Deadhouse Landing

‘You understand that if you vary at all from these instructions you will be killed?’

Lee felt a fierce desire to leave at once – she could do this. I can do this. This woman, Surly, will see. She swallowed hard to say tautly, ‘Yes.’

The Napan nodded again. ‘Very good. He will ask if you have a message for him and you will say this: “We are proceeding by other means.” Repeat that, please.’

Lee took a breath to steel herself, repeated, ‘We are proceeding by other means.’

The woman smiled, faintly. Lee had the feeling that this was all the smile the woman would ever muster. ‘Good. Now, do not worry. It’s just a message. But your name is known, and I want you to change it. A new name for a new role. Can you think of one?’

She swallowed. ‘I’ve always liked the name Opal.’

Surly inclined her head in assent, accepting it. ‘Very good, Opal.’ She took hold of her shoulders, looking her up and down. ‘Give me those earrings,’ she said. ‘Too distinctive.’

Lee handed them over.

After examining them for a moment, Surly broke one in two and handed one of the pieces to her. ‘Take this. You may have to send a message. Include your half to prove authenticity, yes?’

Lee squeezed the fragment in her hand. Surly looked to Urko, who peered out into the back alley then nodded the all clear. Surly handed Lee a small bag of coin and gestured her out. ‘May Chem watch over you.’

Lee bowed to her and went to the door, but just outside she stopped and whispered low to the great hulking fellow, ‘Who is she?’

‘Someone worth following, lass – now go.’ He pushed her on with one wide paw.

She went, and not running either, as that would attract attention. She walked down to the docks, where she’d get a room for the night before taking a day-trader across to the mainland tomorrow. Under a hanging street-lamp, she opened her hand to examine the fragment: it was half the hummingbird earring. Just the clasp that would pinch the ear: a silver three-toed bird’s claw.

Also by Ian C. Esslemont

NIGHT OF KNIVES

RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD

STONEWIELDER

ORB SCEPTRE THRONE

BLOOD AND BONE

ASSAIL

DANCER’S LAMENT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Winnipeg, Ian Cameron Esslemont has studied and worked as an archaeologist, travelled extensively in South East Asia and lived in Thailand and Japan for several years. He now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his wife and children. He has a creative writing degree and his novels are all set in the fantasy world of Malaz that he co-created with Steven Erikson. Deadhouse Landing follows Dancer’s Lament and continues the story of the turbulent early history of one of the great imagined landscapes. To find out more, visit him online at www.malazanempire.com / www.ian-esslemont.com, or sign up for email updates here.

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CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Quon Tali

Malaz City: Pre-Empire

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Part One

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Part Two

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Also by Ian C. Esslemont

About the Author

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

DEADHOUSE LANDING

Copyright © 2017 by Ian Cameron Esslemont

All rights reserved.

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates

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ISBN 978-0-7653-7946-7 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-7653-7947-4 (trade paperback)

ISBN 978-1-4668-6859-5 (ebook)

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First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers

First U.S. Edition: November 2017

eISBN 9781466868595

First eBook edition: November 2017