The Crippled God

boy snorted. He was always getting advice. ‘I won’t be like you, old man. I’m going to be a soldier when I grow up. I’m going to leave this place. For ever. A soldier, fighting wars and getting rich and fighting and saving people and all that!’
    The old man seemed about to say one thing, stopped, and instead said, ‘Well, the world always needs more soldiers.’
    The boy counted this as a victory, the first of what he knew would be a lifetime of victories. When he was grown up. And famous. ‘That demon bites and it’ll eat you up. And even if you catch it and drag it up, how will you kill it? Nobody can kill it!’
    ‘Never said anything about killing it,’ the old man replied. ‘Just been a while since we last talked.’
    ‘Ha! Hah! Hahaha!’
    High above the harbour, the winds were brisk coming in from the sea. They struck and spun the old battered weathervane on its pole, as if the demon knew not where to turn.
    A sudden gust took it then, wrenched it hard around, and with a solid squeal the weathervane jammed. The wind buffeted it, but decades of decay and rust seemed proof to its will, and the weathervane but quivered.
    Like a thing in chains.
    This ends the Tenth and Final Tale of the
Malazan Book of the Fallen
     

And now the page before us blurs.
An age is done. The book must close.
We are abandoned to history.
Raise high one more time the tattered standard of the Fallen. See through the drifting smoke to the dark stains upon the fabric.
This is the blood of our lives, this is the payment of our deeds, all soon to be forgotten.
We were never what people could be.
We were only what we were .
     
    Remember us

APPENDIX
     
    DRAMATIS PERSONAE
    Characters appearing in both Dust of Dreams and
    The Crippled God
     
    THE MALAZANS
    Adjunct Tavore Paran
High Mage Quick Ben
Fist Keneb
Fist Blistig
Captain Lostara Yil
Banaschar
Fist Kindly
Captain Skanarow
Fist Faradan Sort
Captain Ruthan Gudd
Lieutenant Pores
Captain Raband
Sinn
Grub
    THE SQUADS
    Captain Fiddler
Sergeant Tarr
Koryk
Smiles
Bottle
Corabb Bhilan Thenu’alas
Cuttle
Sergeant Gesler
Corporal Stormy
Shortnose
Flashwit
Mayfly
Sergeant Cord
Corporal Shard
Limp
Ebron
Crump
Sergeant Hellian
Corporal Touchy
Corporal Brethless
Maybe
Sergeant Balm
Corporal Deadsmell
Throatslitter
Widdershins
Sergeant Urb
Corporal Clasp
Masan Gilani
Saltlick
Burnt Rope
Lap Twirl
Sad
Sergeant Sinter
Corporal Pravalak Rim
Honey
Lookback
Sergeant Badan Gruk
Corporal Ruffle
Nep Furrow
Reliko
Vastly Blank
Corporal Kisswhere
Skulldeath
Drawfirst
Sergeant Gaunt-Eye
Corporal Rib
Himble Thrup
Dead Hedge
Alchemist Bavedict
Sergeant Sweetlard
Sergeant Rumjugs
    THE HOST
    Ganoes Paran, High Fist and Master of the Deck
High Mage Noto Boil
Fist Rythe Bude
Imperial Artist Ormulogun
Warleader Mathok
Bodyguard T’morol
Gumble
Skintick
Desra
Nemanda
Kalam Mekhar
    THE KHUNDRYL
    Warleader Gall
Hanavat (Gall’s wife)
Shelemasa
Jastara
    THE PERISH GREY HELMS
    Mortal Sword Krughava
Shield Anvil Tanakalian
Destriant Run’Thurvian
Commander Erekala
    THE LETHERII
    King Tehol
Queen Janath
Brys Beddict
Atri-Ceda Aranict
Henar Vygulf
Shurq Elalle
Skorgen Kaban
Ublala Pung
    THE BOLKANDO
    Queen Abrastal
Spultatha
Felash, Fourteenth Daughter
Handmaid
Gilk Warchief-Spax
    THE BARGHAST
    Hetan
Stavi
Storii
Absi
Skincut Ralata
Awl Torrent
Setoc of the Wolves
    THE SNAKE
    Rutt
Held
Badalle
Saddic
Yan Tovis (Twilight)
Yedan Derryg (the Watch)
Witch Pully
Witch Skwish
Brevity
Pithy
Sharl
Corporal Nithe
Sergeant Cellows
Withal
    THE IMASS
    Onrack T’emlava
Kilava Onass
Ulshun Pral
    THE T’LAN IMASS
    Warleader Onos T’oolan
Bitterspring (Lera Epar)
Kalt Urmanal
Rystalle Ev
Ulag Togtil
Nom Kala
Urugal the Woven
Thenik the Shattered
Beroke Soft Voice
Kahlb the Silent Hunter
Halad the Giant
    THE K’CHAIN CHE’MALLE
    J’an Sentinel Bre’nigan
K’ell Hunter Sag’Churok
Matron Gunth Mach
Shi’gal Assassin Gu’Rull
Destriant Kalyth (Elan)
    THE TISTE ANDII
    Nimander Golit
Spinnock Durav
Korlat
Dathenar Fandoris
Prazek Goul
Skintick
Desra
Nemanda
Sandalath Drukorlat
Silchas Ruin
    THE JAGHUT: AMONG THE FOURTEEN
    Bolirium
Gedoran
Daryft
Gathras
Sanad
Varandas
Haut
Suvalas
Aimanan Hood
    THE FORKRUL ASSAIL: THE LAWFUL INQUISITORS
    Reverence
Serenity
Equity
Placid
Diligence
Abide
Aloft
Calm
Belie
Freedom
Grave
    THE WATERED: THE TIERS OF LESSER ASSAIL
    Amiss
Exigent
Hestand
Festian
Kessgan
Trissin
Melest
Haggraf
    THE TISTE LIOSAN
    Kadagar Fant
Aparal Forge
Iparth Erule
Gaelar Throe
Eldat Pressen
    OTHERS
    Rud