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For Harriett, the bravest soul I know.
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Cast of Characters
ARDAN
Anwarth – warrior of Dun Carreg, father of Farrell. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Brenin – murdered King of Ardan.
Brina – healer of Dun Carreg, owner of a cantankerous crow, Craf. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Corban – warrior of Dun Carreg, son of Thannon and Gwenith, brother of Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Cywen – from Dun Carreg, daughter of Thannon and Gwenith, sister of Corban. Presumed dead in the sack of Dun Carreg.
Dath – fisherman of Dun Carreg, son of Mordwyr and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Edana – Princess of Ardan, daughter of Brenin. Presumably Queen of Ardan since the death of Brenin, but now a fugitive.
Evnis – counsellor and murderer of King Brenin and father of Vonn. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren.
Farrell – warrior, son of Anwarth and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg
Gar – stablemaster. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg
Gwenith – wife of Thannon, mother of Corban and Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Heb – loremaster of Dun Carreg. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg
Marrock – warrior and huntsman, cousin of Edana. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Mordwyr – fisherman of Dun Carreg, father of Dath and Bethan. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
Pendathran – battlechief of King Brenin. Held prisoner by Evnis in Dun Carreg.
Rafe – young warrior belonging to Evnis’ hold. Childhood rival of Corban.
Thannon – husband of Gwenith, father of Corban and Cywen. Slain by King Nathair of Tenebral in the sack of Dun Carreg.
Vonn – warrior, son of Evnis. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.
BENOTH
Aric –Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.
Balur One-Eye – Benothi giant.
Eisa – Benothi giantess, companion of Uthas.
Ethlinn – Benothi giantess, daughter of Balur One-Eye, also called the Dreamer.
Fray – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.
Kai – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.
Morc – Benothi giant, keeper of the wyrms.
Nemain – Queen of the Benothi giants.
Salach – Benothi giant, shieldman of Uthas.
Sreng – Benothi giantess, shield-maiden of Nemain.
Struan – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.
Uthas – giant of the Benothi clan, secret ally and conspirator with Queen Rhin of Cambren.
CAMBREN
Braith – warrior. One-time leader of the Darkwood outlaws, now huntsman of Queen Rhin.
Geraint – warrior, battlechief of Queen Rhin.
Morcant – warrior, first-sword of Queen Rhin.
Rhin – Queen of Cambren.
CARNUTAN
Mandros – King of Carnutan, slain by Veradis in the belief that Mandros murdered King Aquilus of Tenebral.
DOMHAIN
Baird – warrior, one of the Degad, Rath’s giant-killers.
Conall – warrior, bastard son of King Eremon. Brother of Halion and half-brother of Coralen. Sided with Evnis in the sack of Dun Carreg.
Coralen – warrior, companion of Rath. Bastard daughter of King Eremon, half-sister of Halion and Conall.
Eremon – King of Domhain.
Halion – warrior, first-sword of Edana of Ardan. Bastard son of King Eremon, brother of Conall and half-brother of Coralen.
Lorcan – young Prince of Domhain, son of Eremon and Roisin.
Maeve – bastard daughter of King Eremon, half-sister to Coralen, Halion and Conall.
Nara – mother of Coralen.
Quinn – First-sword of King Eremon.
Rath – Battlechief of Domhain, giant-hunter.
Roisin – Queen of Domhain, wife of Eremon, mother of Lorcan.
HELVETH
Braster – King of Helveth, wounded in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.
Lothar – battlechief of Helveth.
Ventos – a travelling merchant-trader.
ISILTIR
Eboric – warrior, Gerda’s huntsman.
Gerda – estranged wife of King Romar, lady of Dun Kellen, mother of Haelan.
Gramm – horse-trader and timber merchant, lord of a hold in the north of Isiltir. Father of Orgull and Wulf.
Jael – warrior of Isiltir, nephew of King Romar and cousin of Kastell. Allied to Nathair of Tenebral.
Kastell – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Nephew of King Romar and cousin of Jael.
Maquin – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai, shieldman of Kastell.
Orgull – warrior of Isiltir, captain of the elite Gadrai. Son of Gramm.
Romar – King of Isiltir, slain in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.
Tahir – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai.
Thoris – warrior, battlechief of Gerda at Dun Kellen.
Ulfilas – warrior, shieldman of Jael.
Varick – Lord of Dun Kellen, brother of Gerda and uncle of Haelan.
Wulf – warrior, son of Gramm and brother of Orgull.
