A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3 Read Online Free PDF

in kitchens behind the longhouse proper, to reduce the risk of fires. Blackwood furniture marked out the various rooms, although no dividing walls were present. Hung from hooks on the crossbeams were scores of weapons, some from the earliest days, when the art of forging iron had been lost in the dark times immediately following Father Shadow's disappearance, the rough bronze of these weapons pitted and warped.
    Just beyond the hearthstone rose the bole of a living Blackwood, from which the gleaming upper third of a longsword thrust upward and outward at just above head height: a true Emurlahn blade, the iron treated in some manner the smiths had yet to rediscover. The sword of the Sengar family, signifier of their noble bloodline; normally, these original weapons of the noble families, bound against the tree when it was but a sapling, were, after centuries, gone from sight, lying as they did along the heartwood. But some twist in this particular tree had pried the weapon away, thus revealing that black and silver blade. Uncommon, but not unique.
    Both brothers reached out and touched the iron as they passed.
    They saw their mother, Uruth, flanked by slaves as she worked on the bloodline's tapestry, finishing the final scenes of the Sengar participation in the War of Unification. Intent on her work, she did not look up as her sons strode past.
    Tomad Sengar sat with three other noble-born patriarchs around a game board fashioned from a huge palmate antler, the playing pieces carved from ivory and jade.
    Trull halted at the edge of the circle. He settled his right hand over the pommel of his sword, signifying that the words he brought were both urgent and potentially dangerous. Behind him, he heard Rhulad's quickly indrawn breath.
    Although none of the elders looked up, Tomad's guests rose as one, while Tomad himself began putting away the game pieces. The three elders departed in silence, and a moment later Tomad set the game board to one side and settled back on his haunches.
    Trull settled down opposite him. 'I greet you, Father. A Letherii fleet is harvesting the Calach beds. The herds have come early, and are now being slaughtered. I witnessed these things with my own eyes, and have not paused in my return.'
    Tomad nodded. 'You have run for three days and two nights, then.'
    'I have.'
    'And the Letherii harvest, it was well along?'
    'Father, by dawn this morning, Daughter Menandore will have witnessed the ships' holds filled to bursting, and the sails filling with wind, the wake of every ship a crimson river.'
    'And new ships arriving to take their places!' Rhulad hissed.
    Tomad frowned at his youngest son's impropriety, and made his disapproval clear with his next words. 'Rhulad, take this news to Hannan Mosag.'
    Trull sensed his brother's flinch, but Rhulad nodded. 'As you command, Father.' He pivoted and marched away.
    Tomad's frown deepened. 'You invited an unblooded warrior to this exchange?'
    'I did, Father.'
    'Why?'
    Trull said nothing, as was his choice. He was not about to voice his concern over Rhulad's undue attentions towards Fear's betrothed.
    After a moment, Tomad sighed. He seemed to be studying his large, scarred hands where they rested on his thighs. 'We have grown complacent,' he rumbled.
    'Father, is it complacency to assume the ones with whom we treat are honourable?'
    'Yes, given the precedents.'
    'Then why has the Warlock King agreed to a Great Meeting with the Letherii?'
    Tomad's dark eyes flicked up to pin Trull's own. Of all Tomad's sons, only Fear possessed a perfect, unwavering match to his father's eyes, in hue and indurative regard. Despite himself, Trull felt himself wilt slightly beneath that scornful gaze.
    'I withdraw my foolish question,' Trull said, breaking contact to disguise his dismay. A measuring of enemies. This contravention, no matter its original intent, will become a double-pointed blade, given the inevitable response to it by the Edur. A blade both peoples shall grasp. 'The