# TtH 13-15

# Welcome

## Spoilers TtH

[Find the announcement post here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Malazan/comments/sl7nwr/announcement_the_malazan_community_readalong/)

**Important:** This is the discussion post for new readers. If you have ever attempted this book before, please don't talk about any events from later chapters. Err on the side of caution and use spoiler tags if you're not sure. Head to the Spoilers MBotF discussion post if you are rereading.

**A note for re-readers:** Please don't bring up any series wide spoilers in this discussion.

We created a [quick reference including character summaries and some plot reminders](https://www.reddit.com/r/Malazan/comments/120d9wt/love_it_or_hate_it_join_us_for_the_toll_the/) to help you along.

# Maps

With narrow exceptions, Toll the Hounds takes place on [Genabackis](https://atlasoficeandfireblog.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/genabackis1.png). [Darujhistan itself](https://www.malazanmaps.com/map/darujhistan/) is absolutely central, though we will also visit the new Andii home in [Black Coral](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/malazan/images/c/c8/Map_Black_Coral.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20101224121830), wander [the territory of the former Pannion Domin](https://www.malazanmaps.com/city/bastion/), and follow the route Tool, Toc, etc. took across [the Lamatath Plain](https://www.malazanmaps.com/region/plain-of-lamatath/). There is also one location, the Reach of Woe, that hasn't been pinned down on any world map and may or may not be on Genebackis at all.

# Summaries

(Note: once again, these are courtesy of u/kashmora. I get to pick up the glorious end of this book. In the meantime, I'm posting because she is traveling.)

## Chapter 13

#### Scene 1 - The TTG.

The Trygalle guild carriage carrying Mappo Trell makes its way across Hood's path for quick travel. Usually a peaceful route, it seems their way is obstructed because all the dead are marching somewhere. Master Quell's sorcery is usually an assault on the warrens, since he punches his way from realm to realm, so they garner attention from plenty of the undead. Some attack them, some try to grab on to the carriage, some try to rape Sweetest Sufferance, some try to drag Amby Bole away etc. Amby is rescued by his brother, Gruntle and Reccanto help Sweetest, Gruntle takes down an attacking demon, and finally they are transported to a peaceful island. They try to make sense of what happened when Quell tells them there was no gate in Hood's realm at all.

Jula and Amby "talk". Faint and Sweetest try not to listen. Sweetest says she is sure Reccanto was helping her and helping himself when the undead were trying to rape her. We find out that Sweetest had an ex-Seguleh grandfather who was part of the Revenants but couldn't join as he lost an arm. The Revenants were Hood's warrior-priests who were part of the army that will fight on the hidden plain called Defiance Last. Faint thinks that is what is happening right now.

Glanno and Reccanto think the women are talking about them and debate who gets to marry whom.

Mappo, driven to find Icarium, feels guilty that he has paid for this journey since it causes so much pain to them, especially Master Quell. He attempts to close the contract but is told to wait until they finish this leg of their journey. Since they are on an island, they are probably going to have to use Mael's realm.

Precious Thimble, a swamp witch, underwent the ritual of being buried in peat with a breathing tube when she was a child. Since then, she has been able to separate her soul from her body and wander about. She admires her beauty and worries about the brothers. She likes having both admirers since it means that each one keeps the other away from her.

As Gruntle watches this, he seems to have suddenly entered the body of a huge tiger in a damp glade. He is approached by a few ape/humans who offer him prayers and propitiations. They ask him to protect their group from a leopard who has been eating their children. He tracks and finds the beast, who turns out to be soul ridden just like his tiger. She says she is from a city called New Morn. He asks her to spare the half humans because he feels pity for them and only they are capable of praying. She tells him that this world also has K'Chain, Forkrul, Jaghut, Tartheno, Trell etc- though they might not see beasts as gods. We see that she is from a time before Hood was the god of death (ed.: Kilava is _old_).

