Scillara

Scillara [SKILL-lair-ah]Ten Very Big Books podcast - Toll the Hounds - Conversation with Steven Erikson - As pronounced by Steven Erikson at 12:05 was a camp followerHouse of Chains, Dramatis Personae, UK MMPB of Sha'ik's army in the Raraku desert. She was described as voluptuous with a throaty laugh, catching the eye of many an admirer.
Scillara's mother had been a camp follower of the Ashok Regiment, and her father one of its soldiers. When the regiment was sent overseas, she and her mother were abandoned and left behind like all the others. Her mother soon sickened and died leaving the child alone.House of Chains, Chapter 18, UK MMPB p.728 Eventually, she was taken under care by High Mage Bidithal and forcibly circumcised.House of Chains, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.698/700
She smoked Rustleaf.
==In House of Chains==
Scillara had learned to forget her outrage and become fully committed to Master Bidithal. She anticipated the day when her master would allow her to free other girls from pleasure the same way she had been delivered, although she sometimes recognised her thinking was confused.House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.698
Bidithal prostituted her to Korbolo Dom, to spy on his rival's activities. Dom kept Scillara intoxicated on Durhang, but she developed a level of resistance to the drug that left her more aware than he suspected.House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.611 Twice she had become pregnant with his seed, but Bidithal supplied her with bitter teas to flush the child from her body. Scillara reported details of Dom's meetings with Febryl and Kamist Reloe back to her master.House of Chains, Chapter 18, US SFBC p.611-613
When the time came for Dom and his fellow conspirators to move against Sha'ik, Febryl's men took Scillara into custody to permanently silence Bidithal's spy. One guard attempted to rape her first, but Scillara seized his weapon and killed him. Before the second guard could act, he was killed by Heboric. The Destriant of Treach then force healed Scillara to reverse the circumcision."Heboric's healing of Scillara reversed the circumcision, yes." Steven Erikson Q and A session with www.malazanempire.com No 1, 2003House of Chains, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.697-702
On the eve of the Battle of Raraku, L'oric sent Felisin Younger, Heboric, and Scillara off to safety in the company of his demon, Greyfrog.House of Chains, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.812 They soon found their way to Tesem and the company of Iskaral Pust and Cutter.House of Chains, Chapter 26, US SFBC p.847-849
==In The Bonehunters==
The group, now joined by Cutter, set out on a quest to return Heboric to Otataral Island. By this time Scillara knew she was pregnant, likely by Korbolo Dom or one of his officers, and was just beginning to show. She was unclear what to do with a child: sell it, teach it to beg or steal, or prostitute it as she had seen others others do? She chose to delay any decision.The Bonehunters, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.90 Along the way, Greyfrog killed Guthrim and a group of bandits in a spectacularly violent manner when they tried to assault Scillara and Felisin while Cutter and Heboric were away from camp.The Bonehunters, Chapter 2, US SFBC p.91-92 She often engaged Heboric in sharp-tongued conversation over matters of faith and philosophy.The Bonehunters, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.450-455 
On their journey, the group was set upon by The Unbound, the T'lan Imass servants of the Crippled God, who killed Heboric and kidnapped Felisin, leaving Scillara, Cutter, and Greyfrog for dead.The Bonehunters, Chapter 11, US SFBC p.476-480 Scillara and Cutter were found by the locals of Barathol Mekhar's village and nursed back to health. Scillara gave birth in that village, but chose to leave the newborn girl with blue tinged skin in the care of two local childless women. This caused much consternation among the village women and High Mage L'oric, who had arrived too late to protect Felisin Younger.The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.554-555/559-560
When Scillara and Cutter had recuperated they continued on their journey, planning to bring Heboric's body to the island as planned. Barathol joined them on the journey to the coast as L'oric had recognised him from his infamous past. The simple man-child, Chaur, followed his friend Barathol and could not be convinced to turn back.The Bonehunters, Chapter 16, US SFBC p.642-644 
She began to warm to Cutter and suggested they bury Heboric's body on the coast once they reached the island rather than waste time traveling inland. She spoke of returning with him to Darujhistan to become a thief, and anticipated new adventures in an exotic new city. She enjoyed baiting the young Daru and Barathol asked Cutter if he had ever seen an animal led slaughter. Cutter could only respond with confusion.The Bonehunters, Chapter 14, US SFBC p.568 Soon Scillara and Cutter were sleeping together and Barathol hoped Scillara could ease the haunted look in Cutter's eyes and not damage him further.The Bonehunters, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.745-746
