#shadowthrone

"No, of course not." Shadowthrone waved an ephemeral hand. "The very opposite, in fact. We urge you. We exhort you. Make haste, set true your course, seek out your confrontation. Let nothing and no one stand in your way."

Traveller's frown deepened.

A soft laugh from Cotillion. "No need. He speaks true, First Sword. It is our pleasure to enable you, in this particular matter."

"I will not bargain with him."

"We know."

"I am not sure you fully understand—"

"We do."

"I mean to kill Hood. I mean to kill the God of Death."

"Best of luck to you!" said Shadowthrone.

More silence.

"A profession devoted to the subversion of laws for profit"

Acceptable? Who the fuck says Any level is acceptable? What sort of mind thinks like that?"

Karsa grinned, "Why, a civilized one."

‘Meaning?’

‘Oh, lots of things. First, this place is now real. And it will live on. These Imass will live on.’

Hedge grunted. ‘Rud Elalle will be pleased. Onrack, too, I imagine.’

‘Aye. and here’s another thing, only I don’t think it’ll please anyone. In that Azath House there will be a tower, and in that tower, all the gates.’

‘So?’

Quick Ben sighed. ‘You damned idiot. The Gates of Starvald Demelain.’

‘And?’

‘Just this. Shadowthrone, and Cotillion. Who like using the Azath whenever it suits them. Now they’ve got a way in. Not just to this realm, either.’

‘Into Starvald Demelain? Gods below, Quick! Is that why we just did all that? Is that what brought you here?’

‘No need to scream, sapper. When it came to planting that House, we weren’t even witnesses. Were we? But you know, its what those two sneaky bastards know, or seem to know, that really worries me. See my point?’

‘Oh, Hood piss in your boots, Ben Adaephon Delat.’

‘Got all your gear there, Hedge? Good. Because once we get to the Gates, we’re going through one of them.’

‘We are?’

‘We are.’ And the wizard grinned across at the sapper. ‘Fid’s never been the same without you.’

i’ve done nothing the past two days but draw malazan fanart