Toll the Hounds/Chapter 1

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01
==Darujhistan==
====Challice Vidikas====
The streets of Darujhistan are filled with throngs of celebrants for the Gedderone Fête. Challice D'Arle, now Lady Vidikas, attends the celebrations on the arm of her husband, Gorlas Vidikas. But Lord Vidikas is in no mood for frivolity. The more the nobility congratulate him and fawn on him, the more contempt Challice sees in his eyes. Back at home, on the balcony of their estate, Challice recalls another time on a balcony much like this one. Compared to the future she sees ahead of her, the past is a welcoming place.
====Picker====
Picker is pushing through the crowds in the Lakefront District, working her way back to K'rul's Bar after going out into the city to buy Rhivi flatbread for Blend, who suffers from a sprained ankle. She is sure none of the other retired Bridgeburners (Antsy, Blend, Bluepearl, or Mallet) will wait for her before breaking out the Saltoan wine. Mallet has been particularly downcast since they all left the service.
====Dester Thrin====
The assassin, Dester Thrin, follows Picker from behind. As part of an Assassins' Guild contract on the retired Bridgeburners, he has been observing her and the others for several days. His clan-master warned him they were ex-soldiers, but he has seen little evidence that any of them have kept fit and trim. He is glad that someone as clever as Seba Krafar has taken over the Guild since Vorcan Radok's disappearance years ago. The new Grand Master has tried to exterminate the Cult of Rallick Nom growing within the Guild, but many of the Guild's killers have followed Rallick Nom's example and turned to using poison in their work. Dester Thrin is of like mind. He decides he will kill Picker with his dual poisoned blades once she reaches a dark, high-walled alley coming up ahead.
====Chillbais====
The demon Chillbais is perched in a corner of the Simtal estate overlooking the unkempt grounds of the Finnest House. It has been some months since he last moved, but his long vigil ends as a shadow flees from the Azath House and past the vines and pits that erupt to ensnare it. Once the shadow safely makes it to freedom, the demon flies off to inform his master.
====Zechan Throw====
Two more Guild assassins named Zechan Throw and Giddyn the Quick wait in ambush for Antsy and Bluepearl, who they followed from K'rul's Bar to a wine merchant. The two arguing Bridgeburners soon open their jugs and Bluepearl appears to already be inebriated. Zechan Throw luxuriates in the kill to come.
====Dester Thrin====
Dester Thrin rushes the oblivious Picker, but at the last moment her sword flashes out, cutting his throat. As the bleeding assassin struggles to understand what just happened, a blow from Picker's fist or boot sends his daggers skittering away and he dies.
====Picker====
Picker stands over the body thinking the tall Daru had been easy to spot among the Gadrobi crowds. Realising he is no cutpurse, she rushes back to the bar.
====Giddyn====
Zechan and Giddyn fall upon Antsy and Bluepearl delivering killing blows. But as they evaluate their work an unexpected sword thrust to Zechan's neck kills him. Meanwhile two hands grab Giddyn's head, sealing his nose and mouth before filling his lungs with water and drowning him.
====Antsy====
Antsy and Bluepearl look upon the assassins' bodies as Bluepearl brags about the illusion that fooled their attackers. They too realise this was a targeted hit and they rush back to the bar.
====Picker====
An enraged Picker returns to K'rul's Bar. She spots a man cloaked in shadows near the front door and savagely kicks him between the legs before he can flee. Then she knocks him out. Antsy and Bluepearl arrive carrying jugs of wine and Picker quickly escorts them inside. Blend, already sensing trouble, sits inside the door doing her "blending" thing to fade into the background until Picker gives her a solid kick. Picker calls for all the Bridgeburners to meet in the bar's office, sending Blend to fetch Mallet and Duiker. Spindle is away on pilgrimage. A bard sings Anomandaris to the bar's small crowd of unlistening regulars.
