How had they come here so quickly? And how did the Empress know that they would? The only possibility in answer to the first question was: by warren. Yet, who among the Adjunct's retinue could fashion a gate of such power and breadth? Quick Ben? Pearl did not think that likely.
That bastard liked his secrets, and he liked playing both a weakling and something considerably deadlier, but neither conceit impressed Pearl. No, Tavore's High Mage didn't have what was necessary to open such a massive rift.
Leaving those damned foreigners. And that was very troubling indeed.
Perhaps it might prove a propitious moment for some kind of preemptive, covert action. Which would, now that the Empress had arrived, be possible after all. And expedient – for we have no idea who has now come among us, right to the heart of the empire. A foreign navy, arriving virtually unopposed… within striking distance of the Empress herself.
It was going to be a busy night.
'Pearl.'
The voice was low, yet he did not need to turn round to know who had spoken. He knew, as well, that Empress Laseen would frown disapprovingly should he turn to face her. Odd habits, that way. No, just paranoia. 'Good evening, Empress.'
'Does this view please you?'
Pearl grimaced. 'She has arrived. In all, well timed for everyone concerned.'
'Do you look forward to seeing her again?'
'I travelled in her company for some time, Empress.'
'And?'
'And, to answer your question, I am… indifferent.'
'My Adjunct does not inspire loyalty?'
'Not with me, Empress. Nor, I think, with the soldiers of the Fourteenth Army.'
'And yet, Pearl, has she failed them? Even once?'
'Y'Ghatan-'
The seemingly disembodied voice interrupted him. 'Do not be a fool.
This is you and I, Pearl, speaking here. In absolute private. What occurred at Y'Ghatan could not have been anticipated, by anyone. Given that, Adjunct Tavore's actions were proper and, indeed, laudable.'
'Very well,' Pearl said, remembering that night of flames… the distant screams he could hear from inside his tent – when in my anger and hurt, I hid, like some child. 'Facts aside, Empress, the matter hinges upon how one is perceived.'
'Assuredly so.'
'Adjunct Tavore rarely emerges from an event – no matter how benign or fortuitous – untarnished. And no, I do not understand why this should be so.'
'The legacy of Coltaine.'
Pearl nodded in the darkness. Then, he frowned. Ah, Empress, now I see… 'And so, the dead hero is… unmanned. His name becomes a curse. His deeds, a lie.' No, damn you, I was close enough to know otherwise. No. 'Empress, it will not work.'
'Will it not?'
'No. Instead, we all are tainted. Faith and loyalty vanish. All that gifts us with pride becomes stained. The Malazan Empire ceases to have heroes, and without heroes, Empress, we will self-destruct.'
'You lack faith, Pearl.'
'In what, precisely?'
'The resilience of a civilization.'
'The faith you suggest seems more a wilful denial, Empress. Refusing to acknowledge the symptoms because it's easier that way. Complacency serves nothing but dissolution.'
'I may be many things,' Laseen said, 'but complacent is not one of them.'
'Forgive me, Empress, I did not mean to suggest that.'
'That fleet of catamarans,' she said after a moment, 'looks rather ominous. Can you sense the power emanating from it?'
'Somewhat.'
'Does it not follow, given their appearance, Pearl, that in allying themselves with Adjunct Tavore, these foreigners perceived in her something we do not? I wonder what it might be.'
'I cannot imagine their motives, Empress, for I have yet, to meet them.'
'Do you wish to, Pearl?'
As I anticipated. 'In truth, those motives are of little interest to me.'
'It would seem that not much is these days, Pearl. With you.'
And who has made that particular report, Empress? He shrugged, said nothing.
'The fleet is anchoring in the bay,' the Empress suddenly said, and she stepped up to stand beside Pearl, her gloved hands resting on the battered stone. 'There, two ships only, sliding forward to dock. What does she believe, to have issued such orders? And, perhaps more significantly, why has Admiral Nok not countermanded her – the signal flags are lit, after all. There can be no mistaking my command.'
'Empress,' said Pearl, 'there are not enough berths for this fleet in the entire harbour. It may be that the ships will dock in a particular order-'
'No.'
He fell silent, but he could feel sweat prickling beneath his clothes.
'Her first move,' the Empress whispered, and there was something like excitement – or dark satisfaction – in her tone.
A squeal sounded from the weather vane atop the tower behind them, and Pearl shivered. Aye, on a night with no wind… He looked down upon the city, and saw torchlight in the streets. Sparks to tinder, the word of the arrival in the hay races from mouth to mouth, eager as lust. The Wickans have returned, and now the mob gathers… the rage awakens.
Thus, Empress – you need those ships to close, you need the lines drawn fast.
You need the victims to disembark, to bring the flames to a roar.
She turned about then. 'Follow me.'
Back along the watch-mount, across the causeway span to the keep itself. Her strides sure, almost eager. Beneath the arched entranceway, between the two cloaked, hooded forms of Claws – he felt their warrens held open, power roiling invisibly from their unseen hands.
A long, poorly lit corridor, the pavestones humped where subsurface settling had occurred, marking where an enormous crack was riven through the entire fortress. One day, this whole damned place will tumble into the bay, and good riddance. Of course, the engineers and mages had assured everyone that such a risk was half a century away, or longer. Too bad.
An intersection, the Empress leading him to the left – oh yes, she was familiar with this place. Where she had, years ago, assassinated the Emperor and Dancer. Assassination. If you could call it that. More like inadvertently aided and abetted. Along another canted corridor, and finally to the doors of a meeting chamber. Where stood two more Claws, the one on the left turning upon sighting them and tugging open the left door, in time for the Empress to pass within without change of pace.
Pearl followed, his steps suddenly slowing as soon as he stepped into the room.
Before him, a long T-shaped table. A tribunal arrangement. He found himself at its intersection. A raised chair marked the head, up the length of the axis, and that modest throne was flanked by figures already seated, although they both rose with Laseen's arrival.
Mallick Rel.
And Korbolo Dom.
Pearl struggled to keep the disgust from his face. Immediately before him were the backs of three chairs along the horizontal span. He hesitated. 'Where, Empress,' he asked, 'shall I sit?'
Settling into the throne, she regarded him for a moment, then one thin brow rose. 'Pearl, I do not expect you to be present. After all, you indicated you had no particular interest in seeing the Adjunct again, and so I shall relieve you of that burden.'
