A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 1

uncle and cousins would do that. Now, I suggest you go below – back to your cabin – and stay there.'
    Ignoring that advice, Kalam went off to find the marines.
    The engagement with the pirates had been fierce and short. Not only was the ship coming apart under them, but there was little fight left in the raider's panicked crew.
    'More like a slaughter,' the lieutenant muttered as the assassin crouched down opposite her. The two squads sat in the forward hold, amidst streams of water running down the planks, busy stuffing rags into the breaches in the hull. 'We didn't even take a scratch.'
    'What have you worked out thus far?' Kalam quietly asked.
    She shrugged. 'As much as we need to, Corporal. What do you want us to do?'
    'The treasurer will order you to stand down. The pirates will then relieve you of your weapons—'
    'At which point they slit our throats and toss us overside – Imperial Writ or no, the man's committing treason.'
    'Well, he's stealing from a thief, but I take your point.' Kalam rose. 'I'll talk with the crew and get back to you, Lieutenant.'
    'Why don't we take down the treasurer and his bodyguard right now, Kalam?'
    The assassin's eyes narrowed. 'Stick to the rules, Lieutenant. Leave murder to those whose souls are already stained.'
    She bit her lip, studied him for a long time, then slowly nodded.
     
    Kalam found the sailor he'd spoken with when the hold was being loaded at the Aren pier. The man was coiling ropes on the sterncastle with the air of someone needing to keep busy.
    'Heard you saved the captain,' the sailor said.
    'He's alive, but in bad shape.'
    'Aye. Cook's standing outside his cabin door, sir. Wi' a cleaver and – ask any hog – the man can use it. Bern's blessing, I seen the man shave wi' it once, as clean as a virgin's tit.'
    'Who is standing in for the officers?'
    'If y' mean who's got things shipshape and all the hands at stations, that'd be me, sir, only our new commander ain't much interested in jawing wi' me. His swordsman's come over to tell me t' get ready to heave to, once the seas have settled some.'
    'To transfer cargo.'
    The man nodded.
    'And then?'
    'Well now, if the commander's true to his word, they'll let us go.'
    Kalam grunted. 'And why would they be so kind?'
    'Aye, I've been chewin' that one myself. We got sharp enough eyes – too sharp for them to breathe easy. Besides, there's what's been done to Captain. Got us a little peeved, that has.'
    Boots thumped midships and the two men turned to see the bodyguard lead the marines onto the main deck. The lieutenant was looking none too happy.
    'It's the gods' puke all round us now, sir,' the sailor muttered. 'Raider's closing.'
    'So we've arrived,' Kalam said under his breath. He looked across to Salk Elan and found the man's eyes on him. The assassin gave a nod and Elan casually turned away, his hands hidden beneath his cloak.
    'That raider's got a shipload of swords, sir. I make fifty or more, all gettin' ready.'
    'Leave them to the marines. Your crew stays back – spread the word.'
    The sailor moved off.
    Kalam made his way to the main deck. The treasurer was facing off with the lieutenant.
    'I said to surrender your weapons, Lieutenant!' the treasurer snapped.
    'No, sir. We will not.'
    The treasurer was trembling with rage. He gestured to his bodyguard.
    The big tribesman did not get very far. He made a choking sound, hands reaching up to claw at the knife protruding from his throat. Then he fell to his knees, toppled.
    Salk Elan stepped forward. 'Change of plans, my dear sir,' he said, bending to retrieve his knife.
    The assassin moved behind the treasurer and pushed the point of his long-knife against the man's lower back. 'Not a word,' he growled, 'not a move.' He then turned to the marines. 'Lieutenant, prepare to repel boarders.'
    'Aye, sir.'
    The raider was coming alongside, the pirates jostling as they prepared to leap the distance between the ships. The difference in height meant that they had a climb to make – nor could those on deck see much of what awaited them on Ragstopper. A lone crewman on the raider had begun a lazy climb towards the lone mast's tiny crow's nest.
    Too late, you fools.
    The pirate captain – the treasurer's uncle, Kalam assumed – shouted a greeting across the distance.
    'Say hello,' the assassin growled. 'Who knows, if your cousins are good enough, you might win the day yet.'
    The treasurer raised a hand, called out his answer.
    There was less than ten paces between