___

#### Scene 2 - Dragnipur.

Ditch is one of the wizards from Pale killed by Rake, doomed to eternally pull the wagon inside Dragnipur. His right arm and shoulder were crushed by the wagon wheel at one point so he is being dragged by his shackles. He can see the storm of chaos chasing them endlessly. Draconus picks him up and carries him to the top of the wagon to rest between two other bodies. Ditch asks Draconus to cut his leg off and leave him behind. Draconus thinks there is need for the mage. Ditch remembers that he had once looked for Drac looking for a way to escape. He then thinks it was a silly idea because if Drac knew how to escape, then he wouldn't be here, logically speaking.

> ‘Are you a logical man?’
>
> ‘Not in the least. Now, here we are.’

Draconus leaves and soon Ditch meets an unhinged, blind Tiste Andii called Kadaspala, brother of Andarist's wife, Enesdia. He has a sharp bone with a blackened point and, using the sap from the blackwood of the wagon, he has been tattooing the layers and layers of bodies piling up on the wagon. Ditch sees this because he is able to access a little of his warren, since chaos is so close. Kadaspala says he was killed by Draconus and was one of the first to ride the wagon. He was trying to wrest Dragnipur because he wanted to kill Anomander Rake for what he did to *them*. He confesses that he blinded himself. Ditch decides to move around and explore the tattoo.

Meanwhile, Apsal'ara is still wedged under the wagon bed, trying to wear down her chains. She remembers the way she had tried to loot Moon's Spawn and the almost-amused, curious way Rake had questioned her. She had tried to backstab him and that's when he killed her with Dragnipur. She sees that Chaos is so close and has a childhood memory of watching a caribou herd crossing. Some would be swept away and downstream her family waited to gather the corpses. She thinks of the caribou as all life and the river as the passing world. There is Chaos just under the surface and she feels that such a river is waiting to flood her and many others along with her.

___

#### Scene 3- Darujhistan.

Back to Kruppe. The city is perturbed; there has been a sudden influx of dead bodies overnight. Some say it was the Guild assassins who finally met their match and have died.

Krute and Rallick talk of this. Krute thinks Seba will soon be a Master for a guild of one. Rallick is restless and goes for a walk.

Thordy is finishing up her flagstone design, rubbing ashes into the crevices. Her husband Gaz complains that the house is full of flies (symbolism, anyone? [ed.: Gaz and Thordy? There's no symbolism there.]). He makes a comment about how she doesn't care for him. She thinks that he goes around killing people so that he doesn't end up killing her. He leaves and she wishes Gaz should be like a plant, worrying about nothing until the harvest.

We switch to the ox's PoV. He is used to haul the corpses, and one of the corpses outside an dabayang (pretty clearly opium) den is beaten to such a pulp that they can't recognise any features at all. Gary the guard and the carter talk for a while. The carter has a great theory about cellular and nuclear structure, DNA, etc. without getting too technical about it. He even wishes to make a half ox/half human chimera.

Sordiko Qualm goes to meet Lady Envy at her house. Despite her best efforts, she is accompanied by Iskaral Pust. On the way, Pust lusts after her and gets into a small altercation with a giant oafish looking man. At Envy's estate, Thurule is on gate duty. Envy is with a man with long grey hair and a blood-spattered shirt: Fisher. The two women have things to discuss, but Iskaral breaks the news that Spite is on a ship at the port.

Cutter has spent the whole night talking to Challice at the graveyard. He has agreed to meet her at an unused house to "talk". He is filled with self-loathing and thinks that Apsalar left him because she could see the real him. He wonders why Challice wants the affair: was it an amusing diversion or were there darker undercurrents? Maybe she wanted proof of her own descent. The server at this breakfast place is rude to him and he thinks he would have been treated better if he were nobleborn.

Scillara and Duiker are in mourning. She feels guilty that she had dragged Duiker away from the bar the previous night, and knows he would have wished to die with the Bridgeburners. Barathol is openly mourning Mallet. Blend is near death's door but the worst is over. Antsy is mad that Bluepearl was incompetent enough to die. While mourning, he kicks one of the large casks and shatters it revealing the well-preserved body of a Seguleh in pickling juices. Fisher joins them and says whatever the Bridgeburners plan to do, he is with them. He normally doesn't involve himself in such matters but this time he is angry. This whole section is great (and very depressing) but worth rereading (ed.: this entire book is perfect for contemplating mourning, but yes, this is the first standout passage; there will be more).

