The Complete Malazan Book of the Fallen

by Steven Erikson

Mok appeared at her side, rain streaming from his enamel mask. ‘I will face him yet,’ he said. ‘Oh really. And when did duelling Tool become more important than your mission to the Seer? How will the First or the Second react to such self-importance?’ ‘The First is the First and the Second is the Second,’ Mok replied laconically. Lady Envy rolled her eyes. ‘How astute an observation.’ ‘The demands of the self have primacy, mistress. Always, else there would be no champions. There would be no hierarchy at all. The Seguleh would be ruled by mewling martyrs blindly trampling the helpless in their lust for the common good. Or we would be ruled by despots who would hide behind an army to every challenge, creating of brute force a righteous claim to honour. We know of other lands, mistress. We know much more than you think.’ She turned to study him. ‘Goodness. And here I have been proceeding on the assumption that entertaining conversation was denied to me.’ ‘We are immune to your contempt, mistress.’ ‘Hardly, you’ve been smarting ever since I reawakened you. Smarting? Indeed, seething.’ ‘There are matters to be discussed,’ Mok said.