Return of the Crimson Guard: A Novel of the Malazan Empire
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RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD
TOR BOOKS BY IAN C. ESSLEMONT
Night of Knives
Return of the Crimson Guard
RETURN OF THE
CRIMSON GUARD
A NOVEL OF THE MALAZAN
EMPIRE
Ian C. Esslemont
A Tom Doherty Associates Book
New York
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and
events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's
imagination or are used fictitiously.
RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD
Copyright © 2008 by Ian Cameron Esslemont
Map by Neil Gower
Previously published in the UK in 2008 in a limited edition by PS Publishing
LLP and by Bantam Press, a division of Transworld Publishers.
All rights reserved.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Esslemont, Ian C. (Ian Cameron)
Return of the Crimson Guard : a novel of the Malazan empire / Ian C.
Esslemont.—1st Tor ed.
p. cm.
“A Tom Doherty Associates book.”
ISBN 978-0-7653-2370-5 (hc)
ISBN 978-0-7653-2372-9 (tpb)
I. Title.
PS3605.S684R48 2010
813’.6—dc22
2009039509
First Tor Edition: April 2010
Printed in the United States of America
0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This novel is dedicated to the first Winnipeg gang of the
Treherne Room and the second of Rick's Place.
For all those afternoons and evenings honing the trade.
With gratitude I acknowledge Peter Crowther, who made this work possible; John Jarrold, who extended a great deal of faith; and Simon Taylor, whose encouragement and welcome meant, and continue to mean, more than he knows.
Thanks also to Bill Hunter and Chris for their early readings.
Gerri, Conor, Ross, and Callum: you give it meaning.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
IN UNTA
Imperial High Command
Laseen Empress
High Fist Anand Commander 4th Malazan Army (Quon Tali)
Havva Gulen New Imperial High Mage
Korbolo Dom High Fist and Sword of the Empire
Possum Master of the Claw (the Imperial assassins)
Mallick Rel Councillor and Assembly Representative
Unta Harbour Guard
Atelen Tinsmith Sergeant of squad
Rigit Hands Corporal of squad
Nait Squad saboteur
Heuk A cadre mage
Honey Boy Soldier
Least Half-Barghast soldier
Others in Unta
Coil A Clawleader
Lady Batevari A Seeress / Fortuneteller from Darujhistan
Oryan A Seven Cities mage, bodyguard to Mallick Rel
Taya Radok A dancing girl / assassin from Darujhistan
IN LI HENG
Malazan Army
Harmin Els D'Shil A captain of the garrison
Gujran A captain of the garrison
Banath A sergeant of the garrison
Fallow A healer of the garrison
Storo Matash's Squad
Storo Matash Captain of a saboteur company, 3rd veteran
Shaky Ranking saboteur
Hurl Saboteur
Sunny Saboteur
Silk Squad corporal and cadre mage
Jalor A Seven Cities recruit
Rell A Genabackan recruit
Civilians in Li Heng
Magistrate Ehrlann Member of the Ruling Council of Magistrates
Jamaer Ehrlann's servant
Magistrate Plengyllen Member of the Ruling Council of Magistrates
Liss A city mage
Ahl A city mage (with brothers Thai and Lar)
INCAWN
Nevall Od'Orr Chief Factor of Cawn
Groten NevalPs bodyguard
ON THE SETI PLAINS
Toc the Elder Seti Warlord and Malazan ‘Old Guard’
Wildman Seti champion, also known as ‘the Boar’, Sweetgrass
Imotan Shaman of the Jackal warrior society
Hipal Shaman of the Ferret warrior society
Captain Moss Malazan cavalry captain
Redden Brokeleg Ataman (chieftain) of the Plains Lion Assembly
Ortal Ataman (chieftain) of the Black Ferret Assembly
ON THE WICKAN FRONTIER
Malazan Army
Rillish Jal Keth Lieutenant of the Malazan 4th Army
Chord Company sergeant
Talia Malazan veteran
Wickans
Clearwater A Wickan shaman
Nil A Wickan warlock and veteran of the Seven Cities campaigns
Nether A Wickan witch and veteran of the Seven Cities campaigns
Mane A young Wickan warrior
Udep A Wickan hetman (chieftain)
In the Pit
Ho (Hothalar) A Li Heng mage
Yathengar 'ul Amal A Seven Cities priest (‘Faladan’)
Sessin Yathengar's bodyguard
Grief A new prisoner
Treat A new prisoner
Devaleth A Korelan sea-witch and new prisoner
Su A Wickan witch
IN QUON TALI PROVINCE
Ghelel Rhik Tayliin Duchess, and last surviving member of the Tayliin family line
Amaron Malazan Old Guard’, once commander of the Talons
