Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1

Gardens of the Moon

by Steven Erikson

Genre

Fantasy

Year

1999

Pages

635

Contents

Chapter Twenty-four

Previous: Chapter Twenty-three Next: Epilogue

Overview

Crokus reaches Baruk as Anomander Rake defeats and chains the Galayn Lord. Vorcan assaults Baruk; a Tiste Andii guardian dies, Derudan is poisoned, and Crokus disables Vorcan long enough for escape. Dujek declares rebellion, promotes Whiskeyjack, and places the Bridgeburners under Paran. An Azath house awakens, admitting Rallick and Vorcan, forcing the Tiste Andii hunters to withdraw.

Summary

Crokus finds Baruk’s main gate warded, tries the garden wall, and witnesses a wounded dragon crash through the estate. The dragon shifts to a Galayn Lord, demanding surrender, but Anomander Rake arrives. After a brutal duel, Rake impales the demon with Dragnipur, chaining and pinning it while suffering a shoulder wound. Rake warns Crokus that Baruk is in danger.

Inside, Derudan’s ash circle stands ready when Vorcan breaches Baruk’s defenses. A Tiste Andii woman intercepts but is mortally struck. Baruk’s sorcery is outmatched until Crokus hurls two bricks, disrupting Vorcan’s magic and stunning her. Vorcan poisons Derudan with white paralt; Baruk administers a secret antidote, reviving her. Vorcan vanishes; Baruk vows to honor the fallen Andii guardian.

Elsewhere, Paran and Whiskeyjack contact High Fist Dujek. Dujek reports impending loss of Pale, rising Seven Cities rebellion, and an imperial order outlawing him. He declares rebellion, promotes Whiskeyjack to second-in-command, and places the Bridgeburners under Captain Paran with freedom to walk. Trotts, Quick Ben, Hedge, and Mallet follow; Fiddler and Kalam choose to escort Apsalar back to the Empire, intending to return. Coll wakes and offers aid.

In Coll’s garden, Rallick witnesses a newborn Azath house forming; roots drag a man-shaped apparition underground. Vorcan, bloodied and hunted by Tiste Andii, collapses into Rallick’s arms. He carries her through the Azath door, which opens to him. Outside, Korlat leads Andii hunters, recognizes the Azath, and ends the vengeance quest, refusing to summon Rake against the child-house.

Kruppe and Murillio meet the exhausted Crokus. Kruppe claims to know Apsalar’s whereabouts and notes that Simtal’s estate is now Coll’s. They acknowledge Rallick’s disappearance and the extraordinary new house in the garden as the tumultuous night draws toward uneasy resolution.

Who Appears

Crokus

Races to aid Baruk; witnesses Rake’s duel; stuns Vorcan with bricks; checks on Derudan; seeks Apsalar.
Anomander Rake

Duels and imprisons the Galayn Lord with Dragnipur; wounded; sends Crokus to protect Baruk.
Baruk

Target of Vorcan; outmatched magically; saves Derudan with rare antidote; vows to honor fallen Andii.
Vorcan

Master Assassin who breaches Baruk’s defenses; poisoned Derudan; stunned by Crokus; later carried into Azath.
Derudan

Witch setting a protective circle; poisoned by white paralt; revived by Baruk’s antidote.
Captain Ganoes Paran

Coordinates with Dujek; accepts command of Bridgeburners; supports soldiers’ choices.
Whiskeyjack

Contacts Dujek; promoted to second-in-command; manages squad transitions amid rebellion.
High Fist Dujek Onearm

Declares rebellion after being outlawed; promotes Whiskeyjack; sets rendezvous with Black Moranth.
Fiddler

Elects to escort Apsalar back to the Empire with Kalam; promises to return.
Kalam

Chooses to accompany Apsalar and Fiddler back to the Empire.
Apsalar (Sorry)

Freed self seeks to return home; becomes the focus of Fiddler and Kalam’s escort.
Quick Ben

Confirms Galayn Lord’s death; commits to Dujek’s rebellion.
Hedge

Joins the rebels under Paran; present during Dujek contact.
Mallet

Healer; treated Apsalar earlier; joins the rebels with Paran.
Trotts

First to stand with Paran and Dujek’s rebels.
Coll

Awakens, overhears plans, offers help escaping Darujhistan.
Rallick Nom

Witnesses Azath house forming; carries wounded Vorcan inside, gaining entry.
Korlat

Tiste Andii hunter; recognizes the Azath; ends vengeance, orders withdrawal.
Orfantal

Andii hunter challenging Korlat; defers when she ends the quest.
Horult

Andii hunter pressing for Rake’s summons; withdraws at Korlat’s order.
Kruppe

Greets Crokus; claims knowledge of Apsalar’s location; notes Simtal’s estate passing to Coll.
Murillio

Waits with Kruppe; discusses Rallick’s disappearance and Coll’s newfound estate.
Unnamed Tiste Andii woman

Protects Baruk from Vorcan; mortally wounded; her death is honored by Baruk.
Galayn Lord

Demon shifting from dragon; battles Rake and is chained into Dragnipur.