A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

lanes. Once we have cleared the
risk that is Drift Avalii we will find ourselves in the Genii
Straits, with the coast of Dal Hon to our north. At that
time the currents will once again be with us.'
    'All very well,' Blistig said in a growl, 'but what happens
if Nemil and those other "lesser kingdoms" decide they're
not interested in selling us food and fresh water?'
    'We shall have to convince them,' the Adjunct said, 'by
whatever means necessary.'
    'Let's hope it's not by the sword.'
    As soon as Blistig said that his regret was obvious – the
statement should have sounded reasonable; instead, it
simply revealed the man's lack of confidence in the
Adjunct's army.
    She was regarding her Fist now, expressionless, yet a
certain chill crept into the chamber, filling the silence.
    On Admiral Nok's face, a look of disappointment. Then
he reached for his sealskin cloak. 'I must return now to my
flagship. Thrice on our journey here, the outrider escorts
sighted an unknown fleet to the north. No doubt the sightings
were mutual but no closer contact occurred, so I
believe it poses no threat to us.'
    'A fleet,' Keneb said. 'Nemil?'
    'Possibly. There was said to be a Meckros city west of
Sepik Sea – that report is a few years old. Then again,' he
glanced over at the Adjunct as he reached the flap, 'how
fast can a floating city move? In any case, Meckros raid and
trade, and it may well be that Nemil has dispatched ships
to ward them from their coast.'
    They watched the Admiral leave.
    Blistig said, 'Your pardon, Adjunct—'
    'Save your apology,' she cut in, turning away from him.
'One day I shall call upon you, Blistig, to voice it again. But
not to me; rather, to your soldiers. Now, please visit
Fist Tene Baralta and relay to him the essence of this
meeting.'
    'He has no interest—'
    'His interests do not concern me, Fist Blistig.'
    Lips pressed together, the man saluted, then left.
    'A moment,' the Adjunct said as Keneb prepared to
follow suit. 'How fare the soldiers, Fist?'
    He hesitated, then said, 'For the most part, Adjunct,
they are relieved.'
    'I am not surprised,' she said.
    'Shall I inform them that we are returning home?'
    She half-smiled. 'I have no doubt the rumour is already
among them. By all means, Fist. There is no reason to keep
it a secret.'
    'Unta,' Keneb mused, 'my wife and children are likely
there. Of course, it stands to reason that the Fourteenth will
not stay long in Unta.'
    'True. Our ranks will be refilled.'
    'And then?'
    She shrugged. 'Korel, I expect. Nok thinks the assault on
Theft will be renewed.'
    It was a moment before Keneb realized that she did not
believe a word she was saying to him. Why not Korel! What
might Laseen have in store for us, if not another campaign?
What does Tavore suspect? He hid his confusion by fumbling
over the cloak's clasps for a few heartbeats.
    When he glanced up again, the Adjunct seemed to be
staring at one of the tent's mottled walls.
    Standing, always standing – he could not recall ever
having seen her seated, except on a horse. 'Adjunct?'
    She started, then nodded and said, 'You are dismissed,
Keneb.'
    He felt like a coward as he made his way outside,
angry at his own sense of relief. Still, a new unease
now plagued him. Unta. His wife. What was, is no longer.
I'm old enough to know the truth of that. Things change. We
change —
    'Make it three days.'
    Keneb blinked, looked down to see Grub, flanked by
Bent and Roach. The huge cattle-dog's attention was fixed
elsewhere – southeastward – while the lapdog sniffed at one
of Grub's worn moccasins, where the child's big toe protruded
from a split in the upper seam. 'Make what three
days, Grub?'
    'Until we leave. Three days.' The boy wiped his nose.
    'Dig into one of the spare kits,' Keneb said, 'and find
some warmer clothes, Grub. This sea is a cold one, and it's
going to get colder yet.'
    'I'm fine. My nose runs, but so does Bent's, so does
Roach's. We're fine. Three days.'
    'We'll be gone in two.'
    'No. It has to be three days, or we will never get
anywhere. We'll die in the sea, two days after we leave
Sepik Island.'
    A chill rippled through the Fist. 'How did you know we
were headed west, Grub?'
    The boy looked down, watched as Roach licked clean his
big toe. 'Sepik, but that will be bad. Nemil will be good.
Then bad. And after that, we find friends, twice. And then
we end up where it all started, and that will be very bad.
But that's when she realizes everything, almost everything,
I mean, enough of