Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1
Gardens of the Moon
by Steven Erikson
Contents
Chapter Eleven
Overview
Kruppe dreams a ritual guided by K’rul and Pran Chole that rebirths Tattersail as a Soletaken child through a Rhivi woman. In Darujhistan, Whiskeyjack’s squad plants Moranth mines while he confronts his own doubts. Sorry murders a bouncer at the Phoenix and shadows Kruppe and Crokus, whose Coin manifests power. Meanwhile, Quick Ben breaches Shadow’s realm, drawing the Hounds.
Summary
Kruppe dreams himself onto a primordial tundra where Pran Chole of the Imass and a Rhivi woman, aided by the Elder God K’rul, seek to save Tattersail’s soul. They shape a Soletaken rebirth: Tattersail’s desiccated body is used to guide the soul into the Rhivi, who gives birth under the Moon to a silver-furred child, the fur sloughing as the infant lives. K’rul foretells Pran Chole’s distant return as a T’lan Imass Bonecaster.
Awakening memories frame Kruppe’s recent audience with Baruk, cut short when a Malazan curse slams his senses and the image of House Shadow burns in his mind. Outside, disguised Bridgeburners pose as road workers. Whiskeyjack sends Sorry to tail Kruppe, wrestles with despair over the coming bloodshed, and directs Hedge and Fiddler placing Moranth munitions, while Mallet eases his mounting headaches.
Crokus visits his uncle Mammot, whose history lesson recounts Darujhistan’s origin in a Jaghut-barrow rumor and names the T’lan Imass as victors of an ancient war. Crokus commits to studies as a path toward a noble introduction, then heads to the Phoenix Inn.
Sorry follows Kruppe to the Phoenix, kills the doorman Chert with a dagger to the eye, and enters. At the bar, Meese and Irilta mark her, but she stays focused on Kruppe. Crokus arrives; a spinning coin chooses him, Oponn’s power flaring and answering the Shadow within Sorry. She recognizes she cannot kill Crokus—Oponn’s Coin-Bearer—and keeps her cover.
Elsewhere, Kalam and Quick Ben hide near Quip’s Bar. With the Guild elusive, they plan the Empire’s old tactic while Quick Ben prepares a gambit using Hairlock’s chaos as bait. Quick Ben opens a door from Chaos into Shadow’s realm, announces himself to Shadowthrone, and is answered by the howls of Hounds.
Back at the Phoenix, Murillio, Coll, and Rallick Nom join Kruppe and Crokus, trading rumors of Moon’s Spawn and Council overtures, as the city darkens under approaching storms and hidden wars gather.
Who Appears
- KruppeDreamer and adept; hosts K’rul’s ritual rebirthing Tattersail; maneuvers in Darujhistan and observes Malazan presence.
- Sorry (Cotillion)Assassin ridden by Cotillion; tails Kruppe, kills the Phoenix doorman, senses Oponn’s Coin and restrains from killing Crokus.
- WhiskeyjackBridgeburner sergeant; directs citywide mining operation while struggling with moral doubt and headaches eased by Mallet.
- Crokus YounghandThief and Coin Bearer; meets Mammot, then at the Phoenix his Coin flares, linking him to Oponn and Kruppe.
- Quick BenWizard; uses Chaos to breach Shadow’s realm, seeking to lure powers; greeted by the Hounds’ howls.
- Kalam MekharAssassin; scouts for the Guild, plans with Quick Ben, stands ready to burn his friend’s body if needed.
- Pran CholeImass shaman; aids K’rul’s rite, lending Tellann to rebirth Tattersail; foretold to return as a Bonecaster.
- Rhivi womanMystic mother prepared by K’rul; bears Tattersail reborn as a Soletaken child under the Moon.
- K’rulElder God; orchestrates Tattersail’s rebirth via Kruppe’s dream, counsels him about looming threats.
- TattersailDead sorceress; soul guided into a newborn Soletaken through a ritual merging Tellann and Thyr.
- MeesePhoenix Inn tough; warns and aids Sorry at the bar, comments on Chert’s death.
- IriltaPhoenix Inn tough; with Meese, roughhouses patrons and offers backup to Sorry.
- ScurvePhoenix Inn barman; serves drinks and witnesses the Coin’s uncanny spin before Crokus pays.
- MurillioKruppe’s ally; reports on Chert’s corpse and trades city rumors at the Phoenix.
- Rallick NomAssassin; arrives at the Phoenix, reserved amid talk of Moon’s Spawn and Council.
- CollKruppe’s companion; drunk, boisterous at the Phoenix, interjects on Moon’s Spawn.
- MammotScholar and Crokus’s uncle; outlines Darujhistan’s origins, Jaghut lore, and T’lan Imass.
- ChertPhoenix Inn doorman; identifies visitors, then is swiftly murdered by Sorry.
- MobyMammot’s winged monkey; comic nuisance while Crokus visits.