The Red Blades (or Red Swords) were a fanatical company of Seven Cities natives who vowed absolute loyalty to the Malazan Empire. They were newly formed around the time Lostara Yil left the Cult of Rashan. Rumour at the time had it that the Red Blades would become the deliverers of Malazan justice. Imperial Historian Duiker thought the Red Blades "the most loyal soldiers of the Empire I've ever known." But Seven Cities natives preferred using the derogatory term Mezla'ebdin (Malazan lapdogs) to refer to them.