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‘We've always beaten them.’
‘In the past, yes.’
Shatterer rubbed the back of his neck. ‘If you're lookin’ for a sure thing you've come to the wrong place. You toss your bones and the Twins decide.’
‘I'm not one to leave anything to chance.’
‘Everything's a chance. But if you haven't learned that by now then I suppose you never will.’
‘Why should I, when I leave nothing to chance?’
‘Anything else?’
‘No. I am convinced of this Moranth co
‘Then do so.’
The cloaked figure inclined its head. ‘We will remain in touch through the usual cha
‘Yeah. Those.’
The man – or woman – strolled away into the night.
Shatterer watched the flames for a time, sighed, cracked his knuckles. Dealing with traitors always set his teeth on edge. Especially a Claw traitor. But then, he now fell within that same category as well. He remembered the first contacts with the Moranth and how he had crushed the torso armour of one in a bear hug. They insisted on that ridiculous name after that. Easier if they'd just call him Crust, or Urko.
The traitor Claw's worries returned to him and he recalled the image of Ski
In any case, they would act regardless. It was cruel and hard but they meant to win and this was their best chance this generation. In a way he felt sorry for her; she was caught in a nightmare of her own making – Abyss, she might even thank them for it. Yet he knew in the end she would accept it. Laseen understood exigencies. She'd always understood those.
‘It won't stand.’
‘Sure it will.’
‘No – not enough support on the right. It'll give on that side and bring the whole thing down.’
‘No, it won't. We packed it tight. There's enough counter-strain.’
The two Malazan marines, a man and a woman, sat on a heap of bricks outside Li Heng's east-facing Dawn Gate. They studied the towering outer arch of the massive gatehouse. To the north and south stretched the curtain walls of Li Heng's legendary ten man-heights of near-invincible defences.
A robed man edged his way out of the gate – a shadowed entrance broad enough to swallow four chariots side by side. He peered about, a hand shading his gaze, and spotted the two. He turned and bellowed something that the acoustics of the long tu
‘You there – you two! Where is your commander?’
The two eyed one another. The woman, wearing a mangled leather cap, touched a finger to it. ‘Magistrate Ehrla
Ehrla
‘Did you hear that, Su
‘In chains, I imagine,’ smiled the magistrate. ‘Your commander?’
‘Working.’
Ehrla
‘Switch what?’ asked Su
‘Not you fools.’
With his free hand the umbrella-holder extended a stick tied at one end with a tuft of bhederin hair. Ehrla
Ehrla
The two eyed one another. ‘Should we go along?’ asked the female saboteur and she adjusted the leather cap on her hacked-short brown hair.
‘Storo might kill him. That'd look bad when we're in court.’
‘You're right.’
They followed.
Ehrla
The two engineers saluted crisply. ‘Captain Storo, sir!’
Storo shot them a dark look, swallowed and grimaced at what he tasted. ‘That's sergeant. What is it now, Ehrla
‘I have come to demand the opening of Dawn Gate, sir. Demand it. Our builders tell us that restorations are long complete. They say the structure is now sound and that commercial access is long overdue.’
Storo scratched his sallow stubbled cheeks, shaded his eyes from the sun. ‘Would those be the same builders the Fist ordered you to fire for turning a blind eye to the wall's dismantling?’
‘Mere nuisance pilfering over the years carried out by these undesirables.’ The magistrate waved his switch to the squatter camp spread out from both sides of the east road.
Storo squinted at the camp. ‘They live in tents, Ehrla
‘Nevertheless, you can delay no longer. Work here is done. Your contract is over. Finished. If we must, the court will report to High Fist Anand that we no longer require the services of his military engineers and that the defences of Li Heng have been returned to their ancient bright glory.’
Sunlight shone on Ehrla
Jamaer raised the umbrella higher.
‘You can report all you like.’ Storo said. He crouched to retrieve a helmet from under the awning, pulled it on. ‘But the only report Anand will listen to is mine.’
Ehrla
Storo's gaze narrowed. ‘Such as?’
‘There have been unfortunate assaults upon citizens, commander. Harassment of officials in the course of their duties.’
Storo snorted. ‘If I were you, Ehrla
‘Yes. She would. The city garrison is not behind you, commander.’
‘Meaning you've bought them.’
‘Commander! I object to that language!’
‘Don't bother, Ehrla
‘Good for fifty years,’ said Hurl.
‘It will fall – sooner than later,’ said Su
‘There you go,’ Storo told Ehrla
The magistrate waved the switch before his face, eyed Storo. ‘Meaning…?’
‘Meaning you have your gate. Open it to traffic tomorrow.’
The magistrate beamed, threw his arms wide as if he would embrace Storo. ‘Excellent, commander. I knew you would listen. All finished then. I must admit it has been an education dealing with you veterans – we do not see too many here in the interior. Tell me, just what was the name of those barbarian lands you conquered all to the glory of the Empress? Gangabaka? Bena-gagan?’
‘Genabackis,’ Storo sighed. ‘And we're not finished. Not yet.’
Ehrla
‘That hill over there,’ Storo lifted his chin to the north.
‘Yes? Executioner's Hill?’
‘I want to take one man's height-’
‘Two,’ said Hurl.