‘A nasty trick, sir, that one. I’m surprised the King has not insisted on proper reparations.’
‘You are most welcome to your surprise, Ginast, but not to your disapproving tone. As far as those stirrups are concerned, I admit to applauding the Bluerose in their deviousness. Revenge most deserved. As for the ceiling on advancement in the Letherii army, I have this to say: from now on, any and every soldier in the Letherii army, no matter where they originally come from, has equal opportunity for advancement based on merit and exemplary service to the kingdom. Bring in a scribe and we’ll get that written up immediately. As for you, Ginast, best hurry since you need to track Henar down in time for him to return here, mounted and ready as my escort, understood?’
‘Sir, the highborn officers will not like-’
‘I understand the Malazan Empress conducted a campaign that scoured her armies of those ranks bought by privilege and station. Do you know how she went about it, corporal? She arrested the officers and either executed them or sent them to work in mines for the rest of their lives. A most charming solution, I think, and should the nobleborn in my forces prove at all troublesome, I might well advise my brother to adopt something similar. Now, you are dismissed.’
The aide saluted and then fled.
Brys glanced over to see shock on Aranict’s face. ‘Oh come now, Atri-Ceda, you don’t really think I’d suggest such a thing, do you?’
‘Sir? No, of course not. I mean, it wasn’t that. Well, sorry, sir. Sorry.’
Brys cocked his head and regarded her for a moment. ‘What then? Ah, you are perhaps surprised that I’d indulge in a little matchmaking, Atri-Ceda?’
‘Yes, sir. A little.’
‘That was the first hint of life I’ve seen in Captain Yil’s face since I first met her. As for Henar, why, he seems man enough for her, don’t you think?’
‘Oh yes, sir! I mean-’
‘He clearly has a taste for the exotic. Do you think he stands a chance?’
‘Sir, I wouldn’t know.’
‘As a woman, rather, what think you?’
Her eyes were darting, her colour high. ‘She saw him admiring her legs, sir.’
‘And made no move to cover up.’
‘I’d noticed that, sir.’
‘Me too.’
There was silence then in the chamber, as Brys studied Aranict while she in turn endeavoured to look everywhere but at her commander.
‘For the Errant’s sake, Atri-Ceda, make use of the rest of that chair, will you? Sit back.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Throatslitter’s high-pitched laugh cut across from behind the captain’s tent. Again. Wincing, Cuttle leaned over and dragged close his studded hauberk. No point in crawling into the thing until they were finally ready to march. But it was getting patchy, needing some grease. ‘Where’s the rend pail?’
‘Here,’ said Tarr, collecting the small bucket and passing it over. ‘Don’t take too much, we’re getting low and now that Pores is in charge of the quartermaster’s-’
‘The bastard ain’t in charge of nothing,’ Cuttle snapped. ‘He’s just set himself up as a middleman, and we all choke our way through him to get anything. Quartermaster’s happy since so few requests ever reach ’im, and between the two of ’em they’re hoarding and worse. Someone should tell Sort, so she can tell Kindly, so he can-’
‘Kindly’s got nothing to do with Pores any more, Cuttle.’
‘So who does?’
‘Nobody, s’far as I can tell.’
Smiles and Koryk trudged back into the camp-which wasn’t much of a camp any more, just a smouldering hearth and a ring of kit packs and gear. ‘First bell after noon,’ said Smiles, ‘and no sooner.’
‘Any other word on Ges and Stormy?’ Cuttle asked her.
‘Fid can say what he wants,’ said Koryk, ‘and same for the others. They probably bolted.’
‘Don’t be an idiot,’ retorted Cuttle. ‘Veterans don’t walk. That’s what makes them veterans.’
‘Until they decide they’ve had enough.’
‘Go ask Bottle,’ said Tarr, his face darkening as he glared at Koryk, ‘and he’ll tell you the same. They got snatched.’
‘Fine, they got snatched. Point is, they’re gone. Probably dead by now. Who’s next?’
‘With luck,’ said Smiles, slumping down to lean against her pack, ‘you, Koryk.’ She looked over to Tarr. ‘His brain is burnt out-Koryk ain’t the Koryk I once knew, and I bet you’re all thinking the same.’ She was on her feet again. ‘Piss on this, I’m going for a walk.’