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Lady Envy was a sorceress, daughter of the Elder God Draconus, and sister to Spite.[2] Her mother was thought to be Sheltatha Lore.[3]

She was described as tall and slim, with long, straight, impossibly clean and perfectly combed black hair, deep red lips, and stunningly beautiful eyes darkened by kohl.[4][5][6] It was remarked by Toc the Younger that she looked around twenty five.[7] She wore a flowing, blindingly white, veiled telaba similar to those worn by highborn women of Seven Cities.[4][6]

Envy possessed great natural charisma,[8] which she enhanced by sorcerous means,[9] and the seeming ability to read minds.[10] Her kiss could enslave people to do her bidding. Even those she chose not to bend to her will by sorcery found it difficult to resist her. However, she seemed to prefer to influence those around her with her feminine charms so they would choose the kiss and thus enslavement willingly, instead of simply forcing them to accept it. She admitted to Toc the Younger that she had a penchant for cruelty, and sympathized with his desire to resist her.[8]

Her vast magical powers were not limited to manipulation. She was able to unleash extremely destructive waves of energy against her enemies, slaying hundreds at a time.[11] Lady Envy was also very adept at healing[12] and could cast someone into an involuntary sleep.[13]

Toc called her a "mistress of adventure, seduced by serendipity", more likely to act in anger while momentarily affronted rather than driven by vengeance in the long term. She "existed for distraction, for wayward whims."[14] Fatalism was unknown to her.[15]

History[]

Envy was over two hundred thousand years old and her own memories of her long life were sometimes unclear.[16] It was known that Lady Envy once travelled for a time with Anomander Rake and Osric, though their relationship was more like rivals keeping tabs on each other than friends. Eventually, Osric left the group and some time after that, in the days before the Chaining of the Fallen One, an argument erupted between Lady Envy and Anomander, resulting in each of them choosing their own path. Rake went on to participate in the Chaining, but Envy did not.[17] Envy also claimed to have "crushed a few [empires] in my time".[18]

In Memories of Ice[]

Lady Envy and the seguleh by dejan delic

Interpretation of Lady Envy and the Seguleh by dejan-delic From left to right – top: Garath, Lady Envy, Mok, Baaljagg; bottom: Thurule, Senu

Envy made her first appearance in the books at Morn where she resided in a ruined Jaghut tower while she studied the the Rent there. She had with her three charmed Seguleh servants: Senu, Thurule, and Mok, as well as two animal companions: Garath, a large dog, and Baaljagg, the world's only living ay. They were soon joined by Toc the Younger, freshly returned from being stranded in the Warren of Chaos, and the T'lan Imass, Onos T'oolan.[19]

In her study of the Rent, she determined that the portal seemed almost mechanical in nature and that a K'Chain Che'Malle Matron had escaped from it decades ago before freeing her brood from the nearby barrows. Tool offered her further insight, but requested she accompany him northward to discover the details.[19] As the group ventured towards the territory of the Pannion Domin, Envy took great delight in Toc's company and enjoyed torturing him with her presence.[20][21]

It was soon revealed to the reader that Envy had gathered her odd assortment of companions at the behest of K'rul as part of his plans to oppose the Crippled God. The Elder God sent Envy to wage war with the Pannion Seer in the south while the coalition of Malazan forces with Anomander Rake and Caladan Brood struck from the north. K'rul hoped Envy's attack would split off some of the Seer's forces so the northern coalition had a greater chance of success. Further, the Elder God revealed to Envy that the Crippled God had poisoned the Warrens which were K'rul's own lifeblood and that he was afraid.[22]

Lady Envy and her Army by Shadaan

Interpretation of Lady Envy and the Seguleh by Shadaan

The first of the Pannion forces to fall to Envy's company was a K'ell Hunter followed shortly by Seerdomin Kahlt and his frontier temple.[23] Then Envy unleashed her power at Bastion against First Child Anaster's Tenescowri hordes.[24] All the while she struggled to keep the Seguleh under her control. The coalition fractured at Bastion when Toc the Younger, feeling himself outclassed among monsters and immortals and no longer willing to be manipulated by Envy, insinuated himself among the Tenescowri hoping to reach his fellow Malazans in the north.[25] But he was soon captured and imprisoned by the Seer.[26]

