“ | You were a hero round these parts. That’s what they call you when you kill so many people the word murderer falls short. | ” |
— Sajaam
|
Fish out of Water is the fifth chapter of Best Served Cold.
Chapter Summary[]
After ten weeks in Talins, Caul Shivers fresh start isn’t going too well. The local fishermen are unwilling to employ a Northman with no skills other than killing. One evening, while settling into another night sleeping in a doorway, four thugs try to rob him. He deals with two of them, but the other two come at him armed with knives. Things seem bleak until a mysterious stranger drives them off; Monza Murcatto.
Monza offers him dinner, a bath, and a silver coin in return for a favour; to go into a smoke-house and ask a man called Sajaam to meet Nicomo Cosca at “the usual place”. Shivers agrees, and brings the big black man to a dark desultory garden. When Monza appears, Sajaam is shocked to see her alive; Grand Duke Orso has pronounced her dead, assassinated at the hands of The League of Eight. Monza announces that she intends to murder the seven men responsible for Benna’s death, and want the favours he owes her; information and one of his men. Sajaam reluctantly agrees, and calls forward a man who has been stealthily following them. He introduces him as Friendly, a former cellmate from his time in prison in Safety.
After Sajaam leaves, Monza turns to Shivers and offers him another fifty silver coin to help her kill a man. Hesitant, Shivers insists on knowing why she wants the man dead. When she explains that the man murder her brother, Shivers consents remembering his own desire for vengeance against Logen Ninefingers.
Characters[]
Introduced | Appeared | Mentioned |
---|---|---|
Sajaam | Caul Shivers | Nicomo Cosca |
Friendly | Monza Murcatto | Grand Duke Orso |
Benna Murcatto | ||
Logen Ninefingers |
Locations[]
Talins | Styria | Northmen | The League of Eight | Safety |
References[]
- Abercrombie has a great ability to write characters, and I'd argue that Friendly is his greatest new characters in this book.