by DAVID B. COE
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Maps
Characters
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Tor Books by David B. Coe
Praise
Copyright
Once again, for Alex and Erin,
who teach me so much about the world around us
as they discover its wonders for themselves
Acknowledgments
Again, many thanks to my terrific agent, Lucienne Diver; my publisher, Tom Doherty; the great people at Tor Books, in particular David Moench and Fiona Lee; Carol Russo and her staff; Terry McGarry for her friendship and unbelievably thorough copyediting; my fine editor and good friend, Jim Frenkel; his editorial assistants, Liz Gorinsky and Stosh Jonjak; and his interns, in particular David Polsky and John Payne.
Once more, my deepest thanks go to Nancy, Alex, and Erin, whom I love more than words can say.
—D. B. C.
Characters
KINGDOM OF EIBITHAR
City of Kings
KEARNEY THE FIRST, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Glyndwr
LEILIA, queen of Eibithar, formerly duchess of Glyndwr, wife of Kearney
KEZIAH JA DAFYDD, archminister of Eibithar, formerly first minister of Glyndwr
GERSHON TRASKER, swordmaster of Eibithar, formerly swordmaster of Glyndwr
AYLYN THE SECOND, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Thorald (deceased)
WENDA JA BAUL, high minister of Eibithar
PAEGAR JAL BERGET, high minister of Eibithar (deceased)
DYRE JAL FRINVAL, minister of Eibithar
House of Curgh
JAVAN, duke of Curgh
SHONAH, duchess of Curgh, wife of Javan
LORD TAVIS OF CURGH, son of Javan and Shonah
GRINSA JAL ARRIET, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel
FOTIR JAL SALENE, first minister of Curgh
HAGAN MARCULLET, swordmaster of Curgh
DARIA MARCULLET, wife of Hagan (deceased)
XAVER MARCULLET, pledged liege man to Tavis of Curgh, son of Hagan and Daria
House of Kentigern
AINDREAS, duke of Kentigern
IOANNA, duchess of Kentigern, wife of Aindreas
LADY BRIENNE OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna (deceased)
LADY AFFERY OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna
LORD ENNIS OF KENTIGERN, son of Aindreas and Ioanna
SHURIK JAL MARCINE, formerly first minister of Kentigern (deceased)
VILLYD TEMSTEN, swordmaster of Kentigern
House of Galdasten
RENALD, duke of Galdasten
ELSPETH, duchess of Galdasten, wife of Renald
LORD RENALD THE YOUNGER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
LORD ADLER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
LORD RORY OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
PILLAD JAL KRENAAR, first minister of Galdasten
EWAN TRAYLEE, swordmaster of Galdasten
House of Thorald
FILIB THE ELDER, duke of Thorald (deceased)
NERINE, duchess of Thorald, wife of Filib the Elder
LORD FILIB THE YOUNGER OF THORALD, son of Filib the Elder and Nerine (deceased)
TOBBAR, duke of Thorald, Filib the Elder’s brother
MARSTON, thane of Shanstead, Tobbar’s son
ENID JA KOVAR, first minister of Thorald (deceased)
XIVLED JAL VISTE (XIV), minister of Shanstead
House of Glyndwr
KEARNEY THE YOUNGER, duke of Glyndwr, son of King Kearney the First and Queen Leilia
House of Heneagh
WELFYL, duke of Heneagh
DUNFYL, thane of Cransher, Welfyl’s son
RAB AVKAR, swordmaster of Heneagh
House of Tremain
LATHROP, duke of Tremain
EVETTA JA RUDEK, first minister of Tremain
House of Labruinn
CAIUS, duke of Labruinn
OTTAH JAL BITHLAN, first minister of Labruinn
House of Domnall
SEAMUS, duke of Domnall
House of Eardley
ELAM, duke of Eardley
CERRI JA RONTAF, first minister of Eardley
KINGDOM OF ANEIRA
House Solkara (formerly Aneira’s royal house)
TOMAZ THE NINTH, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara (deceased)
CARDEN THE THIRD, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara, Tomaz the Ninth’s son, Kalyi’s father (deceased)
CHOFYA, formerly queen of Aneira, formerly duchess of Solkara, Carden the Third’s wife, Kalyi’s mother
KALYI, duchess of Solkara, formerly queen of Aneira, daughter of Carden and Chofya
GRIGOR, marquess of Renbrere, Carden’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals (deceased)
HENTHAS, duke of Solkara, Carden and Grigor’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals (deceased)
NUMAR, formerly marquess of Renbrere, formerly regent to Queen Kalyi, Carden, Grigor, and Henthas’s younger brother, known as the Fool
PRONJED JAL DRENTHE, formerly archminister of Aneira
TRADDEN GRONTALLE, master of arms of Aneira
House Dantrielle
TEBEO, duke of Dantrielle
