And wasn’t it true-beyond all challenge-that women who preferred the company of men were the most hated women of all?
Too many commanders with tits in this mob. Look at Gall, he’s under siege behind those tattooed tears. And that Barghast, no wonder he’s hiding his face behind all that paint.
‘You can go back now, Rafala,’ Kisswhere said. ‘I won’t get lost.’
‘I need your horse, Malazan.’
‘So I am to walk from now on?’
The young Khundryl looked surprised. ‘Walk where?’
Kisswhere scowled.
They rode through the scattered line of outriders and drew up before the vanguard-the mounted commanders made no concession to their arrival, continuing on at a steady trot, forcing Rafala and Kisswhere to swing round and fall in step beside them. That attitude annoyed Kisswhere-when was the last time they’d even seen each other?
Rafala spoke: ‘Warleader Gall, I bring you a Malazan messenger.’ And then she said to Kisswhere, ‘I will go and find you another horse.’
‘Good. Don’t take too long.’
With a flat look, Rafala pulled her mount round and headed into the trailing columns.
A red-haired woman Kisswhere had never seen before was the first to address her, in the trader tongue. ‘Malazan, where are your kin?’
‘My kin?’
‘Your fellow soldiers.’
‘Not far, I think. You should reach them today, especially at this pace.’
‘Marine,’ said Krughava, ‘what word do you bring us?’
Kisswhere glanced about, noting the various staff officers clumped round the commanders. ‘Can we get a little more private here, Mortal Sword? You and Warleader Gall, I mean-’
‘Queen Abrastal of Bolkando and Warchief Spax of the Gilk White Faces have allied their forces with our own, sir. This said, I will send our staffs a short distance away.’ She faced the Queen. ‘Acceptable, Highness?’
Abrastal’s face registered distaste. ‘Oh yes, they’re worse than flies. Go! All of you!’
Twenty or more riders pulled away from the vanguard, leaving only Krughava, Tanakalian, Gall, the Queen and Spax.
‘Better?’ Krughava asked.
Kisswhere drew a deep breath. She was too tired to have to work at this. ‘Among the seers serving the Adjunct… Mortal Sword, I can say this no other way. The threat of betrayal was judged to be very real. I was sent to confirm the alliance.’
The Mortal Sword went deathly pale. Kisswhere saw the foreign Queen cast a sharp look at the young Shield Anvil, Tanakalian.
What? Fuck, they know more of this than I do. Seems the threat is real after all. Sister, you have eyes that see what others do not. No wonder I’m always running away from you.
Warleader Gall was the first to respond. ‘What is your name, soldier?’
‘Kisswhere. Tenth Squad, Third Company, Eighth Legion.’
‘Kisswhere-spirits know, how you Malazans can make a name an invitation never ceases to delight me-I will answer the Adjunct’s fear as the Khundryl must. We shall advance ahead and ride with you with all haste, and so rejoin the Bonehunters as soon as possible.’
‘Sir,’ said Krughava, ‘there will be no betrayal from the Perish. See the pace of our march. We are apprised of imminent danger, and so hasten to reach the Adjunct’s army. It is our added fortune that the Bolkando Queen leads her Evertine Legion and the Gilk and has vowed to give us whatever aid we may require. Tell me, are the Bonehunters beset? What enemy has appeared out of the Wastelands to so assail them?’
You get around to asking this now? ‘As of two days past, Mortal Sword, our only enemy was clouds of biting flies,’ Kisswhere replied.
‘Yet you were dispatched to find us,’ Krughava observed.
‘I was.’
‘Therefore,’ the Mortal Sword continued, ‘some apprehension of danger-beyond that of possible betrayal-must exist to justify such urgency.’
Kisswhere shrugged. ‘There is little more I can tell you, Mortal Sword.’
‘You ride all this way seeking nothing but reassurance?’
At Gall’s question, Kisswhere glanced away for a moment. ‘Yes, it must seem odd to you. All of you. I have no answer. The alliance was perceived to be in jeopardy-that is all I know of the matter.’
No one seemed satisfied. Too bad. What can I say? My sister’s got a bad feeling. Fid keeps throwing up and the only high priest on Tavore’s staff has been drunk ever since Letheras. And those flies got a vicious bite.
Rafala returned leading a saddled horse, a bay mare with a witless look to her. She led the beast up alongside Kisswhere. ‘Climb over, if you can.’