abstract
| - The Chain of Dogs are one day east of the River P'atha. As Duiker walks through camp he is startled by an onrushing Wickan cattle-dog bearing a frightened lapdog in its mouth. The dog races past and the historian is soon accosted by a group of nobles looking for their rare Hengese roach dog. Duiker does not treat the issue with the gravity they think it deserves and one noble, Pullyk Alar, begins to threaten him with a beating. They are interrupted by Corporal List who has been sent to bring Duiker before Coltaine. Along the way, they spot the noble Lenestro beating the servant who lost the dog. Duiker stops the beating, and asks List to bring the man to the army's healers. He informs the noble that the servant will not be returned to him and frightens the man into a faint by shaking him by the collar. They are berated by an indignant Nethpara until List advises the noble of Duiker's background as a soldier. In his mind, the historian used restraint by not stabbing Lenestro to death. Arriving at the wagons bearing the dying and the wounded, Duiker says they are a lesson that lays bare the delusion of self-importance. They leave the servant to the hands of the healers. They reach Coltaine's headquarters where Duiker is greeted by his unnamed marine before stepping inside the tent. List grins at the old man's sudden improved mood. Inside are the Fist, Bult, Captain Lull, and Sormo E'nath. The necromancer explains that the Semk godling was badly damaged the night of the attempted assassination. Apparently, Duiker's reported Claw had assistance from a Demon. But Sormo is puzzled. During the attack, Nil entered a spirit world where he came face to face with a young boy who appeared to be the beast's familiar. This is not typical of an Imperial demon. Bult informs Duiker that Kamist Reloe has prepared them a welcome on the other side of the river. Since the army cannot go around, they will go through. Duiker will accompany the Marines.
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