| 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 | |
Haut's keep[]
Korya Delath[]
Haut shows Korya Delath all his weapons and says they are hardly different. All they are is "arguments in iron". Korya says it looks like you've argued a lot. Haut says for Korya, "iron is the language of failure". That though he has won all of his arguments in iron that he has only gained a broken soul. There is no colour in his place aside from Korya. Haut tells Korya they must leave. What she needs to learn now, he can't teach her. He will take her somewhere where she can learn the rest of what she needs to know. They will travel south among other Jaghut and Haut will have questions for them, but also of the Azathanai. He is curious about an awakening power.
As Haut opens the door an unnatural darkness pours into the room. Korya is startled, but Haut says he is starting to understand and beckons her to leave with him. Korya is frightened, but also surprised that she can see through the darkness. As they leave the manor, only a single path is visible. This path is paved with gems, rings, and baubles. Korya begins to grab several things in disbelief. She asks Haut about all of this wealth and he responds saying trust, truth and integrity are far more valuable. Even more than those, forgiveness. And greatest of all an outstretched hand. Korya drops the treasure and asks Haut what realm this is. Haut philosophizes and Korya says it is Azathanai. Haut confirms approvingly. She asks him if he expected this. He responds by saying of course and that they've been invited. When she asks by who, he says he doesn't know.
Azathanai Realm?[]
Korya Delath[]
Korya contemplates the idea of potential and how to her it's a burden. There is no where to go except forward, but that doesn't guarantee an improvement. Their path in this realm continued up an incline and they had been climbing it for half the day. Her legs hurt. She has a memory of her childhood where they had dipped Jheleck skins into a bog. Startled she asks Haut to tell her of the first encounters between Tiste and Jheleck. Haut looks pained. She tells Haut that she found a memory and that they did not understand Soletaken. They killed the giant wolves and did not know they were people. Haut says they resemble the Dog-Runners. Korya says her people have a lust for hunting. Haut responds that all intelligent cultures go through a phase like that due to delusions of omnipotence. "There is but one measure to the wisdom of a people, and that is the staying hand. Fail in restraint and murder thrives in your eyes, and all your claims to civilization ring hollow." She asks if the Jaghut had ever gone through a phase of delusion. Haut says yes. They faced a choice at that point to continue forward or to turn back. The Jaghut argued for centuries and then disbanded.
Korya says she wants to walk away from civilization. Haut says that's impossible because it is in her. She asks if it's in him too. He says of course. You saw my weapons. Arguments in iron are all arguments in civilization as well and it never ends. She will hear these sentiments in every age to come. She snorts and says, "You imagine that I will live through ages, master?". He responds, "Child, you will live for ever." She counters that nothing lives forever not even gods. He asks what she knows of gods. Korya remembers playing god with her dolls and that she left them in the box in darkness forever. She could have arrayed them on the windowsill, but she didn't. She thinks this would have been cruel.
In this realm Korya is starting to remember things. Haut asks her if she is sure that these memories are actually hers. She asks Who else's? Cryptically he responds, "That remains to be seen, hostage. But it has begun." Another memory comes to her, but this one is impossible. She is floating outside the keep window watching all of the dolls sad faces.
Bareth Solitude[]
Feren[]
In the Bareth Solitude, Feren thinks about children dying and while it may be common enough, no woman deserved it. She remembers how no one would meet her eyes when her son died. It had been a long time, but the grief still felt recent. Every night she took Arathan to bed and told herself it was because Lord Draconus asked her to, but it wasn't. She was taking no precautions. Even the night she slept with Grizzin Farl. Rint had known she intended to get pregnant even before she did. She knew she was using him, but she didn't care.
Rint[]
Rint knew that as soon as Feren knew she was pregnant, she would run. She would defend this pregnancy against all-comers even him. He curses Draconus and feels for Arathan and his innocence. He knew Arathan would fall in love with his sister, if he hadn't already. Soon that love would turn to hate.
They would arrive in the Azathanai settlements soon. He is not looking forward to it, and hopes they can leave soon. He thinks about the mystery of Draconus. Why would the Azathanai welcome him? Why would Grizzin Farl look at him as an old friend. As far as Rint knew, Draconus had never left Kurald Galain and Grizzin Farl had never visited it. So how do they know each other? These questions nagged him and he also knew the sole purpose of this journey was not to get Arathan away from Kurald Galain. Raskan calls a halt near some strange ruins and says they will camp there. Having no well he tells Raskan that if they knew they could have filled more water skins. Draconus takes the blame, saying he thought this settlement was occupied. Rint is puzzled by this and says he doesn't think it's been occupied for centuries.
Raskan[]
Since Arathan had started riding at his father's side. Raskan had been very alone on this journey between father and son and the sibling Borderswords. It was obvious to everyone that Feren was having sex with Arathan multiple times a night and that Arathan was starting to show signs of sleep deprivation. He wondered how long before Draconus did something. As if on cue, Draconus pulls Raskan aside and tells him that "the boy needs warning off:" His zeal is natural, hers is not. Raskan tells Draconus he thinks she is trying to get pregnant. He wonders if it's her biological clock. Draconus says that she still has decades of child rearing age. Raskan says he will talk to Arathan and can order Feren to stop. Draconus says no and that he will talk to her tonight when Raskan takes Arathan off a ways to talk to him.
