Gods, he really slathers it on. Ho looked to Heuk, who rolled his eyes to the sky. Yet what can one do hut stand in awe of such breathtaking, hare-faced audaciousness?

‘Mallick!’ a great deep voice bellowed. Heads turned. Puffing, battered and limping, Korbolo Dom, Sword of the Empire, pushed his way forward supported by two of his officers. ‘What is this, Mallick?’ The Sword glared about the assembly. ‘What is this delay? Why are we not marshalling for attack? Now is the time!’ Panting, he glanced about from face to face. ‘We have them surrounded. Outnumbered. We must strike! Behead every last one of them! I will take overall command-’

‘Sword,’ Mallick interrupted softly, ‘we rejoice that you are still with us, but we are pained by reports that have come to us from the engagement with the Talian League.’

Korbolo stared, mouth gaping his utter consternation. ‘What?’

‘It has been reported from many sources that when your phalanx broke you withdrew to the rear. Do you deny these reports?’

‘To take command of another unit to lead it into battle – yes. Mallick, what is this foolishness? We are losing time-’

But the Falaran native was shaking his head, his thick lips down-turned as if forced into an unwilling duty. ‘I am sorry, Korbolo, but the Sword – once committed to the field – does not retreat. To do so is to announce capitulation to the entire Imperial force.’ Mallick raised his gaze to study the assembled officers. ‘And I take it as a powerful testimony to the resilience and temper of these forces that they did not break then and there.

‘Therefore, as Imperial Councillor, Spokesman of the Assembly, it is my regretful duty to order you imprisoned until a court of inquiry into these events may be convened.’

‘What!’ The Sword stared, his mouth working, then suddenly he lunged at Mallick. The officers who had formerly been supporting him now restrained him. ‘You… creature! You cannot do this to me! I am the Sword! Victorious! I won this battle!’ The man struggled, arms wrenching. He glared with bulging eyes at the assembled officers, his Napan face darkening, foam at his lips. ‘I am your commander! I led you to victory!’

‘The prisoner will be silenced,’ Mallick ordered.

A rag was jammed into Korbolo's mouth. He was led away kicking, fighting, gurgling and screaming behind the rag.

Mallick shook his head in sad regret.

‘Your wisdom and forbearance are an inspiration to us all, Councillor,’ an old woman called out.

Mallick's gaze sharpened, searched the crowd, settled on one face and narrowed to glittering slits. ‘Let that one come forth,’ he called.

The Wickan twins advanced, supporting Su between them. Ho tensed to advance but Heuk held him back.

‘So, you Wickans. Before me once again. Yet I hear accounts from all sides that your charge smashed the Guard and opened the way to Imperial victory. For that we are all in your debt. And we thank you…’

Su bowed shallowly. ‘We ask only for what is by rights ours.’

‘Ah, yes… of course.’ Mallick reclasped his hands across his stomach. ‘This most recent distressing policy regarding your lands. Ill-conceived and inhumane. I was always against it, of course.’

Now the twins lurched forward, faces twisting, but Su's clawed hands clutching at their shoulders held them back. ‘Perhaps these new Imperial holdings could be granted twenty-year leases from us,’ Su suggested, ‘thereby avoiding further violence and upheaval.’

Mallick's lips pursed. His fingertips tapped one another across his stomach. ‘Details to be negotiated in treaty, of course.’

Su inclined her head. ‘Of course.’

Mallick waved negligently. ‘Very well. We are done. You may withdraw.’

‘Your honesty and compassion are a lesson to us all,’ Su crooned, bowing. Ho sent the old witch a wink as the twins helped her away.

‘M'Lord Councillor,’ Bala called from her palanquin.

‘Yes, High Mage?’

High Mage. Ho shot Heuk a sharp glance – the old mage looked skyward once more.

‘Multiple Warrens have been accessed on the hilltop.’

Nodding thoughtfully, Mallick faced the assembled officers. ‘Send word to the Guard that it is our belief that enough of our good honest soldiers have died today. Enough blood has been shed in this useless vendetta. Speaking – unofficially – for the Empire, our leave is given them to withdraw.’

‘Convenient, that,’ Heuk muttered aside, ‘since they're already withdrawing.’

Ho bent down to answer, ‘It'll look good in the histories.’

Heuk motioned aside. ‘C'mon. I've had a bellyful of this. One more pronouncement from him and I'll puke. Let's have a drink with those good honest soldiers.’

‘I can just see those history books, too,’ Ho said as they walked along. ‘Kellanved the Terrible. Laseen the Bloody. And Mallick the Benevolent.’

‘Mallick the Just,’ Heuk offered.

A voice bellowed after them. ‘Cadre mage!’

They turned. Bala's palanquin was following, led by the bald, sweating, giant Dal Hon. ‘The High Mage requires your attendance,’ he commanded.

‘This is enough to drive me to an early retirement,’ Heuk murmured.

They waited while the palanquin closed. ‘Groten,’ Bala called through the flimsy white cloth hangings, ‘allow them to approach.’

The guard, Groten, bowed. ‘Yes, mistress.’ He curtly waved them closer.

Sighing, Heuk stepped up, followed by Ho. ‘Yes, Bala.’

‘That's High Mage – please remember henceforth.’ The High Mage, Bala, lay reclined upon pillows, sheer silks arranged decorously. She was a voluptuous Dal Hon woman; Ho noted her six sturdy bearers were sweating furiously. She slowly fanned her face. ‘Since I am now High Mage to all the Empire, I cannot deal with the trivialities of the mage cadre in any one army. Therefore you are now in charge of the cadre for the Fourth. You report to me. And you…’ the fan pointed to Ho. ‘You are not welcome in the cadre. We do not want the likes of you.’

Ho bit down on laughter. He waved his assent.

‘Too much a threat, hey, Bala?’ Heuk said.

‘Do not bore me with your meaningless talk, Heuk. Good day. Our audience is over. Groten!’

The bodyguard loomed over them. ‘Out of the way!’

Ho allowed himself to be edged aside. He watched the palanquin lumber away.

‘I know a soldier,’ Heuk said musingly, ‘who, if he'd seen her just now, would've fainted dead away.’ Gesturing, he invited Ho on.

‘What of Laseen?’ Ho asked.

‘Mallick will probably spare no expense on her mausoleum in Unta. How it would gall her.’

‘All the more reason from his point of view, I suppose.’

‘And what of you?’ Heuk asked.

‘Retirement in Heng. I have a lot of catching up to do there. A lot.’

Heuk eyed him sidelong, scratched at his scraggly stained beard. ‘Really…’

‘Yes, really… Yes!’

Heuk straightened the earthenware jug he held under one arm. ‘Un-huh.’

Kyle and the Lost brothers had waited while the Guard filed through the opened gates to march away through the Imperial Warren. The last to leave were K'azz, Shimmer, Shell and two very battered and bruised Avowed mages named Blues and Fingers.

Throughout the withdrawal, the lines of Malazan infantry and assembled cavalry from Kan and Cawn had watched, shields readied but swords sheathed and lances raised. K'azz approached Kyle who motioned to the surrounding ranks of Imperial soldiery. ‘They let you go.’

The old man nodded. ‘Yes. This Mallick no doubt intends to blame all this bloodshed on Laseen's policies, so he could hardly add to it. But what of you? You're sure you won't come along? You are very welcome.’

‘No, thank you. But if you could move us a touch, though, we'd appreciate it.’

‘I see. Where will you go?’