A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

Fourteenth Army, Fist Keneb, and these
are my orders. Signal flag to Admiral Nok. The escorts are
to withdraw and set sail without delay for Unta. Signal
flag to the foreign fleet, they are to anchor outside the bay,
this side of the shoals on the headland north of Mock's
Hold. A pilot ship will guide them. Finally, signal flag to
the transports – we will establish a number system; and
thereafter in sets of fifteen they will weigh anchor and draw
in to the designated moorings. The disembarking will begin
as soon as possible, Fist. Furthermore, the soldiers are to be
unarmed, their kits secured for transportation.'
    Keneb scratched his stubbly jaw.
    'Why are you just standing there, Fist Keneb?'
    'I am trying to decide, Captain, where to begin.'
    'What do you mean?'
    'All right, never mind. First of all, whether you are in
command of the Fourteenth Army or not, you do not outrank
Admiral Nok. Signal him all you want. He will do
precisely as he pleases.'
    'I am instructed by the Empress—'
    'He will need to see those orders, Captain. In person.
The Admiral is very precise with such protocol. I assume
you have said orders ?'
    'Of course I have! Very well, signal him aboard!'
    'Alas, he will not comply.'
    'What?'
    'Now, as for the Perish – the foreign fleet, Captain Rynag
– the only command they acknowledge, under the
circumstances, is their own. By all means, make your
request, but be certain that it is a request. Lest they take
offence, and Captain, you truly do not want them to
take offence.'
    'You are leaving me no choice but to relieve you of
command, Fist.'
    'Excuse me?'
    'I have given you my orders, yet still you stand here—'
    'Well that is precisely the problem, Captain. Not one of
your orders can be carried out, for the imperative
overriding them cannot be challenged, not by you, not
even by the Empress herself.'
    'What are you talking about?'
    Keneb said, 'Follow me, please, Captain.'
    They walked to the stem. In the bay beyond, the huge
transports loomed a short distance away like gigantic,
slumbering beasts.
    'Granted,' Keneb said, 'darkness obscures, and for this
reason it is understandable that you do not as yet comprehend.
But, allow me to direct your gaze, Captain, to the
topmost signal flag on those near ships, a flag identical to
those on Nok's dromons. In a moment, when that cloud
passes by the moon, with Oponn's blessing there will be
enough light with which to see. There is an edict, Captain,
pertaining to survival itself. You seem to forget, both the
Fourteenth Army and the imperial fleet have come from
Seven Cities.'
    The cloud slid away from the blurred, hazy moon, and
enough light licked waves, ships, and flags for Rynag to see.
The captain's breath caught in a half-choke. 'Gods below!' he whispered.
    'And Seven Cities,' Keneb continued in a calm voice,
'was struck by a most virulent plague. Which, as you can
now see, we inadvertently brought with us. So, Captain, do
you now understand why we cannot comply with your commands?'
    The man spun to face him, his eyes filled with terror and
panic. 'And this damned ship?' he demanded in a hoarse
voice. 'And the other one that just docked? Fist Keneb—'
    'Plague-free, both of them, Captain, as was the ship from
whence came the Red Blades. We would not have moored
alongside were it otherwise. Anyway, beyond signal flags,
there is no contact between ships. For obvious reasons. I
suppose, if you believe the Empress would nonetheless
insist we one and all disembark regardless of the slaughter
our presence would deliver to Malaz Island – and,
inevitably, to the entire mainland – you can insist on
countermanding our collective gesture of compassion and
mercy. Unquestionably, the name of Captain Rynag will
acquire legendary status, at least among devotees to Poliel
– nothing wrong with seeing the positives, don't you
think?'
     
    The group marched ever closer to the wall of belligerence
blocking the streets. Kalam loosened the long-knives in
their scabbards. Glancing over, he found himself walking
alongside Captain Lostara Yil, who looked profoundly
unhappy.
    'Suggest you all draw your weapons any time now,' the
assassin said to her. 'That should be enough to make them
back off.'
    She grunted. 'Until they start throwing bricks.'
    'I doubt it. We're for the Empress, not them. The ones
these people are hungry to sink their teeth into are out
there in the transports. The Wickans. The Khundryl
Burned Tears.'
    'Clever ruse,' Lostara said under her