Blood and Bone

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by Ian C. Esslemont


  Waris bowed and headed off to convey the orders.

  Golan started pacing the shore, slowly, meditatively. He held the blackwood Rod of Execution behind his back in both hands, tapping it with his thumbs.

  Principal Scribe Thorn followed behind. He licked the quill and began scratching on the bag. He mouthed as he walked: ‘Having utterly crushed the jungle leagues of Jacuruku, Golan the Great vanquishes the Eastern Ocean then casts his victor’s eyes onward to new conquests! He orders the beginning of a grand new campaign against the Northern Wastes. The glorious Army of Righteous Chastisement springs to its feet to follow its inspiring leader onward to new triumphs no doubt as rewarding and glorious as those they have known …’

  Master Golan suddenly halted. He raised his face to the clear sky while exhaling mightily through clenched teeth. He raised the Rod of Execution, then regarded the surf restlessly surging up the steep strand. For a moment it appeared as if he were considering throwing the baton into the sea. He lowered it, however, and turned to study the bedraggled survivors of his army as they slumped down together to sit listless and exhausted, staring out at the vast unbroken horizon before them.

  His gaze fell to Principal Scribe Thorn who watched him expectantly, quill poised. He wiped the back of his hand across his eyes, blinking, then quickly turned his face out to sea. After a time he murmured, as if more to himself: ‘You are right, Thorn. Posterity will wonder at your perspicacity. You have assured my due place in history.’

  The scribe swallowed, his bulging Adam’s apple bobbing. ‘It is my duty, Master Golan.’

  GLOSSARY

  Elder Races

  Tiste Andii: Children of Darkness

  Tiste Edur: Children of Shadow

  Tiste Liosan: Children of Light

  Imass: an ancient race of which only the undead army, the T’lan Imass, remain

  Trell: an ancient race of nomadic pastoralists

  Jaghut: an ancient race of recluses

  Thelomen / Toblakai: an ancient race, pre-agriculturalists

  The Warrens

  Kurald Galain: The Elder Warren of Darkness, Elder Night

  Kurald Emurlahn: The Elder Warren of Shadow, Elder Shadow

  Kurald Thyrllan: The Elder Warren of Light: Elder Light, also known as Liosan

  Omtose Phellack: The Elder Jaghut Warren of Ice

  Tellann: The Elder Imass Warren of Fire

  Starvald Demelain: The Eleint Warren

  Thyr: The Path of Light

  Denul: The Path of Healing

  Hood’s Path: The Path of Death

  Serc: The Path of the Sky

  Meanas: The Path of Shadow and Illusion

  D’riss: The Path of the Earth

  Ruse: The Path of the Sea

  Rashan: The Path of Darkness

  Mockra: The Path of the Mind

  Telas: The Path of Fire

  Terms and Places

  The Adwami: the nomadic tribes of southern Jacuruku

  Agon: an order of priests for whom good and evil are illusions

  Ammanas: also known as Shadowthrone, ruler of the Shadow Realm

  Anditi Pura: capital city of the Thaumaturgs

  Chanar Keep: a ruined keep in the Gangrek Mounts on the border of Himatan

  The Dolmens of Tien: site of an ancient ‘Chaining’ of the Crippled God

  High King / God-King: ancient title of legendary ruler of most of Jacuruku, Kallor

  Himatan: an enchanted jungle said to be ruled by Ardata

  Isana Pura: southern capital of the Thaumaturgs

  Isturé: a term for the Avowed that extends to the Disavowed as well

  Jakal Viharn: rumoured great city in the jungle, ‘city of gold’, paved in jewels

  Khun-Sen: an old general, once ruler of Chanar Keep

  The Meckros: name for floating cities and the people who occupy them

  The Nak-ta: the restless dead of Jacuruku

  Phalam: a unit within the Thaumaturg army, roughly equivalent to a squad

  The Shaduwam: shaman-like priests of southern Jacuruku

  Thaumaturgs / Theurgists: ruling mages of a nation in Jacuruku

  The Yakshaka: their statue-like stone soldiers, manufactured by alchemy and magery

  About the Author

  IAN CAMERON ESSLEMONT has worked as an archaeologist and has taught and travelled in South East Asia and the Far East. He now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with his wife and children. His previous novels, Night of Knives, Return of the Crimson Guard, Stonewielder and Orb Sceptre Throne are all set in the epic fantasy world he co-created with Steven Erikson.

  Also by Ian C. Esslemont

  NIGHT OF KNIVES

  RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD

  STONEWIELDER

  ORB SCEPTRE THRONE

  For more information on Ian C. Esslemont and his books, see his website at www.malazanempire.com

  TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS

  61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA

  A Random House Group Company

  www.transworldbooks.co.uk

  BLOOD AND BONE

  A BANTAM BOOK: 9780593064467

  Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781409043379

  Published in Great Britain

  in 2012 by Bantam Press

  an imprint of Transworld Publishers

  Copyright © Ian Cameron Esslemont 2012

  Ian Cameron Esslemont has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Addresses for Random House Group Ltd companies outside the UK can be found at:

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  The Random House Group Ltd Reg. No. 954009

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Map

  Dramatis Personae

  Prologue

  Chapter I

  Chapter II

  Chapter III

  Chapter IV

  Chapter V

  Chapter VI

  Chapter VII

  Chapter VIII

  Chapter IX

  Chapter X

  Chapter XI

  Chapter XII

  Chapter XIII

  Chapter XIV

  Chapter XV

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  About the Author

  Also by Ian C. Esslemont

  Copyright

 

 

 


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