A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

claim in the
usual fashion?'
    The Atri-Preda nodded. 'Outposts. Forts, raised roads.
Settlers will follow.'
    'And then, the Factor will extend his covetous
intentions, yet further east.'
    'As you say, Overseer. Of course, I am sure you recognize
the acquisitions gift the Tiste Edur as well. The empire's
territory expands. I am certain the Emperor will be pleased.'
    This was Brohl Handar's second week as governor of
Drene. There were few Tiste Edur in this remote corner
of Rhulad's empire, less than a hundred, and only his three
staff members were from Brohl's own tribe, the Arapay. The
annexation of Awl'dan by what amounted to wholesale
genocide had begun years ago – long before the Edur
conquest – and the particulars of rule in far Letheras
seemed to have little relevance to this military campaign.
Brohl Handar, the patriarch of a clan devoted to hunting
tusked seals, wondered – not for the first time – what he
was doing here.
    Titular command as Overseer seemed to involve little
more than observation. The true power of rule was with
Letur Anict, the Factor of Drene, who 'is highly ranked in the Liberty Consign' . Some kind of guild of merchants, he had
learned, although he had no idea what, precisely, was
liberating about this mysterious organization. Unless, of
course, it was the freedom to do as they pleased. Including
the use of imperial troops to aid in the acquisition of ever
more wealth.
    'Atri-Preda.'
    'Yes, Overseer?'
    'These Awl – do they fight back? No, not as they did
today. I mean, do they mount raids? Do they mass their
warriors on the path to all-out war?'
    She looked uncomfortable. 'Overseer, there are two . . .
well, levels, to this.'
    'Levels. What does that mean?'
    'Official and . . . unofficial. It is a matter of perception.'
    'Explain.'
    'The belief of the common folk, as promulgated through
imperial agents, is that the Awl have allied themselves with
the Ak'ryn to the south, as well as the D'rhasilhani and the
two kingdoms of Bolkando and Saphinand – in short, all
the territories bordering the empire – creating a belligerent,
warmongering and potentially overwhelming force – the
Horde of the Bolkando Conspiracy – that threatens the
entire eastern territories of the Lether Empire. It is only a
matter of time before that horde is fully assembled, whereupon
it will march. Accordingly, every attack launched by
the Letherii military serves to diminish the numbers the
Awl can contribute, and furthermore, the loss of valuable
livestock in turn weakens the savages. Famine may well
manage what swords alone cannot – the entire collapse of
the Awl.'
    'I see. And the unofficial version?'
    She glanced across at him. 'There is no conspiracy,
Overseer. No alliance. The truth is, the Awl continue to
fight among themselves – their grazing land is shrinking,
after all. And they despise the Ak'ryn and the D'rhasilhani,
and have probably never met anyone from Bolkando or
Saphinand.' She hesitated, then said, 'We did clash with a
mercenary company of some sort, two months past – the
disastrous battle that spurred your appointment, I suspect.
They numbered perhaps seven hundred, and after a half-dozen
skirmishes I led a force of six thousand Letherii in
pursuit. Overseer, we lost almost three thousand soldiers in
that final battle. If not for our mages . . .' She shook her
head. 'And we still have no idea who they were.'
    Brohl studied the woman. He had known nothing about
any such clash. The reason for his appointment? Perhaps.
'The official version you spoke of earlier – the lie – justifies
the slaughter of the Awl, in the eyes of the commonry. All
of which well serves the Factor's desire to make himself yet
richer. I see. Tell me, Atri-Preda, why does Letur Anict
need all that gold? What does he do with it?'
    The woman shrugged. 'Gold is power.'
    'Power over whom?'
    'Anyone, and everyone.'
    'Excepting the Tiste Edur, who are indifferent to the
Letherii idea of wealth.'
    She smiled. 'Are you, Overseer? Still?'
    'What do you mean?'
    'There are Hiroth in Drene – yes, you have met them.
Each claims kinship with the Emperor, and upon that claim
they have commandeered the finest estates and land. They
have hundreds of Indebted as slaves. Soon, perhaps, there
will be Tiste Edur among the membership of the Liberty
Consign.'
    Brohl Handar frowned. On a distant ridge stood three
Awl dogs, two drays and one smaller cattle dog, watching as
the herds were driven through the destroyed