They came to a village on the coast, empty and depopulated by the Bluetongue Plague, where Cutter found a carrack, Sanal's Grief. They loaded it with their supplies and when they were under sail.The Bonehunters, Chapter 19, UK MMPB p.914/915 Their journey across the Otataral Sea was interrupted by the appearance of a dozen suns plummeting from the sky. A hail of fiery debris destroyed their carrack, and Chaur grasped Heboric's wrapped corpse as it disappeared into the depths. Barathol dived in after him. Scillara and Cutter were spotted and carried to a nearby ship by Spite in her Soletaken Eleint form, while Barathol swam to the ship with Chaur in his arms.The Bonehunters, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.782-791
Later, Scillara admitted to being happier without the drugs and drink that had once kept her intoxicated. It was fun not to miss things. She decided she and Cutter would find together whatever happiness they could get.The Bonehunters, Epilogue, US SFBC p.978-979
==In Toll the Hounds==
After a miserable, much-delayed trip that took two whole seasons,Toll the Hounds, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.259 Spite's ship brought Scillara, Cutter, Barathol, and Chaur to Darujhistan (along with Mappo Runt, Iskaral Pust, and Mogora). Cutter was eager to go on ahead to the Phoenix Inn to meet his friends, but Scillara remained behind to avoid complicating the reunion. She sadly realised her relationship with the young man was likely over, and their time together had wiped away her usual brazen, bridling self.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 3, US SFBC p.108-110 She joined Barathol and Chaur in their tour of the city's night markets where they stumbled upon Picker, Blend, and Antsy at a restaurant. The retired Bridgeburners noted Barathol's resemblance to their former comrade, Kalam Mekhar, and feared he was a Claw sent to kill them. Scillara provoked a drinking contest between the two groups that defused the matter and earned her an open invitation to visit K'rul's Bar.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.175-182
Needing a new purpose in life, Scillara chose to assist Barathol with establishing a smithy in Darujhistan.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.174-175 Ultimately, she befriended the regulars of both K'rul's Bar and of the Phoenix Inn. She paid for her room and board at the bar by serving as a cook.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.587 The bard, Fisher kel Tath, cajoled her for stories of Sha'ik's camp and she commiserated with Duiker over Heboric's death.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.363-364/379 She convinced Duiker to accompany her to the Phoenix Inn to meet with Cutter and be introduced to his friends. Kruppe and Murillio warmed to her even as Cutter squirmed. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.373-380 The visit likely saved their lives as it meant they were not at K'rul's Bar when the Bridgeburners were attacked by the Assassins' Guild.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.545-546 Barathol rebuffed any romantic interest from Scillara by claiming she left everyone spinning in her wake. He said he sought only a life beneath notice and without drama.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.691
Barathol found it impossible to join the city's Guild of Blacksmiths as they refused to sponsor him, but he went ahead anyway and set up an independent smithy without their endorsement.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US TPB p.281 Barathol of the Blacksmiths' Guild.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 9, US TPB p.283Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US TPB p.565 The Guild tried to shut down his smithy through violence and blacklists, but only succeeded when they convinced the City Watch to arrest him and Chaur for violations concerning their 
Scillara witnessed the arrests and promised to find them an advocate. Then she sharply tugged on the Guild official's hair before slipping away.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.693-694 She enlisted the aid of the Bridgeburners to pay his fines and visit him in the gaol.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.782
Scillara was at K'rul's Bar on the last night of the Gedderone Fête, when great forces converged on Darujhistan. The next day, as the city mourned, Scillara stood in the bar's belfry and watched Spite's ship sail away. She had just concluded she was never meant to find a lasting love when Barathol found her there, surprised her with a long kiss and promised to be with her.Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.999-1000
==In Orb Sceptre Throne==
Scillara married Barathol Mekhar and had a child with him named Chaur.Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 1, US TPB p.60
==Trivia==
An image of Scillara painted by author Steven Erikson can be found here.
== Notes and references ==
de:Scillara
Category:Females
Category:Seven Cities natives