Steven Erikson: Memories of Ice

To R. S. Lundin

I extend my gratitude to the following for their support and friendship: Clare, Bowen, Mark, David, Chris, Rick, Cam, Courtney; Susan and Peter, David Thomas Sr and Jr, Harriet and Chris and Lily and Mina and Smudge; Patrick Walsh and Simon and Jane. Thanks also to Dave Holden and his friendly staff (Tricia, Cindy, Liz, Tanis, Barbara, Joan, Nadia, Amanda, Tony, Andi and Jody) of the Pizza Place, for the table and the refills. And thanks to John Meaney for the disgusting details on dead seeds.

DRAMATIS PERSONAETHE

CARAVANSERAI

Gruntle,a caravan guard

Stonny Menackis,a caravan guard

Harllo, a caravan guard

Buke,a caravan guard

Bauchelain,an explorer

Korbal Broach,his silent partner

Emancipor Reese, a manservant

Keruli, a trader

Marble,a sorcerer

IN CAPUSTAN

Brukhalian,Mortal Sword of Fener's Reve (the GreySwords)

Itkovian,Shield Anvil of Fener's Reve (the Grey Swords)

Karnadas, Destriant of Fener's Reve (the Grey Swords)

Recruit Velbara (the Grey Swords)

Master Sergeant Norul (the Grey Swords)

Farakalian (the Grey Swords)

Nakalian (the Grey Swords)

Torun(the Grey Swords)

Sidlis(the Grey Swords)

Nilbanas(the Grey Swords)

Jelarkan,prince and ruler of Capustan

Arard, prince and ruler in absentia of Coral

Rath'Fener (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Shadowthrone (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Queen of Dreams (Priestess of the Mask Council)

Rath'Hood (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'D'rek (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Trake (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Burn (Priestess of the Mask Council)

Rath'Togg (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Fanderay (Priestess of the Mask Council)

Rath'Dessembrae (Priestess of the Mask Council)

Rath'Oponn (Priest of the Mask Council)

Rath'Beru (Priest of the Mask Council)

ONEARM'S HOST

Dujek Onearm,commander of renegade Malazan army

Whiskeyjack, second-in-command of renegade Malazanarmy

Twist,commander of the Black Moranth

Artanthos, standard-bearer of renegade Malazan army

Barack, a liaison officer

Hareb,a noble-born captain

Ganoes Paran, Captain, Bridgeburners

Antsy, sergeant, 7th Squad, Bridgeburners

Picker, corporal, 7th Squad, Bridgeburners

Detoran, soldier, 7th Squad

Spindle, mage and sapper, 7th Squad

Blend, soldier, 7th Squad

Mallet,healer, 9th Squad

Hedge,sapper, 9th Squad

Trotts,soldier, 9th Squad

Quick Ben,mage, 9th Squad

Aimless(Bridgeburner corporal)

Bucklund (Bridgeburner sergeant)

Runter (Bridgeburner sapper)

Mulch (Bridgeburner healer)

Bluepearl (Bridgeburner mage)

Shank (Bridgeburner mage)

Toes(Bridgeburner mage)

BROOO'S HOST

Caladan Brood,warlord of liberation army on Genabackis

Anomander Rake, Lord of Moon's Spawn

Kallor, the High King, Brood's second-in-command

The Mhybe, matron of the Rhivi Tribes

Silverfox, the Rhivi Reborn

Korlat, a Tiste Andii Soletaken

Orfantal, Korlat's brother

Hurlochel,an outrider in the liberation army

Crone, a Great Raven and companion to Anomander Rake

THE BARCHAST

Humbrall Taur,warchief of the White Face Clan

Hetan, his daughter

Cafal,his first son

Netok,his second son

DARUJISTAN ENVOYS

Coll,an ambassador

Estraysian D'Arle,a councilman

Barak, an alchemist

Kruppe,a citizen

Murillio,a citizen

THE C'LAN IMASS

Kron,ruler of the Kron T'lan Imass

Cannig Tol, clan chief

Bek Okhan,a Bonecaster

Pran Chole,a Bonecaster

Okral Lom,a Bonecaster

Bendal Home,a Bonecaster

Ay Estos,a Bonecaster

Olar Ethil,the First Bonecaster and First Soletaken

Tool, the Shorn, once First Sword

Kilava, a renegade Bonecaster

Lanas Tog, of Kerluhm T'lan Imass

THE PANNION DOMIN

The Seer,priest-king of the Domin

Ultentha, Septarch of Coral

Kulpath, Septarch of the besieging army

Inal, Septarch of Lest

Anaster,a Tenescowri Child of the Dead Seed

Seerdomin Kahlt

OTHERS

K'rul,an Elder God

Draconus,an Elder God

Sister of Cold Nights,an Elder Goddess

Lady Envy, a resident of Morn

Gethol, a Herald

Treach,a First Hero (the Tiger of Summer)

Toc the Younger, Aral Fayle, a Malazan scout

Garath, a large dog

Baaljagg,a larger wolf

Mok,a Seguleh

Thurule,a Seguleh

Senu,a Seguleh

The Chained One,an unknown ascendant (also known as the Crippled God)

The Witch of Tennes

Munug,a Daru artisan

Talamandas,a Barghast sticksnare

Ormulogun, artist in Onearm's Host

Gumble, his critic

Haradas,a Trygalle Trade Guild caravan master

Azra Jael, a marine in Onearm's Host

Straw, a Mott Irregular

Sty,a Mott Irregular

Stump,a Mott Irregular

Job Bole,a Mott Irregular

The ancient wars of the T'lan Imass and the Jaghut saw the world torn asunder. Vast armies contended on the ravaged lands, the dead piled high, their bone the bones of hills, their spilled blood the blood of seas. Sorceries raged until the sky itself was fire …

Ancient Histories, Vol. I Kinicik Karbar'n

Maeth'ki Im (Pogrom of the Rotted Flower), the 33rd Jaghut War

298,665 years before Burn's Sleep.

Swallows darted through the clouds of midges dancing over the mudflats. The sky above the marsh remained grey, but it had lost its mercurial wintry gleam, and the warm wind sighing through the air above the ravaged land held the scent of healing.

What had once been the inland freshwater sea the Imass called Jaghra Til — born from the shattering of the Jaghut ice-fields — was now in its own death-throes. The pallid overcast was reflected in dwindling pools and stretches of knee-deep water for as far south as the eye could scan, but none the less, newly birthed land dominated the vista.

The breaking of the sorcery that had raised the glacial age returned to the region the old, natural seasons, but the memories of mountain-high ice lingered. The exposed bedrock to the north was gouged and scraped, its basins filled with boulders. The heavy silts that had been the floor of the inland sea still bubbled with escaping gases, as the land, freed of the enormous weight with the glaciers' passing eight years past, continued its slow ascent.