The Adjunct shot Keneb a querying look.
‘He can be damned hard to find,’ the captain muttered, shrugging. ‘As for talking with ghosts… well, the lad is, uh, strange enough for that.’
The Adjunct’s sigh was heavy.
Keneb’s gaze caught movement and he swung his head round, to see Tene Baralta riding back in the company of two soldiers wearing little more than rags. Both were unshaven, their hair long and matted. Their horses bore no saddles.
The Fist reined in with his charges. His face was dark with anger. ‘Adjunct. That Claw has stolen Sha’ik’s body!’
Keneb saw the woman approaching on foot, still twenty paces distant. She looked… smug.
Tavore ignored Tene Baralta’s statement and was eyeing the two newcomers. ‘And you are?’ she asked.
The elder of the two saluted. ‘Captain Kindly, Adjunct, of the Ashok Regiment. We were prisoners in the Dogslayer camp. Lieutenant Pores and myself, that is.’
Keneb started, then leaned forward on his saddle. Yes, he realized, through all that filth… ‘Captain,’ he said in rough greeting.
Kindly squinted, then grimaced. ‘Keneb.’
Tavore cleared her throat, then asked, ‘Are you two all that’s left of your regiment, Captain?’
‘No, Adjunct. At least, we don’t think so-’
‘Tell me later. Go get cleaned up.’
‘Aye, Adjunct.’
‘One more question first,’ she said. ‘The Dogslayer camp…’
Kindly made an involuntary warding gesture. ‘It was not a pleasant night, Adjunct.’
‘You bear shackle scars.’
Kindly nodded. ‘Just before dawn, a couple of Bridgeburners showed up and burned out the locks.’
‘What?’
The captain waved for his lieutenant to follow, said over one shoulder, ‘Don’t worry, they were already dead.’
The two rode into the camp.
Tavore seemed to shake herself, then faced Keneb. ‘You two know each other? Will that prove problematic, Captain?’
‘No.’
‘Good. Then he won’t resent your promotion to Fist. Now ride to your new legion. We will follow the fleeing tribes. If we have to cross this entire continent, I will see them cornered, and then I will destroy them. This rebellion will be ashes on the wind when we are done. Go, Fist Keneb.’
‘Aye, Adjunct.’ And he gathered his reins.
‘ Weapons out !’ Temul suddenly shouted.
And all spun to see a rider cantering down from the hill where Sha’ik had first appeared.
Keneb’s eyes thinned, even as he drew his sword. There was something wrong… a skewing of scale…
A small squad from Blistig’s legion had been detailed as guard to the Adjunct, and they now moved forward. Leading them was one of Blistig’s officers-none other, Keneb realized, than Squint. The slayer of Coltaine, who was now standing stock still, studying the approaching horse warrior.
‘That,’ he growled, ‘is a Thelomen Toblakai! Riding a damned Jhag horse!’
Crossbows were levelled.
‘What’s that horse dragging?’ asked the woman who had just arrived on foot-whom Keneb now recognized, belatedly, as one of Tene Baralta’s officers.
Nether suddenly hissed, and she and her brother flinched back as one.
Heads. From some demonic beasts -
Weapons were readied.
The Adjunct lifted a hand. ‘Wait. He’s not drawn his weapon-’
‘It’s a stone sword,’ Squint rasped. ‘T’lan Imass.’
‘Only bigger,’ one of the soldiers spat.
No-one spoke as the huge, blood-spattered figure rode closer.
To halt ten paces away.
Tene Baralta leaned forward and spat onto the ground. ‘I know you,’ he rumbled. ‘Bodyguard to Sha’ik-’
‘Be quiet,’ the Toblakai cut in. ‘I have words for the Adjunct.’
‘Speak, then,’ Tavore said.
The giant bared his teeth. ‘Once, long ago, I claimed the Malazans as my enemies. I was young. I took pleasure in voicing vows. The more enemies the better. So it was, once. But no longer. Malazan, you are no longer my enemy. Thus, I will not kill you.’
‘We are relieved,’ Tavore said drily.
He studied her for a long moment.
During which Keneb’s heart began to pound hard and fast in his chest.
Then the Toblakai smiled. ‘You should be.’
With that he wheeled his Jhag horse round and rode a westerly path down the length of the basin. The huge hound heads bounced and thumped in their wake.