The Crippled God (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #10)

by Steven Erikson

‘Today, the Tiste Andii fight for themselves!’ And this time other weapons found the rims of shields. CRACK! ‘Your home!’ CRACK! ‘Your kin!’ CRACK! The sword shivered in his hand. The soldier stumbling beside him fell away, his shield split. Gasping, Spinnock Durav pushed on. Anomander Rake – do you witness this? Do you look into these faces – all these faces behind me? ‘This time! Strangers fight in your name! Strangers die for you! Your cause – not theirs!’ CRACK! The reverberation shoved him forward, shivered through him like something holy. ‘Children of Dark, humans are dying in your name!’ CRACK! The very air trembled with that concussion. A torrent of water – clinging to high branches, to needles and leaves – shook loose and rained down in an answering hiss. Ahead, Spinnock could hear fighting. Do you see, Anomander? Old friend, do you see? This is our war.