> Sadness belonged. As rightful as joy, love, grief and fear. All conditions of being.

We get a small interlude to break up the gloom. We see Tissera realising how much she is in love with her husband. We see Torvald reach his workplace. He has heard of the assassin deaths and wonders if his employer is in danger. Like office workers around the world, he forgets everything once he reaches his desk and only waits for lunch break.

Harllo has been lashed for going to places he wasn't supposed to. His friend Bainisk has been punished too. Harllo doesn't reveal all and resolves to return to work the next day so that Bainisk doesn't get into more trouble.

Dev'ad Anan has rebuilt himself with the emlava femurs and can walk out of the crevice. He had previously lied about his death; he was left to rot in the bottom of the pit by Raest himself. Now he has found that he outlived the tyrant and wants to grab the throne. He finds weapons that he had hidden millennia ago, a sword and a dagger that look like flint but made of iron (iron is Jaghut sorcery).

## Chapter 14

Do not skip the epigraph. Or do. And be pleasantly surprised later (ed.: Brukhalian! Bird That Steals! Definitely relevant to the chapter!).

#### Scene 1: The deserted island.

Gruntle has been walking in circles pursued by Master Quell, who wants an escort to Hood's realm. They talk to the dead passenger who had joined them on the carriage. He is asked about the marching of all the dead, to which he replies Hood never commands them except now ("Come"). The dead man calls himself Cartographer. They offer to take him back but he refuses, saying Hood had given him a second command to "Go". He is making himself useful by gathering coconuts to use as flotation devices and is left alone. Gruntle and Quell return to Hood's realm, on a hilly range which could be enormous barrows. They watch a huge host of people marching when a dead Seguleh riding a dead horse meets them. He is talkative (we have met him before), and says that he is happy with this army that he commands since they have no fear. Quell asks why Hood needs an army; is he going to fight the living? The Seguleh replies "If only'. Three more riders appear; one is Toc Anaster (ed.: who just can't catch a break). Gruntle recognises him and is given a message to his god: *not long now*. Gruntle is not convinced about passing such cryptic messages when the middle horseman identified as Iskar Jarak, who remembers Gruntle from Capustan, says that his god is confused but must choose soon. The Seguleh wants to kill Gruntle but is reminded to save his anger for Skinner. The third rider is Brukhalian. They all laugh as the Seguleh rides away in search of his quarry. Gruntle is told that he has lost his followers but they are no longer here. Hood's gate is closed, the borders sealed to the living. Toc seems to be in anguish as he warns Gruntle to stay away from this realm. Quell opens a portal to leave, but one of the hill-sized barrows erupts out and a dead dragon emerges. It follows them on to the island where they barely escape its jaws. Faint is mad that they didn't harness the flying dragon which could have been their ride off the island.

#### Scene 2: Lamatath.

Karsa, Samar, and Traveller are traveling the Dwelling Plain. Traveller senses something about Hood; Samar can sense of Karsa has gathered more souls to him. They are observed by Great Ravens. Traveller says they have an escort in the form of Hounds of Shadow, and Karsa rides off to see them for himself.

#### Scene 3: Near Coral.

Skintick remembers the last stand at Drift Avalii and how Traveller had arrived too late, after Andarist had died. He finds everything pointless and no longer believes in loyalty, honesty, courage, etc. He wonders if there is any point in meeting Rake; do his cousins expect some kind of appreciation or gratitude from their patriarch? He thinks of the future in wait for them, Desra lost to sleeping around, Nenanda guarding nothing and everything, Aranatha lost in bliss, Kedeviss trying to round them up and find meaning, whereas Nimander....

Skintick is sure the proclaimed leader of their group will kill himself one day. As for himself, Skintick doesn't see him finishing this journey. They have left Bastion in a hurry and, as usual, Clip is riding far ahead of the others. Clip seems to have no trust in them. Skin complains to Nim and asks why they bothered saving Clip at all. Aranatha had said he was necessary but they don't know why. Nim complains back that he feels like he is dying inside and Skin wont hear of it.