NARVON
Camlin – outlaw of the Darkwood. Recently allied to King Brenin and Edana of Ardan.
Drust – warrior, shieldman of Owain.
Owain – King of Narvon. Conqueror of Ardan with the aid of Nathair, King of Tenebral.
Uthan – Prince of Narvon, Owain’s son. Murdered by Evnis on Rhin’s orders.
TARBESH
Akar – captain of the Jehar holy warrior order travelling with Veradis.
Enkara – warrior of the Jehar holy order. One of the Hundred travelling with Tukul.
Javed – slave and pit-fighter of the Vin Thalun.
Sumur – lord of the Jehar holy warrior order.
Tukul – warrior of the Jehar holy order, leader of the Hundred.
TENEBRAL
Aquilus – murdered King of Tenebral.
Armatus – warrior, former first-sword of King Aquilus.
Bos – warrior of the eagle-guard and expert in the shield wall, friend of Veradis.
Ektor – son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Krelis and Veradis.
Fidele – widow of Aquilus, now Queen Regent of Tenebral, mother of Nathair.
Krelis – warrior, son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Veradis.
&nbs
p; Lamar – Baron of Ripa, father of Krelis, Ektor and Veradis.
Marcellin – Baron of Ultas.
Meical – counsellor to Aquilus, King of Tenebral.
Nathair – King of Tenebral, son of Aquilus and Fidele. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren.
Orcus – warrior of the eagle-guard, shieldman of Fidele.
Peritus – battlechief of Tenebral.
Rauca – warrior, a captain of the eagle-guard and friend of Veradis. Slain by Gar in the sack of Dun Carreg.
Veradis – first-sword and friend to King Nathair. Son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Krelis.
THE THREE ISLANDS
Alazon – shipwright.
Calidus – spymaster of Lykos, Lord of the Vin Thalun, and later counsellor to Nathair, King of Tenebral.
Deinon – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Thaan.
Emad – shieldman of Herak. Guard and trainer of pit-fighters.
Herak – pit-trainer.
Jace – member of Lykos’ ship’s crew.
Lykos – Lord of the Vin Thalun, the pirate nation that inhabits the Three Islands of Panos, Pelset and Nerin.
Thaan – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Deinon.
War eternal between the Faithful and the Fallen,
infinite wrath come to the world of men.
Lightbearer seeking flesh from the cauldron,
to break his chains and wage the war again.
Two born of blood, dust and ashes shall champion the Choices,
the Darkness and Light.
Black Sun will drown the earth in bloodshed,
Bright Star with the Treasures must unite.
By their names you shall know them –
Kin-Slayer, Kin-Avenger, Giant-Friend, Draig-Rider,
Dark Power ’gainst Lightbringer.
One shall be the Tide, one the Rock in the swirling sea.
Before one, storm and shield shall stand,
before the other, True-Heart and Black-Heart.
Beside one rides the Beloved, beside the other, the Avenging Hand.
Behind one, the Sons of the Mighty, the fair Ben-Elim, gathered ’neath the Great Tree.
Behind the other, the Unholy, dread Kadoshim who seek to cross the bridge,
force the world to bended knee.
Look for them when the high king calls, when the shadow warriors ride forth,
when white-walled Telassar is emptied, when the book is found in the north.
When the white wyrms spread from their nest,
when the Firstborn take back what was lost, and the Treasures stir from their rest.
Both earth and sky shall cry warning, shall herald this War of Sorrows.
