Memories of Ice (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #3)

by Steven Erikson

From such a shattering could only come madness.

If you want to call kicking a hole in a fence before getting obliterated by the man who owns the house “impressive”, go right ahead.’

‘She is Lady Envy,’ Tool said. ‘Daughter of Draconus – he who forged the sword Dragnipur, and was slain by its present wielder, Anomander Rake, lord of Moon’s Spawn, with that selfsame sword.

We were there at the Chaining, were we not? Yet … aye, we were there at Fall itself! The Great Ravens were born like maggots in the flesh of the Fallen One and that, oh, that will damn us!

Death and dying makes us into children once again, in truth, one last time, there in our final wailing cries. More than one philosopher has claimed that we ever remain children, far beneath the indurated layers that make up the armour of adulthood. Armour encumbers, restricts the body and soul within it. But it also protects. Blows are blunted. Feelings lose their edge, leaving us to suffer naught but a plague of bruises, and, after a time, bruises fade.

Memories and revelations settle in like poisons, never to be expunged.

The Assassin of High House Shadow seems to have acquired a new face, I’m getting hints of it … bloody familiar, that face.’

‘The Assassin’s face – it’s Kalam!’

When deck was thrown @ him and it showed death all around him.

‘You, wizard, are a hoarder of souls … I am a man who releases souls – shall I break the chains within you? An easy thing, to leave you helpless.’ ‘Even easier,’ Quick Ben replied, ‘to make a hole in the ground.’ Kallor dropped from sight, the earth gone from beneath him. Armour clattered, followed by a bellow of rage.

Mother Dark begat three children, the First, Tiste Andii, were her dearest, dwellers of the land before Light. Then were birthed in pain the Second, Tiste Lians, the burning glory of Light itself, and so the First denied their Mother, in their fury, and so were cast out, doomed children of Mother Dark. She then gave rise, in her mercy, to the Third, spawn of the war between Dark and Light, the Tiste Edur, and there was shadow upon their souls.

‘He’s on his way back. It’s protective sorcery that’s keeping him asleep.’ ‘Can you speed things up?’ ‘Sure.’ The healer slapped the wizard. Quick Ben’s eyes snapped open. ‘Ow. You bastard, Mallet.’

You are to me the exception to the rule that patience is a virtue.’

‘Battle of wills, Kruppe has met his match in this brainless, delusional beast! Aye, he is defeated! Oh, spare me …’

The first Jaghut were to the K’Chain Che’Malle as the first Imass were to the Jaghut.’

‘Such palpable distraughtness!’ Kruppe cried. ‘Distraughtness? Is there such a word? If not, then among Kruppe’s countless talents we must add linguistic invention!

Not wanting the job is the best and only qualification worth considering.’

‘We’re here and here’s here and that’s that.’

Your lack of faith crushes frail Kruppe to his very toes which are themselves wriggling in anguish!’

Sleep beckons, the stream of calm transubstantiation that metamorphoses oblivion into reparation and rejuvenation, and that alone is wonder enough for one and all to close this fitful night!’

Approaching, Antsy grinned. ‘Hello, Capustan. The Bridgeburners have arrived.’

‘You believe what you like,’ the Daru replied. ‘I’ve already made it plain to the Whiskered One that I’m a bad choice—’

‘You are the master of war in the name of the Lord of Summer—’ ‘We’ll call that a hobby.’ ‘A – a what!?’

Victory is an illusion. In all things.

‘When I say let me think, I mean shut up.’

I’ll not deny I am impressed by your mastery of six warrens, Quick Ben. In retrospect, you should have held back on at least half of what you command.’ The man made to rise. ‘But, Bauchelain,’ the wizard replied, ‘I did.’

When someone warns me to follow one course of action, my instinct is to do the very opposite. You’re not the only one inclined to stir the manure.’

‘It is as a plague, is it not? Ever spreading. Devouring lives. That is why you will, ultimately, fail. All of you. You become what you destroy.’

Clever heats the blood all on its own, does it not?

‘Just as Chaos possesses the capacity to act in its own defence, to indeed alter its own nature to its own advantage in its eternal war, so too can Order. It is not solely bound to Darkness. It understands, if you will, the value of balance.’ Paran felt an intuitive flash. ‘The Houses of the Azath. The Deck of Dragons.’

‘The Houses take souls …’ ‘And bind them in place. Beyond the grasp of Chaos.’

A half-dozen heartbeats, within which Oponn’s coin spun … A single, lazy turn … From Lady to Lord.

My, such extraordinary company – what a tale it must be, that has seen you all brought together! No, don’t tell it to me, I’m not that interested.’

All right, it’s probably far too late. But I bless you, one and all.