| Forge of Darkness | |
|---|---|
| Dramatis Personae | Prelude |
| In These Gifts the Shapes of Adoration | |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 |
| Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |
| Chapter 5 | |
| The Solitude of This Fire | |
| Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 |
| Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |
| Chapter 10 | |
| The Proofs of Your Ambition | |
| Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |
| Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 |
| Chapter 15 | |
| The Forge of Darkness | |
| Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |
| Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 |
| Chapter 20 | |
| Pagination | |
Glimmer Fate[]
Finarra Stone[]
Finarra Stone is in and out of consciousness after being strapped to Spinnock Durav's back on Faror Hend's horse. They are heading back across the Glimmer Fate to a Warden outpost to get her to a healer. She regains a hazy consciousness after they arrive at the fort. Her vision clears enough to make out her commander's face telling her that Ilgast Rend is here and will heal her. Kagamandra Tulas is there as well and will take a troop out to find his betrothed Faror Hend. The commander thinks that tracking the thing from the Vitr was foolish. Finarra agrees. Finarra recalls the look she saw in Faror's eyes and tells her commander, Calat Hustain, that she is in danger. She thinks the thing from the Vitr may be Soletaken. Ilgast Rend begins the healing process and puts her to sleep.
Hunn Raal[]
Hunn Raal is drunk, but not too drunk. He weighs the pros and cons of a possible invading force from the Vitr. If it can be dealt with, it's in his favour. His party had been at the fort for several days. Ilgast met with Hustain privately and shortly after Hustain declared his neutrality. Hunn Raal feels betrayed by Ilgast, but not surprised. Osserc tells Hunn Raal they must set aside their other plans in the face of a possible Vitr invasion, but Hunn Raal says they don't. It can work in their favor. Resulting in the reinstating of veterans into the Legion. He says that Mother Dark may return Vatha Urusander to service. Osserc wonders if Urusander will send him in place of him. Hunn Raal begins plans to make others aware of Osserc's suitability to leadership. He also tells him how to present the news of the Vitr and Mother Dark's possible summons to his father.
[]
Sharenas Ankhadu watches Kagamandra Tulas and observes that while dead inside, he is sparked to life in the search for his betrothed. She attributes this to him getting a chance to die in possible combat in the search. Hunn Raal's three cousins, Serap, Sevegg, and Risp, invite Sharenas to spend the night with them. Hunn Raal sends them to the tents of those he would like to ally with. Sharenas declines. It is the cause that she is behind. Sharenas finds Tulas about to leave and decides to join the party. He welcomes her and she says, "There is too little love in the world to see it so endangered". Tulas stiffens.
Ilgast Rend[]
Ilgast and Calat speak about what Finarra had to say. They speak about Ilgast's power to heal. Ilgast says that lately it feels as if this sorcery is looking back at him when he uses it. He says there is a Shake word that describes that feeling. Calat responds "Denul". Calat tells Ilgast that He is inclined to disbelieve Finarra. The Vitr devours everything it touches. Ilgast wants to hear Calat's theories on what the Vitr is. Calat is frustrated and has no idea. He thinks maybe the Azathanai know or even Jaghut. But all the writings from the Jaghut have been destroyed by the Lord of Hate. They both lament the destruction of all of that knowledge. Ilgast suggests they find a living Jaghut and ask them directly.
Glimmer Fate on the way to Kharkanas[]
Faror Hend[]
Faror and T'riss finally get clear of Glimmer Fate. Faror calls a halt explaining that her horse at least is tired. She waters her horse then herself and hands the skin to T'riss. She asks if it's Vitr, Faror says no. T'riss drinks the water and reacts as if she's never done so before. She likes it. Faror asks if it's better than Vitr. T'riss responds, "An excess of vitality can burn the soul." T'riss would also like to feel the water all over her body and asks if this is possible. She says there is a spring close by that they must go to, but there will likely be bandits. Faror asks about T'riss being seemingly in a new body and what she might have been before. T'riss says she will dream of water tonight. Faror is confused. T'riss says, "Dreams in the Vitr are … unpleasant" T'riss thinks she's starting to understand this world. All must destroy something to make something else. The grass that makes her mount is dying.
Faror asks if she comes with a purpose. T'riss counters with, "Do you?" at birth. Faror says they learn ones duties throughout life. T'riss doesn't think this equals purpose. Faror agrees. T'riss says she has no memories of her time before. Faror said she recognized Azathanai, but T'riss says what's that. Faror says that things are being hidden from T'riss with intent. T'riss asks if the Vitr is her enemy. Faror asks, "Is it?" T'riss doesn't respond, but claims to be hungry. T'riss discovers she loves food. They resume their trek and eventually come to a small trail. T'riss begins to follow it and Faror tells her to be wary. T'riss asks if she should make an army. Faror asks her if she can make anything out of what's around her. T'riss says, if I have seen it, then yes. Faror asks if her power comes from the Vitr. No The Vitr only destroys, it does not create. Faror says T'riss came from the Vitr. T'riss responds that she struggled against it for ages and that burned away what she once was.
T'riss does not know where her power comes from, but she knows, "it delivers pain upon this world. I dislike this, but if necessity demands, I will use it. Faror says she hopes T'riss doesn't use it. Faror says she thinks she's an Azathanai who tried to investigate or fight against the Vitr and in this lost her previous self. When they come upon the spring, they encounter people and horses. T'riss says she can smell blood. This chills Faror.
