No-one spoke.
Slowly, the stranger's long, narrow face deepened to crimson.
'Welcome, sir,' Itkovian said. 'Regrets that we have not met before — especially since we all seem to have been left behind by Brood's vanguard, and the Rhivi and all the other companies.'
The man managed a nod. 'Yeah. We'd noticed. I am High Marshal Straw, of the Mott Irregulars.' His pale, watery eyes flicked to Gruntle. 'Nice tattoos. I've got one, too.' He rolled up a grimy sleeve, revealing a muddled, misshapen image on his dirt-smeared shoulder. 'Not sure what happened to it, but it was supposed to be a treefrog on a stump. Of course, treefrogs are hard to see, so it might be pretty good at that — that smudge — here — I think that's the treefrog. Could be a mushroom, though.' His smile revealing enormous teeth, he rolled down his sleeve once more and settled back in his saddle. He suddenly frowned. 'Do you know where we're marching to? And why is everyone in such a hurry?'
'Uh …'
It seemed all Gruntle could manage, so Itkovian spoke up, 'Excellent questions, sir. We march to a city called Maurik, there to rejoin the Malazan army. From Maurik, we will proceed further south, to the city of Coral.'
Straw frowned. 'Will there be a battle at Maurik?'
'No, the city is abandoned. It is simply a convenient locale for the reunification.'
'And Coral?'
'There will likely be a battle there, yes.'
'Cities don't run away. So why are they all rushing?'
Itkovian sighed. 'A perspicacious enquiry, sir, one that leads to certain challenges to previously held assumptions for all concerned.'
'What?'
'Good question, he said,' Stonny drawled.
The Marshal nodded. 'That's why I asked it. I'm known for asking good questions.'
'We see that,' she replied levelly.
'Brood's in a hurry,' Gruntle said, 'because he wants to get to Maurik before the Malazans — who seem to be marching at a faster pace than we'd thought possible.'
'So?'
'Well, uh, the alliance has become rather. uncertain, of late.'
'They're Malazans — what did you expect?'
'To be honest,' Gruntle said, 'I don't think Brood knew what to expect. Are you saying you're not surprised by the recent schism?'
'Schism? Oh, right. No. Anyway, it's obvious why the Malazans are moving so fast.'
Itkovian leaned forward in his saddle. 'It is?'
Straw shrugged. 'We've some of our people there-'
'You have spies among the Malazans?' Gruntle demanded.
'Sure. We always do. It pays to know what they're up to, especially when we was fighting them. Just because we allied with them there was no reason not to keep watching.'
'So why are they marching so fast, Marshal Straw?'
'The Black Moranth, of course. Coming each night, taking whole companies away. There's only about four thousand Malazans left on the road, and half of them support. Dujek's gone, too. Whiskeyjack leads the march — they've come to Maurik River and are making barges.'
'Barges?'
'Sure. To float down the river, I guess. Not to cross, since there was a ford there anyway, and the barges are downriver of it besides.'
'And the river, of course,' Gruntle muttered, 'will take them straight to Maurik. In only a few days.'
Itkovian addressed the Marshal. 'Sir, have you made Caladan Brood aware of this information?'
'No.'
'Why not?'
Straw shrugged again. 'Well, me and the Bole brothers, we talked about that, some.'
'And?'
'We decided that Brood's kind of forgotten.'
'Forgotten, sir? Forgotten what?'
'About us. The Mott Irregulars. We think maybe he'd planned on leaving us behind. Up north. Blackdog Forest. There might have been some kind of order, back then, something about us staying while he went south. We're not sure. We can't remember.'
Gruntle cleared his throat. 'Have you considered informing the warlord of your presence?'
'Well, we don't want to make him mad. I think there was some kind of order, you see. Something like "go away", maybe.'
'Go away? Why would Brood say that to you?'
'Uh, that's just it. Not the warlord. Kallor. That's what had us confused. We don't like Kallor. We usually ignore his orders. So, anyway, here we are. Who are you people?'
'I think, sir,' Itkovian said, 'you should send a rider to Brood — with your report on the Malazans.'