The Bonehunters (Malazan Book of the Fallen, #6)

by Steven Erikson

Silence from the ancient undead warrior, then, ‘What do you demand of me?’ ‘We – me, Stormy and Fiddler here – we need an escort. Back to our ship. It could mean a fight.’ ‘There are four thousand mortals between us and the docks,’ Legana Breed said. ‘One and all driven into madness by chaotic sorcery.’ ‘And?’ Gesler sneered. ‘Are you afraid, T’lan Imass?’ ‘Afraid.’ A declarative statement. Then the head cocked. ‘Humour?’ ‘So what’s the problem?’ ‘The docks.’ Hesitation, then, ‘I just came from there.’ Fiddler began collecting his gear. ‘With answers like that one, Legana Breed,’ he said, ‘you belong in the marines.’ He glanced over at Braven Tooth. ‘Well met, old friend.’ The Master Sergeant nodded. ‘And with you. The three of you. Sorry about punching you in the gut, Fid.’ ‘Like Hood you are.’ ‘I didn’t know it was you—’ ‘To Hood you didn’t.’ ‘All right, I heard you come in. Heard cloth against fiddle strings. Smelled Moranth munitions. Not hard with all that.’ ‘So you punched me anyway?’ Braven Tooth smiled. The particular smile that gave the bastard his name. Legana Breed spoke: ‘You are all marines?’ ‘Aye,’ Fiddler said. ‘Tonight, then, I too am a marine. Let us go kill people.’