KELLANVED’S REACH

Path to Ascendancy

Book 3

Ian C. Esslemont

Contents

Acknowledgements

Dramatis Personae

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born in Winnipeg, Ian Cameron Esslemont has studied and worked as an archaeologist, travelled extensively in South East Asia and lived in Thailand and Japan for several years. He now lives in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his wife and children. He has a creative writing degree and his novels are all set in the fantasy world of Malaz that he co-created with Steven Erikson. Kellanved’s Reach follows Dancer’s Lament and Deadhouse Landing and continues the story of the turbulent early history of this great imagined landscape. To find out more, visit www.malazanempire.com / www.ian-esslemont.com

Also by Ian C. Esslemont

NIGHT OF KNIVES

RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD

STONEWIELDER

ORB SCEPTRE THRONE

BLOOD AND BONE

ASSAIL

DANCER’S LAMENT

DEADHOUSE LANDING

For more information on Ian C. Esslemont and his books, see his website at www.malazanempire.com and www.ian-esslemont.com

To A.P. Canavan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Once again, thanks to Gerri and the boys for their support and patience with my strange calling. Continued thanks and gratitude to Simon and all the people at Transworld Publishers, and the dedicated readers at the Malazanempire.com site.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Of Malaz

Kellanved

New ruler of the isle of Malaz

Dancer

A notorious assassin

Surly

A Napan aristocrat

Cartheron Crust

A Napan captain

Urko Crust

A Napan captain

Choss

A Napan admiral

Tocaras

A Napan archer

Dassem Ultor

A Dal Hon swordsman, whom some name ‘Sword of Hood’

Tayschrenn

A renegade mage of Kartool

Dujek

A recruit

Jack

A recruit

Nedurian

A veteran, and mage

Of Nap

Tarel

King of the Napan Isles

Lady Elaina

Head of the Ravanna line

Torlo

Of the Torlo Trading House

Lord Kobay

Head of the Medalla line

Karesh

High Admiral, lord of all Napan fleets

Of the Bloorian League

Gareth

The king of Vor, and a principal of the League

Styvell

The king of Rath, and a principal of the League

Hret

The king of Bloor, and a principal of the League

Leah

A corporal of the Yellows Regiment

Teigan

A sergeant of the Yellows Regiment

Of Gris and its Allies

Malle

Ruler of the city state of Gris

Ranel

Baron of Nita

Ap-Athlan

Court sorcerer of Gris

Of Nom Purge

Elath Lallind

High General of Nom Purge

Ghenst Terrall

Baron of the Coastal Provinces

Jeral

Prevost (captain) of Purge forces

Of Orjin Samarr’s Troop

Orjin Samarr

A mercenary commander

Terath

A lieutenant

Arkady

A Wickan scout

Orhan

A fighter of possible giant blood, perhaps of Fenn

Yune

A Dal Hon shaman

Of Itko Kan

Leoto

Head of family Kan, the Kan of Kan

Jadeen

A feared witch of the south

Iko

A Sword-Dancer guard to the king

Of the Crimson Guard

Courian D’Avore

Commander of the Guard

K’azz D’Avore

His son, whom some name the Red Prince

Surat

Champion of the Guard

Cal-Brinn

A mage, and adviser to Courian

Others

Gregar

An apprentice stonemason

Haraj

A prisoner

Heboric

A priest of Fener

Hairlock

A mage

Prologue

As it did every time, the odious Idryn mud sucked at his boots – touching, even, the hem of his fine midnight blue (not black, mind you!) silk trousers, though he’d pulled them up as high as he could as he tramped the river shore to find Liss. Halfway, amid the stink and disgusting sewer filth, he paused, and he raised his eyes to the sky to entreat the gods. Why must you punish me so? Where did I transgress? Was it those curvy Leparia twins? If so, have I not endured enough?

Silk, city mage of Li Heng, lowered his gaze. Perhaps not. Those two had been so very delicious.

He spotted her then, in her dirty rags, among the pilings where they stood exposed, for this had been a dry summer, and the Idryn was low.

Once again Silk reflected that were it not for his strong suspicion that this hag was far more than a mere crazy witch, he would most certainly not be here.

Sighing, he slogged onward until he was within hailing distance, and he set a hand to his mouth. ‘Hello! Crazy catfish lady? You called?’

She straightened and turned his way, pushed snaggled tangled hair from her dirty face – which brightened. ‘Pretty boy! Decided to grow up, have you?’

Silk rolled his eyes. ‘What is it you want, Liss? I’m a busy man.’

‘Oh yes! So much posturing and self-indulgence to pursue! Where indeed to start?’

Silk peered about at the northern waterfront, the raised boardwalk and the inns and bars that fronted it. ‘You know, I could leave in any direction. Shall I choose?’