‘I never talk with the other woman,’ pronounced Rucket, standing straighter and lifting her chin.
Tehol slapped his hands. ‘Well, another meeting done! What shall we do now? I’m for bed.’ And then, with a quick glance at Janath, ‘In the company of my dearest wife, of course.’
‘We haven’t even had supper yet, husband.’
‘Supper in bed! We can invite-oh, scratch that.’
Brys stepped forward. ‘About the army.’
‘Oh, it’s always about the army with you. Order more boots.’
‘That’s just it-I need more money.’
‘Bugg, give him more money.’
‘How much, sire?’
‘Whatever he needs for the boots and whatnot.’
‘It’s not boots,’ said Brys. ‘It’s training.’
‘They’re going to train without boots? Extraordinary.’
‘I want to make use of these Malazans quartered in our city. These “marines.” And their tactics. I want to reinvent the entire Letherii military. I want to hire the Malazan sergeants.’
‘And does their Adjunct find this acceptable?’
‘She does. Her soldiers are getting bored and that’s not good.’
‘I imagine not. Do we know when they’re leaving?’
Brys frowned. ‘You’re asking me? Why not ask her?’
‘Ah, the agenda is set for the next meeting, then.’
‘Shall I inform the Adjunct?’ Bugg asked.
Tehol rubbed his chin, and then nodded. ‘That would be wise, yes, Bugg. Very wise. Well done.’
‘What about my petition?’ demanded Rucket. ‘I got dressed up and everything!’
‘I will take it under advisement.’
‘Great. How about a Royal Kiss in the meantime?’
Tehol fidgeted on his throne.
‘Airy aplomb shrinking, husband? Clearly, it knows better than you that there are limits to my forbearance.’
‘Well,’ said Rucket, ‘what about a Royal Squeeze?’
‘There’s an idea,’ said Bugg, ‘raise the taxes. On guilds.’
‘Fine,’ snapped Rucket, ‘I’m leaving. Another petition rejected by the King. Making the mob ever more restive.’
‘What mob?’ Tehol asked.
‘The one I’m about to assemble.’
‘You wouldn’t.’
‘A woman scorned, ’tis a dangerous thing, sire.’
‘Oh, give her a kiss and squeeze, husband. I’ll avert my eyes.’
Tehol leapt to his feet, and then quickly sat back down. ‘In a moment,’ he gasped.
‘Gives a new meaning to regal bearing,’ commented Bugg.
But Rucket was smiling. ‘Let’s just take that as a promissory note.’
‘And the mob?’ asked Bugg.
‘Miraculously dispersed in a dreamy sigh, O Chancellor, or whatever you are.’
‘I’m the Royal Engineers-yes, all of them. Oh, and Treasurer.’
‘And Spittoon Mangler,’ Tehol added.
The others frowned.
Bugg scowled at Tehol. ‘I’d been pleasantly distracted until you said that.’
‘Is something wrong?’ Brys asked.
‘Ah, brother,’ Tehol said, ‘we need to send you to the Adjunct-with a warning.’
‘Oh?’
‘Bugg?’
‘I’ll walk you out, Brys.’
After the two had left, Tehol glanced at Janath, and then at Rucket, and found them both still frowning. ‘What?’
‘Something we should know?’ Janath asked.
‘Yes,’ added Rucket, ‘on behalf of the Rat Catchers’ Guild, I mean.’
‘Not really,’ Tehol replied. ‘A minor matter, I assure you. Something to do with threatened gods and devastating divinations. Now, I’m ready to try for my kiss and squeeze-no, wait. Some deep breathing first. Give me a moment-yes, no, wait.’
‘Shall I talk about my embroidery?’ Janath asked.
‘Yes, that sounds perfect. Do proceed. Be right there, Rucket.’
Lieutenant Pores opened his eyes. Or tried to, only to find them mostly swollen shut. But through the blurry slits he made out a figure hovering over him. A Nathii face, looking thoughtful.
‘You recognize me?’ the Nathii asked.
Pores tried to speak, but someone had bound his jaw tight. He nodded, only to find his neck was twice the normal size. Either that, he considered, or his head had shrunk.