Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1
Gardens of the Moon
by Steven Erikson
Contents
Chapter Six
Overview
Crone infiltrates Baruk’s wards to propose a meeting with Anomander Rake, while Circle Breaker’s message warns of Council intrigues led by Turban Orr. Rallick Nom assassinates Councilman Lim on Lady Simtal’s balcony, beginning a calculated vendetta as assassins across the city are hunted by likely Malazan Claws. Rake arrives, seeks alliance with Baruk’s hidden cabal, and demands the remaining Pale wizards. At dawn, Kruppe’s circle regroups in the Phoenix Inn amid rising peril.
Summary
Crone, eldest of the Great Ravens, flies from Moon’s Spawn to Darujhistan and fixes on Baruk’s heavily warded estate. In the city’s upper tier, Circle Breaker—posing as a Watch guard at Despot’s Barbican—continues spying on Turban Orr’s secret midnight meetings and relays word to Baruk via the Eel.
Baruk reads Circle Breaker’s latest note naming Orr and Feder, then receives Crone, who requests a meeting for her lord within the hour. Before that, Turban Orr arrives seeking Baruk’s influence to secure sorcerous support for a “neutrality” proclamation. With Crone disguised as a hound, Baruk probes Orr’s aims, exposing annexation beneath the rhetoric. Provoked, Orr boasts of a one-vote majority and departs.
Across town, assassin Rallick Nom watches Lady Simtal with Councilman Lim. A sudden coin-spun impulse alters his plan; he kills Lim with a poisoned quarrel, framing Simtal by circumstance and inaugurating a drawn-out vendetta. In an alley, Ocelot reports multiple assassins slain, including Talo Krafar and a Clan Leader, likely by outside killers—perhaps Empire Claws—and orders Rallick to act as bait at the Phoenix Inn.
Crone warns Baruk of a dark convergence and prophesies eleven blazing ships and sparks circling a twelfth. Anomander Rake then arrives, revealing his Tiste Andii nature. He recounts Pale: Tayschrenn’s strange priorities, the city wizards’ flight, and Rake’s forced retreat to save Moon’s Spawn. Rake seeks alliance with Baruk’s hidden cabal and demands the remaining two Pale wizards—alive or at least their heads—hinting at the doom within his sword.
At dawn in the Phoenix Inn, Kruppe, Murillio, Crokus, and the drunken Coll linger over cards as Rallick joins them. Crokus recounts rooftop killers; Rallick and Murillio keep their counsel. The friends eat in uneasy calm as the city’s conspiracies and killings tighten around them.
Who Appears
- BarukHigh Alchemist; receives Circle Breaker’s warning, hosts Crone and Anomander Rake, rebuffs Turban Orr, weighs alliance and Rake’s demand for Pale wizards.
- CroneEldest Great Raven; breaches Baruk’s wards, counsels him, disguises as a dog before Orr, prophesies burning ships, summons Anomander Rake.
- Anomander RakeLord of Moon’s Spawn; meets Baruk seeking alliance, recounts Pale and the fleeing wizards, demands the last two and wields a terrifying sword.
- Rallick NomAssassin; stakes Lady Simtal, kills Councilman Lim to begin a calculated vendetta, then serves as visible bait at the Phoenix Inn.
- Turban OrrCouncilman; courts Baruk for sorcerous backing of ‘neutrality,’ reveals a slim majority, exposes annexationist intent.
- Circle BreakerWatch guard and spy for the Eel; observes Orr’s secret meetings and alerts Baruk through covert notes.
- OcelotAssassins’ Guild Clan Leader; reports multiple rooftop killings, suspects outside Claws, instructs Rallick to act as bait.
- Lady SimtalInfluential noble; entertains Councilman Lim and is inadvertently framed by his assassination on her balcony.
- Councilman LimProminent councilman; assassinated by Rallick on Lady Simtal’s balcony to spark Rallick’s vendetta.
- KruppeLoquacious schemer; anchors the Phoenix Inn gathering, deflects talk of assassin wars with banter.
- Crokus YounghandYoung thief; recounts rooftop assassins and finds uneasy safety with friends at the Phoenix Inn.
- MurillioDandy and duelist; confers privately with Rallick, then withdraws to prepare for daytime engagements.
- CollPerpetually drunk companion; sleeps through most of the Phoenix Inn scene.
- RoaldBaruk’s servant; delivers Circle Breaker’s note and admits Turban Orr to Baruk’s study.