Malazan Book of the Fallen, #1

Gardens of the Moon

by Steven Erikson

Genre

Fantasy

Year

1999

Pages

635

Contents

Chapter Twenty-three

Previous: Chapter Twenty-two Next: Chapter Twenty-four

Overview

Paran is mauled by a Hound but heals as Cotillion intervenes, takes Chance, and warns him to stay unseen. Lorn unleashes a Galayn Lord to hunt Crokus, but Rake veers into a black dragon to confront it. The Crimson Guard shield Crokus; Meese and an ally assassinate Lorn. Paran claims Lorn’s otataral sword, defies Oponn, and carries her body away.

Baruk and Derudan sense the Demon Lord and Vorcan’s killings, confirming the Cabal is under attack as the city braces for cataclysmic clashes above and below.

Summary

Paran is ambushed in the garden by the Hound Rood and savaged, yet his wounds knit rapidly. Cotillion appears, apologizes for the Hound’s premature attack, debates the use of mortals and Apsalar’s memories, accepts Chance when Paran offers it, and warns Paran to avoid Hounds and stay unnoticed before returning him to the estate. Paran orders Mallet to regroup at the Phoenix Inn and sets out after Lorn.

Crokus, reeling from Mammot’s fate, finds the streets eerily emptied under the shadow of Moon’s Spawn and runs toward Baruk for aid. Lorn trails him, unleashing a Galayn Lord from a flask to secure the Coin. In Baruk’s study, Derudan reports the Azath’s seizure of the Jaghut spirit; both sense a Demon Lord and the violent deaths of Cabal members, realizing Vorcan’s assassinations have begun.

At K’rul’s Belfry, Rake dismisses Silanah, speaks with the newly manifest K’rul, then veers into a vast black dragon, vowing to answer the Empire’s provocation. Over the city, he seeks the Soletaken Galayn Lord. Meanwhile, Kalam intercepts a panicked Fiddler and Hedge, glimpses the Galayn’s dragon form, and drives the sappers back toward Simtal’s estate as chaos mounts.

Lorn strikes at Crokus, but Corporal Blues of the Crimson Guard duels and drives her off while Fingers escorts Crokus toward Baruk’s estate, revealing his role as Oponn’s Coin Bearer and warning him to abandon the coin if luck turns. Wounded, Lorn is then ambushed by Meese and a partner on the Eel’s orders and fatally stabbed.

Paran is drawn to the dying Lorn; after a brief exchange she expires. He takes her otataral sword. Oponn appears, fearful of Cotillion and Shadowthrone now holding Chance, but Paran refuses to serve, threatens them with the otataral, and they flee. Bearing Lorn’s body, Paran departs as, above, Rake dives to engage the Galayn Lord in midair.

Who Appears

Ganoes Paran

Mauled by Rood, heals under Cotillion’s eye; resolves to pursue Lorn; later finds her dying, takes her otataral, and rebuffs Oponn.
Adjunct Lorn

Tracks Crokus and unleashes a Galayn Lord; wounded by Corporal Blues; assassinated by Meese and an ally; dies in Paran’s arms.
Cotillion

Confronts Paran, discusses Apsalar and Hounds, accepts Chance, and warns Paran to avoid notice and flee Hounds.
Crokus Younghand

Traumatized, runs to warn Baruk; targeted by Lorn; escorted by Fingers; learns he bears Oponn’s coin.
Anomander Rake

Speaks with Silanah and K’rul, then veers into a black dragon to confront the Soletaken Galayn Lord.
Baruk

Mourns Mammot; confers with Derudan; senses a Demon Lord and Vorcan’s lethal strikes on the Cabal.
Derudan

Reports the Azath’s taking of the Jaghut spirit; feels the Demon Lord; witnesses Cabal deaths.
Kalam Mekhar

Intercepts Fiddler and Hedge; spots the Soletaken dragon; rushes them back toward Simtal’s estate.
Fiddler

Panics at the Galayn Lord’s arrival; retreats with Kalam toward Simtal’s estate.
Hedge

Flees with Fiddler from the Galayn Lord; follows Kalam’s lead back toward the estate.
K’rul

Appears to Rake at the belfry, newly manifest and limited to sanctified ground and a mortal’s dreams.
Silanah

Red dragon ally of Rake; dismissed from the coming fight to return to Moon’s Spawn.
Rood (Hound of Shadow)

Savages Paran, then hesitates; its confusion hints at kinship before Cotillion intervenes.
Oponn

Confronts Paran over the otataral blade; flees when he threatens them and refuses aid.
Galayn Lord (Soletaken)

Demon Lord unleashed by Lorn; veers into a dragon to scour the city; targeted by Rake.
Corporal Blues

Crimson Guard swordmaster who defeats and drives off Lorn without sorcery.
Fingers

Crimson Guard Sixth Blade; escorts Crokus, reveals his Coin Bearer status, warns him about the coin.
Meese

Eel’s agent who leads the alley ambush, stabbing Lorn to death.