Kellanved's Reach

Nedurian pulled a hand down his face again, thinking, Well, nothing to be done. They had their own problems here. And even as he returned his attention to the vessels surrounding the Insufferable and the many lines and grapnels clutching at her, a dense salvo of coordinated bowfire flew up skyward from all around to arc directly for the Malazan flagship.

He watched all this in a heartbeat and cursed that there was nothing he could do about it.

A wind suddenly buffeted him, nearly knocking him to the deck. The rigging snapped and lashed, the spars creaked and groaned overhead, and the countless arrows curved, gyring all together as in a funnel-cloud to hammer down on to the nearest Napan ship holding them back.

All eyes on board the Insufferable turned to a pale, red-headed girl at mid-deck, arms raised, her clothes whipping in an unseen wind. She lowered her arms, glaring all about. ‘Well?’ she demanded. ‘What are you all staring at? Let’s get out of here!’

‘Full canvas!’ Choss bellowed from the stern deck.

Sailors scrambled into the rigging and fierce winds bellied the sails as they fell. The Insufferable lurched round in a tight arc, dragging the smaller Napan vessels with her. The marines hacked at the grapnels and hooked lines until they all flew free.

‘Strike between vessels,’ Choss ordered his steersman as they rounded towards the harbour mouth. The few remaining uncaptured Malazan ships did their best to angle in behind the Insufferable as she stormed past.

Hy had her arms raised once more, hands twisting as she sculpted the winds, and the deck actually tilted towards the bows as the Insufferable rocked anew. Nedurian smiled to see Hy’s squad covering her back now with raised shields as she worked.

‘Ramming speed,’ Nedurian mouthed to himself, and he hooked an arm round a stanchion, bracing himself for impact.

The gigantic flagship struck the roped barrier like a mountain of timber. The stout hemp lines stretched, creaking, straining, and finally snapped, first singly, then in multiple numbers, until the Insufferable lurched through and free.

The crew sent up a great cheer, but Choss was not smiling; he was peering back at their wake and Nedurian was straining to see as well. Slowly, in stops and starts, the Malazan fleet emerged and Nedurian let go a long-held breath. The Insufferable

had done enough to break the blockade and it appeared that the Napans were letting them flee – tails between their legs, presumably.

Inevitably, however, there had been losses, despite Kellanved’s and Surly’s intent of a mere diversion. The question was, would they prove too heavy? And if so, it occurred to Nedurian that it might not be healthy for Choss, as a Napan and one of Surly’s crew, to return to Malaz. Return to what? Censure? Arrest?

It all depended, he supposed, on what was happening in that great bulk of stone that was Dariyal’s harbour keep.

*

When the Witch Jadeen plucked Kellanved from their midst, and Dancer followed shortly thereafter with the mage Tayschrenn – presumably in pursuit – Cartheron almost let his arms fall. Typical! Bloody typical! They hit a tight spot and the mad mage disappeared once more.

Surly, as usual, collected herself more quickly than anyone. ‘What now?’ she demanded of her brother, as if nothing had happened.

Tarel just laughed. ‘Now? What happens now? You die!’ He waved the palace guards forward. ‘Kill them all!’

Surly threw up her arms, calling out loudly: ‘No need! No need for Napan to kill Napan. Or for any more to die. That is exactly what I had wished to avoid. I will surrender – but with one condition.’

Tarel’s face wrinkled in sour disbelief. ‘Condition? You are in no position to make demands. I have beaten you. And now you die.’

A commanding officer with Tarel leaned in and whispered something to him. Cartheron thought the officer was looking towards the Malazans – to Dassem in particular – and it occurred to him that the Dal Hon swordsman might very well be able to fight his way out of this singlehanded, and that a lot of Napan soldiery would die in the process. The king rolled his eyes to the ceiling and huffed.

‘Oh, very well,’ he allowed. ‘What is it?’

‘Grant safe passage to the Malazans,’ Surly said. ‘They aren’t really involved in this. This is a Napan affair.’

Tarel waved a hand. ‘Very well. Escort these Malazans to a captured vessel and send them off. They’ll no doubt be killed by the mob when they return, anyway.’

Surly turned to Dassem. ‘Keep order. Handle a transition of leadership if necessary.’

The swordsman bowed. ‘I will help keep order, for a time. Until we see what we shall see.’

Surly nodded her understanding.

Yes, Cartheron thought, until we see if Kellanved will ever return. He caught Dujek’s eye and saluted him.

The burly fighter shoved his sword home. ‘We’ll stay, dammit!’ he growled.