‘Perhaps not. Do you wish more tea, Rud Elalle?’
‘No, thank you. It is a potent brew.’
‘Necessary, for the journey to come.’
Rud frowned. ‘I do not understand.’
‘This night, we shall travel. There are things you must see. It is not enough that I simply lead you this way and that-I do not expect a loyal hound at my heel, I expect a comrade standing at my side. To witness is to approach comprehension, and you will need that, when you decide.’
‘Decide what?’
‘The side you will take in the war awaiting us, among other things.’
‘Other things. Such as?’
‘Where to make your stand, and when. Your mother chose a mortal for your father for a good reason, Rud. Unexpected strengths come from such mating: the offspring often exhibit the best traits from both.’
Rud started as a stone cracked in the fire. ‘You say you will lead me to places, Silchas Ruin, for you have no wish that I be naught but a loyal, mindless hound. Yet it may be that I shall not, in the end, choose to stand beside you at all. What then? What if I find myself opposite you in this war?’
‘Then one of us will die.’
‘My father left me in your care-and this is how you betray his trust?’
Silchas Ruin bared his teeth in a humourless smile. ‘Rud Elalle, your father gave you to my care not out of trust-he knows me too well for that. Consider this your first lesson. He shares your love for the Imass of the Refugium. That realm-and every living thing within it-is in danger of annihilation, should the war be lost-’
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‘Perhaps not. Do you wish more tea, Rud Elalle?’
‘No, thank you. It is a potent brew.’
‘Necessary, for the journey to come.’
Rud frowned. ‘I do not understand.’
‘This night, we shall travel. There are things you must see. It is not enough that I simply lead you this way and that-I do not expect a loyal hound at my heel, I expect a comrade standing at my side. To witness is to approach comprehension, and you will need that, when you decide.’
‘Decide what?’
‘The side you will take in the war awaiting us, among other things.’
‘Other things. Such as?’
‘Where to make your stand, and when. Your mother chose a mortal for your father for a good reason, Rud. Unexpected strengths come from such mating: the offspring often exhibit the best traits from both.’
Rud started as a stone cracked in the fire. ‘You say you will lead me to places, Silchas Ruin, for you have no wish that I be naught but a loyal, mindless hound. Yet it may be that I shall not, in the end, choose to stand beside you at all. What then? What if I find myself opposite you in this war?’
‘Then one of us will die.’
‘My father left me in your care-and this is how you betray his trust?’
Silchas Ruin bared his teeth in a humourless smile. ‘Rud Elalle, your father gave you to my care not out of trust-he knows me too well for that. Consider this your first lesson. He shares your love for the Imass of the Refugium. That realm-and every living thing within it-is in danger of annihilation, should the war be lost-’
‘Starvald Demelain-but the gate was sealed!’
‘No seal is perfect. Will and desire gnaw like acid. Well. Hunger and ambition are perhaps more accurate descriptions of that which assails the gate.’ He collected the blackened pot from beside the coals and poured Rud’s cup full once more. ‘Drink. We have strayed from the path. I was speaking of the ancient forces-your kin, if you like. Among them, the Eleint. Was Draconus a true Eleint? Or was he something else? All I can say is, he wore the skin of a Tiste Andii for a time, perhaps as a sour joke, mocking our self-importance-who can know? In any case, it was inevitable that Anomander, my brother, would step into the Consort’s path, and all those opportunities for knowledge and truth came to a swift end. To this day,’ he added, sighing, ‘I wonder if Anomander regrets killing Draconus.’
Rud started. His mind was awhirl. ‘What of the Imass? This war-’
‘I told you,’ Silchas Ruin snapped, face betraying his irritation. ‘Wars are indifferent to the choice of victims. Innocence, guilt, such notions are irrelevant. Grasp hold of your thoughts and catch up. I wondered if Anomander has regrets. I know that I do not. Draconus was a cold, cold bastard-and with the awakening of Father Light, ah, well, we saw then the truth of his jealous rage. The Consort cast aside, see the malice of the spurned ignite a black fire in his eyes! When we speak of ancient times, Rud Elalle, we find in our words things far nearer to hand, and all those emotions we imagined new, blazing with our own youth, we find to be ancient beyond imagining.’ He spat into the coals. ‘And this is why poets never starve for things to sing about, though rare is the one who grows fat upon them.’
‘I will defend the Refugium,’ said Rud, hands clenching into fists.
‘We know that, and that is why you are here-’
‘But that makes no sense! I should be there , standing before the gate!’
‘Another lesson. Your father may love the Imass, but he loves you more.’
Rud surged to his feet. ‘I will return-’
‘No. Sit down. You have a better chance of saving them all by accompanying me.’
‘How?’
Silchas Ruin leaned forward and reached into the fire. He scooped up two handfuls of coals and embers. He held them up. ‘Tell me what you see, Rud Elalle, Ryadd Eleis-do you know those words, your true name? They are Tiste Andii-do you know what they mean?’
‘No.’
Silchas Ruin studied the embers cupped in his hands. ‘Just this. Your true name, Ryadd Eleis, means “Hands of Fire”. Your mother looked into the soul of her son, and saw all there was to see. She may well have cherished you, but she also feared you.’
‘She died because she chose betrayal.’
‘She was true to the Eleint blood within her-but you also possess the blood of your father, a mortal, and he is a man I came to know well, to understand as much as anyone could. A man I came to respect. He was the first to comprehend the girl’s purpose, the first to realize the task awaiting me-and he knew that I did not welcome the blood that would stain my hands. He chose not to stand in my way-I am not yet certain what happened at the gate, the clash with Wither, and poor Fear Sengar’s misplaced need to stand in Scabandari’s stead-but through it all, Kettle’s fate was sealed. She was the seed of the Azath, and a seed must find fertile soil.’ He dropped the embers-now cooled-back on to the fire. ‘She is young yet. She needs time, and unless we stand against the chaos to come, she will not have that time-and the Imass will die. Your father will die. They will all die.’ He rose and faced Rud. ‘We leave now. Korabas awaits.’