Choss Malazan Old Guard’, once High Fist
Marquis Jhardin Commander of the Marchland Sentries
Prevost Razala A cavalry captain
Molk An agent of Amaron's
THE CRIMSON GUARD
Surviving Named Avowed
K'azz D'Avore Commander, known by various titles
First Company
Skinner Captain
Mara Company mage
Gwynn Company mage
Petal Company mage
Kalt Lieutenant
Farese
Hist
Shijel
Black the Lesser
Second Company
Shimmer Captain
Cowl High Mage and Master of Assassins, ‘Veils’
Stoop Siegemaster of the Guard
Smoky Company mage
Shellarr ‘Shell’, company mage
Blues Company mage and swordmaster
Fingers Company mage
Opal Company mage
Isha Company assassin, ‘Veil’
Keitil Company assassin, ‘Veil’
Cole
Treat
Dim
Reed
Amatt
Sept
Lazar
Halfdan
Lean
Inese
Turgal
Third Company
Tarkhan Captain and company assassin, ‘Veil’
Lor-sinn Company mage
Sour Company mage
Toby Company mage
Balkin Company mage
Lacy Company assassin, ‘Veil’
Black
Baker
Janeth
Slate
Bower
Lucky
Fourth Company
Cal-Brinn Captain and company mage
Iron Bars
Jup Alat
Among the First Induction (recruitment)
Sergeant Trench
Corlo
Voss
Ambrose
Palla
Among the Second Induction
Lurgman Parsell, Twisty’
Jaris
Pilgrim
Ogilvy
Bakar
Tolt
Meek
Harman
Grere
Geddin
Boll
Among the Third Induction
Stalker
Badlands
Coots
Kyle
OF THE TALIAN LEAGUE
Urko Crust Commander of Falaran forces, ‘Old Guard’, also known as ‘Shatterer’
V'thell Commander of Gold Moranth forces
Choss Commander of Talian forces, ‘Old Guard’
Toc the Elder Seti Warlord, ‘Old Guard’
Amaron Chief of intelligence, ‘Old Guard’
Ullen Khadeve Urko's lieutenant-commander and chief of staff, Old Guard’
Bala Jesselt Cadre mage, ‘Old Guard’
Eselen Tonley A captain of Falaran cavalry
Orlat Kepten A captain of Talian forces, ‘Old Guard’
OTHERS
Liossercal Ascendant, titled ‘Son of Light,’ also known as Osserc, Osric
Anomandaris Ascendant, titled ‘Son of Darkness’
Jhest Golanjar Jacuruku mage
Shen A warlock
Tayschrenn Imperial High Mage
D'Ebbin Malazan commander 4th Army, ‘Fist’
Braven Tooth Malazan Command Master Sergeant
Temp Malazan Master Sergeant
Blossom Moranth Gold officer
Tourmaline Moranth Gold infantry sergeant
Cartharon Crust Captain of the Ragstopper, rumoured ‘Old Guard’
Denuth An Elder, among the Firstborn to Mother Earth
Draconus An Elder God
Ereko An ancient wanderer
Greymane Once a Malazan Fist, now outlawed
Lim Tal Ex-private guard of Untan noble
Traveller A wanderer of mixed Dal Hon and Quon descent
Ragman/
Tatterdemalion A wanderer of the Imperial Warren
This, the first of wars, paroxysmed for time unmeasured. Ever Light thrust yet dissipated, and ever Night retreated yet smothered. Thus the two combatants locked in an ever-widening gyre of eternal creation and destruction. Countless champions of both Houses arose, scoured the face of creation in their potency, only to fall each in turn, their names now lost to memory.
Then, in what some named the ten thousandth turn of the spreading whorl of the two hosts, there came to the shimmering curtain edge of battle one unknown to either House, and he did castigate the combatants.
‘Who are you to speak thusly?’ demanded he who would come to be known as Draconus.
One who has moved upon the Void long enough to know this will never end.’
‘It is ordained,’ answered a champion of Light, Liossercal. ‘Ever must one rise, the other fall.’
Disdainful, the newcomer thrust the opponents apart. ‘Then agree that this be so and name it done!’
And so both Houses fell upon the stranger tearing him into countless fragments.
Thus was Shadow born and the first great sundering ended.
Myth Fragment
Compendium Primal, Mantle
PROLOGUE
The Elder Age,
Time unmeasured
THE ERUPTION HAD WOUNDED THE WORLD. DENUTH, A CHILD of the Earth, was first to penetrate the curtains of drifting cinders and so come upon the crater. Steaming water the colour of slate pooled at the centre of a basin leagues across. A slope of naked jagged rock led down to the silent shore. All was still, layered in a snow of ash. Yet a stirring of movement caught his attention and he picked his way to the water's edge to find an entity sembled in a shape akin to his own with two legs and arms, but slashed and gouged by ferocious wounds. Blood was a black crust upon the one and darkened the waters around him.