Envy and the others fought their way to the Seer's throne at Outlook despite the efforts of his K'Chain Che'Malle and his Omtose Phellack sorcery.[19][27] Unable to stop them, the Seer fled with Toc to Coral.[28] Tool left Envy's company to follow Toc on his own, but they were soon joined by Lanas Tog, who they discovered floating in Coral Bay aboard the wreckage of a Meckros city. Envy looted the warren of Poliel to sow the plague amongst the Pannions, delighted to beset the allies of the Goddess of Disease who had thrown in with the Crippled God. In the process she became somewhat estranged from Garath when he fell to the same sickness. Mok demanded she heal her faithful servant.[29]

Envy arrived at Coral amidst the Malazan siege of the city. While the three Seguleh, Lanas Togg, and Garath raced ahead inside the Seer's keep, Envy and Baaljag stumbled upon Picker's company of embattled Bridgeburners. She magically healed the gravely injured soldiers in return for their promise to help her locate and rescue Toc.[30] Envy slew waves of Urdomen soldiers, but Bridgeburners died all around her. After stumbling upon Toc's corpse, the Bridgeburners considered their deal complete and made to withdraw with his body. Miffed at being left alone, Envy headed to the keep's roof to seek revenge on the Seer.[31]

As Anomander Rake brought Moon's Spawn crashing down onto the keep to end the battle, Envy escaped by Warren bringing the Seguleh and Garath to safety with her. She complained to Rake, who responded that if he had known she was there he would have hit the keep harder. She warned the Tiste Andii that her blood whispered that Draconus plotted to escape Dragnipur. She was astonished by his lack of concern and reminded him how difficult it had been to slay her father the first time. She had merely stood by and not intervened at the time, but Rake declared Draconus had known better than to ask for her help.[32]

Later, Envy revealed to her companions that Rake had banished her and them from the city. The goal of their punitive mission complete, Envy announced she would escort the three Seguleh back to their island.[33]

In Midnight Tides[]

In a vision, Udinaas witnessed Menandore and Sukul Ankhadu carrying the unconscious body of Sheltatha Lore. Sukul Ankhadu claimed that Sheltatha had taken Draconus as a lover and birthed "two horrid little children" named Envy and Spite. The two sisters planned to bury Envy's mother in the same Azath Tower that held Silchas Ruin, although Osseric warned against it.[34]

In The Bonehunters[]

While traveling with Mappo Runt and Iskaral Pust, Spite warned that she could sense a terrible Convergence ahead and each of the three companions would have a role to play in it. Spite's role would put her "face to face with my evil sister at the very end, a meeting from which but one of us will walk away when all is done between us."[35]

At Coop's Hanged Man Inn in Malaz City, Braven Tooth chatted with the Tiste Andii castaway, Phaed. He was dazzled by her smile and inquired about her heritage as she appeared half human. Phaed told him her father was Nimander Golit, the first son of Anomander Rake, and her mother was Lady Envy, a former companion of Rake's who "got her revenge taking his son as a lover."[36]

In Reaper's Gale[]

After Silchas Ruin escaped from his Azath prison he encountered Clip, the Bluerose Tiste Andii whose people worshiped Anomander Rake. According to their histories, Rake had a mercurial dalliance with Lady Envy around the time of the sundering of Kurald Emurlahn.[37]

In Toll the Hounds[]

Anomander Rake gave Baruk a copy of Dillat's Dark and Light from his personal library. The archaic book described an incident in which Rake and Osseric had been allied against the evil tyrant Draconus, Slayer of Eleint. Rake had struck Draconus unconscious and left Osseric to guard him. But when Rake returned, he found Osseric bloodied and Draconnus freed by Sister Spite's hand. Anomander vowed his alliance with Osseric would one day end and he would wage war on him and his kin. Spite and Envy secretly watched this result of their manipulations and were pleased. Rake set out in pursuit of Draconus, while Osseric sought vengeance against Spite. Crone found the account inaccurate, explaining that Osseric and Rake's alliance fell apart because of a growing mutual dislike in which Draconus was merely the death-blow. She found the book's description of Rake's vow against Osserc amusing. But she did scold Osserc for falling for Spite's womanly wiles.[38]

Lady Envy moved to Darujhistan, where she fell in love with the bard, Fisher kel Tath.[39] Her gated estate was located next to Hinter's Tower and its main house was described as small and elegant in a vaguely feminine way. The main courtyard was overgrown and weedy with walls covered in wisteria in full bloom. Large snakes sunned themselves on the warm stone. Arched pathways of vine-webbed tunnels on either side of the house led to a back garden where a dozen full-sized bronze statues stood amidst a flagstone clearing. Her needs were attended to by the Seguleh, Thurule.[40]

