The grand opening of K'rul's Bar was a disaster. Tables waited, empty, forlorn in the massive main chamber. Paran, Spindle, Blend, Antsy, Mallet and Bluepearl sat at the one nearest the blazing hearth, barely managing a word among them. Nearby was the only other occupied table, at which sat Kruppe, Murillio and Coll.
The front door swung open.
Picker looked over hopefully. But it was only Baruk.
The High Alchemist paused within the antechamber, then slowly made his way forward to where the other Daru sat.
'Dearest friend of honourable Kruppe! Baruk, stalwart champion of Darujhistan, could you ask for better company this night? Here, yes, at this very table! Kruppe was astonishing his companions — and indeed, these grim-faced ex-soldiers next to us — with his extraordinary account of Kruppe and this tavern's namesake, conspiring to fashion a new world.'
'Is the tale done, then?' Baruk asked as he approached.
'Just, but Kruppe would be delighted to-'
'Excellent. I'll hear it some other time, I suppose.' The High Alchemist glanced over at Duiker, but the Imperial Historian had not so much as even looked up. Head still bowed, eyes fixed on the cloth in his hands. Baruk sighed. 'Picker, have you mulled wine?'
'Aye, sir,' she said. 'Behind you, beside the hearth.'
Antsy reached for the clay jug, rose to pour Baruk a cup.
'All right,' Picker said in a loud voice, walking over. 'So, this is it. Fine. The fire's warm enough, we've drunk enough, and I for one am ready for some stories to be told — no, not you, Kruppe. We've heard yours. Now, Baruk here, and Coll and Murillio for that matter, might be interested in the tale of the final taking of Coral.'
Coll slowly leaned forward. 'So, you'll finally talk, will you? It's about time, Picker.'
'Not me,' she replied. 'Not to start, anyway. Captain? Refill your cup, sir, and weave us a tale.'
The man grimaced, then shook his head. 'I'd like to, Picker.'
'Too close,' Spindle grumbled, nodding and turning away.
'Hood's breath, what a miserable bunch!'
'Sure,' Spindle snapped, 'a story to break our hearts all over again! What's the value in that?'
A rough, broken voice replied, 'There is value.'
Everyone fell silent, turned to Duiker.
The Imperial Historian had looked up, was studying them with dark eyes. 'Value. Yes. I think, much value. But not yours, soldiers. Not yet. Too soon for you. Too soon.'
'Perhaps,' Baruk murmured, 'perhaps you are right in that. We ask too much-'
'Of them. Yes.' The old man looked down once more at the cloth in his hands.
The silence stretched.
Duiker made no move.
Picker began to turn back to her companions — when the man began speaking. 'Very well, permit me, if you will, on this night. To break your hearts once more. This is the story of the Chain of Dogs. Of Coltaine of the Crow Clan, newly come Fist to the 7th Army …'
This ends the Third Tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen
GLOSSARY
PANNION DOMIN TERMINOLOGY:
Pannion Seer: the political and spiritual leader of the Domin Septarch: ruler of one of seven districts in Domin (also commands armies) Urdo: commander of elite heavy infantry (Urdomen) Urdomen: elite heavy infantry, fanatical followers of the Seer Seerdomin: fanatical bodyguard and assassin sect of the Domin Betaklites: medium infantry Beklites: regular infantry (also known as the Hundred Thousand) Betrullid: light cavalry
Betakullid: medium cavalry
Scalandi: skirmishers
Desandi: sappers
Tenescowri: the peasant army
IN CAPUSTAN
The Grey Swords: a mercenary cult hired to defend against the Pannion Domin The Mask Council: High Priests of the Fourteen Ascendants represented in Capustan The Gidrath: soldiers serving the fourteen temples The Capanthall: Capustan's city garrison, under command of Prince Jelarkan The Coralessian Company: followers of exiled Prince Arard of Coral Lestari Guard: refugee Palace Guard from the city of Lest Capan: name for distinct self-contained neighbourhoods and people in Capustan Daru Quarter: old town at centre of Capustan The Thrall: old Daru keep now home to the Mask Council
THE FOURTEEN ASCENDANTS OF CAPUTAN'S MASK COUNCIL
Fener/Tennerock
Trake/Treach
D'rek
Hood
Burn
Togg
Beru
Mowri
Oponn
Soliel and Poliel
Queen of Dreams
Fanderay
Dessembrae
Shadowthrone
PEOPLES AND PLACES
The Rhivi: pastoral nomadic society in central plains of Genabackis The Barghast: a warrior caste tribe found on various continents: Ilgres Clan
White Face Clan (including: Senan, Gilk, Ahkrata, Barahn, Nith'rithal) T'lan Imass (the Armies of the Diaspora): Logros, Guardians of the First Throne Kron, First to the Gathering Betrule (lost)
Ifayle (lost)
Bentract (lost)
Orshayn (lost)
Kerluhm (lost)
Tiste Andii: an Elder Race
Jaghut: an Elder Race
K'Chain Che'Malle: one of the Four Founding Races, presumed extinct Moranth: a highly regimented culture, centred in Cloud Forest Daru: a cultural and linguistic group on Genabackis Capan: a citizen of Capustan Domin/Pannion: name for a new empire on Genabackis Lestari: a citizen of Lest
Coralessian: a citizen of Coral Morn: a ruined, haunted place on the southwest coast of Genabackis Coral: a city in the Pannion Domin Lest: a city in the Pannion Domin Capustan: a city on the north side of the Catlin River Darujhistan: last Free City on Genabackis Lamatath Plain: plains to south of Darujhistan Jhagra Til: T'lan Imass name for now-extinct inland sea
THE WORLD OF SORCERY
The Warrens: (the Paths — those Warrens accessible to humans) Denul: the Path of Healing
D'riss: The Path of Stone
Hood's Path: the Path of Death Meanas: The Path of Shadow and Illusion Ruse: the Path
