Steven Erikson - Toll the Hounds

Dramatis Personae

Cutter,an assassin

Scillara,his companion

Iskaral Pust,High Priest of Shadow, the Magi, God of the Bhokarala

Sister Spite,a Soletaken

Mogora,Iskaral’s occasional wife

Barathol Mekhar,a tourist

Chaur,a gentle man

Mappo Runt,a Trell

Picker,a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K’rul’s Bar

Blend,a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K’rul’s Bar

Antsy,a retired Bridgeburner and partner in K’rul’s Bar

Mallet,a retired Bridgeburner and healer

Bluepearl,a retired Bridgeburner

Fisher,a bard, a regular at K’rul’s Bar

Duiker,once the Malazan Empire’s Imperial Historian

Bellam Nom,a young man

Rallick Nom,an awakened assassin

Torvald Nom,a cousin of Rallick’s

Tiserra,Torvald’s wife

Coll,a Council Member in Darujhistan

Estraysian D’Arle,a Council Member in Darujhistan

Hanut Orr,a Council Member in Darujhistan, nephew of the late Turban Orr

Shardan Lim,a Council Member in Darujhistan

Murillio,a consort

Kruppe,a round little man

Meese,proprietor of the Phoenix Inn

Irilta,a regular at the Phoenix Inn

Scurve,barkeep at the Phoenix Inn

Sulty,server at the Phoenix Inn

Challice,wife of Vidikas, daughter of Estraysian D’Arle

Gorlas Vidikas,newest Council Member in Darujhistan, past Hero of the Fete

Krute of Talient,an agent of the Assassins’ Guild

Gaz,a killer

Thordy,Gaz’s wife

Master Quell,Trygalle Trade Guild navigator and sorcerer

Faint,a shareholder

Reccanto Ilk,a shareholder

Sweetest Sufferance,a shareholder

Glanno Tarp,a shareholder

Amby Bole,a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Jula Bole,a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Precious Thimble,a retired Mott Irregular and newfound shareholder

Gruntle,a caravan guard on extended leave

Stonny Menackis,a caravan guard

Harllo,a child

Bedek,Harllo’s ‘uncle’

Myrla,Harllo’s ‘aunt’

Snell,a child

Bainisk,a worker in the mines

Venaz,a worker in the mines

Scorch,a newly hired bodyguard

Leff,a newly hired bodyguard

Madrun,a newly hired compound guard

Lazan Door,a newly hired compound guard

Studlock (or Studious Lock),a castellan

Humble Measure,a mysterious presence in Darujhistan’s criminal underworld

Chillbais,a demon

Baruk,a member of the T’orrud Cabal

Vorcan,Mistress of the Assassins’ Guild

Seba Krafar,Master of the Assassins’ Guild

Apsal’ara,one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Kadaspala,one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Derudan,a witch of Tennes

K’rul,an Elder God

Draconus,one of the Slain within Dragnipur

Korlat,a Tiste Andii Soletakcn

Orfantal,a Tiste Andii Soletaken, Korlat’s brother

Kallor,a challenger

Lady Envy,a bystander

Anomander Rake,Son of Darkness, Knight of Darkness, Ruler of Black Coral

Spinnock Durav,a Tiste Andii

Endest Silann,a Tiste Andii wizard

Caladan Brood,a Warlord

Hood,the God of Death

Ditch,one of the Slain in Dragnipur

Samar Dev,a witch

Karsa Orlong,a Teblor Toblakai warrior

Traveller,a stranger

Shadowthrone,the God of Shadow

Cotillion,The Rope, Patron God of Assassins

Prophet Seech,the High Priest of the Fallen One, once a middling artist named Munug

Silanah,an Eleint

Crone,a Great Raven

Raest,a Jaghut Tyrant (retired)

Clip,Mortal Sword of Darkness

Nimander Golit,a Tiste Andii

Skintick,a Tiste Andii

Nenanda,a Tiste Andii

Aranatha,a Tiste Andii

Kedeviss,a Tiste Andii

Desra,a Tiste Andii

Sordiko Qualm,a High Priestess

Salind,a High Priestess

Seerdomin,a resident of Black Coral

Gradithan,a thug

Monkrat,a mage

Baran,a Hound of Shadow

Gear,a Hound of Shadow

Blind,a Hound of Shadow

Rood,a Hound of Shadow

Shan,a Hound of Shadow

Pallid,a new Hound of Shadow

Lock,a new Hound of Shadow

Edgewalker,a wanderer

Dog walkers,two witnesses

‘I have no name for this town,’ the ragged man said, hands plucking at the frayed hems of what had once been an opulent cloak. Coiled and tucked into his braided belt was a length of leather leash, rotting and tattered. ‘It needs a name, I think,’ he continued, voice raised to be heard above the vicious fighting of the dogs, ‘yet I find a certain failing of imagination, and no one seems much interested.’

The woman standing now at his side, to whom he companionably addressed these remarks, had but newly arrived. Of her life in the time before, very little re shy;mained. She had not owned a dog, yet she had found herself staggering down the high street of this decrepit, strange town clutching a leash against which a foul-tempered brute tugged and lunged at every passer-by. The rotted leather had finally parted, freeing the beast to bolt forward, launching an attack upon this man’s own dog.

The two animals were now trying to kill each other in the middle of the street, their audience none but their presumed owners. Dust had given way to blood and tufts of hide.

‘There was a garrison, once, three soldiers who didn’t know each other,’ the man said. ‘But one by one they left.’