Iskaral Pust entrenched himself at the city's Temple of Shadow where he lusted after High Priestess Sordiko Qualm. When the High Priestess had business at the estate of Lady Envy, Pust tagged along. His annoying manner soon had Envy considering his murder until Sordiko Qualm informed the incredulous ascendant that Pust was the Magus of Shadow. In Envy's beauty, he recognised the similarities to her sibling and he attempted to ingratiate himself by telling her about the presence of Spite onboard the ship in the harbour. An excited Envy jumped up to say, "I thought so!"[41]

Envy vs Spite by Marc Simonetti

Envy vs Spite by Marc Simonetti (Official Image)

Spite and Envy by Spindrift

Interpretation of the duel between Spite and Envy by Spindrift

On the last night of the Gedderone Fête, when powerful forces converged on Darujhistan, Spite went to her sister's estate[42] and by means of sorcery, buried it in a giant ball of magma.[43] The magic was more powerful than Spite anticipated and she was forced to run back up the alley to escape. The display was observed by Envy in a state of jealousy. The two sisters then engaged in a sorcerous duel.[44] As Envy's magic engulfed her from twenty paces away, Spite unleashed her full power in a counterattack. Soon, they were both standing in a sagging crater surrounded by buildings whose faces had been melted into glass.[45][46]

The fighting only stopped when the women sensed Anomander Rake draw Dragnipur from its scabbard nearby in the city. A quick truce was called for the women to kill Rake and retrieve the sword they considered their birthright from their father. But both women planned to betray the other as soon as the sword was taken.[47][48]

Spite and Envy turned up together at the scene of the duel between Dassem Ultor and Anomander Rake. With Rake's death at Dassem's hands, Dragnipur lay open for the taking. The two women used their magic to battle and drive off the Hounds of Shadow defending the sword, but before they could claim it Caladan Brood arrived in Baruk's carriage. It took only meeting the deadly regard of Brood's strangely bestial eyes for the two sisters to abandon their plans.[49]

The next morning, Envy walked amongst the tens of thousands of mourners who followed Brood from the city to witness him place Rake in his barrow. Afterwards, Fisher found her in her newly refreshed garden where she told the bard that her father, Draconus, was back.[50] Leaving Darujhistan by ship that same day, Spite told Cutter that Envy had once loved Rake. She believed that love had ended when Rake acquired Dragnipur and Envy lived up to her name.[51]

In Orb Sceptre Throne[]

During the Seguleh mass expedition to Darujhistan, three Seguleh attempted to bring the renegade, Thurule, back into the fold. Instead he removed his mask and crushed it under his foot. Miffed at Thurule by the loss of his "mysterious cachet", Lady Envy released him from her service.[52]

Envy and Fisher parted ways and Envy was soon part of the court surrounding the reborn Tyrant. There she had an unexpected encounter with her father, Draconus, which caused her to faint in shock.[53]

In Forge of Darkness[]

The Oven by Celtic Botan

Envy, Malice, and Spite by Celtic Botan

At the time of Mother Dark's ascension, Envy and her triplet sisters, Spite and Malice, lived with Draconus and their brother Arathan at Dracons Hold in Kurald Galain and appeared to be young girls.[54] In a conversation with Draconus, Olar Ethil claimed the three children as her and Draconus' spawn, contradicting earlier indications that their mother was Sheltatha Lore.[55]

Their father told them that they would age like normal Tiste until they reached the age of eight or nine. Afterwards they would only mature after experiencing death-like trauma. Envy and Spite convinced Malice that if she died she would return more powerful than her hated older sisters. Malice agreed, so Spite strangled her.[56] When Malice remained dead, the two sisters hid the body and concluded that they needed to murder any who would notice she was missing, so they set about murdering the Dracons household staff.[57] Their murder spree appeared short lived when house surgeon, Atran, overpowered them both. Only the sudden appearance of a reanimated Malice saved them.[58] Afterwards, the girls hid in the walls of the Hold until Malice's deathlike stench became too much and they locked her in a blazing kitchen oven.[59]

In Fall of Light[]

(Information needed)

Quotes[]

"Her unbound black hair hung full and straight down to the small of her back. Her lips were painted a deep, vaguely menacing red. The kohl above her eyes contained the hues of dusk."
―Description of Lady Envy[src]


"Lady Envy's sorcery...As in legends of old, hers was a power that rolled in broad waves, stripping the life from all it swept over, devouring rank upon rank, street by street, leaving bodies piled in their hundreds. She was...the daughter of Draconus – an Elder God."
―Toc the Younger reflecting on Lady Envy[src]


