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

by Steven Erikson

Joyful Union was basking in the sun as it dined, ringed in by stones, with Bottle lying close by and studying the way it fed as the scorpion snipped apart the capemoth he had given it for breakfast, when a military issue boot crunched down on the arachnid, the heel twisting. Bottle jerked back in dumbfounded horror, stared up at the figure standing over him, a surge of murderous intent filling his being. Backlit by the morning light, the figure was little more than a silhouette. ‘Soldier,’ the voice was a woman’s, the accent Korelri, ‘which squad is this?’ Bottle’s mouth opened and closed a few times, then he said in a low tone, ‘This is the squad that will start making plans to kill you, once they find out what you’ve just done.’ ‘Allow me,’ she said, ‘to clarify matters for you, soldier. I am Captain Faradan Sort, and I cannot abide scorpions. Now, I want to see how well you manage a salute while lying down.’ ‘You want a salute, Captain? Which one? I have plenty of salutes to choose from. Any preference?’ ‘The salute that tells me you have just become aware of the precipice I am about to kick your ass over. After I shove the sack of bricks up it, of course.’ Oh. ‘Standard salute, then. Of course, Captain.’ He arched his back and managed to hold the salute for a few heartbeats…waiting for her to respond, which she did not. Gasping, he collapsed back down, inhaling a mouthful of dust. ‘We will try that again later, soldier. Your name?’ ‘Uh, Smiles, sir.’ ‘Well, I doubt I w...