Tears of blood spilt from the earth’s bones, and at Midwinter’s height,
bright day shall become full night.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE: UTHAS
CHAPTER TWO: CYWEN
CHAPTER THREE: VERADIS
CHAPTER FOUR: MAQUIN
CHAPTER FIVE: CORBAN
CHAPTER SIX: MAQUIN
CHAPTER SEVEN: LYKOS
CHAPTER EIGHT: EVNIS
CHAPTER NINE: CORBAN
CHAPTER TEN: TUKUL
CHAPTER ELEVEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER TWELVE: EVNIS
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: CAMLIN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: FIDELE
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: VERADIS
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: EVNIS
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: CORBAN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN: MAQUIN
CHAPTER TWENTY: CYWEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: CAMLIN
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: VERADIS
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: UTHAS
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: CORBAN
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: CORALEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: CYWEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: CORBAN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: FIDELE
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: VERADIS
CHAPTER THIRTY: UTHAS
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: CORBAN
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: MAQUIN
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: CAMLIN
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: CYWEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: EVNIS
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: VERADIS
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: CORBAN
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: FIDELE
CHAPTER FORTY: CORALEN
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: UTHAS
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: MAQUIN
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: LYKOS
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: MAQUIN
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE: LYKOS
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: CORBAN
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN: VERADIS
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT: CORBAN
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: UTHAS
CHAPTER FIFTY: CORBAN
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: EVNIS
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: MAQUIN
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE: CORBAN
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: VERADIS
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: FIDELE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: CAMLIN
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: MAQUIN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: CYWEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: TUKUL
CHAPTER SIXTY: CORBAN
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: MAQUIN
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: FIDELE
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: CORBAN
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR: VERADIS
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: CORALEN
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: TUKUL
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: CORBAN
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE: MAQUIN
CHAPTER SEVENTY: CAMLIN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE: VERADIS
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO: CORBAN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE: VERADIS
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR: CORBAN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: CORALEN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: CORBAN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN: LYKOS
CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT: CORBAN
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE: VERADIS
CHAPTER EIGHTY: MAQUIN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE: CORBAN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO: FIDELE
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE: CORBAN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR: CYWEN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE: CAMLIN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX: MAQUIN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN: CORBAN
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: TUKUL
CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE: CORBAN
CHAPTER NINETY: CORALEN
CHAPTER NINETY-ONE: TUKUL
CHAPTER NINETY-TWO: CORBAN
CHAPTER NINETY-THREE: LYKOS
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR: CORBAN
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE: VERADIS
CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: MAQUIN
CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: CAMLIN
CHAPTER NINETY-NINE: CORBAN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED: MAQUIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE: VERADIS
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO: UTHAS
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THREE: TUKUL
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: FIDELE
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE: CYWEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX: CORALEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN: MAQUIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT: CORBAN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE: UTHAS
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN: MAQUIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE: CORBAN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN: CAMLIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN: MAQUIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN: CAMLIN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN: CORBAN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN: CYWEN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN: CORBAN
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY: CORBAN
BY JOHN GWYNNE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CHAPTER ONE
UTHAS
The Year 1142 of the Age of Exiles, Birth Moon
The cauldron was a hulking mass of black iron, tall and wide, squatting upon a dais in the centre of a cavernous room. Torches of blue flame hung on the walls of the chamber, pockets of light punctuating the darkness. In the shadows, circling its edges, long and sinuous shapes moved.
Uthas of the Benothi giants strode towards the cauldron, his shadow flickering on the walls. He climbed the steps and stopped before it. It was utterly black, appearing to suck the torchlight into it, consuming it, reflecting nothing back. Just for a moment it seemed to shudder, a gentle throb, like a diseased heart.
A muffled request from the chamber’s entrance reached him but he did not move, just continued to stare.
‘What?’ he said eventually.
‘Nemain sends for you, Uthas. She says the Dreamer is waking.’
The giant sighed and turned to leave the chamber. He brushed his fingertips against the cauldron’s cold belly and froze.
‘What is it?’ his shieldman Salach called from the chamber’s doorway.
Uthas cocked his head to one side, closing his eyes. Voices, calling to me. ‘Nothing,’ he murmured, unsure whether he heard or felt the whisperings from within the cauldron. ‘Soon,’ he breathed as he pulled his fingers from the cold iron.
A shape slithered from the shadows as he walked towards the exit. It blocked his way, gliding about him. A wyrm, white scales glistening as it raised its flat head and regarded him with cold, soulless eyes. He stood there, still and silent, let it taste his scent, felt an instant of unease as he waited, then the snake slithered away, its huge coils bunching and expanding, back to the shadows to rejoin its brood. He let out a breath.
‘Come, then,’ he said as he strode past Salach. ‘Best not keep Nemain waiting.’
He glanced at the chamber’s dour-faced guards, all wrapped in fur and iron, as he marched past them. Salach’s footfalls followed him. In silence they passed through the bowels of Murias, the last stronghold of the Benothi. It was nestled deep in the highlands of Benoth, carved into and beneath the grey, mist-shrouded land.
In time they reached a wide staircase that spiralled up into darkness and soon Uthas was muttering under his breath, the old pain in his knee gnawing at him as he climbed higher and higher.
‘Bitseach,’ he swore, thinking of Nemain waiting for him at the top of this high tower. Salach chuckled behind him.
Eventually they were at a doorway. Salach nodded to the warrior standing there, Sreng, Nemain’s shield-maiden. She opened the door for them.