Fist Rythe Bude was an officer in Onearm's Host. She was described as dark-skinned, with a round face and large, very dark, remarkable and luminous eyes. She had black, naturally wavy hair, which she wore cut short. She was originally from Shal-Morzinn.[1]
When Ganoes Paran asked her how she came to be in the Malazan military, she told him that she had left her homeland in haste after crossing The Three, Shal-Morzinn's sorcerer kings. She left her home "on a Blue Moranth trader. Money for passage ran out in a town called Pitch, on the Genabarii coast. From there [she] made it to Nathilog, and with a belly too empty to let [her] think straight, [she] signed up."[2] After enlisting, Rythe Bude served under Captain Kindly in the Nathilog campaigns.[3]
In The Bonehunters[]
Ganoes Paran found the Malaz 5th Army encamped outside G'danisban and visited the army's command tent to speak with High Fist Dujek Onearm. But at the tent's doorway he learned from Hurlochel that the commander was diseased, ailing, and nearly dead. Dujek had learned the Temple of Poliel in G'danisban was the source of the plague ravaging Seven Cities and the High Fist had led a company of veterans on an assault of the temple to strike at the disease's heart. He expected to face no more than a High Priestess, but instead found the Goddess herself. The company was forced to retreat back to the Army's camp, but Dujek and his officers were all wracked with plague and the Host had lain idle ever since.[4]
Paran found the High Fist unconscious in his bed and was on his way out of the tent when a very ill Fist Rythe Bude called to him from her own sickbed. She had been one of Dujek's recent promotions and had been struck by the plague during the temple assault as well. Paran called himself Captain Kindly to avoid questions of his reported death, but Rythe Bude had served under Kindly and saw through the ruse immediately. After a short conversation during which she requested water and gave the details of her escape from her native lands, she asked Paran to have her body burnt upon her death in the Shal-Morzinn manner, as she assumed she would not survive.[5]
Afterwards, Paran entered G'danisban to confront Poliel, resulting in her death. Then he forced Soliel to provide her healing services to those Malazans stricken by the plague.[6] It was too late for Dujek who had already passed away, but Rythe Bude recovered and resumed her duties as a Fist.[7][8] The Host's officers elected Paran to serve as the army's new High Fist in Dujek's place.[7]
Paran led the Host towards Hanar Ara to investigate a source of power he sensed there.[9] Captain Sweetcreek nursed a grudge against him and tried to convince Rythe Bude to organise a meeting among the Fists to rethink Paran's command. Rythe Bude warned her that Dujek's confidence in Paran as written in his logs was enough for her and her fellow Fists.[10] Their march was interrupted by the sight of a dozen blazing suns plummeting from the sky. Paran hurriedly used the Deck of Dragons to negotiate with Hood to counter the threat. When Paran returned, Rythe Bude asked him if he had just saved the world.[11]
In The Crippled God[]
Fist Bude was part of Paran's Host that captured the North Citadel in Kolanse. She was instructed to organise a clean-up crew for the caves. She had a bit of a soft spot for Paran.
Notes and references[]
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, UK MMPB p.724/725
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, US TPB p.480
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, UK MMPB p.725
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 13, US SFBC p.518-519
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, US TPB p.480-481
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.629-630
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Bonehunters, Chapter 15, US SFBC p.633
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 16, UK MMPB p.800
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.809
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 21, US SFBC p.774-775
- ↑ The Bonehunters, Chapter 20, US SFBC p.771-776/792