Starfinder: A Novel of the Skylords

Table of Contents

 

“Finely crafted, fluid writing and fully realized characters . . . Marco can hold his own as a writer with other major fantasists, including Stephen Donaldson and Terry Brooks”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Fantasy readers should keep a close eye on John Marco.”

—
SF Site

“
The Eyes of God
isn’t just about warfare, magic, and monsters, although it’s got all of those: it’s about the terrible burden of making choices, and the way the seeds of victory are in every failure, and tragedy’s beginnings are in every triumph.”

—Tad Williams

“The Devil’s Armor
is one of Marco’s finest achievements. With every new novel, the author keeps improving his already masterful storytelling craft. If this series is any indication, he will be remembered as one of the best fantasy authors of the era.”

“The moral ambiguity is refreshing, with sympathetic opponents and no one whiter-than-white. Read this if you’re the kind of person who likes Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks and Donaldson books. It’s the same kind of muscular, multi-part fantasy saga fare featuring big battles and larger than life heroes.”

—
SFX Magazine

“Absorbing . . . features well-developed characters and a satisfying wind-up—in a field where, all too often, authors provide neither.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“A sprawling tale of military battles, personal and political intrigue, magic, and star-crossed love set against a richly detailed land of warring kingdoms and hidden magic.”

—
Library Journal

Also by John Marco

 

 

THE EYES OF GOD
THE DEVIL’S ARMOR
THE SWORD OF ANGELS

 

The Skylords
:
STARFINDER

Copyright © 2009 by John Marco.

 

All rights reserved.

 

 

DAW Books Collectors No. 1473.

 

 

DAW Books are distributed by the Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.
All resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

 

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Paperback Printing, April 2010

 

 

eISBN : 978-1-101-22296-6

MOTH WAS FLYING his kite near the aerodrome when he heard the dragonfly crash.

Just minutes before he had seen the craft overhead, its four wings rapidly beating the mountain air. Now the heat of the crash splashed against Moth’s face. The kite un-spooled from his hand, floating helplessly away. The wind was strongest here at the north side, blowing the dragonfly off course. The mangled wings of the vessel stuck out from the ground, drooping in the flames. Moth raced toward the wreckage, pumping his arms and looking toward the aerodrome. Others had seen the crash too and were hurrying to help. Another dragonfly buzzed loudly overhead, circling the airfield.

“Skyhigh!” Moth cried, waving at the craft, hoping frantically his friend was aboard.

Moth skidded to a stop when he reached the wreck. Flames had engulfed the long tail section and the craft had cracked in two. Behind the cloudy canopy Moth could see the pilot slumped over his controls. A helmet hid his head and his face was turned away.

“Hold on!” shouted Moth, not knowing if the man could hear him or not. He would need help to free the pilot, but help was still far away. Moth swatted at the smoke. The sting of fire pricked his face. At thirteen, Moth was a wiry, slight boy, faster than he was strong. He had grown up around the aerodrome and had seen dragonflies crash before.

“I’m coming!” he told the man. “Don’t be dead. Oh, please don’t be!”

Flames reached for his clothes. Moth climbed over the bent nose of the craft and, without thinking, used a hand to steady himself. He cried out as the hot metal burned his skin, making him stagger back. Men from the aerodrome were rushing forward. Not far away, the other dragonfly settled onto its landing claws, its mechanical wings shaking Moth’s bones.

“I can’t reach him!” yelled Moth to the unseen pilot. “Hurry before he cooks in there!”

The dragonfly’s canopy popped up and out hurried Skyhigh, ripping off his helmet and pulling himself from the cockpit. Sweaty blond hair drooped into his eyes as he scrambled down from his aircraft, waving madly for Moth to move away.

“Move off!” bellowed the Skyknight. He charged forward, holding his helmet by the strap like a sling. Moth stepped aside, watching as the young man climbed across the same pile of bent metal, his gloved hands pulling him toward the canopy. “Close your eyes!” Skyhigh ordered. His arm cocked back and he let his helmet fly, swinging it like a hammer against the glass canopy. The canopy shattered. Skyhigh pulled at the shards of glass, trying frantically to reach his fellow Skyknight. Moth once again climbed atop the debris, wanting to help.

“Is he alive?”

“I told you to go!” roared Skyhigh, not even taking the time to look at Moth as he peeled back sections of glass and struts of metal. Others had finally reached the wreckage now, men like Skyhigh dressed in dark blue uniforms or brown leather jackets. A man with an ax shouldered past Moth, smashing down the twists of metal. Behind Moth, someone boomed out his name.

“Moth!”

Major Hark stood away from the smoke and flames, letting his men swarm in to help. The rock-jawed commander beckoned to Moth with a crooked finger. “Get over here
now
.”

Moth jumped down from the broken fuselage. “I couldn’t get to him,” he explained, frustrated. “I tried, but the fire . . . It was too hot.”

Major Hark snarled, “You don’t have gloves or an ax or anything! You keep away from the wrecks, you hear me? You’re a
kid
.”

“So what? I work at the aerodrome! I should do nothing?”