Lady Envy: "Have we met before?"
Tool: "No. None the less, you are known to me."
Lady Envy: "So it seems! It was, I admit, over-modest of me to assume that I would not be recognized. After all, I've crossed paths with the T'lan Imass more than once. At least twice, that is."
―Lady Envy meeting the T'lan Imass First Sword, Tool (Onos T'oolan)[src]


Lady Envy: "Walk with me, dearest. There, isn't this nice? The brushing contact of our hips, the sudden familiarity that sends the heart racing. The dampness of the rain, matching--"
Toc the Younger: "Yes, yes, Lady! Please, no more details, else my walking prove most awkward."
―Toc attempts to resist Envy's charms[src]

Trivia[]

  • Author Steven Erikson says Envy "sees the world...[and] takes things very literally" and she has an "objective point of view...The Malazan soldiers are the very opposite, everything is understatement and it requires nuance to actually understand their language and she's just alien to it." "She doesn't read the Bridgeburners' sarcasm."[60]
  • Erikson describes Envy and her sisters in Forge of Darkness as "sociopaths". He says "in some ways it's almost that notion of if granted immortality at too young an age, it can twist the individual to complete disregard of the value of life versus death. It's not relevant to them. And hence the world around them. It just becomes something they can manipulate as best they can for their own personal purposes...[T]hey're just absolutely batshit crazy...And that can be fun to write as well, right. It's intended as a kind of a dark comedy...What they do with Malice and all the rest. And Malice's return, and etc. etc. Kind of Blood Simple."[61]

Fan art gallery[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Memories of Ice, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.332
  2. Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.54
  3. Midnight Tides, Chapter 7, - "Oh? And what were those names, sister?' 'Envy and Spite."
  4. 4.0 4.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.52
  5. Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.736
  6. 6.0 6.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.916
  7. Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.57
  8. 8.0 8.1 Memories of Ice, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.330-331/334/339
  9. Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, SFBC p.59 - Toc's scar itched whenever he felt himself weakening towards Envy despite his better judgement
  10. Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, SFBC p.53 - for one example of Envy responding directly to Toc's inner dialogue
  11. Memories of Ice, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.418-419
  12. Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.160
  13. Memories of Ice, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.327
  14. Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.698
  15. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.937
  16. Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.274
  17. Memories of Ice, Chapter 5, US SFBC p.155-156
  18. Memories of Ice, Chapter 8, US SFBC p.324
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Memories of Ice, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.47-59
  20. Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.277
  21. Memories of Ice, Chapter 9, US SFBC p.339
  22. Memories of Ice, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.272-277
  23. Memories of Ice/Chapter 9, US SFBC p.325-339
  24. Memories of Ice/Chapter 9, US SFBC p.343-346
  25. Memories of Ice/Chapter 9, US SFBC p.339/341-342/346
  26. Memories of Ice, Chapter 12, US SFBC p.418
  27. Memories of Ice, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.528
  28. Memories of Ice, Chapter 17, US SFBC p.556-557/559
  29. Memories of Ice, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.735-741
  30. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.916-917
  31. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.941-942
  32. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.974-975
  33. Memories of Ice, Chapter 25, US SFBC p.994-995
  34. Midnight Tides, Chapter 7, US SFBC p.232
  35. The Bonehunters, Chapter 19, US SFBC p.762
  36. The Bonehunters, Chapter 21, US HC p.826
  37. Reaper's Gale, Chapter 6, US HC p.155
  38. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 1, US SFBC p.51-54
  39. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.607-609
  40. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.537
  41. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 13, UK HB p.489
  42. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, UK HB p.769
  43. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, UK HB p.783
  44. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, UK HB p.783/784
  45. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.853-854/879
  46. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.930-931
  47. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 23, US SFBC p.931
  48. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.967
  49. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 23, UK HB p.863/865/887/907
  50. Toll the Hounds, Epilogue, US SFBC p.1007
  51. Toll the Hounds, Chapter 24, US SFBC p.999
  52. Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 13, US TPB p.387-388
  53. Orb Sceptre Throne, Chapter 20, US TPB p.556
  54. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 1, UK HC p.5
  55. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 11, UK MMPB p.470
  56. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 13, UK HC p.387-8
  57. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 13, UK HC p.390
  58. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 13, UK HC p.398
  59. Forge of Darkness, Chapter 19, UK HC p.604
  60. Ten Very Big Books podcast - Memories of Ice - See 16:50
  61. Steven Erikson Discussion - Death in Malazan (Spoiler Warning) - Books with Banks - See 48:15
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