«That is no longer my name, Commander.»
The man grimaced. «So I've heard. You must be feeling confident in the Emperor's absence. He's not the only one who remembers you as nothing more than a serving-wench down in the Old Quarter. I take it the gratitude's washed off long since.»
The woman's face betrayed no change of expression to mark if the man's words had stung. «The command was a simple one,» she said. «It seems your new officers are unable to cope with the task.»
«It's got out of hand,» the commander said. «They're unseasoned-»
«Not my concern,» she snapped. «Nor am I particularly disappointed. Loss of control delivers its own lessons to those who oppose us.»
«Oppose? A handful of minor witches selling their meagre talents-to what sinister end?»
«Finding the coraval schools on the shoals in the bay.»
«Hood's Breath, woman, hardly a threat to the Empire.»
«Unsanctioned. Defiant of the new laws-»
«Your laws, Surly. They won't work, and when the Emperor returns he'll quash your prohibition of sorcery, you can be certain of that.»
The woman smiled coldly. «You'll be pleased to know that the Tower's signalled the approach of the transports for your new recruits. We'll not miss you or your restless, seditious soldiers, Commander.»
Without another word, or a single glance spared for the boy standing beside the commander, she swung about and, flanked by her silent bodyguards, re-entered the citadel.
Ganoes and the commander returned their attention to the riot in the Mouse. Flames were visible, climbing through the smoke.
«One day I'll be a soldier,» Ganoes said.
The man grunted. «Only if you fail at all else, son. Taking up the sword is the last act of desperate men. Mark my words and find yourself a more worthy dream.»
Ganoes scowled. «You're not like the other soldiers I've talked to. You sound more like my father.»
«But I'm not your father,» the man growled.
«The world,» Ganoes said, «doesn't need another Izrine merchant.» The commander's eyes narrowed, gauging. He opened his mouth to make the obvious reply, then shut it again.
Ganoes Paran looked back down at the burning quarter, pleased with himself. Even a boy, Commander, can make a point.
Mock's Vane swung once more. Hot smoke rolled over the wall, engulfing them. A reek of burning cloth, scorched paint and stone, and now of something sweet. «An abattoir's caught fire,» Ganoes said. «Pigs.»
The commander grimaced. After a long moment he sighed and leaned back down on the merlon. «As you say, boy, as you say.»
In the eighth year the Free Cities of Genabackis established contracts with a number of mercenary armies to oppose the Imperium's advance; prominent among these were the Crimson Guard, under the command of Prince K'azz D'Avore (see Volumes III & V); and the Tiste And? regiments of Moon's Spawn, under the command of Caladan Brood and others.
The forces of the Malazan Empire, commanded by High Fist Dujek Onearm, consisted in that year of the 2nd, 5th and 6th Armies, as well as legions of Moranth.
In retrospect two observations can be made. The first is that the Moranth alliance of 1156 marked a fundamental change in the science of warfare for the Malazan Imperium, which would prove efficacious in the short term. The second observation worth noting is that the involvement of the sorcerous Tiste And? of Moon's Spawn represented the beginning of the continent's Sorcery Enfilade, with devastating consequences.
In the Year of Burn's Sleep 1163, the Siege of Pale ended with a now legendary sorcerous conflagration. .
Imperial Campaigns II S8-
Volume IV, Genabackis Imrygyn Tallobant (b.1151)
CHAPTER ONE
The old stones of this road have rung with iron black-shod hoofs and drums -
where I saw him walking up from the sea between the hills soaked red in sunset -
he came, a boy among the echoes sons and brothers all in ranks of warrior ghosts -
he came to pass where I sat on the worn final league-stone at day's end -
his stride spoke loud all I needed know of him on this road of stone —
the boy walks another soldier, another one -
bright heart not yet cooled to hard iron —
Mother's Lament Anonymous 1161st Year of Burn's Sleep 103rd Year of the Malazan Empire 7th Year of Empress Laseen's Rule
«Prod and pull,» The old woman was saying, «Its the way of the Empress, as like the gods themselves.» She leaned to one side and spat, then brought a soiled cloth to her wrinkled lips. «Three husbands and two sons I saw off to war.»
The fishergirl's eyes shone as she watched the column of mounted soldiers thunder past, and she only half listened to the hag standing beside her. The girl's breath had risen to the pace of the magnificent horses. She felt her face burning, a flush that had nothing to do with the heat. The day was dying, the sun's red smear over the trees on her right, and the sea's sighing against her face had grown cool.
«That was in the days of the Emperor,» the hag continued. «Hood roast the bastard's soul on a spit. But look on, lass. Laseen scatters bones with the best of them. Heh, she started with his, didn't she, now?»
The fishergirl nodded faintly. As befitted the lowborn, they waited by the roadside, the old woman burdened beneath a rough sack filled with turnips, the girl with a heavy basket balanced on her head. Every minute or so the old woman shifted the sack from one bony shoulder to the other.
With the riders crowding them on the road and the ditch behind them a steep drop to broken rocks, she had no place to put down the sack.
«Scatters bones, I said. Bones of husbands, bones of sons, bones of wives and bones of daughters. All the same to her. All the same to the Empire.» The old woman spat a second time. «Three husbands and two sons, ten coin apiece a year. Five of ten's fifty. Fifty coin a year's cold company, lass. Cold in winter, cold in bed.»
The fishergirl wiped dust from her forehead. Her bright eyes darted among the soldiers passing before her. The young men atop their highbacked saddles held expressions stern and fixed straight ahead. The few women who rode among them sat tall and somehow fiercer than the men. The sunset cast red glints from their helms, flashing so that the girl's eyes stung and her vision blurred.
«You're the fisherman's daughter,» the old woman said. «I seen you afore on the road, and down on the strand. Seen you and your dad at market. Missing an arm, ain't he? More bones for her collection is likely, eh?» She made a chopping motion with one hand, then nodded. «Mine's the first house on the track. I use the coin to buy candles. Five candles I burn every night, five candles to keep old Rigga company. It's a tired house, full of tired things and me one of them, lass. What you got in the basket there?» Slowly the fishergirl realized that a question had been asked of her. She pulled her attention from the soldiers and smiled down at the old woman. «I'm sorry,» she said, «the horses are so loud.»
Rigga raised her voice. «I asked what you got in your basket, lass?»
«Twine. Enough for three nets. We need to get one ready for tomorrow. Dadda lost his last one-something in the deep waters took it and a whole catch, too. 11grand Lender wants the money he loaned us and we need a catch tomorrow. A good one.» She smiled again and swept her gaze back to the soldiers. «Isn't it wonderful?» she breathed.
Rigga's hand shot out and snagged the girl's thick black hair, yanked it hard.
The girl cried out. The basket on her head lurched, then slid down on to one shoulder. She grabbed frantically for it but it was too heavy. The basket struck the ground and split apart. «Aaai!» the girl gasped, attempting to kneel. But Rigga pulled and snapped her head around.
«You listen to me, lass!» The old woman's sour breath hissed against the girl's face. «The Empire's been grinding this land down for a hundred years. You was born in it. I wasn't. When I was your age Itko Kan was a country. We flew a banner and it was ours. We were free, lass.»