Robed figures with leather armour underneath and battle axes are dragging dead bodies to a burial area. The dead are outlaws. Two of the robed figures approach the women. T'riss says "Death rides their breath". Faror says they are monks of the Yannis Monastery. The smaller figure introduces himself as Caplo Dreem and his companion as Warlock Resh. Resh welcomes T'riss and asks if she can hear her horse's screams. They tell Faror that Calat Hustain and Kagamandra Tulas had been looking for Faror and had given orders that she was to return immediately. The Yan Shake will escort T'riss to the Citadel. Faror is incensed, but cannot ignore her commander's orders. T'riss thanks Faror for the time they have spent together. Faror asks if she is okay with this. T'riss says if she gets tired of them, she will leave them. She also says that she is safe, "This warlock thinks much of himself, but he poses no threat to me." Caplo says there is no threat, but that they will stop at Yan Shake to meet Mother Sheccanto Derran. T'riss asks that the shake give Faror a fresh horse for journey. Faror declines. After this T'riss disrobes and walks into the spring.
Within the border of Kurald Galain[]
Faror Hend[]
Faror has decided to stay a night with the Shake to let her horse rest. T'riss, fresh out of her extended spring bath, asks if these men prefer men. Faror responds that some do, but this is the Yan sect of the Shake. Yan are Sons of the Mother. Yedan Shake are Daughters of the Father. Both sects are fierce warriors. T'riss comments that fighting skill is important in this world. Faror responds, "It has been and always will be, T’riss. We are savages in disguise". T'riss asks if civilization is an illusion. Faror responds that it's crowd control.
Warlock Resh[]
Resh says Calat demanding Faror's immediate return is bullshit. Caplo says Calat probably does, but it's best if we can escort T'riss to Mother Dark. Resh says she is very powerful and that bringing her to Mother Dark may earn them some enmity. Caplo responds with, that can be good too. Resh says, "And this is the talent of your mind, Caplo: to stand firm on all sides of a matter." Caplo says the Shake serve Kurald Galain. He says Hunn Raal came among them, but did not ask them to become allies and that nobleborns never come to visit Mother or Father. Resh comments that everyone knows the Shake will remain neutral, so why even ask. He wonders what will happen when T'riss and Mother Dark meet. Caplo thinks they won't have anything to talk about. They muse on Faror's attitude toward Spinnock and how he is known to be attractive. Resh says he's too winning for his taste. Caplo says Spinnock will surely feel that loss.
Glimmer Fate[]
[]
Sharenas is mad at Tulas who in his zeal to find Faror has ridden their horses near to death. Faror thinks no one person's life is worth these horses. When Tulas makes to resume riding. Sharenas tells him no. Unless he wants to walk. Tulas slumps. She tells him they must also investigate what Finarra said about the shore of the Vitr. Tulas says he might just leave them to do that and continue the search for his betrothed. The captain of the troop says that's a bad idea, Tulas doesn't know the area. He further says that Faror is his betrothed, but also their companion. If she's dead, haste will not matter. He expects she is not and that investigating the shore takes precedence. Tulas says they all make good points and it is clear that they honor his betrothed. He will not leave them. Tulas asks the captain to lead them from this point.
Sharenas and Tulas fall into together at the rear of party. He says, "You must think me a fool," Sharenas begins to respond by saying that in matters of love. Tulas cuts her off and says there is no love between them and that Faror is his reward and he her penance. Tulas says he will try to make her life easy and will have no expectations of her and will not chain her. She can take whatever lovers she wants and stay with the Wardens if that pleases her. Sharenas counters, "Yet you would give your life in her defence." He says of course. And she tells him he really is a fool. He angrily asks what she means and she says relax and she will be honest with him. She tells him Faror would be much better off if he decided to live for her instead. She says if he knows he's dead inside he should have refused the reward of Faror. Tulas asks why she came on this search. She admits a cruel curiosity, "But there is so little left of you, Tulas, that the game palls in the deed." She apologizes and asks if they can start over. He nods. She says that she can be his confidant if he is willing. He can tell her his secrets. Tulas asks what about your secrets? She says they are venal, but she will give them up. She is surprised to see him smile. He says she is the cleverest of her three relatives. He asks if she will side with Urusander. She says that Calat Hustain repelled all of Hunn Raal's arguments, and that it was glorious. She says her sister and cousin will back Urusander to hurt Draconus. She herself is still undecided. She asks him in turn. He says he is on the side of peace. Sharenas responds that everyone says that. Tulas says, but they don't mean it. Some love violence and will use any excuse to do it. Some are just envious of Draconus. The party comes to the spot where Finarra came out of the rocks from the shore. They will camp there.
The party looks upon the carcass of the monster on the shore and of Finarra's horse. This is confirmation of what Finarra said. Three Tiste and the captain approach cautiously. Tulas follows. Sharenas looking out on the Vitr sees something half in and half out of the water. No boulder would survive this. The Captain retrieves Finarra's weapons. Sharenas tells them to investigate the object quickly and be done with this place. The captain agrees and sends one warden with her. The object looks like a ship, but much larger than any Sharenas had seen in picture books from the Forulkan. They get closer and realize it's not a ship. It is a thing that Mother Dark had described seeing at the End of Darkness surrounded by chaos. Illustrators had tried to draw them based on flying lizards that used to exist in forests. They were called Eleint. What she had assumed was a sail, turned out to be the remnants of a wing. This thing was three times the size of what had attacked Finarra on the shore. The warden with Sharenas went back to get the captain. Sharenas says she'll get a little closer. The warden wonders if the Vitr allows dead things to not be dead. Sharenas sees many wounds on the dragon and also some clothing, armour, and a sword and also footprints leading away. She wonders who walks with Faror now.