Ravens Shadow 02 - Tower Lord (78 page)

“Her mourning period didn’t last long,” Iltis noted, watching them go.

“We all grieve in different ways, my lord. Shall we?”

“I believe there is something I have to tell you, Highness,” the big man said after they had traversed the causeway. “Concerning Lord Al Sorna.”

“Really? And what is that?”

“I’ve made his acquaintance before. Twice in fact. Once at Linesh where he gave me this”—he touched his misshapen nose—“and once some months ago when I . . .”

Lyrna stopped, regarding him with a raised eyebrow.

“I tried to kill him,” her Lord Protector finished. “With a crossbow.”

Her laugh pealed out across the river as Iltis stood in stoic silence. “That’s why you were in the vaults with Fermin,” she said.

“It was a singular misjudgement. One I assure you I’ll not make again. My attachment to the Faith was fierce, unquestioning. I . . . have different loyalties now.”

“I should hope you do.” They resumed walking, following the bank where some corpses still floated in the reeds, bloated and rich with the odour of rotting flesh. In the aftermath of the rains, the air had taken on an unseasonal chill, misting her breath as she walked, even forming a thin layer of ice around the bodies in the river.

“Ice in summer,” she said, pausing to peer closer. “Late summer, granted. But still, very strange.”

“Never seen the like, Highness,” Iltis agreed, stooping to get a better view. “Not in all my d—”

The arrow took him in the shoulder, spinning him to the ground with a shout. Lyrna dropped as battle-won instinct seized her, the second arrow streaking overhead to punch through the thin ice on the river.
They’re close,
she surmised, judging the angle of the arrow’s flight. Iltis was lying a few feet away, teeth gritted as he fumbled for his sword. Lyrna shook her head, holding up a hand, eyes scanning the long grass. Iltis stopped moving, biting the cloth of his cloak to keep from voicing his pain.

Never be without it.
She had strapped the dagger to her calf before the banquet, unseemly for a queen to carry a weapon. She drew it and reversed the blade, hiding the moonlit gleam under her forearm. Waiting.

Two figures rose from the grass a little over twenty paces away, one tall the other stocky. The tall man carried a longbow, arrow notched and half-drawn, the stocky man an axe. They advanced slowly, the stocky man issuing a laugh. “You should trust my word more, my holy friend. I told you the Father would guide us to her.” She could see him now, broad-bearded features and a bald head, teeth bared as he raised his voice, the tone rich with mirth. “Show yourself, Highness. We only want to offer our respects.”

A little closer.
She lowered her arm, letting the blade fall into her palm.

“Oh, don’t be difficult,” the bearded man groaned. “We’re doing you a service. Do you really want to go through life with a face like that?”

Iltis sprang to his feet with a roar, sword scraping free of his scabbard, the tall man swivelling towards him, bow fully drawn. Lyrna glimpsed a narrow handsome face, drawn in hate.

It was her finest throw, the knife tumbling in a perfect arc to take him in the throat, the bowstring snapping as he fell, the arrow lost to the grass. Iltis charged towards the stocky man but could only manage a few steps before stumbling to the ground with a yell of agonised frustration. Lyrna rushed towards him as the stocky man closed, taking the sword from his limp grasp and swinging it two-handed. The steel rang against the axe blade and something smacked across her face, sending her sprawling.

“What a hard head you have, Highness,” the stocky man observed, flexing his fingers and stepping closer. “Perhaps I’ll have it mounted.”

He grinned as he hefted his axe, then blanched as something looped over his head and tightened about his neck. His shout choked to a crack as he was jerked from his feet, eyes bulging, the axe falling from his grasp as he clutched at the rope. Lyrna got to her feet, spitting blood, seeing a muscular, curly-haired young man dragging the stocky assassin away. The young man gathered the rope with quick, skilful jerks of his brawny arms, the stocky man’s feet drumming the earth as he was drawn backwards. When he had the assassin at his feet the young man placed a boot on his neck and tightened the rope further, his face like a mask the whole while. The stocky man’s choking rasps faded after a few seconds.

Lyrna went to Iltis, finding him pale from blood loss and barely conscious. “My thanks, soldier,” she told the muscular young man as he approached. “Please, my lord needs a healer . . .”

