Blood and Bone
Page 73
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
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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.
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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