PELGIA, duchess of Dantrielle, wife of Tebeo
LORD TAS OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia
LADY LAYTSA OF DANTRIELLE, daughter of Tebeo and Pelgia
LORD SENAON OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia
EVANTHYA JA YISPAR, first minister of Dantrielle
BAUSEF DARLESTA, master of arms of Dantrielle (deceased)
GABRYS DINTAVO, master of arms of Dantrielle
House Orvinti
BRALL, duke of Orvinti (deceased)
PAZICE, duchess of Orvinti, Brall’s wife
FETNALLA JA PRANDT, formerly first minister of Orvinti
TRAEFAN SOGRANO, master of arms of Orvinti
House Bistari (now Aneira’s royal house)
CHAGO, duke of Bistari (deceased)
RIA, duchess of Bistari, wife of Chago
SILBRON, king of Aneira, duke of Bistari, so
n of Chago and Ria
House Mertesse
ROUEL, duke of Mertesse (deceased)
ROWAN, duke of Mertesse, son of Rouel
YAELLA JA BANVEL, first minister of Mertesse
House Noltierre
BERTIN THE ELDER, duke of Noltierre (deceased)
BERTIN THE YOUNGER, duke of Noltierre, son of Bertin the Elder
MEQIV JAL WANAERE, first minister of Noltierre
House Kett
ANSIS, duke of Kett
House Rassor
GRESTOS, duke of Rassor
House Tounstrel
VIDOR, duke of Tounstrel (deceased)
VISTAAN, duke of Tounstrel, son of Vidor
MATRIARCHY OF SANBIRA
House Yserne
OLESYA, queen of Sanbira, duchess of Yserne
ABENI JA KRENTA, archminister of Sanbira
OHAN DELRASTO, master of arms of Sanbira
House Curlinte
DALVIA, duchess of Curlinte (deceased)
SERTIO, duke of Curlinte, husband of Dalvia, master of arms of Curlinte
DIANI, duchess of Curlinte, daughter of Dalvia and Sertio
LORD CYRO OF CURLINTE, son of Dalvia and Sertio, brother of Diani (deceased)
KREAZUR JAL SYLBE, first minister of Curlinte (deceased)
House Brugaosa
EDAMO, duke of Brugaosa
VANJAD JAL QIEN, first minister of Brugaosa
House Norinde
ALAO, duke of Norinde
FILTEM JAL TORQATTE, first minister of Norinde
House Macharzo
NADITIA, duchess of Macharzo
CRAEFFE JA TREF, first minister of Macharzo
Other Sanbiri nobles
VASYONNE, duchess of Listaal
AJY, duchess of Kinsarta
RASHEL, duchess of Trescarri
TAMYRA, duchess of Prentarlo
EMPIRE OF BRAEDON
HAREL THE FOURTH, emperor of Braedon, Lord of Curtell
DUSAAN JAL KANIA, high chancellor of Braedon
URIAD GANJER, master of arms of Braedon
KAYIV JAL YIVANNE, minister of Braedon (deceased)
NITARA JA PLIN, minister of Braedon
STAVEL JAL MIRAAD, chancellor of Braedon
B’SERRE JA DOSH, minister of Braedon
GORLAN JAL AVIARRE, minister of Braedon
ROV JA TELSA, minister of Braedon
BARDYN JAL FENNE, chancellor of Braedon
THE QIRSI CONSPIRACY
CRESENNE JA TERBA, formerly a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel
BRYNTELLE JA GRINSA, daughter of Cresenne and Grinsa jal Arriet
JASTANNE JA TRILN, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Kentigern and captain of the White Erne
TIHOD JAL BROSSA, a merchant and captain of the Silver Flame, the man who pays gold to members of the movement (deceased)
UESTEM JAL SAFHIR, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Galdasten
MITTIFAR JAL STEK, member of the Qirsi movement, owner of the White Wave tavern in Galdasten (deceased)
CADEL NISTAAD, also called Corbin, an assassin (deceased)
Chapter One
City of Kings, Eibithar, Adriel’s Moon waxing
The touch of his mind on hers was as gentle as the Weaver’s had been brutal, as tender and loving as the Weaver’s had been vengeful and cruel. She sensed in that touch his passion, his longing to be with her, his hope that he could shield her from the pain that seemed to have enveloped all the land. And she wanted nothing more than to hold him in her arms—really to hold him, beyond this haven he had created so that he might speak with her as she slept—to show him that she yearned for him, too.
Theirs was the most unlikely of loves, having overcome deception, betrayal, and her devotion to the Weaver’s conspiracy. But feeling the caress of his thoughts, Cresenne could not question the power of what they shared.
“Tell me about Bryntelle,” Grinsa whispered, still holding her close amid the sun-warmed grasses of the plain he had conjured for this dream.
How could she not smile at the mention of their daughter? The girl had been the lone spark of light in a darkness that had consumed her days and nights over the past several turns.
“Bryntelle’s fine. She’s been up much of the day, crying, but I think that’s because she’s getting her first tooth.”
He pulled away slightly, looking down at her, his face lit by a dazzling smile. “A tooth? Really?”