She frowned when he didn’t respond, moving towards her without pause, his face still absent any expression. “What . . . ?”

He moved too fast for her to dodge away, large powerful hands gripping her shoulders and drawing her close. She stared into his eyes as they roamed over her scars, seeing only a blank sense of purpose. “Hurt,” he said and enfolded her in his arms, crushing her against the hard muscle of his chest.

And she burned.

A
PPENDIX
I

Dramatis Personae

T
HE
U
NIFIED
R
EALM

The Royal House of Al Nieren

Malcius Al Nieren
—King of the Unified Realm

Lyrna Al Nieren
—sister to Malcius, Princess of the Realm

Ordella Al Nieren
—wife to Malcius, Queen of the Realm

Janus Al Nieren
—son to Malcius, heir to the throne

Dirna Al Nieren
—daughter to Malcius, Princess of the Realm

The Noble House of Al Sorna

Vaelin Al Sorna
—former brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Realm and Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches

Alornis Al Sorna
—artist and sister to Vaelin

The Northern Reaches

Dahrena Al Myrna
—First Counsel to the North Tower

Adal Zenu
—captain of the North Guard

Kehlan
—healer and brother of the Fifth Order

Hollun
—record keeper and brother of the Fourth Order

Orven Al Melna
—captain of the Third Company, King’s Mounted Guard

Harlick
—librarian and brother of the Seventh Order, Archivist of the North Tower

Nortah Al Sendahl
—teacher and former brother of the Sixth Order, friend to Vaelin

Sella Al Sendahl
—wife to Nortah

Artis Al Sendahl
—son to Sella and Nortah

Lohren Al Sendahl
—daughter to Sella and Nortah

Snowdance
—war-cat

Wise Bear
—shaman to the Bear People

Sanesh Poltar
—war chief to the Eorhil Sil

Wisdom
—sage elder to the Eorhil Sil

Insha ka Forna (Steel in Moonlight)
—Eorhil warrior

Ultin
—mine foreman at Reaver’s Gulch, later captain of the First Battalion of the Army of the North

Davern
—shipwright, later sergeant in the Army of the North

Cara
—resident of Nehrin’s Point

Lorkan
—resident of Nehrin’s Point

Marken
—resident of Nehrin’s Point

Weaver
—resident of Nehrin’s Point

The Sixth Order of the Faith

Sollis
—sword-master and Brother Commander of the Skellan Pass

Caenis Al Nysa
—brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Realm and Lord Marshal of the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Foot

Frentis
—brother of the Sixth Order, friend to Vaelin

Grealin
—Master of Stores and brother of the Sixth Order

Rensial
—horse-master and brother of the Sixth Order

Ivern
—brother of the Sixth Order, stationed at the Skellan Pass

Hervil
—brother of the Sixth Order, stationed at the Skellan Pass

Alltor

Sentes Mustor
—Fief Lord of Cumbrael

Reva Mustor
—niece to Sentes

Veliss
—Honoured Counsel to the Fief Lord of Cumbrael

Arentes Varnor
—Lord Commander of the City Guard

Bren Antesh
—Lord Commander of Archers

Harin
—healer and brother of the Fifth Order, Master of Bone Lore

Arken
—Asraelin youth, friend to Reva

The Reader
—leader of the Church of the World Father

Renfael

Darnel Linel
—Fief Lord of Renfael

Hughlin Banders
—knight and Baron of Renfael

Ulice
—illegitimate daughter to Banders

Arendil
—son to Ulice

Ermund Lewen
—knight and chief retainer to Banders

Rekus Wenders
—knight and chief retainer to Darnel

The Urlish Forest

Ratter
—outlaw

Draker
—outlaw, comrade to Ratter

Illian Al Jervin
—escaped slave, friend to Davoka

Thirty-Four
—former numbered slave and torturer

Slasher
—faith-hound and friend to Frentis

Blacktooth
—faith-hound and friend to Illian

Others

Alucius Al Hestian
—poet, friend to Alornis and Vaelin

Nirka Al Smolen
—Lord Marshal of the King’s Mounted Guard

Tendris Al Forne
—Aspect of the Fourth Order

Benril Lenial
—renowned artist and brother of the Third Order

Janril Norin
—minstrel and former standard-bearer in the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Foot