Gently, Denuth turned the being over only to start, amazed. ‘Liossercal! Father's own first born! Who is it that set upon you?’
A savage smile of blunt canine tusks. ‘None. Best ask whom I set upon. Are there no others?’
‘None I saw.’
The smile crooked down to a feral scowl. ‘All consumed then. Taken by the blast.’
‘Blast?’ Denuth narrowed his gaze upon the alien power. Yes, alien – for who could possibly fathom the mind of one born with Light's first eruption? ‘What exactly has occurred here?’
Wincing, Liossercal shrugged himself from Denuth's support. He sat hunched, arms clasped tight about himself as if to hold his body together. Thick dark blood welled fresh from his deeper lacerations. ‘An experiment. An attempt. An assault. Call it what you will.’
‘An assault? Upon what? There was naught here but.’ Denuth's voice died away into the stillness of the ash-choked water. ‘Mother Preserve us! An Azath!’ Glancing about, he took in the immense crater, attempted to grasp the scale of the calamity. It has pained us all! ‘You fool! Would you stop at nothing in your questing?’
The pale head rose, amber eyes hot. ‘I do as I choose.’
Denuth recoiled. Indeed. And here then was the quandary. Something must be done about these ancient powers before their antagonisms and limitless ambitions destroy all order once again. Draconus's solution horrifies, yet well now could I almost understand such … exigencies. After all, was not eternal imprisonment preferable to such potential for destruction?
Liossercal struggled to his feet, stiff, hissing at his many wounds, and Denuth knew a terrible temptation. Never before had he heard an account of this entity so vulnerable, so weakened. Soletaken, Elient, what were such labels to this power who may have moved through Light before it knew Dark? Yet now he was obviously wounded almost unto expiration. Should he act now? Would ever such a chance come again to anyone?
As if following the chain of the Child of Earth's thoughts, Liossercal smiled, upthrusting canines prominent. ‘Do not be tempted, Denuth. Draconus is a fool. His conclusions flawed. Rigidity is not the answer.’
‘And what is?’
A pained grimace, fingers gently probed a deep laceration high on one cheek. ‘I was exploring alternatives.’
‘Explore elsewhere.’
A flash of white rage, quelled. ‘Well taken, Child of Earth. He comes, does he not?’
‘He does. And he brings his answer with him.’
‘I had best go.’
‘Indeed.’
Liossercal threw his arms up, his outline blurring, sembling, but he gasped in mid-shift, roared his pain and collapsed to the shore. A dragon shape of silver and gold writhed over the brittle rocks before Denuth who hurriedly backed away. Boulders crashed into the lake as slashed wings laboured. Eventually, unsteady, the enormous bulk arose to snake heavily away. Its long tail hissed a cut through the steaming waters of the crater.
Denuth remained, motionless. Wavelets crossed the limpid water, lapped silently. The snow of cinders limned the dull black basalt of his shoulders and arms. Then steps crunched over the broken rock and he felt a biting cold darkness at his side, as of the emptiness that was said to abide between the stars. Keeping his face averted, Denuth bowed. ‘Consort of Dark and Suzerain of Night. Draconus. Greetings.’
‘Consort no longer,’ came a dry rasping voice. ‘And that suzerainty long defied. But I thank you just the same.’
Rigid, Denuth refused to turn to regard the ancient potent being, and the equally alarming darkness he carried at his side. How many had disappeared into that Void, and what horrifying shape would its final forging take? Such extreme measures yet revolted him.
‘So,’ Draconus breathed. ‘The Bastard of Light himself. And weakened. His essence will be a great addition.’
That which Denuth thought of as hi
s soul shivered within him. ‘He is not for you.’
A cold regard. Denuth urged himself not to look.
After some time, ‘Is this a foretelling – from Her?’
‘My own small adeptness. I suspect he may one day find that which he seeks.’
‘And that is?’
‘That which we all seek. Union with the All.’
Time passed. Denuth sensed careful consideration within the entity at his side. He heard rough scales that were not of metal catching and scraping as armoured arms crossed. A slow thoughtful exhalation. ‘Nonetheless. I will pursue. After all, I offer my own version of union … Is that not so?’
Your perversion of it. But Denuth said nothing; he knew he walked a delicate line with this power that could take him should he wish. Only a reluctance to antagonize his parent, Mother to all who come from the Earth, stilled this ancient one's hand. ‘Perhaps Anomandaris—’ Denuth began.
‘Speak not to me of that upstart,’ Draconus grated. ‘I will bring him to heel soon enough.’
And I hope to be nowhere near when that should come to pass …