‘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

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

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

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