Tattersail

Summary

Tattersail is a cadre mage of the Malazan 2nd Army and a member of the Bridgeburners, who meets a devastating end in Gardens of the Moon only to be reborn as Silverfox — one of the most important supernatural figures in the series. As Tattersail, she is a warm, perceptive woman and powerful mage who represents the human cost of the Empire's ruthless military campaigns. Her romance with Ganoes Paran is one of the few tender relationships in the early series.

Tattersail's death and subsequent rebirth through a ritual involving the Bonecaster Nightchill, the Thelomen Bellurdan, and the Rhivi spirit is a pivotal event. As Silverfox, she is reborn as a child who ages rapidly, carrying the memories and souls of multiple beings. She becomes the living Bonecaster of the T'lan Imass — the one who can summon and command the undead armies and, more importantly, the one who can finally release them from their centuries-long Ritual of Tellann.

As Silverfox, she represents one of the series' great moral dilemmas: she has the power to free the T'lan Imass from their deathless existence, but the timing and consequences of doing so have massive implications for the wars being fought. Her choice to delay the release in Memories of Ice — and its eventual fulfilment — is one of the series' key plot threads.

Arc by Book

Book 1: Gardens of the Moon

Tattersail serves as a mage during the Siege of Pale, where she witnesses the devastating magical battle that kills most of her fellow cadre mages. She survives and becomes entangled in the political machinations surrounding the Bridgeburners and the Adjunct Lorn's mission. She develops a romantic relationship with Ganoes Paran and uses her Deck of Dragons readings to uncover threats. She is killed by the Adjunct but is reborn through a convergence of souls in a Rhivi ritual, beginning her transformation into Silverfox.

Book 3: Memories of Ice

Silverfox appears as a rapidly aging child/young woman carrying the memories of Tattersail, Nightchill, and Bellurdan. She is recognized by Ganoes Paran as containing Tattersail's soul, creating a painful dynamic of lost love. She summons the T'lan Imass armies and must decide whether to release them from the Ritual of Tellann. Her interactions with Onos T'oolan are central to the T'lan Imass storyline. She ultimately leads the T'lan Imass away rather than releasing them, a decision with far-reaching consequences.

Book 9: Dust of Dreams

Silverfox reappears in a crucial role, finally beginning to fulfil her destiny as the one who can release the T'lan Imass from their Vow. Her actions regarding the T'lan Imass have significant implications for the final convergence.

Book 10: The Crippled God

Silverfox's role as Bonecaster of the T'lan Imass reaches its conclusion. The fate of the T'lan Imass, and her responsibility to them, plays out against the backdrop of the final convergence.

Key Relationships

• Ganoes Paran — romantic partner as Tattersail; connection persists through rebirth as Silverfox
• Onos T'oolan — as Silverfox, she is the Bonecaster who can release him and all T'lan Imass
• Whiskeyjack — her commanding officer; mutual respect
• Nightchill — one of the souls incorporated into Silverfox
• Bellurdan — one of the souls incorporated into Silverfox
• Pran Chole — T'lan Imass Bonecaster connected to Silverfox's power
• Kallor — antagonist who sees Silverfox as a threat

Notable Quotes

"I can feel them — all the T'lan Imass, waiting. They have waited so long." — MoI

"I am Tattersail. I am Nightchill. I am Bellurdan. I am Silverfox. And I am none of these." — MoI

"The Deck never lies, but it does love secrets." — GotM

Appearances

See Also

• Bridgeburners
• T'lan Imass
• Ritual of Tellann
• Deck of Dragons
• Warrens