‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean, Shand, that Lether is about to fall – and not through my doing. Find Hull and ask him – I’m sure he’s up there, somewhere. In the north. And, you know, it’s rather amusing, how he fought so hard for your people, for every one of those tribes Lether then devoured. Because now, knowing what he knows, he’s going to fight again. Only, this time, not for a tribe – not for the Tiste Edur. This time, for Lether. Because he knows, my friends, that we’ve met our match in those damned bastards. This time, it’s the Edur who will do the devouring.’
‘What makes you think so?’ Shand demanded, and he saw the disbelief in her expression.
‘Because they don’t play the game,’ he said.
‘What if you’re wrong?’
‘It’s possible. Either way, it’s going to be bloody.’
‘Then let’s make it easier for the Tiste Edur.’
‘Shand, you’re talking treason.’
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
Rissarh barked a laugh. ‘You idiot. We’ve been doing that all along.’
Errant take me, she’s right . ‘I’m not convinced a host of barbaric Edur overlords will do any better.’
‘We’re not talking about what’s better,’ Shand said. ‘We’re talking about revenge. Think of Hull, of what was done to him. Do it back, Tehol.’
I don’t believe Hull would see it that way. Not quite. Not for a long, long time . ‘You realize, don’t you, that I’ve worked very hard at cultivating apathy. In fact, it seems to be bearing endless fruit.’
‘Yes, the skirt doesn’t hide much.’
‘My instincts may be a bit dull.’
‘Liar. They’ve just been lying in wait and you know it. Where do we start, Tehol Beddict?’
He sighed. ‘All right. First and foremost, we lease out this ground floor. Biri needs the storage.’
‘What about you?’
‘I happen to like my abode, and I don’t intend to leave. As far as anyone else is concerned, I’m still not playing the game. You three are the investors. So, put those damned weapons away; we’re in a far deadlier war now. There’s a family of Nerek camped outside my house. A mother and two children. Hire them as cook and runners. Then head down to the Merchant Tolls and get yourselves listed. You deal in property, construction and transportation. No other ventures. Not yet. Now, seven properties are for sale around the fifth wing of the Eternal Domicile. They’re going cheap.’
‘Because they’re sinking.’
‘Right. And we’re going to fix that. And once we’ve done that, expect a visit from the Royal Surveyor and a motley collection of hopeful architects. Ladies, prepare to get rich.’