Varat Taun

Captain Varat Taun [VAIR-at TAWN]^[1] was Atri-Preda Twilight's second among the Letherii contingent aboard the Third Edur Imperial Fleet.^[2] He was originally from Bluerose where he had a wife and daughter.^[2][3]

Varat Taun found life in the Letherii Empire under Tiste Edur rule grim, but was excited to apprentice under the best commander of the Letherii armies since Preda Unnutal Hebaz.^[2] He hoped the right balance of ferocity and caution in his current difficult posting would earn her respect.^[2]

In The Bonehunters

The fleet was tasked by Emperor Rhulad Sengar with terrorising and murdering the people of Seven Cities and finding and returning with suitable champions for the emperor to fight to the death.^[4] They were also given the task of securing the Throne of Shadow for the Tiste Edur. Warlock Sathbaro Rangar opened a gate through the warren of Chaos to Drift Avalii for a raiding party of two hundred Edur warriors led by Saur Bathrada and Kholb Harat and sixty Letherii archers commanded by Varat Taun.^[5] Also included were the Jhag champion, Icarium, his companion Taralack Veed, and Ahlrada Ahn.^[6] As a former resident of Bluerose, the captain recognised what the Edur did not—Ahlrada Ahn was a Tiste Andii in disguise. He made no effort to reveal the spy's secret and secretly wished him well.^[2]

When the raiding party arrived at the Throne's location, the Edur were horrified to discover it had been destroyed. Ahlrada Ahn encouraged the warlock to take the enraged Edur to instead capture the T'lan Imass First Throne, none realising the Throne of Shadow's destruction was only one of Shadowthrone's illusions.^[5]

The First Throne was defended by the four hundred child soldiers of Minala's Company of Shadow as well as the renegade Trull Sengar, and the three T'lan Imass, Onrack T'emlava, Ibra Gholan, and Monok Ochem. The Edur warlock immediately began weaving his Chaos magic, but was killed by Monok Ochem in his huge Soletaken ape form. Icarium entered into a rage and defeated Onrack, but became turned around and began killing friend and foe alike. The Jhag's rage struck up a sorcerous wind that left Varat Taun buried and immobile beneath bodies, his left eardrum shattered. From this position he watched Icarium defeat each of the Throne's defenders, including Trull and Quick Ben.^[7]

Only the sudden appearance of the Eres'al ended Icarium's rampage, knocking the Jhag unconscious. Varat Taun clawed his way free of the corpses and was recruited by Veed to help carry Icarium back through the gate to their ship. Varat Taun was appalled by the carnage, but eager to see what Icarium could do to Emperor Rhulad.^[8] It was later revealed that he, Icarium, and Taralack Veed were the only members of raiding party to survive.^[9]

In Reaper's Gale

Varat Taun's mind was broken by the time he returned to the Edur fleet. He spent the many months of the return to Letheras curled up and unable to communicate coherently. Once back at the capital, Yan Tovis requested Senior Assessor examine him. The Mocker monk determined that Taun's mind had been infected by his journey back to the ship, which had brought him through the warren of Chaos that had been tainted by the Crippled God. Using High Denul and High Mockra, he brought Taun back to his senses immediately. But for Taun, only moments had passed and he told Yan Tovis that Icarium was an abomination. The news that Icarium had come to Letheras with them sent Senior Assessor to flight.^[10] Taralack Veed, Taun's fellow survivor, insisted on helping Taun during his recovery.^[11]

Yan Tovis insisted on sending Taun back home to Bluerose to be with his family and take up new duties on the staff of Bluerose's Factor.^[12][13] She brought him with her company on the first leg of their trip back to Fent Reach. But by the time they reached the town of Almas he decided to return to Letheras. He knew he could not flee the horrors that awaited Letheras and the world once Icarium released his full might against the Emperor and thought that only he and Veed had any hope of stopping the disaster. Senior Assessor, who travelled with them, opted to return with Taun.^[14]

As the empire began to collapse under the twin threats of Tehol Beddict's plot to destroy the economy and the invasion of Adjunct Tavore Paran's Bonehunters, Varat Taun was appointed as Finadd of the Palace Guard. He was relieved that Icarium, Taralack Veed, and Senior Assessor appeared to have escaped from the champion compound in the night, but dreaded the imminent arrival of the Malazan army. The Letherii armies facing Bolkando and Redmask in the east appeared to have been shattered, Bluerose was in rebellion, and riots were in Letherii cities everywhere. Taun regretted returning the Letheras to die for nothing.^[15]

He stood in the arena with Chancellor Triban Gnol to witness Rhulad's contest against Karsa Orlong. Just as the duel began, white fire illuminated the sky and he locked gazes with Samar Dev, both understanding that Icarium had been the cause. The Teblor managed to slay the immortal emperor before disappearing in a cloud of spirits that emerged from Samar Dev's knife. Chancellor Gnol ordered Taun and his guards to arrest Samar for questioning and escort them back to the throne room. Unaware that Fiddler's squad was already in the Eternal Domicile, they were ambushed by Crossbow fire. The Chancellor was killed by a quarrel to the temple before Taun was able to surrender to the Malazans. When he claimed the emperor was dead, Quick Ben forced him to take them to Rhulad's body.^[16]

Notes and references