The Bonehunters

How it opens

Fifty-eight days after the execution of Sha'ik, Leoman of the Flails leads the last organized force of the Seven Cities rebellion through a great dust storm, and Tavore's Malazan army follows at a measured pace. On the Ugarat Odhan, Samar Dev lies dying of thirst beside her broken wagon until Karsa Orlong finds her, and he carries her into the city of Ugarat with two huge rotted heads dragging behind his horse. Nearly a week out of Pan'potsun, Cutter, the demon Greyfrog, Scillara and Felisin Younger travel on foot with Heboric Ghost Hands, who seems to have lost his mind. And away from the Malazan column, Fiddler, Kalam Mekhar and Quick Ben meet High Mage Tayschrenn and Dujek Onearm, while Pearl watches from a ridge.

Who you meet early

• LeomanLeoman of the Flails commands the last army of the rebellion, fleeing the Malazans. His force is believed to hold the Holy Book of Dryjhna, but he does not have it, and he tells Corabb he is of a mind to disperse the army.
• Karsa OrlongKarsa Orlong, once bodyguard to Sha'ik as Toblakai, rides the Ugarat Odhan on his horse Havok, his face marked with the tattoo of an escaped slave. He tells the guards of Ugarat that his war is done.
• Samar DevSamar Dev is a woman of Ugarat whose wagon, her own invention, broke down out on the Odhan, and she broke her foot kicking its wheel. In the city she threatens onlookers with curses, and she tells Captain Inashan that Karsa is a spirit of the wild-lands she called upon.
• HeboricHeboric Ghost Hands, Destriant of Treach, travels on foot with Cutter, Scillara, Felisin Younger and the demon Greyfrog. To Cutter he seems to have lost his mind, wandering off to hold conversations with ghosts or the voices in his head.
• ScillaraScillara travels with Heboric, who drew her out of a nightmarish existence and, as far as Cutter can tell from what he overhears, healed her in some way. She and Felisin Younger bicker like sisters and both fuss over the old priest.
• IcariumIcarium travels with his friend Mappo Runt, and wades the warm shallows of the new Raraku Sea, enlivened by its waters.
• FiddlerFiddler is a sapper and sergeant in Tavore's army, marching with her since Aren. Kalam sees his old spirit dampened, with Hedge and the others dead.
• Kalam MekharKalam Mekhar is an assassin and an old friend of Fiddler. The Claw Pearl keeps out of his sight but hovers nearby, and Quick Ben thinks Tavore may want Kalam to put together a squad of assassins.