====Challice====
Gorlas entertains his friends and fellow duellists Shardan Lim and Hanut Orr, who like Gorlas, consider themselves as the new breed on the Darujhistan Noble Council. Arrogant and leering, the pair make Challice uncomfortable in their presence when she wishes them all good night. Gorlas is indifferent to her feelings and she perversely findes herself playing along with Shardan. Once in her bed chambers she orders her handmaiden to lay out all her old jewelry from before her marriage. She thinks to recall memories of old suitors and open possibilities. But when she sees the treasures of her youth, she suddenly finds them gaudy and cheap. Her husband now has all he wants, what does she want? Challice tells the handmaiden they will sell her jewelry in the morning.
====Murillio====
Murillio's amorous host, the widow Sepharla, has fallen into a drunken sleep on the marble bench in her garden, interrupting their evening. The consort, himself a bit tipsy, lingers there until the widow's daughter, Delish, appears. She is half his age, but beautiful and left virtually naked by the silk shift she wears. Her night has been left disappointed by Prelick, her current bore of a suitor who himself lies passed out from drink elsewhere in the house. None of those who pursue her are worth calling a man. Not like Murillio.
Perhaps it is the drink. Perhaps it is the dwindling number of covetous glances cast his way as he ages. When she moves into his arms, he does not resist and they engage in an athletic coupling. Just after things reach their climax, a sword pushes through Murillio's chest. The drunken Prelick claims the "rapist" dead as Delish screams and the rest of the house begins to wake. Murillio quickly dresses and departs, but the blood bubbling from his lips makes him think he will not live much longer.
====Kruppe====
Scorch and Leff are playing a game of Kef Tanar with Kruppe at the Phoenix Inn. The two toughs are stressing over the pair's dire financial position. Finding themselves without work after their recent employer's demise, they have taken up collecting debts from a list of debtors--with little success locating their targets. Scorch worries their own names will soon appear on the same list. Kruppe decisively defeats the pair and demands what amounts to a week's wages they do not have in payment from each. Instead of collecting immediately, he offers to join in their new enterprise for a modest thirty-three percent share. There is no one in Darujhistan Kruppe cannot find.
There is a commotion at the door and Irilta half drags a blood-drenched Murillio inside. Kruppe quickly sends Meese to find Coll.
====Picker====
The Bridgeburners and Duiker gather in the bar office where Picker announces they all appear to be targeted by the Assassins' Guild. The retired soldiers try to work out who might have contracted the Guild. No one has tried to buy the bar away from them. No former priest of K'rul has tried to reclaim the temple the bar now occupies. Picker says they have to uncover who wants them dead so they can toss a cusser in the right window. The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of a distressed Councillor Coll who requests Mallett come to Murillio's aid. The healer readies to leave and overrules Picker's misgivings by taking Bluepearl with him. Besides, he says Coll might have information to help with their current situation. Picker begrudgingly relents.
====Baruk====
Baruk is reading a book of ancient history given to him by Anomander Rake from the libraries of Moon's Spawn. It describes the early conflicts between Rake, Osserick, Draconnus, Sister Spite, and Envy as well as the war among the dragons that arose when all the First Born but one had bowed their necks to K'rul. War raged upon all the Realms as long as the Gates of Starvald Demelain remained open, and Kurald Liosan was the first to seal the portal between it and the realm of the dragons under Osserick. He cleansed the world of all rivals--the Soletaken and the feral purebloods--and drove out the D'ivers. Rake and Osserick battled until Kilmandaros drove them apart.
The alchemist pauses to complain about the book's archaic style and inconsistencies to Crone, the Great Raven. It is her first visit from Black Coral in some months. She suggests clarifications to the text that favour Rake, her master. When Baruk fails to play the good host, Crone asks what troubles him. Among his concerns is news that the White Face Barghast have all disappeared. Crone reports that the Barghast took to the sea almost immediately after the Tiste Andii investiture of Black Coral. And they were followed by the Grey Swords. Baruk probes whether Rake plans to open an embassy in Darujhistan, but Crone is evasive and Baruk senses his relations with Rake are drawing to an end. But then Crone delivers a message from Rake: When will it begin? Do you wish for assistance? Would said assistance be better provided covertly rather than officially?
Before a discomfited Baruk can reply, Chillblais clatters at the window to be let in. The demon's report that something has left the Finnest House chills the alchemist's bones. He sends the demon away to await further instructions and asks Crone to stay the night.