fling your braves against our iron wall; we will heap the dead two storeys high around us. But I do not think you will have the chance, alas. Should we come to battle here, Warleader, you will be annihilated. The Khundryl Burned Tears shall have ceased to exist, reduced to a few thousand slaves with quaint tattoos.’
After a moment, Gall hacked up phlegm, turned and spat. Then he wiped his mouth and said, ‘Highness, even as we stand here, your two flanking pincers are being filed down to stumps. Even should we lock jaws with your army, we’ll hardly remain so locked until such time as any other relieving force you manage to cough up arrives.’ He made a dismissive gesture with one scarred hand. ‘This posturing is pointless. How many days away are the Perish? They will take your Evertine Legion and melt it down for all the fancy gold on that armour.’ As she made to speak he held up his hand to forestall her. ‘I have yet to mention the worst you will face-the Bonehunters. Among my people, arguments and opinions are unending as to who are the greatest soldiers the world has ever known-ah, I see in your face that you think we strut about as one of those two, but we do not. No, we speak of the Wickans of Coltaine, versus the marines of the Malazan Empire.’ His teeth appeared in a hard smile. ‘Lucky for you that there are no longer any Wickans among the Bonehunters, but alas, there are plenty of marines.’
A long moment of silence followed his words. Eventually, Abrastal sighed. ‘What are your demands?’
‘We already have enough loot, Highness, so now we’re prepared to sell it back to you-for food, water, livestock and feed. But, for the cost of my warriors killed or maimed in this war, we will pay no more than a third of the true value of those supplies. Once these arrangements are completed to our satisfaction, and once we are reunited with the Perish Grey Helms, we shall leave your kingdom. For ever.’
‘That is it?’
Gall made a face. ‘We don’t want your kingdom. We never did.’
She knew she should feel offended by that, but the time for such indulgences would have to wait. ‘Warleader, understand. The pernicious acts of the merchant houses which led to this war were in themselves abuses of the King’s official policy-’
‘We made certain those thieves were the first to die, Highness.’
‘The ones you killed were but the tip of the poisoned knife.’ She half-turned and nodded to one of her guards. This officer led four other soldiers out from the squad, these ones carrying between them a leather satchel large enough to hold a Khundryl tipi. They set it down and untied the bound corners, and then pulled flat the edges.
A half-dozen bodies were revealed, although not much was left of them.
‘These are the principal agents,’ said Abrastal, ‘believing themselves safely ensconced in the capital. As you can see, only their skins remain-our Punishers are skilled in such matters. Consider them evidence of our acknowledgement of the injustices set upon you. They are yours if you want them.’
Gall’s raptor eyes fixed on her. ‘I am tempted,’ he said slowly, ‘to renege on my avowed lack of interest in taking over your kingdom, if only out of compassion for your people, Highness.’
‘We hold to justice,’ Abrastal snapped, ‘in our own way. I am frankly surprised at your sensitivity, Warleader. The stories I have heard about the habits of savages when it comes to inventing cruel tortures-’
‘Do not apply to us,’ Gall cut in, his voice hard as iron. After a moment he seemed to suddenly relax. ‘Unless we happen to get very angry. In any case, you misunderstood me, Highness. That your kingdom is home to citizens of any stripe who know no self-constraint-no, even worse, that they would treat with foreigners unmindful of the fact that they stand as representatives of their own people-and their kingdom-speaks to me of your self-hatred.’
‘Self-hatred. I see. And if you were the King of Bolkando, Warleader, what would you do?’
‘I would make lying the greatest crime of all.’
‘Interesting notion. Unfortunately, usually the biggest liars of all are the people at the top-it’s how they stay there, after all.’
‘Ah, then I am not to believe a word you say?’
‘You can believe me, for I can think of no lies that would win me anything.’
‘Because my sword hovers over your throat.’
‘Precisely. But the lies I was speaking of are the ones the elite use to maintain the necessary distinctions, if you see my point.’
‘I do,’ and now he regarded her with keen interest. ‘Highness, this has proved most interesting. But I must ask you one other thing-why are you here and not your husband the King?’