Arathan[]
Arathan is obsessed with Feren. He is hers and does not lament the loss of freedom. He fantasizes about being consumed by her until he looks out of her eyes. He wonders if this is what love is. He still has Sagander's weights that are even more useless now as this place is wild and unmeasurable. Arathan thinks he is close to being swept away in this wildness. He contemplates that this wild motion in this wild place is far more important than any material desire. Amid his reverie, Raskan tells him to come with him. Arathan questions it, but then relents.
Once they are far enough away Raskan starts. He tells Arathan that Draconus wanted him to learn the ways of lovemaking. The feelings that can come out of this, are unpredictable. Raskan tells Arathan that he will not marry Feren. He will not spend the rest of his life with her. Arathan wants to run away. Raskan asks if he understands. Arathan thinks he is jealous and says they should have brought a woman for him too. Raskan responds, "Like a hole in the ground? There’s more to it than that. There’s more to them than that. It's what I’m getting at. She ain’t a whore so she don’t think like a whore" He says Draconus just wanted him to experience it, not to take on Feren as a lover. Arathan is angry. Raskan tells him that Draconus is talking to Feren right now and that their lovemaking has gotten to be too much. He says she is using him to get to pregnant and she will toss him aside when it happens. Arathan disagrees, but Raskan says she would have to so that Arathan has no claim to the baby. Arathan keeps denying. Raskan exasperated finally tells Arathan that if they don't stop, Draconus will kill Feren. Arathan says he would then kill Draconus. Arathan asks if Draconus is killing her now. Raskan says no and that he is telling her the same thing and she isn't having an emotional reaction. She's listening and after tonight she will not take him to her bed. That will be his proof of her using him.
Feren[]
Feren knew as soon as she saw Raskan lead Arathan away that she was next. Draconus led her away and before he could start, she says she only did what he asked. He tells her to drop all her iron. Feren asks why. He doesn't tell her. Instead an instant later she is on the ground with no memory of how it happened. He had not struck her. He disarms her. Then starts dragging her through the grass. They come to a barrow. He takes her in and she can smell old death. He drops her beside a sarcophagus. She says she yields thinking he means to rape her. He tells her to be quiet. He pushes her up against the sarcophagus and reaches in to grab the huge skeleton and pull it out. He presses a bony hand onto Feren's belly. Agony courses through her and her convulsions knock Draconus away. The skeleton falls on Feren's legs. Draconus yells at her to move away. The corpse makes a moaning sound. Feren pushes herself away from the corpse. Draconus puts the corpse back in the sarcophagus. He tells Feren to crawl out now.
Draconus joins her outside shortly thereafter. He tells her to collect her weapons. He says, "I saw you flinch. I felt you flinch." She nods. Draconus says, "Death and life, in there, do not welcome each other’s touch. You are with child, Feren. The seed grows within you. Now, leave my son alone." Even though he didn't rape her, she still feels violated and tells him, "Take him then."
Rint[]
Rint is worried that it will take more than words for Draconus to convince Feren to stop. Through this fear he vows that if he hurts Feren he will have war with the Borderswords and that Rint will kill him. He heard Arathan shout, but couldn't make out what he said. He could guess though. She had made Arathan a child again and taking that away would be painful. With these thoughts on his mind. Rint burns dinner. Raskan wrinkles his nose. Rint apologizes and says not enough water. Arathan demands to know where his father and Feren are. They ignore him. He says, "You won’t win. None of you will. She’s not afraid of my father, and neither am I." Rint wants to take his sword and go find them, but knows Raskan would try to stop him and things would degenerate from there. "Two lovers in the night could unleash a war, take down an entire realm. They could not see past each other; they never did."
Rint stops Arathan from leaving the fire by asking if he understands sacrifice. Arathan thinks he is asking him this because he doesn't have a woman. Rint says he has a wife and child he will meet when he returns. He sacrificed for the realm. This has an effect on Arathan and seems to have stolen his thunder. Raskan says he would have sent Rint back to be with her if he'd known. Rint says he knows an uncle who's wife stabbed him during labour. Feren returns without Draconus complaining about the burnt food and ignoring Arathan. Rint knows that she is now done with him.
Arathan[]
When Arathan attempts to join Feren in the night she tells him that it's finished. Hurt and crying he turns his anger towards his father who he thinks rules everyone. He wants to run away, but knows Rint would find him and some things you can't run away from. He returns to his bedroll to find the stack of Sagander's weights. He throws them out into the night.
