'It's nearing dawn,' Scillara said.
'Why are you awake?'
'No particular reason.'
He shook off the blanket, rose and walked over to the hearth.
Crouched, tossing a handful of tinder onto the glowing coals, waited until it flared to life, then began adding dung chips.
'Cutter, what do you think will happen on Otataral Island?'
'I'm not sure. That old Malazan's not exactly clear on the matter, is he?'
'He is Destriant to the Tiger of Summer.'
Cutter glanced across at her. 'Reluctantly.'
She added more rustleaf to her pipe. 'He doesn't want followers. And if he did, it wouldn't be us. Well, not me, nor Felisin. We're not warriors. You,' she added, 'would be a more likely candidate.'
He snorted. 'No, not me, Scillara. It seems I follow another god.'
'It seems?'
She could just make out his shrug. 'You fall into things,' he said.
A woman. Well, that explains a lot. 'As good a reason as any other,' she said behind a lungful of smoke.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, I don't see much reason behind following any god or goddess.
If you're worth their interest, they use you. I know about being used, and most of the rewards are anything but, even if they look good at the time.'
'Well,' he said after a moment, 'someone's rewarded you.'
'Is that what you call it?'
'Call what? You're looking so… healthy. Full of life, I mean. And you're not as skinny as before.' He paused, then hastily added, 'Which is good. Half-starved didn't suit you – doesn't suit anyone, of course. You, included. Anyway, that's all.'
She sat, smoking, watching him in the growing light. 'We are quite a burden to you, aren't we, Cutter?'
'No! Not at all! I'm to escort you, a task I happily accepted. And that hasn't changed.'
'Don't you think Greyfrog is sufficient to protect us?'
'No, I mean, yes, he probably is. Even so, he is a demon, and that complicates things – it's not as if he can just amble into a village or city, is it? Or negotiate supplies and passage or stuff like that.'
'Felisin can. So can I, in fact.'
'Well. You're saying you don't want me here?'
'I'm saying we don't need you. Which isn't the same as saying we don't want you, Cutter. Besides, you've done well leading this odd little company, although it's obvious you're not used to doing that.'
'Listen, if you want to take over, that's fine by me.'
Ah, a woman who wouldn't follow, then. 'I see no reason to change anything,' she said offhandedly.
He was staring at her as she in turn regarded him, her gaze as level and as unperturbed as she could manage. 'What is the point of all this?' he demanded.
'Point? No point. Just making conversation, Cutter. Unless… is there something in particular you would like to talk about?'
She watched him pull back in every way but physically, as he said, '
No, nothing.'
'You don't know me well enough, then, is that it? Well, we'll have plenty of time.'
'I know you… I think. I mean, oh, you're right, I don't know you at all. I don't know women, is what I really mean. And how could I? It's impossible, trying to follow your thoughts, trying to make sense out of what you say, what is hidden behind your words-'
'Would that be me, specifically, or women in general?'
He threw more dung on the fire. 'No,' he muttered, 'nothing in particular I'd like to talk about.'
'All right, but I have a few topics…'
He groaned.
'You were given the task,' she said. 'To escort us, correct? Who gave you that task?'
'A god.'
'But not Heboric's god.'
'No.'
'So there's at least two gods interested in us. That's not good, Cutter. Does Ghost Hands know about this? No, he wouldn't, would he?
No reason to tell him-'
'It's not hard to figure out,' Cutter retorted. 'I was waiting for you. In Iskaral Pust's temple.'
'Malazan gods. Shadowthrone or Cotillion. But you're not Malazan, are you?'
'Really, Scillara,' Cutter said wearily, 'do we have to discuss this right now?'
'Unless,' she went on, 'your lover was. Malazan, that is. The original follower of those gods.'
'Oh, my head hurts,' he mumbled, hands up over his eyes, the fingers reaching into his hair, then clenching as if to begin tearing it out.