Ghenst Terrall - in the very early days of the formation of the Malazan Empire - was the 'Baron of the Coastal Provinces' of Nom Purge of the continent of Quon Tali.[1]
In Kellanved's Reach[]
Baron Ghenst Terrall was part of a particularly successful campaign of the armed forces of Nom Purge against the army of their traditional enemies, the twin cities of Quon and Tali. The Baron was under the overall command of the 'High General of Nom Purge', Elath Lallind. One of the things that the High General had asked Ghenst Terrall to be responsible for - before what was shaping up to be the decisive battle between the two foes - was to scout out some "deep wooded valleys" which flanked the plain on which the upcoming battle was to be fought. High General Elath Lallind wanted to be sure that these woods were free of any enemy forces. There was some concern expressed - by a young Captain Orjin Samarr - at the meeting called by the High General on the eve of the battle that there could be a whole army of Quon Talians hidden in the woods and perhaps additional checking would not be unreasonable. Baron Ghenst Terrall, however, assured everyone that the woods were certainly clear of Talians, as he had had his "own personal scouts" check them out.[2]
As it turned out, while the two sides were deep in battle the next day, additional Quon Tali forces did emerge from the woods - despite what Baron Terrall had had to say the night before. This large force of Talians - which had unexpectedly appeared - led to great slaughter and panic among the Purge forces, many of whom broke and bolted from the field of battle. Ghenst Terrall, "harried and wild-eyed", was one of the mounted noblemen who was abandoning the battlefield. Stopped and questioned by Captain Orjin Samarr about the appearance of unreported Quon Talian forces in the woods, Baron Terrall, flushed and looked away, clearly reacting to having been caught out in having given the High General and his staff patently false information. The Baron got past the stunned Orjin and fled the field as quickly as he could.[3]
Days later, at Two-River Fort - in the mountain pass to Nom Purge - Ghenst Terrall and two other noblemen were seen by those in the fort "charging through on their way" to the important northern city of Purage.[4]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 1, US TPB p.7
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 1, US TPB p.6-7
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 1, US TPB p.8-11
- ↑ Kellanved's Reach, Chapter 4, US TPB p.62-63