Dust of Dreams/Chapter 13

Epigraph

They came late to the empty land and looked with bitterness upon the six wolves watching them from the horizon's rim. With them was a herd of goats and a dozen black sheep. They took no account of the wolves' possession of this place, for in their minds ownership was the human crown that none other had the right to wear. The beasts were content to share in survival's struggle, in hunt and quarry, and the braying goats and bawling sheep had soft throats and carelessness was a common enough flaw among herds; and they had not yet learned the manner of these two-legged intruders. Herds were fed upon by many creatures. Often the wolves shared their meals with crows and coyotes, and had occasion to argue with lumbering bears over a delectable prize.     When I came upon the herders and their long house on a flat above the valley, I found six wolf skulls spiked above the main door. In my travels as a minstrel I knew enough that I had no need to ask—this was a tale woven into our kind, after all. No words, either, for the bear skins on the walls, the antelope hides and elk racks. Not a brow lifted for the mound of bhederin bones in the refuse pit, or the vultures killed by the poison-baited meat left for the coyotes.     That night I sang and spun tales for my keep. Songs of heroes and great deeds and they were pleased enough and the beer was passing and the shank stew palatable.     Poets are sembling creatures, capable of shrugging into the skin of man, woman, child and beast. There are some among them secretly marked, sworn to the cults of the wilderness. And that night I shared out my poison and in the morning I left a lifeless house where not a dog remained to cry, and I sat upon a hill with my pipe, summoning once more the wild beasts. I defend their ownership when they cannot, and make no defence against the charge of murder; but temper your horror, friends: there is no universal law that places a greater value upon human life over that of a wild beast. Why would you ever imagine otherwise? Confessions of Two Hundred Twenty Three Counts of Justice Welthan the Minstrel (AKA Singer Mad)

Silchas Ruin discusses Rud Elalle's parentage and future with him. He says that Rud's real name is Ryadd Eleis, 'Hands of Fire'. He tells him he will take him to meet Korabas, the Otataral Dragon.

Sandalath Drukorlat, Withal and the Nachts have travelled through the warren of Rashan to the shore, but the Shake have already left on the Road of Gallan. They follow, and are immediately attacked by a Forkrul Assail. The Nachts transform into Venath demons and kill the Forkrul.

Kalyth is becoming more of a Destriant. She has a dream-vision of Whiskeyjack and the Bridgeburners. He explains that they have taken over Hood's role of Guardian of Death's Gate. The next day the K'Chain Che'Malle are pursued by a caste of K'Chain Nah'ruk, their bitter enemy. Two of the K'ell Hunters are killed. Kalyth summons the Bridgeburners to help them but gets instead some undead Jaghut who kill their pursuers.

Sinn and Grub continue to travel through the warren. Sinn discusses their origin; she implies that they are both different, that Grub's Chain of Dogs experiences, and Sinn's in Y'Ghatan, somehow recreated them.

The ghost's companions are exploring the K'Chain Che'Malle keep. The newly-woken drone, Sulkit, comes to meet them. Surprisingly he can sense the ghost. The ghost is recovering his memories, which are of cruelty and killing; he had killed even his own wife.