Chapter Seven

In a dream, Kruppe meets the Elder God K’rul beside an unfading fire. K’rul speaks of blood spilled on his once-holy stones in Darujhistan, of awaiting one soon to be awakened, and of Awakeners among the T’lan Imass who will lead a woman. He warns that gods fall to mortals, grants Kruppe an “ancient fire,” and departs, leaving Kruppe to realize a child now bears a fateful Coin.

Before dawn, Circle Breaker ends his watch and, torn between fear and duty, chooses anonymity over aid: he tears up a plea to the Eel and walks away, accepting the risks of facing Turban Orr alone. Elsewhere, Lady Simtal spars with Turban Orr over Lim’s assassination, neutrality with the Malazans, and her desire to eliminate her “dispossessed” husband, while Moon’s Spawn remains unresponsive.

Murillio courts Lady Orr to obtain two invitations to Lady Simtal’s Gedderone Eve fête, a key step in Rallick Nom’s intricate plan. Rallick deliberately parades his assassin’s image through Higher Estates, then intercepts Crokus in an alley and forbids him from targeting Orr’s estate. Troubled by guilt over the D’Arle maiden he robbed, Crokus fixates on a peculiar two-headed coin he found the night of the assassinations and meets Kruppe in Worrytown to reclaim the D’Arle loot.

At Hinter’s Tower, Murillio delivers the invitations to Rallick through Krute’s back channel; the two debate guiding Crokus toward a safer, nobler path via Mammot while acknowledging the dangers ahead. Rallick refuses to enter the haunted tower, emphasizing the risks surrounding their schemes.

In his study, Baruk’s map of the Malazan advance is ominously flooded with spilled red ink. Kruppe arrives reporting an assassin war pressuring the Guild and thieves, then reveals a wax disc bearing Oponn’s two faces. When Baruk tests it with his Warren, the spinning semblance collapses his power and melts, proving Oponn’s presence. Baruk orders Kruppe to assemble Murillio, Rallick, and Coll to protect the Coinbearer and learn whether the Lord or Lady holds him. Kruppe identifies the bearer as Crokus, and Baruk steels himself against Oponn’s meddling and the Empress’s unseen agents in the city.