#### Scene 4: Black Coral.

Under the Andii palace a chamber has been carved into the bedrock, where Rake sometimes goes when he tires of the tower. Endest has been summoned to the chamber; it is cold and dark. There is an obelisk in the centre where Rake places Dragnipur to ease the burden of carrying it. Endest watches as the stone starts sweating and groaning. The room reminds him of Kharkanas (before Mother Dark embraced Light, before the ones born of ashes took up swords: Scabandari, Ilgast Rend, Esthala, Kagamandra Tulas Shorn). Rake says he has sent away Spinnock and that the High Priestess understands. Rake says their people died the day they accepted her turning away and they are still bleeding out but not dead even after all this time. Endest thinks of Osserc's brood who stood outside and watched, and Draconus who wanted to give answer to all of them. He wonders if Draconus was wrong. Rake says that the blood of the dragon, the chaos in them, allowed them to persist. Endest weeps like the stones and thinks of Rake, the one who stands alone now, as the only one who was worth following. Rake assures him that they will both find the strength. He then takes up the sword and smiles, brushing away the tears from the old man.

Seerdomin watches as Salind dances in a daze but doesn't draw close. He asks why the Redeemer can't call upon the Tlan Imass to help him, but Itkovian says he can't accept the notion of reciprocity because what he gave them was a gift. Yet he asks the same from Seerdomin, who is free to choose. He says that if Salind kills him then all the souls within him will be helpless, but it would still be the Redeemer's fault, not Seerdomin's. He asks why he can't call upon his worshipers, and he says they are cursed to second guess the object of their worship.

> ‘In your silence what choice do they have?’
>
> The Redeemer’s smile broadened. ‘Every choice in the world, my friend.’

In saemankelyk Salind has found an end to all uncertainties. She dances like truth unleashed; she could dance through the shape of the world effortlessly. With the bliss of certainty she sees a transformed world where there is no contradiction, no hypocrisy, etc. She realises that the Redeemer is a child god who has no certainty, and that he is blind. He forgave everything becuase he could not see the difference between who deserved it and who didn't. She would give him this gift: an end to ambivalence. She would deliver this gift, whether he liked it or not. Of course, if he refused, she would kill him.

#### Scene 5: Lamatath.

(ed.: aka Karsa Karsas Shadowthrone aka "who the fuck says any level is acceptable".)

Karsa meets the two bone-white Hounds and is soon flanked by the other darker hounds. Shadowthrone and Cotillion appear in front of him and the Hounds maintain their distance. Shadowthrone comments that Karsa resists sorcery, and wonders if someday all mortals would be as mundane and dull as him, as miserable as a reunion of clerks. Cotillion comments that such philosophical thoughts are wasted on the audience who faintly smells of bear grease. ST observes that it's probably one of the hounds, Lock. Karsa says that if he is a clerk, then the tyranny of the number counters would be a bloody one. They tell him a temple awaits him in Darujhistan, with a crown and a throne, but Karsa is not interested in taking it and has already said the same to the Crippled God. They then assure him that they are not asking him to take it; far from it, in fact. They tell him that they too left behind civilisation, with its clerks and bloodless lists, where they measure out acceptable levels of misery and suffering.

> *‘Acceptable?* Who the fuck says any level is acceptable? What sort of mind thinks that?’
>
> Karsa grinned. ‘Why, a civilized one.’

ST is impressed and Cotillion decides that if the CG has not learnt his lesson by now, then he has to face more lessons. They give Karsa one warning: to not stand in Traveller's path ever. Karsa knows this already and then tells them he killed two deragoth; their failing was their arrogance and he killed them because they thought Karsa was weak. He says that he speaks of lessons and that one day he will laugh at the ones who will come for these two gods.

After he leaves, they talk about the souls they sensed in his sword, who seemed strangely proud.

