A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

streets, as a cool breeze lifted withered leaves
that spun random paths across cobbles.
    Making clicking sounds, like the skittering of dice.
     
    The huge wheels of twisted rope suspended on the side of
the stone jetty compressed as the Froth Wolf shouldered its
bulk against them, then the craft slid away again,
momentarily, until the lines, made fast to the dock's huge
bollards, drew taut. The gangplank rattled and thumped
into place even as the garrison captain and his guards
approached along the jetty's length. Pointedly ignoring
the troop of Red Blades standing at attention opposite the
plank with their one-armed, one-eyed commander.
    Something had just struck the sea beyond the anchored
fleet, and the thunderous sound of its impact still echoed,
even as darkness swept back into the wake of the bright,
blazing fireball. The smell of steam was heavy in the
air.
    It had seemed to Keneb that there was a peculiar lack of
reaction to this event, from the Adjunct and T'amber, at
any rate. There had been plenty of shouts, warding gestures
then animated talk among the sailors, but that was to be
expected.
    Let's face it, Keneb admitted, the timing was less than
auspicious. It was no wonder that thousand-strong mob
awaiting them were shouting about omens.
    The Fist's attention was drawn once more to the
approaching contingent.
    'They mean to come aboard, Adjunct,' Keneb said as she
prepared to disembark.
    Tavore frowned, then nodded and stepped back. T'amber
positioned herself to the Adjunct's left.
    Boots thumped on the plank, and the captain halted one
step from the ship's deck. He looked round, as if deciding
what to do next.
    Moving forward, Keneb said, 'Good evening, Captain, I
am Fist Keneb, Eighth Legion, Fourteenth Army.'
    A moment's hesitation, then a salute. 'Fist Keneb. I have
orders for the Adjunct Tavore Paran. May I come on deck?'
    'Of course,' Keneb said.
    Mostly unintelligible shouts and curses reached them from
the crowds massing behind a line of soldiers on the waterfront,
many of them taunts directed at the Red Blades. At
these sounds, the captain winced slightly, then he moved forward
until he faced the Adjunct. 'The Empress awaits you,' he
said, 'in Mock's Hold. In your absence, command of the
Fourteenth Army temporarily falls to me, with respect to disembarking
and standing down.'
    'I see,' Tavore said.
    The captain shifted uneasily, as if he had been expecting
some kind of protest, as if her lack of reaction to his words
was the very last thing he anticipated. 'It appears that the
transports are anchoring in the bay, Adjunct.'
    'Yes, it does appear so, Captain.'
    'That will need to be countermanded immediately.'
    'Captain, what is your name?'
    'Adjunct? My apologies. It is Rynag. Captain Rynag of
the Untan Imperial Guard.'
    'Ah, then you have accompanied the Empress to the
island. Your normal posting is as an officer in the Palace
Guard.'
    Rynag cleared his throat. 'Correct, Adjunct, although as
a matter of course my responsibilities have expand—'
    'T'amber,' the Adjunct cut in. 'Please collect Kalam
Mekhar. He is, I believe, once more at the stern.' She
studied the captain for a moment longer, then asked him,
'The Empress commands that I meet her alone?'
    'Uh, she was not specific—'
    'Very well—'
    'Excuse me, Adjunct. Not specific, as I said, with one
exception.'
    'Oh?'
    'Yes. The High Mage Adaephon Delat is to remain on
board until such time as directed otherwise.'
    Tavore frowned for a moment, then said, 'Very well.'
    'I believe I was speaking about countermanding the order
to drop anchor—'
    'I leave that to you, Captain Rynag,' the Adjunct said as
T'amber reappeared, Kalam trailing a step behind. 'We will
make use of your escort, as well as that of Fist Baralta's Red
Blades, to ensure our passage through that mob.' With that,
and a gesture to T'amber and the assassin to follow, she
disembarked.
    Bemused, the captain watched them cross over to the
jetty. A few curt commands to the Imperial Guards
assembled there and a careless gesture to Tene Baralta and
his soldiers to fall in, and the two groups moved out in
uneasy company to flank Tavore and her two companions.
Then the party set off.
    Rynag swung back to Keneb. 'Fist?'
    'Yes?'
    'Well ...'
    'Things aren't going as planned, Captain?' Keneb
stepped close and slapped a hand on the man's shoulder.
    'Consider this, it could be worse. Correct that. It is much
worse.'
    'No longer,' the man snapped, finally angry. 'I am now in
command of the