Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1

Gardens of the Moon

by Steven Erikson

Genre

Fantasy

Year

1999

Pages

635

Contents

Chapter Twenty-two

Previous: Chapter Twenty-one Next: Chapter Twenty-three

Overview

Raest is checked in Kruppe’s dream by Onos T’oolan and K’rul, then escapes into a new body. In Darujhistan’s forbidden garden, a nascent Azath begins forming as Malazans recover Apsalar’s mind. Vorcan accepts an Imperial contract to kill the city’s hidden Cabal.

At Simtal’s fête, Mammot is exposed as Jaghut-possessed; Quick Ben and Hedge strike, but the Azath claims him. Chance flings Paran to an Azath where he subdues the Finnest and returns. Whiskeyjack is maimed, and Kalam races to prevent a citywide gas-fueled cataclysm.

Summary

Raest, ravaged by dragonfire, presses toward Darujhistan and confronts the wounded Silanah, only to be drawn into Kruppe’s dream. There, Kruppe reveals Onos T’oolan and the Elder god K’rul. Tool maims Raest while K’rul offers oblivion; Raest flees by abandoning his body.

In Simtal’s forbidden garden, Kalam and Paran discover Sorry alive beside a growing, root-veined wooden block that hungers. Mallet confirms Cotillion’s possession is gone, revealing a fading protector within the girl. Meanwhile, Rallick encounters Vorcan; she summons a parley where Kalam offers the Empire’s contract: assassinate the T’orrud Cabal for rule of the city. Vorcan accepts and orders Rallick, dusted with otataral, to hold the malign growth in stasis. Rallick sends Crokus to warn Baruk or Mammot.

Baruk departs with Rake, who turns back to clear the city from K’rul’s Belfry, unsheathing Dragnipur to cow the crowds. On the terrace, Quick Ben senses his Warren free as the twelfth bell nears. Mammot is suddenly revealed Jaghut-possessed; devastation erupts, hurling Paran away via Chance. Whiskeyjack is crushed and grievously injured.

Paran arrives at a marsh where a house (Azath) rises. A T’lan Imass orders him to defend it as the Finnest attacks. The Finnest tries to seize Paran’s soul, but Hound’s blood within him breaks the hold; Paran savages the Finnest until the Azath’s roots claim it, then he returns to the terrace.

Quick Ben unleashes seven Warrens against Mammot, but the Jaghut endures. Hedge fires a Moranth munition, blasting a crater; Mammot reforms below, only to be seized and dragged away by the garden’s Azath roots. Fiddler and Hedge depart to mine the city; Derudan withdraws. Kalam detects Osserc’s trace in the pipes and realizes the gas mains make the city a bomb; he sprints to stop the saboteurs as Paran takes command and the squad prepares to pull out.

Who Appears

Raest

Jaghut Tyrant; battles dragons, is confronted in Kruppe’s dream, abandons his body and later becomes the Jaghut-possessed Mammot.
Ganoes Paran

Captain; finds Sorry, is hurled to an Azath, resists the Finnest with Hound’s blood, returns to take command.
Kalam

Bridgeburner assassin; parley with Vorcan, discovers gas-main risk, races to stop Fiddler and Hedge.
Quick Ben

Wizard; senses freed Warrens, battles Mammot with seven paths, coordinates after the Azath claims the foe.
Vorcan

Assassins’ Guild Master; accepts Imperial contract to kill the T’orrud Cabal; assigns Rallick to contain the Azath growth.
Rallick Nom

Assassin; meets Vorcan, uses otataral to halt the growing Azath, sends Crokus to warn Baruk/Mammot.
Apsalar (Sorry)

Formerly possessed by Cotillion; freed; a protective, sorrowful presence within her endures.
Mallet

Healer; diagnoses Apsalar’s state and chooses to aid the protecting presence.
Whiskeyjack

Squad leader; injured severely when the terrace collapses; later tended by Mallet.
Hedge

Saboteur; fires a Moranth munition at Mammot, then departs to mine intersections.
Fiddler

Saboteur; rescues Whiskeyjack, then heads to set citywide charges.
Mammot

Scholar revealed Jaghut-possessed; ravages the terrace, survives a blast, then is seized by the Azath.
Derudan

Witch; aids Quick Ben in identifying Mammot’s possession, survives blasts, then withdraws.
Anomander Rake

Son of Darkness; leaves for K’rul’s Belfry to clear streets, unsheathing Dragnipur to cow crowds.
Baruk

Alchemist; heads home to prepare; later to rally against Vorcan’s contract.
Kruppe

Dreamer; confronts Raest in a dream, enabling Tool and K’rul’s intervention.
Onos T’oolan (Tool)

T’lan Imass; strikes Raest in the dream and later guides Paran at the marsh Azath.
K’rul

Elder god; confronts Raest in Kruppe’s dream, offers release into Chaos.
Crokus

Thief; confronts Challice, then is tasked by Rallick to warn Baruk or Mammot.
Challice

Noblewoman; rebuffs Crokus and reveals her ties to Gorlas Tholius.
Crone

Great Raven; observes Raest’s disappearance and the widening conflict from above.
Silanah

Red dragon; wounded in the battle with Raest; later rises westward.