Page 59 (1/1)

Around each keep, down the slopes and in the flat, lowest stretches, buildings crowded every available space,its particular style Borders wereinland, where one style faced the other down their crooked lengths

Three tribes had settled here, Karsa concluded as the ship eased its way through the crowds of fisherboats and traders in the bay

Torvald Noorously at his snarled beard His eyes glittered as he gazed at the city ‘Malyntaeas,’ he sighed ‘Nathii, Genabarii and Korhivi, side by side by side And what keeps theht but the Malazan overlord and three coiment See that half-ruined keep over there, Karsa? That’s from the war between the Nathii and the Korhivi The whole Nathii fleet filled this bay, flinging stones at the walls, and they were so busy with trying to kill each other that they didn’t even notice when the Malazan forces arrived Dujek Onearh Mages That’s all Dujek had, and by day’s end the Nathii fleet was on the bay’s muddy bottom, the Genabarii royal line holed up in their blood-red castle were all dead, and the Korhivi keep had capitulated’

The ship was approaching a berth alongside a broad, stone pier, sailors sca ‘All well and good, youThe forceful imposition of peace and all that Only, the city’s Fist is about to lose two of his three companies Granted, replacements are supposedly on the way But when? From where? How ets too big? Suddenly, the sieable Confusion seeps in like fog, and everyone gropes blind and duhtly behind and to Karsa’s left A bandy legged, bald officer stepped into view, his eyes on the berth closing ahead, a sour grin twisting his mouth In Nathii, he said, ‘The bandit chief pontificates on politics, speaking froe a dozen unruly highway this brainless fool, anyway? Ah, of course, a captive and unco audience’

‘Well, there is that,’ Torvald conceded ‘You are the First Mate? I ondering, sir, about how long we’d be staying here in Malyntaeas-’

‘You ondering, were you? Fine, allow me to explain the course of events for the next day or two One No prisoners leave this ship Two We pick up six squads of the 2nd Company Three, we sail on to Genabaris You’re then shipped off and I’m done with you’

‘I sense a certain unease in you, sir,’ Torvald said ‘Have you security concerns regarding fair Malyntaeas?’

The arded the Daru for a ht be a Claw Well, if you are, add this to your da up the Korhivi The shadows ain’t safe, and it’s getting so bad that the patrols don’t go anywhere unless there’s two squads at thesent hoet very unsettled’

‘The Empress would certainly be remiss to discount the opinions of her officers,’ Torvald replied

The First Mate’s eyes narrowed ‘She would at that’

He then strode ahead, bellowing at a ss to do

Torvald tugged at his beard, glanced over at Karsa and winked ‘Cri indeed For the Malazans, that is’

Days vanished Karsa becaon bed pitched wildly under hiht was shifted, chains snapping taut to jolt his lih the air, suspended fro fra fro Figures clung to that rigging, staring down at the Teblor

The pulley squealed, and Karsa watched the sailors get s it The end nearest his feet dropped further, drawing hiht

He saw before hie ship, over which swarmed haulers and stevedores, sailors and soldiers Supplies were piled everywhere, the bundles being shifted below decks through gaping hatches

The bed’s bottom end scraped the deck Shouts, a flurry of activity, and the Teblor felt the bed lifted slightly, swinging free once ain, and this tiainst the h chains to bind the platfor up at Karsa