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| - In Skullcup, Baudin has been missing for six days now. Patrols have been put up, and the camp has been searched thouroughly. Felisin is in Bula's tavern with Beneth. She is aware that Beneth suspects her now, because he thinks she knows where Baudin is. He has taken her back only to destroy her by drowning her into durhang. Later, they join Beneth's patrol squad and find themselves under attack from Dosii guards who are rebelling against the Malazan rule. Felisin sees Beneth fall down, struck by a quarrel, and she runs away towards the barracks. There, Pella explains to her that the Malazans are trying to crush the mutiny of the Dosii guards. He insists that she comes with him, and he leads her to Heboric's room. Baudin is also there. They are preparing to escape from the Otataral mines by swimming across Sinker Lake. There are caves on the other side, where Baudin has been hiding for the past days. Felisin wants to take Beneth with them, and Baudin agrees to find him, while the girl and the priest wait for him hidden in the mud next to the lake. Alone with Heboric, she understands that the priest didn't want her to come along. She is convinced that he despises her, because she has fallen so low, seeing in his eyes the very same contempt that she feels for herself. Heboric then explains the whole plan to her. Their escape has been arranged by an old friend of Heboric's, Duiker, the Imperial Historian. Supplies have been prepared for them outside the caves. They will then have to walk for 10 days across the desert to the inside coast, where a boat will pick them up and take them to the mainland. As they wait for Baudin, they are attacked by a swarm of bloodflies. While the bloodflies avoid Heboric because he is blessed by Fener, they savagely bite Felisin on her thighs, face, around her eyes, in her mouth and ears. Thanks to Heboric's special tincture, they manage to extract the larvae from the wounds, but Felisin will be scarred for life. Heboric promises her that he will find a High Denul healer to remove the pockmarks. Felisin feels that she has fallen at her lowest, as she doesn't even have vanity left to sting. Baudin arrives and tells them that Beneth is dead. Felisin feels pain and anguish at this announcement, she is convinved that Baudin didn't even look for him. She feels she has to go on nonetheless, so the trio swim across the lake as planned and get to the cave. Baudin goes scouting outside and sees Dosin Pali glowing with sorcery in the distance. Back in the cave, he tells Heboric and Felisin that the Whirlwind has come.
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