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

by Steven Erikson

When my destruction comes, it will be through betrayal and naught else. There can be no precaution against such a thing, lest my life become its own nightmare of suspicion and mistrust. To this, I shall not surrender.

I understand now why you are well spoken of among the caravanserai, since you are unique among them in possessing a functioning brain.

‘Familiarity breeds facetiousness, I see.

‘I’m a caravan guard captain, and damned good at it. When I’m sober, that is.’ ‘You are the master of war in the name of the Lord of Summer—’ ‘We’ll call that a hobby.’

‘Ah, my friend,’ the figure replied in a rasp. ‘It is I, Onos T’oolan, once of the Tarad Clan, of the Logros T’lan Imass, but now kin to Aral Fayle, to Toc the Younger.’ Kin. Withered arms gathered him up. ‘We are leaving now, young brother.’ Leaving?