Forge of Darkness
ABOUT THE BOOK
Now is the time to tell a tragic tale that sets the stage for all the tales yet to come … and all those already told
.
It is the Age of Darkness and the realm called Kuruld Galain – home of the Tiste Andii and ruled over by Mother Dark from her citadel in Kharkanas – is in a perilous state. For the commoners’ great warrior hero, Vatha Urusander, is being championed by his followers to take Mother Dark’s hand in marriage but her Consort, Lord Draconus, stands in the way of such ambition.
As the impending clash between these two rival powers sends fissures rippling across the land and rumours of civil war flare and take hold amongst the people, so an ancient power emerges from seas once thought to be long dead. None can fathom its true purpose nor comprehend its potential. And caught in the middle of this seemingly inevitable conflagration are the First Sons of Darkness – Anomander, Andarist and Silchas Ruin of the Purake Hold – and they are about to reshape the world …
Here begins Steven Erikson’s epic tale of bitter family rivalries, of jealousies and betrayals, of wild magic and unfettered power … and of the forging of a sword.
Contents
The Tiste: Holds, Greater and Lesser Houses, Priesthood and Court
Part One
: In These Gifts the Shapes of Adoration
Part Two
: The Solitude of This Fire
Part Three
: The Proofs of Your Ambition
Part Four
: The Forge of Darkness
FORGE OF DARKNESS
Steven Erikson
Clare Thomas, with love
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my advance readers: Aidan Paul Canavan, Sharon Sasaki, Darren Turpin, William and Hazel Hunter and Baria Ahmed.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
PURAKE HOLD
Anomander
Andarist
Silchas Ruin
Kellaras
Prazek
Dathenar
DRACONS HOLD
Draconus
Ivis
Spite
Envy
Malice
Arathan
Raskan
Sagander
TULLA HOLD
Hish Tulla
Rancept
Sukul Ankhadu (hostage)
HOUSE ENES
Jaen Enes
Enesdia
Kadaspala
Cryl Durav (hostage)
HOUSE DURAV
Spinnock Durav
Faror Hend
HUST HOLD (and Legion)
Hust Henarald
Calat Hustain
Finarra Stone
Toras Redone
Galar Baras
ABARA DELACK
Korya Delath
Nerys Drukorlat
Sandalath Drukorlat
Orfantal
Wreneck
NERET SORR
Vatha Urusander
Osserc
Hunn Raal
Risp
Sevegg
Serap
Renarr
Gurren
URUSANDER’S LEGION OFFICERS
Scara Bandaris
Ilgast Rend
Hallyd Bahann
Esthala
Kagamandra Tulas
Sharenas Ankhadu
Tathe Lorat
Infayen Menand
THE BORDERSWORDS
Rint
Ville
Feren
Galak
Lahanis
Traj
THE CITADEL
Syntara
Emral Lanear
Endest Silann
Cedorpul
Rise Herat
Legyl Behust
Mother Dark
THE SHAKE
Sheccanto Derran
Warlock Resh
Caplo Dreem
Skelenal
Witch Ruvera
THE AZATHANAI