#azath

The First Sword

Onos T’oolan, First Sword of the T’lan Imass.

I got inspired by Steven Eriksons Malazan - Book of the Fallen. This painting is inspired by several scenes at the end of Dust Of Dreams and the beginning of The Crippled God and does not take place like this in the books.

Warning, spoilers ahead:

‘Meaning?’

‘Oh, lots of things. First, this place is now real. And it will live on. These Imass will live on.’

Hedge grunted. ‘Rud Elalle will be pleased. Onrack, too, I imagine.’

‘Aye. and here’s another thing, only I don’t think it’ll please anyone. In that Azath House there will be a tower, and in that tower, all the gates.’

‘So?’

Quick Ben sighed. ‘You damned idiot. The Gates of Starvald Demelain.’

‘And?’

‘Just this. Shadowthrone, and Cotillion. Who like using the Azath whenever it suits them. Now they’ve got a way in. Not just to this realm, either.’

‘Into Starvald Demelain? Gods below, Quick! Is that why we just did all that? Is that what brought you here?’

‘No need to scream, sapper. When it came to planting that House, we weren’t even witnesses. Were we? But you know, its what those two sneaky bastards know, or seem to know, that really worries me. See my point?’

‘Oh, Hood piss in your boots, Ben Adaephon Delat.’

‘Got all your gear there, Hedge? Good. Because once we get to the Gates, we’re going through one of them.’

‘We are?’

‘We are.’ And the wizard grinned across at the sapper. ‘Fid’s never been the same without you.’

Azath - Through A Warren Of Shadow (Pulverised Records, 2020)