Ian Esslemont - Return of the Crimson Guard

Night of Knives

Return of the Crimson Guard

This novel is dedicated to the first Winnipeg gang of the

Treherne Room and the second of Rick's Place.

For all those afternoons and evenings honing the trade.

With gratitude I acknowledge Peter Crowther, who made this work possible; John Jarrold, who extended a great deal of faith; and Simon Taylor, whose encouragement and welcome meant, and continue to mean, more than he knows.

Thanks also to Bill Hunter and Chris for their early readings.

Gerri, Conor, Ross, and Callum: you give it meaning.

IN UNTA

Imperial High Command

Laseen Empress

High Fist Anand Commander 4th Malazan Army (Quon Tali)

Havva Gulen New Imperial High Mage

Korbolo Dom High Fist and Sword of the Empire

Possum Master of the Claw (the Imperial assassins)

Mallick Rel Councillor and Assembly Representative

Unta Harbour Guard

Atelen Tinsmith Sergeant of squad

Rigit Hands Corporal of squad

Nait Squad saboteur

Heuk A cadre mage

Honey Boy Soldier

Least Half-Barghast soldier

Others in Unta

Coil A Clawleader

Lady Batevari A Seeress / Fortuneteller from Darujhistan

Oryan A Seven Cities mage, bodyguard to Mallick Rel

Taya Radok A dancing girl / assassin from Darujhistan

IN LI HENG

Malazan Army

Harmin Els D'Shil A captain of the garrison

Gujran A captain of the garrison

Banath A sergeant of the garrison

Fallow A healer of the garrison

Storo Matash's Squad

Storo Matash Captain of a saboteur company, 3rd veteran

Shaky Ranking saboteur

Hurl Saboteur

Sunny Saboteur

Silk Squad corporal and cadre mage

Jalor A Seven Cities recruit

Rell A Genabackan recruit

Civilians in Li Heng

Magistrate Ehrlann Member of the Ruling Council of Magistrates

Jamaer Ehrlann's servant

Magistrate Plengyllen Member of the Ruling Council of Magistrates

Liss A city mage

Ahl A city mage (with brothers Thai and Lar)

INCAWN

Nevall Od'Orr Chief Factor of Cawn

Groten NevalPs bodyguard

ON THE SETI PLAINS

Toc the Elder Seti Warlord and Malazan Old Guard

Wildman Seti champion, also known as the Boar, Sweetgrass

Imotan Shaman of the Jackal warrior society

Hipal Shaman of the Ferret warrior society

Captain Moss Malazan cavalry captain

Redden Brokeleg Ataman (chieftain) of the Plains Lion Assembly

Ortal Ataman (chieftain) of the Black Ferret Assembly

ON THE WICKAN FRONTIER

Malazan Army

Rillish Jal Keth Lieutenant of the Malazan 4th Army

Chord Company sergeant

Talia Malazan veteran

Wickans

Clearwater A Wickan shaman

Nil A Wickan warlock and veteran of the Seven Cities campaigns

Nether A Wickan witch and veteran of the Seven Cities campaigns

Mane A young Wickan warrior

Udep A Wickan hetman (chieftain)

In the Pit

Ho (Hothalar) A Li Heng mage

Yathengar 'ul Amal A Seven Cities priest (Faladan)

Sessin Yathengar's bodyguard

Grief A new prisoner

Treat A new prisoner

Devaleth A Korelan sea-witch and new prisoner

Su A Wickan witch

IN QUON TALI PROVINCE

Ghelel Rhik Tayliin Duchess, and last surviving member of the Tayliin family line

Amaron Malazan Old Guard, once commander of the Talons

Choss Malazan Old Guard, once High Fist

Marquis Jhardin Commander of the Marchland Sentries

Prevost Razala A cavalry captain

Molk An agent of Amaron's

THE CRIMSON GUARD

Surviving Named Avowed

K'azz D'Avore Commander, known by various titles

First Company

Skinner Captain

Mara Company mage

Gwynn Company mage

Petal Company mage

Kalt Lieutenant

Farese

Hist

Shijel

Black the Lesser

Second Company

Shimmer Captain

Cowl High Mage and Master of Assassins, Veils

Stoop Siegemaster of the Guard

Smoky Company mage

Shellarr Shell, company mage

Blues Company mage and swordmaster

Fingers Company mage

Opal Company mage

Isha Company assassin, Veil

Keitil Company assassin, Veil

Cole

Treat

Dim

Reed

Amatt

Sept

Lazar

Halfdan

Lean

Inese

Turgal

Third Company

Tarkhan Captain and company assassin, Veil

Lor-sinn Company mage

Sour Company mage

Toby Company mage

Balkin Company mage

Lacy Company assassin, Veil

Black

Baker

Janeth

Slate

Bower

Lucky

Fourth Company

Cal-Brinn Captain and company mage

Iron Bars

Jup Alat

Among the First Induction (recruitment)

Sergeant Trench

Corlo

Voss

Ambrose

Palla

Among the Second Induction

Lurgman Parsell, Twisty

Jaris

Pilgrim

Ogilvy

Bakar

Tolt

Meek

Harman

Grere

Geddin

Boll

Among the Third Induction

Stalker

Badlands

Coots

Kyle

OF THE TALIAN LEAGUE

Urko Crust Commander of Falaran forces, Old Guard, also known as Shatterer

V'thell Commander of Gold Moranth forces

Choss Commander of Talian forces, Old Guard

Toc the Elder Seti Warlord, Old Guard

Amaron Chief of intelligence, Old Guard

Ullen Khadeve Urko's lieutenant-commander and chief of staff, Old Guard

Bala Jesselt Cadre mage, Old Guard

Eselen Tonley A captain of Falaran cavalry

Orlat Kepten A captain of Talian forces, Old Guard

OTHERS

Liossercal Ascendant, titled Son of Light, also known as Osserc, Osric

Anomandaris Ascendant, titled Son of Darkness

Jhest Golanjar Jacuruku mage

Shen A warlock

Tayschrenn Imperial High Mage

D'Ebbin Malazan commander 4th Army, Fist

Braven Tooth Malazan Command Master Sergeant

Temp Malazan Master Sergeant

Blossom Moranth Gold officer

Tourmaline Moranth Gold infantry sergeant

Cartharon Crust Captain of the Ragstopper, rumoured Old Guard

Denuth An Elder, among the Firstborn to Mother Earth

Draconus An Elder God

Ereko An ancient wanderer

Greymane Once a Malazan Fist, now outlawed

Lim Tal Ex-private guard of Untan noble

Traveller A wanderer of mixed Dal Hon and Quon descent

Ragman/

Tatterdemalion A wanderer of the Imperial Warren

This, the first of wars, paroxysmed for time unmeasured. Ever Light thrust yet dissipated, and ever Night retreated yet smothered. Thus the two combatants locked in an ever-widening gyre of eternal creation and destruction. Countless champions of both Houses arose, scoured the face of creation in their potency, only to fall each in turn, their names now lost to memory.

Then, in what some named the ten thousandth turn of the spreading whorl of the two hosts, there came to the shimmering curtain edge of battle one unknown to either House, and he did castigate the combatants.

Who are you to speak thusly? demanded he who would come to be known as Draconus.

One who has moved upon the Void long enough to know this will never end.

It is ordained, answered a champion of Light, Liossercal. Ever must one rise, the other fall.

Disdainful, the newcomer thrust the opponents apart. Then agree that this be so and name it done!

And so both Houses fell upon the stranger tearing him into countless fragments.