A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 1

southern shore, making for Dhavran and the river mouth. Kalam leaned on the gunwale, his gaze sweeping the north horizon's ragged, snow-capped mountains. Near him stood another passenger, hardly memorable and disinclined to talk.
    The only voices reaching the assassin came from Apsalar and Crokus. They sounded excited, each revolving around the other in a subtle dance that was yet to find its accompanying words. A slow, half smile quirked Kalam's mouth. It'd been a long time since he'd heard such innocence.
    A moment later, Crokus appeared beside him, his uncle's demon familiar clutching his shoulder. 'Coll says that the Empire's capital, Unta, is as big as Darujhistan. Is it?'
    Kalam shrugged. 'Maybe. A lot uglier. I don't expect we'll have a chance to visit it, though. Itko Kan lies on the south coast, while Unta is on Kartool Bay, the north-east coast. Miss Darujhistan already?'
    An expression of regret came over Crokus's face. He stared down into the waves. 'Just some people there,' he said.
    The assassin grunted. 'Know how you feel, Crokus. Hell, look at Fiddler back there, mooning away as if somebody had cut off one of his arms and one of his legs.'
    'Apsalar still can't believe you'd go to all this trouble for her. She doesn't remember being much liked in your squad.'
    'Wasn't her, though, was it? This woman here is a fishergirl from some two-copper village. And she's a long way from home.'
    'She's more than that,' Crokus muttered. He had a coin in his hand and was playing with it absently.
    Kalam threw the boy a sharp look. 'Really,' he said, deadpan.
    Crokus nodded affably. He held up the coin and examined the face on it. 'Do you believe in luck, Kalam?'
    'No,' the assassin growled.
    Crokus grinned happily. 'Me neither.' He flipped the coin into the air.
    They watched it plummet into the sea, flash once, then vanish beneath the waves.
    From near the bow, Circle Breaker slowly nodded to himself. The Eel would be delighted with the news, not to mention greatly relieved. Then he returned his attention to the west, and wondered what it would be like, no longer anonymous to the world.
    This ends the first tale
of the
Malazan
Book of the Fallen

GLOSSARY
     
TITLES AND GROUPS
    First Sword of Empire: Malazan and T'lan Imass, a title
denoting an Imperial champion
    Fist: a military governor in the Malazan Empire
    High Fist: a commander of armies in a Malazan Campaign
    Kron T'lan Imass: the name of the clans under the
command of Kron
    Logros T'lan Imass: the name of the clans under the
command of Logros
    The Bridgeburners: a legendary elite division in the Malaz
2nd Army
    The Crimson Guard: a famous mercenary company
commanded by a deposed prince
    The Pannion Seer: a mysterious prophet ruling the lands
south of Darujhistan
    The Warlord: the name for Caladan Brood
    The Claw: the covert organization of the Malazan Empire
     
PEOPLES (HUMAN AND NON-HUMAN)
    Barghast (non-human): pastoral nomadic warrior society
    Daru: cultural group sharing citizenry in cities in northern
Genabackis
    Gadrobi: indigenous cultural group in central Genabackis
    Genabarii: cultural group (and language) in north-west
Genabackis
    Forkrul Assail (non-human): extinct mythical people (one
of the Four Founding Races)
    Jaghut (non-human): extinct mythical people (one of the
Four Founding Races)
    K'Chain Che'Malle (non-human): extinct mythical people
(one of the Four Founding Races)
    Moranth (non-human): highly regimented civilization
centred in Cloud Forest
    Rhivi: pastoral nomadic society in central plains of
Genabackis
    T'lan Imass: one of the Four Founding Races, now immortal
    Tiste Andii (non-human): an Elder Race
    Trell (non-human): pastoral nomadic warrior society in
transition to sedentarianism
     
ASCENDANTS
    Apsalar, Lady of Thieves
    Beru, Lord of Storms
    Burn, Lady of the Earth, the Sleeping Goddess
    Caladan Brood, the Warlord
    Cotillion/The Rope (the Assassin of High House Shadow)
    Dessembrae, Lord of Tragedy
    D'rek, the Worm of Autumn (sometimes the Queen of
Disease, see Poliel)
    Fanderay, She-Wolf of Winter
    Fener, the Boar (see also Tennerock)
    Gedderone, Lady of Spring and Rebirth
    Great Ravens, ravens sustained by magic
    Hood (King of High House Death)
    Jhess, Queen of Weaving
    Kallor, the High King
    K'rul, Elder God
    Mowri, Lady of Beggars, Slaves and Serfs
    Nerruse, Lady of Calm Seas and Fair Wind
    Oponn, Twin Jesters of Chance
    Osserc, Lord of the Sky
    Poliel, Mistress of Pestilence
    Queen of Dreams (Queen of High House