Midnight Tides
Chapters - Steven Erikson
Prologue
The aftermath of a massive battle between Tiste Edur and Tiste Andii allies against the K'Chain Che'Malle. Scabandari betrays Silchas Ruin, stabbing him in the back and ordering the surviving Andii slaughtered. He imprisons Silchas and surveys his new realm. The Jaghut Gothos witnesses the betrayal and is approached by the Elder God Mael, who arranges for Kilmandaros to help subdue Scabandari. Gothos preserves the battlefield in ice. Years later, a Meckros swordsmith named Withal is shipwrecked on an island and enslaved by a fallen god who demands he forge a sword.
POV: Scabandari Bloodeye·On page: Silchas Ruin, Withal, The Crippled God
Frozen Blood
Chapter 1
Trull witnesses Letherii ships illegally harvesting seals in Edur waters and reports to his father and the Warlock King Hannan Mosag. Hannan Mosag suspects the Letherii violated the treaty to shape upcoming negotiations and promises vengeance through sorcery. Udinaas, a Letherii slave, fights an invisible Wyval attacking Feather Witch during a tile casting and is wounded. Hannan Mosag tasks the Sengar brothers with a quest to retrieve a mysterious gift from the ice fields, warning them not to touch it with bare flesh. Uruth and Hannan Mosag heal the slaves but are concerned about Wyval blood potentially infecting Udinaas.
POV: Trull Sengar, Udinaas·On page: Hannan Mosag, Fear Sengar, Rhulad Sengar, Feather Witch, Uruth
Chapter 2
Seren leads Buruk on a trading expedition to the Tiste Edur, joined by Hull who intends to push the Edur toward war with Lether. Tehol is approached by three half-blood tribal women who want him to repeat his legendary financial feat and collapse the Letherii economy to fund islands for displaced tribes. Brys, the King's Champion, observes palace factions and is taken by Kuru Qan to the Cedance where unprecedented tiles are revealed. Kuru Qan warns that the popular interpretation of the Seventh Closure may be wrong. Tehol agrees to help the women and begins planning their economic scheme.
POV: Seren Pedac, Tehol Beddict, Brys Beddict·On page: Buruk the Pale, Hull Beddict, Bugg, Kuru Qan
Chapter 3
Fear takes Trull and Rhulad to the Stone Bowl in the Kaschan Trench, revealing secret knowledge about Scabandari's history. The dying Kaschan race sent their magic into Kurald Galain as revenge, cutting off the Warren of Darkness and condemning Mother Dark to consume all realms. The Elder Gods hunted Scabandari and Kilmandaros slew him, imprisoning Scabandari's spirit in eternal pain. Fear reveals Hannan Mosag discovered these secrets and is drawing on deadly unknown powers. Udinaas dreams of the Wyval and witnesses the betrayal of the Andii by Scabandari through the creature's memories. A shadow wraith begins haunting Udinaas on the shore.
POV: Trull Sengar, Udinaas·On page: Fear Sengar, Rhulad Sengar, Silchas Ruin·Mentioned: Uruth
Chapter 4
Binadas guides Seren, Buruk, and Hull toward the Hiroth village. Seren encounters a ghostly figure of Silchas Ruin on the path who speaks of dragons and the power of mortals. Buruk reveals the Holds are awakening. Brys observes the Drownings and meets Gerun Eberict, learning of the Finadd's dangerous interest in Tehol. Tehol decides to strip Eberict of his wealth and hires Shurq, an undead thief. Shurq visits the Azath and meets Kettle, the undead child guardian who is feeding bodies to the dying Azath to keep its prisoners contained.
POV: Seren Pedac, Tehol Beddict, Brys Beddict·On page: Buruk the Pale, Hull Beddict, Binadas Sengar, Silchas Ruin, Gerun Eberict, Shurq Elalle, Kettle, Ublala Pung, Bugg
Chapter 5
Udinaas is haunted by the shadow wraith Wither, a former Tiste Andii who reveals the truth about the Edur's betrayal of the Andii and asks to hide in Udinaas' shadow. Binadas leads the trade party toward the Hiroth village where Seren notices an army of wraiths. Trull prepares for the quest to the ice fields, concerned about Hannan Mosag's ambitions. Mayen dines with the Sengar family and Uruth searches Udinaas for signs of possession but finds nothing, as Wither hides the Wyval's presence. Feather Witch warns Udinaas of the danger if the Edur discover his condition.
