The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen

by Steven Erikson

‘You chew on things like no other man I’ve known,’ Gruntle said. Blinking, Itkovian glanced over at the Daru. ‘Sir?’ ‘Well, not quite true, come to think of it. Buke…’ On Itkovian’s other side, Stonny sniffed. ‘Buke? Buke was a drunk.’ ‘More than that, you miserable woman,’ Gruntle replied. ‘He carried on his shoulders—’ ‘None of that,’ Stonny warned. To Itkovian’s surprise, Gruntle fell abruptly silent. Buke … ah, I recall. On his shoulders, the deaths of loved ones. ‘There is no need, Stonny Menackis, for such uncharacteristic sensitivity. I see how I appear, to you both, similar to Buke. I am curious: did your sad friend seek redemption in his life? While he may have refused me when I was Shield Anvil, he might well have drawn strength from some inner resolve.’ ‘Not a chance, Itkovian,’ Stonny said. ‘Buke drank to keep his torment at bay. He wasn’t looking for redemption. He wanted death, plain and simple.’ ‘Not simple,’ Gruntle objected. ‘He wanted an honourable death, such as his family was denied – by that honour he would redeem them in exchange. I know, a twisted notion, but what went on in his mind is less a mystery to me than to most, I suspect.’ ‘Because you’ve thought the same,’ Stonny snapped. ‘Even though you didn’t lose a family to some tenement fire. Even though the worst thing you’ve lost is maybe that harlot who married that merchant—’ ‘Stonny,’ the Daru growled, ‘I lost Harllo. I nearly lost you.’ The admission clearly left her speechless. Ah, these two …...