Deep ditches flanked the Aren Way, and beyond them were high, flat-topped earthen banks on which grew for the entire ten-mile stretch and in two precise rows, tall cedars that had been transplanted from Geleen on the Clatar Sea.
The Kherahn spokeswoman joined Duiker and the two warlocks in the wide concourse before the Way's gate. 'Payment has been received and all agreements between us honoured.'
'We thank you, Elder,' the historian said.
She shrugged. 'A simple transaction, soldier. No words of thanks are necessary.'
'True. Not necessary, but given in any case.'
'Then you are welcome.'
'The Empress will hear of this, Elder, in the most respectful of terms.'
Her steady eyes darted away at this. She hesitated, then said, 'Soldier, a large force approaches from the north – our rearguard has seen the dust. They come swiftly.'
'Ah, I see.'
'Perhaps some of you will make it.'
'We'll better that if we can.'
'Soldier?'
'Aye, Elder?'
'Are you certain Aren's gates will open to you?'
Duiker's laugh was harsh. 'I'll worry about that when we get there, I think.'
'There's wisdom in that.' She nodded, then gathered her reins. 'Goodbye, soldier.'
'Farewell.'
The Kherahn Dhobri departed, a task that took no more than five minutes, the wagons under heavy escort. Duiker eyed what he could see of the refugee train, their presence overwhelming the small village's ragged boundaries.
He'd set a difficult, gruelling pace, a day and a night with but the briefest pauses for rest, and the message had clearly reached them, one and all, that safety would be assured only once they were within Aren's massively fortified walls.
Three leagues left – it'll take us until dawn to achieve that. Each league I push them hard slows those that follow. Yet what choice do I have? 'Nil, inform your Wickans – I want the entire train through this gate before the sun's set. Your warriors are to use every means possible to achieve that, short of killing or maiming. The refugees may have forgotten their terror of you – remind them.'
'There are but thirty in the troop,' Nether reminded him. 'And all youths at that—'
'Angry youths, you mean. Well, let's offer them an outlet.'
Aren Way accommodated them in their efforts, for the first third, locally known as Ramp, was a gentle downward slope towards the plain on which the city sat. Cone-shaped hills kept pace with them to the east, and would do so to within a thousand paces of Aren's north wall. The hills were not natural: they were mass graves, scores of them, from the misguided slaughter of the city's residents by the T'lan Imass in Kellanved's time. The hill nearest Aren was among the largest, and was home to the city's ruling families and the Holy Protector and Falah'dan.
Duiker left Nil to lead the vanguard and rode at the very rear of the train, where he, Nether and three Wickans shouted themselves hoarse in an effort to hasten the weakest and slowest among the refugees. It was a heartbreaking task, and they passed more than one body that had given out at the pace. There was no time for burial, nor the strength to carry them.
To the north and slightly east, the clouds of dust grew steadily closer.
'They're not taking the road,' Nether gasped, wheeling her mount around to glare at the dust. 'They come overland – slower, much slower—'
'But a shorter route on the map,' Duiker said.
'The hills aren't marked, are they?'
'No, non-Imperial maps show it as a plain – the barrows are too recent an addition, I'd guess.'
'You'd think Korbolo would have a Malazan version—'
'It appears not – and that alone may save us, lass ...'
Yet he could hear the false ring in his own words. The enemy was too close – less than a third of a league away, he judged. Even with the burial mounds, mounted troops could cover that distance in a few-score minutes.
Faint Wickan warcries from the vanguard reached them.
'They've sighted Aren,' Nether said. 'Nil shows me through his eyes—'
'The gates?'
She frowned. 'Closed.'
Duiker cursed. He rode his mare among the stragglers. 'The city's been sighted!' he shouted. 'Not much more! Move!'
From some hidden, unexpected place, reserves of energy rose in answer to the historian's words. He sensed, then saw, a ripple run through the masses, a faint quickening of pace, of anticipation – and of fear. The historian twisted in his saddle.