POV: Udinaas, Trull Sengar, Seren Pedac·On page: Binadas Sengar, Fear Sengar, Rhulad Sengar, Mayen, Feather Witch, Uruth, Hull Beddict
Prows of the Day
Chapter 6
A bound sea spirit carries three Edur ships into Trate harbour on a massive wave, devastating the port. Brys investigates problems with the Eternal Domicile and notices Turudal Brizad's unsettling presence at court. The First Eunuch Nifadas speculates the sea demon may be the Elder God Mael, chained by the Edur. Kuru Qan sends Brys on a journey of the mind through a tile, where he discovers forgotten gods preserved in underwater dolmens and fights their Guardian. Brys offers his blood to heal the Guardian and takes the names of the forgotten gods to prevent their enslavement. Tehol takes Shurq to the embalmer Selush for restoration.
POV: Brys Beddict, Tehol Beddict·On page: Kuru Qan, Bugg, Shurq Elalle·Mentioned: Gerun Eberict
Chapter 7
Seren has been waiting five days in the Edur village and tonight meets with the Warlock King. She helps the withering Nerek by having Mayen bestow a blessing on them, sanctifying the ground. Udinaas watches the blessing and Wither shows him visions of the past, including Menandore and Sukul Ankhadu imprisoning Sheltatha Lore in the Azath, observed by their father Osserc. Seren enters the Warlock King's hall where Hannan Mosag appears to want peace. Feather Witch performs a tile casting that goes terribly wrong, revealing the Holds are in turmoil and all positions in the Empty Hold have become plural.
POV: Seren Pedac, Udinaas·On page: Hannan Mosag, Mayen, Feather Witch, Hull Beddict, Buruk the Pale, Uruth
Chapter 8
Trull and his brothers reach the ice fields and descend into a crevasse where they find an altar and a vast plane of ice containing frozen beasts. They spot the gift - a two-handed sword with a fractured blade frozen in a spar of ice. Binadas strengthens Trull's spear with reluctant shadow wraiths. Jheck attack as Trull shatters the ice. Rhulad seizes the sword and fights but is killed. His fingers lock around the grip and cannot be removed, so the Edur place his body on a sled. Trull fights a desperate rearguard action against waves of Jheck and wolves before rejoining his companions at the edge of the ice fields.
POV: Trull Sengar·On page: Fear Sengar, Rhulad Sengar, Binadas Sengar
Chapter 9
Withal finds Rhulad washed up on the The Crippled God's island. The fallen god tells Rhulad he was chosen because Hannan Mosag betrayed their pact by wanting power only for defence rather than conquest. The sword requires Rhulad to die in combat repeatedly, growing stronger each time. Meanwhile, Seren and Buruk observe the Sengar brothers returning with Rhulad's body. Udinaas dresses the corpse for burial, burning gold coins into the skin. Fear confides his concern that the Warlock King thinks they betrayed him. As Udinaas prepares to turn the body, the corpse screams back to life. Hannan Mosag arrives to confront the resurrected Rhulad.
POV: Withal, Udinaas, Trull Sengar·On page: Rhulad Sengar, The Crippled God, Fear Sengar, Seren Pedac, Buruk the Pale, Hannan Mosag, Uruth, Mayen, Feather Witch
Chapter 10
Tehol and Bugg seek out Shurq at a brothel and introduce her to Ublala. Tehol visits the Azath Tower and meets Kettle for the first time, learning about the prisoners buried in the grounds and the danger of their escape. Brys visits Kuru Qan who is studying a map while dangling from the ceiling, then meets with Chancellor Triban Gnol about military readiness. Tehol gives the three women directions to purchase controlling shares in enterprises. Shurq and Ublala rob Gerun Eberict's estate with help from his undead brother Harlest. The Azath has died, and Kettle is worried the dangerous prisoners will soon escape.
POV: Tehol Beddict, Brys Beddict·On page: Bugg, Kettle, Shurq Elalle, Ublala Pung, Kuru Qan
Chapter 11
Rhulad sits in the citadel clutching the sword and declares himself Emperor of the Tiste Edur, refusing to surrender the weapon to Hannan Mosag. He claims the Warlock King was going to betray a pact with the sword's maker. One by one the Edur kneel, including Hannan Mosag. The Letherii delegation arrives and Seren briefs First Eunuch Nifadas on the situation. Rhulad addresses the delegation and officially declares war against the Kingdom of Lether. Hull pledges fealty to the Edur. Rhulad demands Fear's betrothed Mayen as his Empress, and Fear has no choice but to surrender her. A brief unspoken moment passes between Trull and Seren on a bridge before they part.
