Blood and Bone (100 page)
‘Second Waris,’ Golan began. Then he paused. He eyed the cloth on the man’s head. ‘Not regulation, I should think, Second.’
‘Keeps the sun off, sir,’ the man replied, his voice flat.
Still a man of few words. Somehow reassuring, that
. Golan cleared his throat. ‘We will camp here. Perhaps there are foodstuffs that the troops may collect. On the morrow we head north around the coast. Eventually we will reach our borders.’
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 DarknessTiste Edur:
Children of ShadowTiste Liosan:
Children of LightImass:
an ancient race of which only the undead army, the T’lan Imass, remainTrell:
an ancient race of nomadic pastoralistsJaghut:
an ancient race of reclusesThelomen / Toblakai:
an ancient race, pre-agriculturalists
The Warrens
Kurald Galain:
The Elder Warren of Darkness, Elder NightKurald Emurlahn:
The Elder Warren of Shadow, Elder ShadowKurald Thyrllan:
The Elder Warren of Light: Elder Light, also known as LiosanOmtose Phellack:
The Elder Jaghut Warren of IceTellann:
The Elder Imass Warren of FireStarvald Demelain:
The Eleint WarrenThyr:
The Path of LightDenul:
The Path of HealingHood’s Path:
The Path of DeathSerc:
The Path of the SkyMeanas:
The Path of Shadow and IllusionD’riss:
The Path of the EarthRuse:
The Path of the SeaRashan:
The Path of DarknessMockra:
The Path of the MindTelas:
The Path of Fire
Terms and Places
The Adwami:
the nomadic tribes of southern JacurukuAgon:
an order of priests for whom good and evil are illusionsAmmanas:
also known as Shadowthrone, ruler of the Shadow RealmAnditi Pura:
capital city of the ThaumaturgsChanar Keep:
a ruined keep in the Gangrek Mounts on the border of HimatanThe Dolmens of Tien:
site of an ancient ‘Chaining’ of the Crippled GodHigh King / God-King:
ancient title of legendary ruler of most of Jacuruku, KallorHimatan:
an enchanted jungle said to be ruled by ArdataIsana Pura:
southern capital of the ThaumaturgsIsturé:
a term for the Avowed that extends to the Disavowed as wellJakal Viharn:
rumoured great city in the jungle, ‘city of gold’, paved in jewelsKhun-Sen:
an old general, once ruler of Chanar KeepThe Meckros:
name for floating cities and the people who occupy themThe Nak-ta:
the restless dead of JacurukuPhalam:
a unit within the Thaumaturg army, roughly equivalent to a squadThe Shaduwam:
shaman-like priests of southern JacurukuThaumaturgs / Theurgists:
ruling mages of a nation in JacurukuThe 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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