#### Scene 6: The deserted island.

The TTG caravansary sees a dark storm approaching; everyone goes into a frenzy and prepares to leave, including Cartographer who ties himself to one of the carriage wheels. Quell gets Precious Thimble and Mappo into the carriage. Gruntle notes that the storm front is high enough to devour the whole island. Short-sighted Reccanto Ilk asks "Is it here yet?", a moment before *it* arrives.

## Chapter 15

#### Scene 1: Chuffs.

Children like Bainisk fall in love with places they have never been (ed.: mythological places. This theme gets more important throughout and just _might_ apply to the Andii even if they technically were in Kharkanas once upon a time). Though he and Harllo had a falling out, they renew their friendship over their mutual dislike of Venaz. Harllo entertains the older boy with another story from Darujhistan, this time about Hinter's tower, which was said to be haunted by his ghost. Harllo mentions how he thought if his father was a ghost looking for him and Gruntle had taken him to buy sweets. Bainisk asks if Harllo is ready to check out another new chute and he readily agrees. Bainisk is in love with that city that he had never been to (ed.: and, of course, can never reach since _it doesn't exist_).

In case you were wondering at the use of this type of purple prose, Kruppe tells us directly the point is not about the soft tragedy of the boy's love for this city. The point is that some of us still dream of that city where we have never been.

#### Scene 2: Darujhistan.

Blend is bedridden. Without Mallet, she was treated with common Denul and needs time to recover. Scillara comes in with a tray of tapu. She says that Picker is badly shaken because she was worried about losing Blend and hasn't visited because she can't bear to see Blend this pale and sickly. Blend tells Scillara to pass the message that she finds Picker going soft as unattractive, that she would hunt down the guild herself once she recovers. She then asks for a High Denul healer, regardless of the cost.

One of the pickled Seguleh had been laid out; Duiker, Picker, and Antsy examine the seemingly-fresh body. They find 12 bodies; three are women. Duiker explains that in a warrior society like the Seguleh, there must be high attrition and women would probably be given a choice between motherhood and taking up arms. Picker is angry at the thought. They decide they don't know how long the Seguleh have been pickled here; after all their land is far to the south. Picker and Antsy decide that someone like Ganoes (ed.: and specifically Ganoes since they don't _know_ anyone else like him) could help them figure out what to do next. They set off to the Finnest house behind Coll's house (we knew it as Lady Simtal's house back in the day). Antsy thinks about the conceit of narrating a history. He wonders how much the detail in Duiker's telling of the Chain of Dogs really happened, but then does it really matter in the end (ed.: commentary on meta-commentary?)?

At the Azath, Raest lets them in. After some Jaghut banter, he shows them a room painted with the Deck. By concentrating, Picker is able to gain the attention of Ganoes. He seems to be in battle, with bodies around him and burning lands behind. He tells her that the city can take care of itself, that they must trust Baruk and Kruppe. As he disappears, something malicious grabs hold of Picker and starts devouring her/her soul. Some other entity enters the fray and Picker is left alone to crawl, lost. Her body is safeguarded by Raest and Antsy. In return for his help, Raest demands a white dead cat to keep as a pet.

Hinter and Baruk talk. Hinter says the return of the tyrant would be the end of his freedom, so he would ally with Baruk. He also says that Envy had visited him and she wants what she has always wanted. The old temple of Fener has now been taken over by the High Priest of the Crippled God. They discuss Vorcan's actions when she killed the cabal mages. Baruk says he is surprised by the sudden incompetence displayed by his comrades. The High Alchemist offers Chillbais to keep a watch over Hinter's tower.

Baruk recalls the meeting he had with Vorcan after she returned. We find out that she has sent her daughter away for some reason and that she is no longer interested in the Guild. Baruk suspects she plans to lay low until she can position herself and that she would try again. (very cryptic, I know, but this is a plot point that is continued in OST and is otherwise not relevant to us here [ed.: ditto the pickled Seguleh. There's quite a bit in through here that sets up OST and has nothing to do with the rest of TtH]).

