Norul

Originally a Master Sergeant^[1] in charge of training the Capan recruits to the Grey Swords, Norul became a captain under Shield Anvil Itkovian.^[2] She was described as a grizzled woman with grey eyes, iron-streaked hair, and large scarred hands.^[3][4][5] Two Malazan Sister marines described her as an Elin lass with a "nice sway to the hips", but a hard face and eyes full of hurt.^[6]

In Memories of Ice

Norul was with the Grey Swords during the Pannion Domin's Siege of Capustan. She was left behind with the Eleventh Mane of Grey Sword recruits when Mortal Sword Brukhalian and his soldiers were led into an ambush by the traitorous Rath'Fener. Afterwards, Itkovian promoted her to captain and she arranged the recruits into formation for the Shield Anvil's attack on Jelarkan's Palace.^[2]

After successfully driving out Anaster and his Tenescowri, Itkovian marched his forces to the Thrall to confront their order's betrayer. The Shield Anvil ordered Norul to seize Rath'Fener and she held him down as Itkovian invoked Fener's Reve and cut off the priest's hands as punishment for his crimes.^[7]

The Grey Swords were all but destroyed by the battle. Only 112 remained and those were largely recruits.^[8] Norul became Shield Anvil of the Grey Swords after Itkovian realised a new Reve must be fashioned and passed the mantle to her. With Fener's fall, the order swore themselves to Togg and Fanderay, becoming the Grey Swords of the Wolf's Reve.^[9] She then asked Silverfox to free the T'lan Ay, as children of the wolf-gods, but Silverfox refused saying that she would only consider the request if it came from Togg and Fanderay themselves.^[10]

Norul took her place among the leaders of the alliance against the Pannion Domin.^[11] She recruited from the defeated Tenescowri to fill the Grey Sword ranks and accompanied Caladan Brood's army south to Coral. She took personal charge of the Tenescowri's captured leader, Anaster, taking his pain upon herself and leaving him a broken shell who rode alongside her.^[12] Although she professed not to hold the same dread comportment as her predecessor, Itkovian soon recognised the remote, uncompromising, and self-contained Shield Anvil hardness in her mien.^[13][14]

At the Battle of Black Coral, she and her Grey Swords rode ahead of Brood's forces to assist Whiskeyjack and Dujek Onearm.^[15] She volunteered to lead her forces in a likely suicidal charge on the Pannion Domin's undead K'ell Hunters along with Gruntle and his Trake's Legion. Although vastly outpowered, the Grey Swords harried the K'Chain Che'Malle with barbed lances and lassos.^[16]

After the battle, Norul presided over the entombment of Itkovian.^[17]

Notes and references