Cover

ABOUT THE BOOK

Now is the time to tell a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come … and all those already told.

It is the Age of Darkness and the realm called Kuruld Galain – home of the Tiste Andii and ruled over by Mother Dark from her citadel in Kharkanas – is in a perilous state. For the commoners’ great warrior hero, Vatha Urusander, is being championed by his followers to take Mother Dark’s hand in marriage but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambition.

As the impending clash between these two rival powers sends fissures rippling across the land and rumours of civil war flare and take hold amongst the people, so an ancient power emerges from seas once thought to be long dead. None can fathom its true purpose nor comprehend its potential. And caught in the middle of this seemingly inevitable conflagration are the First Sons of Darkness – Anomander, Andarist and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold – and they are about to reshape the world …

Here begins Steven Erikson’s epic tale of bitter family rivalries, of jealousies and betrayals, of wild magic and unfettered power … and of the forging of a sword.

Contents

Cover

About the Book

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Maps

Dramatis Personae

The Tiste: Holds, Greater and Lesser Houses, Priesthood and Court

Prelude

Part One: In These Gifts the Shapes of Adoration

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Part Two: The Solitude of This Fire

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Part Three: The Proofs of Your Ambition

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Part Four: The Forge of Darkness

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

About the Author

Also by Steven Erikson

Copyright

Title Page

FORGE OF DARKNESS

Steven Erikson

Dedication

Clare Thomas, with love

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my advance readers: Aidan Paul Canavan, Sharon Sasaki, Darren Turpin, William and Hazel Hunter and Baria Ahmed.

Maps

Dramatis Personae

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

PURAKE HOLD

Anomander

Andarist

Silchas Ruin

Kellaras

Prazek

Dathenar

DRACONS HOLD

Draconus

Ivis

Spite

Envy

Malice

Arathan

Raskan

Sagander

TULLA HOLD

Hish Tulla

Rancept

Sukul Ankhadu (hostage)

HOUSE ENES

Jaen Enes

Enesdia

Kadaspala

Cryl Durav (hostage)

HOUSE DURAV

Spinnock Durav

Faror Hend

HUST HOLD (and Legion)

Hust Henarald

Calat Hustain

Finarra Stone

Toras Redone

Galar Baras

ABARA DELACK

Korya Delath

Nerys Drukorlat

Sandalath Drukorlat

Orfantal

Wreneck

NERET SORR

Vatha Urusander

Osserc

Hunn Raal

Risp

Sevegg

Serap

Renarr

Gurren

URUSANDER’S LEGION OFFICERS

Scara Bandaris

Ilgast Rend

Hallyd Bahann

Esthala

Kagamandra Tulas

Sharenas Ankhadu

Tathe Lorat

Infayen Menand

THE BORDERSWORDS

Rint

Ville

Feren

Galak

Lahanis

Traj

THE CITADEL

Syntara

Emral Lanear

Endest Silann

Cedorpul

Rise Herat

Legyl Behust

Mother Dark

THE SHAKE

Sheccanto Derran

Warlock Resh

Caplo Dreem

Skelenal

Witch Ruvera

THE AZATHANAI

Grizzin Farl

Kilmandaros

Sechul Lath

Errastas

Caladan Brood

T’riss

Old Man

THE JAGHUT

Hood

Gothos

Haut

Varandas