A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

mean.'
    'Enough of that,' Shurq Elalle said, seeing the woman's
umbrage ratchet up a few more notches on the old hoist
pole – and it was plenty high enough already. 'Second
Maiden is now independent, and for that I have boundless
admiration. Tell me, how many Edur ships assailed your
island in the invasion?'
    Pithy snorted. 'They took one look at the fortifications,
and one sniff at the mages we'd let loose on the walls, and
went right round us.'
    The captain's brows rose a fraction. 'I had heard there
was a fight.'
    'There was, when our glorious liberation was declared.
Following the terrible accidents befalling the warden and
her cronies.'
    'Accidents, hah! That's a good one.'
    Shurq Elalle glared across at her first mate, but like most
men he was impervious to such non-verbal warnings.
    'I will take that fifteen docks now,' Pithy said, her tone
cold. 'Plus the five docks disembarking fee, assuming you
intend to come ashore to take on supplies or sell your cargo,
or both.'
    'You ain't never mentioned five—'
    'Pretty,' Shurq Elalle interrupted, 'head below and check
on Brevity – she may have questions regarding our goods.'
    'Aye, Captain.' With a final glower at Pithy he stumped
off for the hatch.
    Pithy squinted at Shurq Elalle for a moment, then
scanned the various sailors in sight. 'You're pirates.'
    'Don't be absurd. We're independent traders. You have
no prisoners on your island, I have no pirates on my ship.'
    'What are you suggesting by that statement?'
    'Clearly, if I had been suggesting anything, it was lost on
you. I take it you are not the harbour master, just a tolltaker.'
She turned as first Skorgen then Brevity emerged
onto the deck. The short woman's eyes were bright.
    'Pithy, they got stuff!'
    'Now there's a succinct report,' Shurq Elalle said.
'Brevity, be sure to inform the harbour master that we wish
a berth at one of the stone piers, to better effect unloading
our cargo. A messenger out to potential buyers might also
prove . . . rewarding.' She glanced at Pithy, then away, as
she added, 'As for mooring and landing fees, I will settle up
with the harbour master directly, once I have negotiated
the master's commission.'
    'You think you're smart,' Pithy snapped. 'I should have
brought a squad with me – how would you have liked that,
Captain? Poking in here and there, giving things a real
look. How would you like that?'
    'Brevity, who rules Second Maiden?' Shurq Elalle asked.
    'Shake Brullyg, Captain. He's Grand Master of the
Putative Assembly.'
    'The Putative Assembly? Are you sure you have the right
word there, lass? Putative?'
    'That's what I said. That's right, isn't it, Pithy?'
    'The captain thinks she's smart, but she's not so smart, is
she? Wait until she meets Shake Brullyg, then won't she be
surprised—'
    'Not really,' Shurq said. 'I happen to know Shake
Brullyg. I even know the crime for which he was sent away.
The only surprise is that he's still alive.'
    'Nobody kills Shake Brullyg easily,' Pithy said.
    One of the crew burst into a laugh that he quickly
converted into a cough.
    'We'll await the harbour master's response,' Shurq Elalle
said.
    Pithy and Brevity returned to their scow, the former
taking the oars.
    'Strange women,' Skorgen Kaban muttered as they
watched the wallowing craft pull away.
    'An island full of inbred prisoners,' Shurq replied in a
murmur. 'Are you at all surprised, Pretty? And if that's not
enough, a full-blooded Shake – who just happens to be
completely mad – is ruling the roost. I tell you this, our stay
should be interesting.'
    'I hate interesting.'
    'And probably profitable.'
    'Oh, good. I like profitable. I can swallow interesting so
long as it's profitable.'
    'Get the hands ready to ship the anchor. I doubt we'll
have to wait overlong for the harbour master's signal
flag.'
    'Aye, Captain.'
    Udinaas sat watching her clean and oil her sword. An Edur
sword, set into her hands by a Tiste Edur warrior. All she
needed now was a house so she could bury the damned
thing. Oh yes, and the future husband's fateful return. Now,
maybe nothing was meant by it; just a helpful gesture by
one of Fear's brothers – the only Sengar brother Udinaas
actually respected. Maybe, but maybe not.
    The interminable chanting droned through the stone
walls, a sound even grimmer than the blunt grunting of
Edur women at mourning. The Onyx Wizards were in
consultation. If such an assertion held any truth then the
priestly version of their language was incomprehensible
and devoid