran is disgusted by this. Noto Boil says later he became a healer and was trained under Ipshank. Hurlochel arrives and states that a group of 500-1000 soldiers are four days ahead of the army moving in the same direction they are. Paran orders more scouts sent ahead, but seems otherwise unconcerned by who they might be.
Captain Sweetcreek is complaining to the other Fists about Paran. Fist Rythe Bude tells her that Dujek Onearm had faith in Paran and that she should too. Suddenly they notice a string of a dozens of bright points of light descending in a curved row, just below the moon.
Noto Boil tells Paran the sky is falling. He claims that it looks just the same as when the Crippled God fell to earth, when large rocks punched holes in the land around Korel creating crater lakes and seas. Paran calls the column to halt as they may need to seek cover. He wonders where Ormulogun is and hopes the new Deck is ready. He thinks he can feel the heat of the approaching rocks, and wishes he'd paid more attention to what was happening on the moon. Paran thinks this may be an attack by the gods.
== Otataral Sea ==
Iskaral Pust starts shrieking after seeing the sky and Mappo Runt notices the strange light all around them. Spite says they are in trouble and then begins addressing something that she senses behind them. Mappo notices the sky appears to be on fire, and tiny little suns seem to be descending upon them. Pust is whimpering, and calling for Shadowthrone to come and rescue only him. Mogora remarks to Mappo how pathetic Pust is. Spite screams "I see them! Make for them, fools!" then veers into her draconian form. She beats her enormous wings which sends the ship surging forward. Mappo is thrown back by the sudden acceleration and wonders who it is that Spite sees.
== Dryjhna Ocean ==
Bottle and the others can see the 12 specks of fire in the sky 1000 leagues to the east. Fiddler asks him if this is another Crippled God, but Bottle doesn't know. Bottle sees that the Nemil supply ships are leaving the fleet and racing back to their homeland, but Bottle knows there's no way to outrace the typhoon to come. The magical wind pushing them forward suddenly doubles in force and the Silanda surges forward. Bottle hopes that Quick Ben will leave and take as many through the warrens as he can. He is comforted by the fact that the Tiste Edur will also be destroyed.
== Northeast of G'danisban ==
Ormulogan shows Paran the wooden deck he's creating and Ganoes is shocked that only a few of the cards have even been started. Thinking the deck useless, Paran begins drawing a card in the sand while Ormulogan searches for a completed card. Paran closes his eyes focusing his intention on opening a gate to Mael, and opens his eyes just as Ormulogan thrusts a card directly in front of him. Paran's power rushes into the wooden card and he falls through it into Hood's realm. He's greeted by Hood himself. Hood doesn't want the destruction to come any more than Ganoes does. The god suddenly has an idea and asks Paran to bargain for their salvation. Paran promises him anything, and as Hood tells him his desire, a corpse on Hood's gate opens its eyes. Paran agrees to the demand, and Hood begins to open his gate from his side.
== Otataral Sea ==
Tiny burning meteorites are pelting Sanal's Grief and punching holes in it. It begins to list badly. Heboric's corpse roles into the water and Chaur dives in after it. Chaur grabs the wrapped body. He starts to drown as the body pulls him downward. Cutter reaches Scillara and she tells him she's glad she left her daughter in the village. Cutter looks up and sees a dragon overhead as the Grief splinters apart.
Heboric's mind recalls millions of voices screaming in the dark. The voices call for their god, and express hope that Heboric will help them. He realizes he was never truly Treach's Destriant. Heboric realizes that now that his hands have been cut loose they can do what he can't. Heboric understands that he is the Shield Anvil, and he reaches out with his hands.
Barathol swims down after Chaur. He sees a flash of green light from the depths, with Chaur in the midst. He reaches the man-child.
Scillara has grabbed a piece of flotsam. She tells Cutter to look towards Otataral Island where a green glowing dome is covering the entire land, and giant jade hands are lifting up through it. The first of the giant burning meteors hits the dome with an enormous sound. Cutter and Scillara are almost deafened. The dragon overhead reaches a foot into the water and scoops them both up in its talons.
Heboric understands that as Shield Anvil he can take the pain of all the millions of trapped souls in the darkness with him, and they flood towards him. He realizes that he never knew pain before.
Spite dumps two bodies on the deck in front of Mappo who recognizes the man he knows as Crokus. Mappo realizes that their ship is being protected by Iskaral Pust's mule who seems completely unfazed by everything. Barathol grabs the side rail and hauls Chaur on deck, and then attempts to revive him. Barathol threatens the boy, and he suddenly begins coughing up water. They both collapse crying. Spite has reverted back to human form and Mappo realizes that she is who brought Chaur back. Cutter asks Barathol about Heboric's body, and he replies that Heboric saved Chaur and that they'd gotten the body close enough. Cutter asks Mappo about Icarium and he breaks down in tears. Spite thinks that Icarium might run into Envy. She then turns and faces the mainland, silently thanking whoever had helped them.
== Northeast of G'danisban ==
Paran falls out of Hood's realm and lands on the sand. Noto Boil asks if he has just saved the world. Paran dreads fulfilling the promise he has made.
== Dryjhna Ocean ==
Fist Keneb cannot comprehend what has happened in the east. Keneb had felt peace when it looked like their death was imminent, but now he is worried again. He thinks about the Nemil who sail these waters, and how they had come out to resupply the Malazans. A Nemil captain had told them of another Edur fleet which was badly damaged and sailing east. Nether thought they might have been attacked by the people beyond the Catal Sea. Keneb knew only that their name was Perish. 
In the hold below, Quick Ben tells Kalam that Paran is who saved them. He says he was spying on Paran's conversation with Hood, and the bargain they struck has him worried. Kalam asks if Tavore knows, and Quick says she might. He says some presence has been moving through the fleet, and he's decided to lay a trap for it. Kalam doesn't believe that's actually what he's doing. Quick Ben tells Kalam that the falling rocks were made of jade and they were filled with millions of souls.
Tene Baralta is in his cabin, still in immense pain. He believes the Adjunct was in league with Leoman and wanted the army to be destroyed. He sees himself as a hero who can lead the army. Suddenly an apparition appears in his cabin. Baralta thinks it is an assassin Tavore has sent to kill him, but the ghost announces himself as Gethol, Herald of the House of Chains. Gethol takes away some of Baralta's pain, and offers him greatness. The Fist asks what is being asked of him, and Gethol tells him to be ready when he meets with the Empress.
Outside his cabin, Lostara Yil hears Tene Baralta having a conversation even though he's alone. She knows that Baralta's injuries have left him only malice in his soul, and she's worried. She realizes Coitillion knew this would happen.
== Catal Sea ==
Keneb watches from the Adjunct's flagship as the massive warships of the Perish approach. They are much larger than any the Malazans can build. The Adjunct notices that the ships have seen battle recently. A canoe from the lead Perish ship approaches carrying a contingent of soldiers. They board and Destriant Run'Thurvian introduces himself. Admiral Nok asks about their recent battle and Mortal Sword Krughava tells that 4 of their ships were lost compared to 20 of the Edur. Krughava approaches Tavore, and then pulls her sword and presents it to The Adjunct and pledges their ships and army to her service. Kalam and Quick Ben are watching this scene from afar and Ben realizes he recognizes the Perish Grey Helms. Quick Ben decides he must speak with Tavore. Run'Thurvian makes eye contact with Quick Ben, and bows low in greeting.
20