Through the dust stepped a T'lan Imass. Desiccated flesh torn, hanging in strips, the gleam of bone visible everywhere, a skull-helmed head that had once held horns. The flint sword in its hands was so notched it appeared denticulated.
Ignoring the Malazans, it turned to the other K'Chain Che'Malle.
The Hunter hissed and attacked.
Picker's eyes could not fully register the speed of the exchange of blows. All at once, it seemed, the K'Chain Che'Malle was toppling, a leg severed clean above what passed for a knee. A sword clanged on the cobbles as a dismembered arm fell. The T'lan Imass had stepped back, and now moved forward once more, an overhead chop that shattered bone down through shoulder, chest, then hip, bursting free to strike the cobbles in a spray of sparks.
The K'ell Hunter collapsed.
The lone T'lan Imass turned to face the keep, and began walking.
Picker and the others watched the warrior stride past them, continue on up the street.
'Hood's breath!' Blend muttered.
'Come on!' Picker snapped.
'Where?' Corporal Aimless demanded.
'After him,' she replied, setting off. 'Looks like the safest place to be is in that thing's shadow.'
'But it's heading for the keep!'
'Then so are we!'
Crusted in mud, boots dragging, Whiskeyjack's army slowly moved forward to form a line facing the killing field, and the city beyond it. Far to either flank were the Barghast, Ilgres Clan on one side, White Faces on the other.
Korlat left her horse with the others behind the line and strode to the low hill immediately to the west of the trader road, where stood Whiskeyjack, Kallor and the standard-bearer, Artanthos.
They had witnessed, one and all, the aerial battles over Coral, the slaughter of the Black Moranth and at least one wing carrying troops of Onearm's Host. They had watched the bombardment, but not a single soldier on the ridge had cheered. There could be no disguising the brutal truth: Dujek was trapped in Coral, his army was being slaughtered, and Whiskeyjack and his exhausted force could do little about it.
Condors had been seen following the Black Moranth flying back to the mountain entrenchments — but there they would meet Orfantal. In his Soletaken form, her brother was second only to Rake himself. Korlat envied him his chance for immediate vengeance.
She approached her companions, preparing her mind for the veering into her draconic form. The power that came with the transition had always frightened her, for it was a cold, hard manifestation, unhuman and inhuman both. This time, however, she would welcome it.
Reaching the crest, she saw what the others were seeing. The north gate had opened across from them. K'Chain Che'Malle were emerging, spreading out to form a line. Eight hundred, perhaps more.
Weapons were readied among the Malazans. When Whiskeyjack gave the order, they would march down to meet that undead line of slayers.
And die. Eight hundred less K'Chain Che'Malle in Coral. Eight hundred K'Chain Che'Malle. occupied for a time. Does Dujek even know? Brood is still half a day behind us. The Grey Swords two bells, perhaps more — I'd not expected that news from Kallor — but they will have ridden too hard, too long.
And Grunde and his legion — they seem to have vanished entirely. Have we lost our shock-troops? Abyss knows, that Daru had no love of battle.
Does Dujek comprehend what we do to purchase for him this day?
Eight hundred K'Chain Che'Malle on the plain. How many remain in the city? How many now carve deadly paths through the High Fist's companies?
The twenty or so condors left over the city were one and all circling the keep itself, a measure, perhaps, of the Seer's confidence, that he would see no need for their participation in what was to come.
The thought brought a bitter taste to her mouth.
Whiskeyjack turned as she arrived, nodded in greeting. 'Did you find Kruppe? I trust he has chosen a safe place.'
'With Hetan,' Korlat replied. 'Demanding white paint for his face.'
Whiskeyjack could not quite manage a smile.
'My Tiste Andii will precede your soldiers when they advance,' Korlat said after a moment. 'We will see how these undead fare against Kurald Galain.'
Kallor's expression hinted at a smirk, 'Your warren is still beset, Korlat. You would require a full unveiling — by all your kin, not just the ones here — to achieve a cleansing. Your brothers and sisters are about to be slaughtered.'
Her eyes narrowed. A full unveiling. Kallor, you know far too much of us. 'I appreciate your tactical acumen,' she replied drily.