Fall of Light (The Kharkanas Trilogy, #2)

by Steven Erikson

‘We are gathered here upon the eve of battle—’ ‘Best make it dawn, Prazek, we’re nearing the hills.’ ‘Upon the dawn of a day promising glorious battle! Permit me to elaborate. The battle is yours and the glory is mine. There will be no confusion regarding this matter, I trust. Excellent! You are here, and you will fight in my name, for one perfectly reasonable reason – to wit, because you are not over there, upon the valley’s other side, fighting in the name of him, or her. In other words, you are here and not there. Is that clear, then?’ ‘Sire! Sire!’ ‘What is it?’ ‘I have a brother who fights for him or her, over there!’ ‘That man is no brother of yours, fool.’ ‘But our mother—’ ‘Your mother was a whore and a liar! Now, where was I?’