Cresenne nodded. “It’s not much right now—just a little bump on her gums. But one of the healers tells me that once it appears it’ll grow in very quickly.”
Grinsa was still smiling, but there was a pained look in his eyes. “I wish I could be there to see it.”
“Soon,” she said, looking down, her chest tight. She sensed that he wanted to kiss her, and she kept her face turned away from his. “Has the fighting begun?”
“Yes, we fought our first skirmish this morning.”
At that she did look up. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, fine.”
“And Keziah?”
“She is, too. As are Kearney and Tavis.”
“Good.” She nodded again, shivering as if the warm breeze had grown icy and harsh. “That’s good.” She hesitated. Then, “Have you seen the Weaver yet?” Her stomach turned to stone as she spoke the words, but she tried to keep her voice even.
Grinsa shook his head. “Not yet. I expect he wants the war to begin in earnest before he reaches the Moorlands. The more damage the Eandi do to each other, the easier his task when the time comes.”
She felt certain that he was right. While Grinsa and the Weaver had little in common beyond their powers and their formidable appearance, Grinsa had come to understand the conspiracy’s leader quite well. Only a year before, Grinsa had been but a gleaner in Eibithar’s Revel, concealing the true extent of his powers and spending his days and his magic showing others glimpses of their futures. Now he was an advisor to kings and nobles, though still they called him gleaner. Cresenne of all people, having been one of the Weaver’s most trusted servants—a chancellor in his movement—knew how strong the enemy was, and so how great the land’s need. If anyone could destroy the Weaver and his movement, her beloved could. So why did she find it so difficult to take comfort in Grinsa’s arms, to believe that he could prevail in this war that loomed before them, as black and menacing as some seaborne storm summoned by Amon himself?
For a long time, neither of them spoke. Cresenne sensed that Grinsa was gathering himself to end the dream. She could feel his despair at the distance between them, how he begrudged every day they spent apart. No, there could be no doubting the power of their love.
All of which made what the Weaver had done to her that much more galling.
“I should return to the front lines,” he said, grimacing. “Who knows when the empire’s men will attack again?”
“I understand.”
“You’ll kiss Bryntelle for me?”
Again she smiled. “Of course.”
Grinsa pulled her close again, kissing her deeply. Cresenne returned the kiss with as much passion as she could muster, not wanting him to sense how she suffered for it.
At last he released her, a frown on his handsome face.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Cresenne—”
“Please, Grinsa,” she said, closing her eyes, wishing she could just sleep. “I just … It’s going to take some time for me to … to heal.”
“I want to help.”
“You can’t. No one can,” she added, seeing how this hurt him. “Just make certain that you win. Killing the Weaver will do more to help me than you can know. Destroy him for me, and I’ll see to the rest.”
He just gazed at her, looking so sad. “I’ll do what I can.”
That’s not enough! she wanted to say. You can’t fail at this! He’ll kill me
! He’ll kill Bryntelle! But he knew all of this. As much as she wanted Dusaan jal Kania dead, Grinsa wanted it more.
“I know you will.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her brow with the back of his hand. And even this gesture, done with such care and tenderness, was nearly enough to make her shudder with the memory of the Weaver’s brutality.
“I love you, Grinsa.”
“And I love you, more than you know.”
She awoke to the sound of swifts chattering as they soared past the narrow window of her chamber. Bryntelle still slept in her cradle, her arms stretched over her head, her mouth making suckling movements. Cresenne sat up, taking a long breath and running both hands through her hair. Grinsa deserved better from her. He carried the burdens of every man and woman of the Forelands on his shoulders, and all she could think to do was tell him what he already knew: that in order to be whole again she needed for him to destroy the Weaver.
Her wounds had healed, and in recent days she had finally begun to eat again, slowly regaining her strength after the poisoning that almost killed her. But the Weaver had left her with other scars that remained beyond a healer’s touch. True, she had managed to fight Dusaan off and then to end that horrific dream before he could take her life, but the memory of rape clung to her bed, her hair, her body—the stench of his breath, hot and damp against her neck. She could still feel him driving himself into her again and again, tearing her flesh, his weight bearing down on her until she wondered if she could even draw breath. She could hear him calling her “whore.” It had only been a dream, she tried to tell herself, an illusion he had conjured by using her own magic against her. But did that lessen the humiliation or deepen it? It had been a violation in so many ways and on so many levels. Did his invasion of her mind make what he seemed to have done to her body any less real?
She feared that she might never again be able to bear Grinsa’s touch. The Weaver had poisoned all of her dreams, even those in which her love spoke to her. Grinsa’s merest kiss when he walked in her sleep, his most gentle caress, made her feel once more the savagery of Dusaan’s assault. Cresenne wanted desperately to believe that it was the dreams that did this, that once she and Grinsa were together again, and he could hold her in his arms without touching her mind, everything would be all right. But she had no way of knowing this for certain, and doubt lay heavy on her heart.