POV: Udinaas, Trull Sengar, Seren Pedac·On page: Rhulad Sengar, Hannan Mosag, Fear Sengar, Mayen, Hull Beddict, Binadas Sengar, Feather Witch, Buruk the Pale
All That Lies Unseen
Chapter 12
Bugg visits Shurq and Harlest in a warded Jaghut tomb, then heads to a gravel quarry where a creature has killed several people. A female Jaghut appears and traps the creature in ice. Brys visits the Azath Tower at the Ceda's behest and speaks with Kettle's mysterious protector, witnessing visions of the The Crippled God's chaining. The protector speaks of tyranny and the need for two swords. Tehol and Bugg meet the Rat Catchers' Guild, revealing their true function as assassins and smugglers. Tehol arranges refugee transfers and requests protection. Brys delivers two swords to the Azath from the Ceda's collection for the stranger.
POV: Bugg, Brys Beddict, Tehol Beddict·On page: Shurq Elalle, Kettle, Kuru Qan
Chapter 13
Udinaas endures witnessing Rhulad's assault on Mayen and is dismissed along with Feather Witch. Hull returns and Seren escorts him to the Letherii guest house where Prince Quillas boorishly suggests assassinating the emperor. Hull advises the delegation's speedy departure and declines to reveal his intentions. The full delegation meets Rhulad, who dismisses Letherii debts and declares war. Hull reaffirms his loyalty to the Edur cause. Seren is told to inform Buruk he has three days to depart. Gerun Eberict appears seeking Hull. Seren encounters Eberict who argues that even if the Edur win militarily, the Letherii commercial system will ultimately triumph. Udinaas observes all, noting Rhulad's growing instability.
POV: Udinaas, Seren Pedac·On page: Rhulad Sengar, Mayen, Feather Witch, Hull Beddict, Hannan Mosag, Gerun Eberict, Trull Sengar
Chapter 14
Bugg investigates a D'ivers called The Pack hiding in an abandoned temple, warning the creature to stay inside. At the Azath Tower, Kettle reports a creature has escaped and her protector is being physically restrained by a volatile woman. Brys is called to a military council where Lether prepares for war against the Edur, learning of Hull's betrayal. Bugg meets Rucket of the Rat Catchers' Guild for dinner and learns Gerun Eberict has killed thousands. Tehol discusses the war with the three half-blood women and meets Shurq who plans to rob the Tolls Repository and become a pirate. Kettle's protector reveals she contains the soul of a Forkrul Assail and was selected by the Azath.
POV: Bugg, Brys Beddict, Tehol Beddict, Kettle·On page: Shurq Elalle, Ublala Pung, Kuru Qan·Mentioned: Silchas Ruin
Chapter 15
Seren travels south from Edur territory with Buruk, touching a cliff containing trapped wraiths who recognise her. Three powerful Letherii mages unleash a devastating preemptive strike that wipes out entire Edur villages. Buruk drugs Seren and she later finds he has hanged himself in Trate. Trull witnesses the aftermath but the Edur had evacuated in advance. The Edur march south strengthened by summoned demons and Jheck allies. Trull's scouting party encounters and kills a Faraed scout and crosses an ancient bridge built by Icarium. Udinaas is shown visions of the First Empire by Wither, and he and Feather Witch travel to a dream realm where they meet still-mortal Imass and a rapidly aging boy named Rud Elalle, secretly Udinaas' son by Menandore.
POV: Seren Pedac, Trull Sengar, Udinaas·On page: Buruk the Pale, Feather Witch·Mentioned: Icarium
Chapter 16
Udinaas and Feather Witch return from the dream realm and debate slavery and freedom as the Edur march toward Trate. Trull's scouting party encounters B'nagga and the Jheck who report Letherii forces retreating. In Trate, Seren meets Iron Bars of the Crimson Guard who has just arrived from Assail. The Letherii mage Nekal Bara is killed when the Edur's empowered sea spirit attacks the lighthouse. Seren is raped during the chaos of Trate's fall and Iron Bars rescues her, killing her attackers. Rhulad leads a deranged killing spree through the city until Iron Bars confronts and kills him by snapping his neck. The group escapes through a warren with Seren.
POV: Udinaas, Trull Sengar, Seren Pedac·On page: Rhulad Sengar, Iron Bars, Feather Witch