Fisher walks through town. He thinks of how some wounds must not be touched and others are still warm. He (also Erikson) understands the necessity of tragic theme. The time is twilight, which is worshipped by Edur, the time when the Andii wait for darkness and the Liosan grieve the sun's passing. He reaches an estate with a high walled garden and is let in by a masked man. He remembers the songs he has sung here and hears Lady Envy join him. She looks perfect. They could discuss the Seguleh or that which they sense is approaching, etc. She could be mockingly flirtatious but with Fisher she can't. They just stand and stare and Kruppe tells us that

> Lady Envy has found a lover.

Tissera tells Torvald that she had a pregnancy dream and he is relieved it was only a dream. He confesses that he feels something strange is going on. Lady Varada is on the council now and nobody complained. Tiss tells him to go to the Pheonix Inn and have a drink with Kruppe. After he leaves, she does a Deck reading. The central card is the City of Darujhistan and it is followed by the Rope (Cotillion or Vorcan), Obelisk, Soldier of Death (the Seguleh in Hood's realm), Crown, Knight of Darkness (Rake), King of Death (Hood), King in Chains (Crippled God), Dessembrae (Traveller), and the last card is the Tyrant in direct opposition to the City. She is worried. Then she picks up the second secret cache in the house, the crate of blue Moranth munitions hidden by Torvald. They look perfect and seem to be ensorcelled. She decides not to ask him because every successful marriage needs a few important secrets (a different example of this comes up in the same chapter).

Kruppe sits alone and is soon joined by Torvald. Tor has received a message from his cousin Rallick that he wants to meet. Tor is worried because he apparently did a very bad thing to him before running away. Kruppe says he will intercede on his behalf and speak to Rallick. He also lets on that he is aware of the Blue Moranth munitions. Tor is shocked, so Kruppe launches into a long flowery monologue about purple prose to distract him.

We move to Challice having an affair with Cutter. He sees some kind of darkness in her eyes, an all consuming insatiable need, and he feels he is only being used by her. He thinks this is why Apsalar left him and realises that whatever he had felt for Scillara was more real than this. Challice thinks back to the pretense of a regular marriage and household of her life. Gorlas is very aware of her activities, except Cutter, and they both seem to have a new sexual tension between them. Suddenly, in Cutter's arms, she worries if her husband might have her followed. She warns Cutter to be careful because Gorlas is a duelist and he might kill Cutter. They have a slightly heated argument, accusing each other of having a better life than the other. Ultimately they decide to meet back again the next day for more talking... among other things.

Challice hurries home, taking a roundabout route. She feels trapped in ways someone like Cutter could never understand. Her ways out were limited and feel despicable to her. She finds a hidden thought within her that makes her recoil but the thought is present now: could she ask Cutter to strike first. Would he agree? Would that make her free?

A member from the Blacksmith Guild has come to collect fees from Barathol -- who punches and sends him away. His business is slow and he is forced to purchase his requirements from the black market.

Bellam Nom is the only student who has impressed Murillio with his determination. Stonny has been absent for a while and Murillio has full responsibility now. He gives out some fencing advice when Stonny shows up and says extra instructions are not free. She looks terrible.

> The son she didn’t want had been taken from her – to imagine that such a thing could leave her indifferent was not to understand anything at all.

They have both fallen into this habit of speaking about Harllo without speaking about him. Murillio feels trapped by his love and adoration for her. He has been searching for the boy everywhere, including the unclaimed dead. Stonny says she will hand over the school to him but he refuses. She was isolating herself. He asks for one more try and then she can be free to decide.

To end the chapter, we are told that many adults acquire a fear of places they have never been.

Blend and Antsy watch over a comatose Picker, whose spirit wanders loose and lost. Blend armours herself and sets out to talk to the Eel. Antsy offers to join her.

# Wrap Up

## Questions and comments

1. We're still very much in the waiting phase of this book. Any frustration about the slow build or are we still on board with the approach?
2. Any idea where this is all headed at this point?
3. Would you have expected Karsa and Shadowthrone to actually agree on so much?
4. Any thematic content you'd like to pull out?

## Next week

Next week, 12 May, we cover chapters 16-18.