A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 4

Bluerose was managing, and he reminded himself
to initiate contact with his counterpart – stability in
Bluerose was essential, for any disruption of Drene's
principal supply route and trading partner could prove
disastrous if the situation here in the Awl'dan ignited into
full-out war.
    'You seem thoughtful, Overseer,' Bivatt said after a time.
    'Logistics,' he replied.
    'If by that you mean military, such needs are my responsibility,
sir.'
    'Your army's needs cannot be met in isolation, Atri-Preda. If this conflict escalates, as I believe it will, then
even the Factor cannot ensure that shortages will not
occur, particularly among non-combatants in Drene and
surrounding communities.'
    'In all-out war, Overseer, the requirements of the military
always take precedence. Besides, there is no reason to
anticipate shortages. The Letherii are well versed in these
matters. Our entire system of transport was honed by
the exigencies of expansion. We possess the roads, the
necessary sea lanes and merchant vessels.'
    'There nonetheless remains a chokepoint,' Brohl Handar
pointed out. 'The Bluerose Mountains.'
    She shot him a startled glance. 'The primary eastward
trade goods through that range are slaves and some luxury
foodstuffs from the far south. Bluerose of course is
renowned for its mineral wealth, producing a quality of iron
that rivals Letherii steel. Tin, copper, lead, lime and firerock,
as well as cedar and spruce – all in abundance, while
the Bluerose Sea abounds with cod. In return, Drene's vast
farms annually produce a surplus harvest of grains.
Overseer, you appear to have been misinformed with
respect to the materiel demands in question. There will be
no shortages—'
    'Perhaps you are right.' He paused, then continued,
'Atri-Preda, it is my understanding that the Factor has
instituted extensive trafficking of low-grade weapons and
armour across the Bluerose Mountains. These weapons are
in turn sold to the Awl, in exchange for land or at least the
end of dispute over land. Over four hundred broad-bed
wagonloads have been shipped thus far. Although the
Factor holds the tithe seal, no formal acknowledgement
nor taxation of these items has taken place. From this, I can
only assume that a good many other supplies are moving to
and fro across those mountains, none with official
approval.'
    'Overseer, regardless of the Factor's smuggling operations,
the Bluerose Mountains are in no way a chokepoint
when it comes to necessary supplies.'
    'I hope you are right, especially given the recent failures
of that route.'
    'Excuse me? What failures?'
    'The latest shipment of poor quality war materiel failed
to arrive this side of the mountains, Atri-Preda.
Furthermore, brigands struck a major fortress in the pass,
routing the Letherii company stationed there.'
    'What? I have heard nothing of this! An entire company
– routed?'
    'So it seems. Alas, that was the extent of the information
provided me. Apart from the weapons, I was unsure what
other items the Factor lost in that shipment. If, as you tell
me, there was nothing more of consequence to fall into the
hands of the brigands, then I am somewhat relieved.'
    Neither spoke for a time. Brohl Handar was aware that
the Atri-Preda's thoughts were racing, perhaps drawn into
a tumult of confusion – uncertainty at how much Brohl
knew, and by extension the Tiste Edur, regarding Letherii
illegalities; and perhaps greater unease at the degree to
which she herself had remained ignorant of recent events
in Bluerose. That she'd been shaken told him she was not
as much an agent of Letur Anict as he had feared.
    He decided he had waited long enough. 'Atri-Preda, this
imminent war with the Awl. Tell me, have you determined
the complement of forces you feel will be necessary to effect
victory?'
    She blinked, visibly shifting the path of her thinking to
address his question. 'More or less, Overseer. We believe
that the Awl could, at best, field perhaps eight or nine
thousand warriors. Certainly not more than that. As an
army, they are undisciplined, divisive due to old feuds and
rivalries, and their style of combat is unsuited to fighting as
a unit. So, easily broken, unprepared as they are for any
engagement taking longer than perhaps a bell. Generally,
they prefer to raid and ambush, keeping to small troops and
striving to remain elusive. At the same time, their almost
absolute dependency on their herds, and the vulnerability
of their main camps, will, inevitably, force them to