‘The role of my Evertine Legion is to be arbiter of control within the kingdom-and its own populace-as much as to confront external threats.’
He nodded. ‘Thus, your presence here serves dual purpose.’
‘And the message presented to our rivals in the palace is-and do not be offended by this-the more important of the two.’ And then she smiled and added, ‘Unless, of course, you were seeking actual conquest.’
‘Your husband holds great faith in you, Highness.’
‘Do you accept our demands?’
‘I do, Warleader, with some modifications.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Name them.’
‘The water we provide you will be doubled, and it will be freely given. We shall also double the forage you require for your beasts, for we know far more about the Wastelands than you do, and we have no wish to make you into liars when you say you will never return to Bolkando.’ She paused, cocked her head. ‘Beyond the Wastelands you will find the dozen or so kingdoms of Kolanse. Warleader, I imagine you will not heed my advice, but I will give it anyway. You will find nothing of worth there. You will, in fact, find something terrible beyond imagining.’
‘Will you tell me more, Highness?’
‘If you like.’
‘Then may I request that you do not do so until such time as either the Mortal Sword Krughava or the Adjunct Tavore is present.’
‘Those you have named, they are both women, yes?’
‘They are.’
‘Will you feel… out of place, then?’
‘I will, but not for the reasons you might think, Highness.’
‘I shall then await this potent gathering with anticipation, Warleader.’
And for the first time, Gall bowed to her. ‘Queen Abrastal, it has been a pleasure.’
‘I am sure you feel so, and I do not begrudge you that. Are we now at peace?’
‘We are.’
She glanced down at the skins on the leather tarp. ‘And these?’
‘Oh,’ said Gall, ‘we’ll take them. My warriors will need to see them, to ease their rage. And for some, to soothe their grief over fallen kin.’
As he bowed again and turned away, Abrastal called out, ‘Warleader.’
He faced her again, a question in his eyes.
The Queen hesitated, and then said, ‘When you spoke of your people’s opinions… of these marines of the Malazan Empire, was there truth to your words?’
He straightened. ‘Highness, although the great Coltaine of the Crow Clan had many Wickans with him, he also possessed marines. Together, they escorted thirty thousand refugees across a third of a continent, and each step of the journey was
‘Have I misunderstood then, Warleader? Did not Coltaine fail? Did he not die? And everyone with him?’
The warrior’s eyes were suddenly old. ‘He did. They all died-the Wickans, the marines.’
‘Then I do not-’
‘They died, Highness, even as they delivered those thirty thousand refugees to safety. They died, but they
When she had nothing more to say, Gall nodded and resumed his march back to his horse. The two young bodyguards moved to edge past her to help with the defleshed and de-boned merchants. Abrastal caught the eye of the boy and winked. If he had been a Bolkando, his eyes would have widened in return. Instead, he grinned.
That dark thing came alive in her once again.
Spax was suddenly at her side, watching as Gall swung himself on to his horse and then sat motionless, presumably waiting for his two charges and the legionaries. ‘I well remember Malazan marines,’ he muttered.
‘And?’
‘Gall spoke true. A more stubborn lot this world has never seen.’
Abrastal thought of Kolanse. ‘They will need it.’
‘Firehair, will you escort them to the border?’
‘Who?’
‘All of them. The Khundryl, the Perish, the Bonehunters.’
‘I wasn’t even aware the Bonehunters were entering our territory.’
‘Perhaps they won’t now that the need is gone.’
‘The Evertine Legion shall accompany these Khundryl and the Perish. It seems, however, that some form of meeting of at least two of the three commanders is planned-and Gall seems to think it will be soon. I would like to speak with them. Accordingly, you and your Gilk will now attach to me-and if we have to march past the border, we shall.’
Spax showed his filed teeth. ‘You can make a request to the Warleader, Queen.’
‘I think I’ve already been invited-’
‘Not that.’ He jerked with his chin. ‘The pup.’
She scowled.
The Gilk Warchief grunted a laugh. ‘You told to me watch carefully, Firehair.’
Abrastal swung about and began marching back to her legion. ‘Rava is going to pay for all of this.’
‘He already has, I gather.’