On the Way to Kharkanas[]
Grizzin Farl[]
Caladan Brood and Grizzin Farl by Paradanmellow
He sits at a fire he made to roast a hare he killed. He had run it down and spent a long time stroking its fur until he regretfully snapped its neck. He did not like to kill. He saw Ville and Galak pass him on the way back to their party. They did not stop. Some people were just shuttered to things and would not detour from their intent. He despised the idea that one day all the world would be full of these people leeching all color from the world. He can hear someone approaching. Someone not unexpected. Caladan Brood and Grizzin Farl were about the same size. Huge. Brood says he came from a place of tribulation and dire portent. Grizzin asks if that place had any wine. Brood grabs a fired jug from his satchel. Grizzin says he could kiss Brood. Brood tells him to hold those for the wine's intended recipient, Grizzin's wife.
After some banter Grizzin asks about Brood's tribulations. Brood responds that his freedom has been taken. He tells him of the oath Anomander Rake has wrested from him. Grizzin says it won't hold, but then admits to lying about it to sooth his mind. Brood says Grizzin has run a long way for this hare and Grizzin responds that's it's better than the nagging from his wife. But now that he's very curious about, "this dark woman's dark garden, weeds or no." Brood says that the Tiste are a very symbolic people and eventually everything will have more weight than it should creating a maze of propriety. Grizzin says he's not afraid of mazes. Brood asks, "You would weed her garden, then? Has she no decision to make on the offer?" Grizzin responds that any woman would accept. Just look at him.
Brood tells Grizzin that he barely knows Anomander Rake. Grizzin agrees to tell him everything he knows about him. "He possesses something deliberate and yet of great depth. He is, I think, a violent man, yet is not at ease with the violence in him." Brood responds about the tiste, "They are a generation that has tasted blood, and where horror fades, nostalgia seeps in. In war all is simple, and there is appeal in this. Who among us is comforted by confusion, uncertainty?" Grizzin asks if Mother Dark wants war. Brood says he doesn't think so, but that she remains in darkness. He goes on to say that the Jaghut aren't right either, "It is the absence of society that leads to destruction".
The wine now drunk, Grizzin asks if Brood will return home. "K’rul has begotten a child and the earth itself holds the memory of its birth-cry. Will you drink of K’rul’s blood?" Brood says there is no need, what's done is done. Grizzin thought that perhaps Draconus went in anger to see K'rul, but after their night he doesn't think so anymore. He now thinks it is love that drives Draconus. Brood agrees and says "Love will do that" Grizzin thinks he is talking about him running away from his wife and son and lazily says he might fight him. Brood tells him he was speaking of Draconus. Grizzin feels guilty and tells Brood of the argument that he had with his wife after he threw out their son. Brood tells Grizzin that he's sure Sechul Lath deserved it. Grizzin tells him his son Sechul Lath has fallen under the influence of Grizzin's first progeny, Errastas.
Azathanai Realm[]
Sechul Lath[]
Sechul Lath and Errastas have just killed someone and were greatly injured in the process. Errastas looks at the blood running down the gems diamonds and gold of the path. He knows that someone is coming. Someone he planned to come of Tiste blood. Errastas refers to the loot strewing the path as their stolen loot and that there is power in it. Sechul responds, "But not Azathanai power." Errastas sneers at the fact that Mother Dark would claim this place as if she could. He asks what Sechul sees. Sechul responds chaos and endless storm. Errastas says they will let the place keep its name, The Spar of Andii. K'rul is not the only one that understands blood.
Setch wonders if they know what they are doing. Errastas says that he does. He is angry that K'rul is just giving away power. Errastas says he will beat K'rul. He reveals that the people coming are Haut and Korya and that they must leave. Errastas tells Sechul that they must manipulate Mother Dark into conflict against the new Warrens K'rul is creating. Sechul looks at Errastas's broken body and asks if he's really as smart as he thinks he is. The woman they killed is Jaghut. Errastas says he never knew killing could be such fun. Sechul worries that they will have enraged all the Jaghut with this killing. Especially since it's Hood's wife that they have killed. Errastas says well it's not Hood that approaches, just his brother.
Azathanai Realm[]
Korya[]
Haut tells an exhausted Korya that they are almost at their destination and if she has thought about the wealth on the path. She says she thinks it's a mockery of what is true virtue. Haut tells her of the Protector of the Tiste who did nothing when the Jheleck stole from them and burned their houses. Korya says that he probably protects something else, not material. Haut likes this answer. In the middle of their conversation Haut pulls out his axe and continues up the trail silent. He has seen the blood trail. They get to the end of the trail and find a half naked corpse. A dagger still sits in her chest. Haut says the Jaghut's name, "Karish" and then wails it. She hasn't been dead long. Korya walks forward and looks down. She sees a storm and immediately becomes nauseas. Haut steadies her and says it's not wise to look at Chaos. He says that Mother Dark jumped into the storm and came back changed. Korya asks who the woman was and Haut tells her the greatest Jaghut scholar and his brother's wife. She was lured her and then murdered. Korya asks if it was Azathanai. Haut says yes one or more. Korya asks if there will be war now. She also says that when they began Haut said they were invited. Was it to see this death and if so, why? Haut responds that she is more clever than he is and that he thought she needed him, but now it turns out that he needs her to make sense of these symbols. Haut asks, "Korya Delath, will you help us?"