Ellora
—dancer and wife to Janril

Count Marven
—commander of the Nilsaelin contingent of the Army of the North

Jehrid Al Bera
—Tower Lord of the Southern Shore

L
ONAK
D
OMINION

The Mahlessa
—High Priestess and leader of the Lonakhim

Davoka
—warrior of the Black River Clan, Servant of the Mountain, friend to Lyrna

Kiral
—huntress of the Black River Clan and sister to Davoka

Alturk
—Tahlessa of the Grey Hawk Clan

Mastek
—warrior of the Grey Hawk Clan

T
HE
A
LPIRAN
E
MPIRE

Aluran Maxtor Selsus
—Emperor

Emeren Nasur Ailers
—former ward to the Emperor

Verniers Alishe Someren
—Imperial Chronicler

Neliesen Nester Hevren
—captain in the Imperial Guard

T
HE
V
OLARIAN
E
MPIRE

Arklev Entril
—member of the Volarian Ruling Council

Reklar Tokrev
—general of the Twentieth Corps of the Volarian Imperial Host

Fornella Av Entril Av Tokrev
—sister to Arklev, wife to Reklar

Vastir
—overseer of the pits, in the employ of Arklev

M
ELDENEAN
I
SLANDS

Atheran Ell-Nestra
—Meldenean sea captain and Shield of the Isles

Carval Ell-Nurin
—Ship Lord and captain of the
Red Falcon

Belorath
—captain of the
Sea Sabre

S
EORDAH
S
IL

Nersus Sil Nin (Song of the Wind)
—seer of ancient legend

Hera Drakil (Red Hawk)
—elder and war chief

A
PPENDIX
II

The Rules of Warrior’s Bluff

A standard Asraelin deck holds the following cards, listed in order of rank:

King of Wolves (value: 12)

Queen of Roses (value: 11)

Prince of Snakes (value: 10)

Lord of Blades (value: 9)

Lady of Crows (value: 8)

Red Captain (value: 7)

Black Sergeant (value: 7)

Golden Guard (value: 7)

Green Archer (value: 7)

White Swordsman (value: 7)

Blind Blacksmith (value: 6)

Smiling Mason (value: 6)

Lovelorn Miller (value: 6)

Happy Weaver (value: 6)

Weeping Maid (value: 6)

Howling Wolf (value: 5)

Soaring Hawk (value: 5)

Feasting Crow (value: 5)

Rearing Horse (value: 5)

Coiled Snake (value: 5)

Palace (value: 4)

Throne (value: 4)

Castle (value: 4)

Crown (value: 4)

Scroll (value: 4)

Crossed Swords (value: 3)

Poisoned Cup (value: 3)

Bloody Dagger (value: 3)

Drawn Bow (value: 3)

Shining Axe (value: 3)

Candle (value: 2)

Book (value: 2)

Spyglass (value: 2)

Pestle (value: 2)

Quill (value: 2)

Grey Ship (value: 1)

Merry Sailor (value: 1)

Rising Storm (value: 1)

Darkening Sea (value: 1)

Drowned Man (value: 1)

Warrior’s Bluff may be played by up to five players. At the start of the game the dealer shuffles the cards and deals six cards to each player. Each player may choose two cards from his hand to be substituted for two from the deck.

The player to the dealer’s left will make the first bet or fold his hand and so on until each player has either placed a bet or folded. During the next round the players have the option of raising or sticking with their previous bets. If all players opt to stick, the cards will be shown and the player with the highest-value hand wins the pot. If one or more players opt to raise, each player must match the highest bet to stay in the game. Betting continues until all remaining players stick in the same round, after which all cards are shown and the player with the highest-value hand wins.

Any player drawing the Lord of Blades plus the five cards in the Martial Suit (Red Captain, Black Sergeant, Golden Guard, Green Archer and White Swordsman) has drawn the Warrior’s Bluff and wins the hand. All other hands are won by virtue of the total value of all five cards held by each player. Where the value of two or more hands is identical, the player with the highest-ranking card wins, e.g. a player holding the King of Wolves and five other cards with a total value of thirty will win over a player with a Queen of Roses and five other cards also with a value of thirty.