Fall of Thanes Read online

  Copyright (c) 2009 by Brian Ruckley

  Excerpt from Best Served Cold copyright (c) 2009 by Joe Abercrombie

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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  First eBook Edition: May 2009

  Orbit is an imprint of Hachette Book Group. The Orbit name and logo are trademarks of Little, Brown Book Group Limited.

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN: 978-0-31605297-9

  PRAISE FOR THE GODLESS WORLD

  "The author's unapologetically stark yet darkly poetic narrative displays a refreshing lack of stereotypical genre conventions, ensuring a fervent audience of epic fantasy fans looking for something innovative in a genre that can be anything but."

  --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)

  "Ruckley is an imaginative, dramatic storyteller. He's created a world that seems real, with characters who are well-drawn out and far more than one-dimensional. It's an engrossing read, one that leaves you looking forward to the next book."

  --Associated Press

  "A gripping story that builds to a grim climax. No one who enjoys heroic fantasy should miss this."

  --The Times (London)

  "Readers who like their fantasy dark, multi-threaded and political will sink their teeth into this one."

  --Kirkus Reviews

  "Heroic fantasy splashed with 300-style gore... Ruckley's realistic characters and sparing use of magic breathe new life into well-trod epic territory."

  --Entertainment Weekly

  "The author delivers what high-fantasy readers want: a big cast of interesting, sympathetic characters involved in complex, intelligent action and intrigue."

  -- SCIFI.COM [http://www.scifi.com]

  "Ruckley puts the 'epic' into his work with some particularly brutal affairs where no expense is spared in showing the reader exactly what is going on. More please!"

  -- www.graemesfantasybookreview.com [http://www.graemesfantasybookreview.com]

  "Winterbirth delivers a meaty, dramatic, and entertaining debut."

  -- fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com [http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com]

  "Ruckley's at his strongest and most eloquent when he's describing the bleak, snowy world in which Winterbirth takes place, deftly drawing a vivid picture in the mind of the reader."

  --A Dribble of Ink ( aidanmoher.com/blog [http://www.aidanmoher.com/blog])

  BY BRIAN RUCKLEY

  The Godless World

  Winterbirth

  Bloodheir

  Fall of Thanes

  Contents

  Copyright Page

  Cast of Characters

  What Has Gone Before

  CHAPTER 1: Ruins

  CHAPTER 2: The City

  CHAPTER 3: The Broken Man

  CHAPTER 4: He Who Waits

  CHAPTER 5: Kan Avor

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Extras

  Meet the Author

  The Passage of Time

  A Preview of Best Served Cold

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  THE TRUE BLOODS

  Haig

  Lannis-Haig

  Kilkry-Haig

  Dargannan-Haig

  Ayth-Haig

  Taral-Haig

  Haig Blood

  Gryvan oc Haig The High Thane, Thane of Thanes

  Abeh oc Haig Gryvan's wife

  Aewult nan Haig Gryvan's first son, the Bloodheir

  Stravan nan Haig Gryvan's second son

  Ishbel Aewult's companion

  Kale Gryvan's bodyguard and Captain of his Shield

  Mordyn Jerain, the Shadowhand Chancellor of the Haig Blood, a Tal Dyreen

  Tara Jerain The Chancellor's wife

  Eleth A maid in Mordyn Jerain's palace

  Torquentine A man in Vaymouth

  Magrayn A woman in Vaymouth, Torquentine's doorkeeper

  Lammain Craftmaster of the Goldsmiths

  Lagair Haldyn Gryvan's Steward in Kolkyre

  Lannis-Haig Blood

  Orisian oc Lannis-Haig The Thane

  Anyara nan Lannis-Haig Orisian's sister

  Taim Narran Captain of Castle Anduran

  Jaen Taim's wife

  Coinach Anyara's shieldman

  Torcaill A warrior

  The Dead: Kennet Orisian's father, killed at Kolglas

  Lairis Orisian's mother, died of the Heart Fever

  Fariel Orisian's elder brother, died of the Heart Fever

  Croesan The late Thane, Orisian's uncle, killed at Anduran

  Naradin Croesan's son, killed at Anduran

  Eilan Naradin's wife, killed at Anduran

  Inurian Kennet's na'kyrim counsellor, killed at Sarn's Leap

  Rothe Orisian's shieldman, killed in the Veiled Woods

  Kilkry-Haig Blood

  Roaric oc Kalkry-Haig The Thane, second son of Lheanor

  Ilessa oc Kilkry-Haig Roaric's mother, widow of Lheanor

  Herraic Lheanor's cousin, Captain of the Highfast garrison

  Erval Captain of the Ive Guard

  The Dead: Lheanor The late Thane, killed by the Hunt Inkall

  Gerain Lheanor's first son, killed in battle at Grive

  Dargannan-Haig Blood

  Igryn oc Dargannan-Haig Former Thane, now blinded and imprisoned at Vaymouth

  THE BLOODS OF THE BLACK ROAD

  Gyre

  Horin-Gyre

  Gaven-Gyre

  Wyn-Gyre

  Fane-Gyre

  and the Inkallim

  Gyre Blood

  Ragnor oc Gyre The High Thane, Thane of Thanes

  The Dead: Temegrin Third Captain of the High Thane's armies, killed by Aeglyss at Kan Avor

  Horin-Gyre Blood

  Kanin oc Horin-Gyre The Thane

  Vana oc Horin-Gyre Mother to Kanin and Wain, widow of Angain

  Igris Kanin's shieldman

  The Dead: Angain The late Thane, died in his bed

  Wain Kanin's sister, killed at Kan Avor

  Inkallim

  Theor First of the Lore Inkall

  Nyve First of the Battle Inkall

  Avenn First of the Hunt Inkall

  Goedellin Inner Servant of the Lore Inkall, emissary of Theor

  Shraeve Banner-captain and field commander of the Battle Inkall

  Cannek A Hunt Inkallim

  Eska A Hunt Inkallim

  The Dead: Fiallic Former Banner-captain of the Battle Inkall, killed by Shraeve

  OTHERS

  Huanin

  Kyrinin

  Na'kyrim

  Huanin

  Alem T'anarch Ambassador of the Dornach Kingship to the Haig Blood

  Kyrinin

  Ess'yr A woman of the Fox clan

  Varryn Ess'yr's brother

  Hothyn Son of the White Owl Voice, now companion of Aeglyss

  Na'kyrim

  Yvane A na'kyrim in the company of Orisian

  Eshenna A na'kyrim from Highfast, now in the company of Orisian

  Hammarn A na'kyrim from Koldihrve, now in Highfast

  Amonyn A na'kyrim in Highfast, lover of Cerys

  Olyn A na'kyrim in Highfast, Keeper of Crows

  K'rina A na'kyri m from Dyrkyrnon, once foster mother to Aeglyss

  Aeglyss A na'kyrim who survived the Breaking Stone of the White Owls

  The Dead: Cerys The Elect of Highfast, killed there by Aeglyss

  Tyn The Dreamer in Highfast, killed there by Aeglyss

  Bannain A na'kyrim in Highfast, killed there by Aeglyss

  For you,

  and all the other readers who have followed the story

  to its conclusion

  What Has Gone Before

  Orisian oc Lannis-Haig is now Thane of his Blood, but he is a Thane exiled from his lands, for the Glas Valley where he and his family dwelled lies under the brutal control of the Bloods of the Black Road.

  Orisian has escaped from the pursuing forces of the Black Road to Kolkyre, the capital of the Kilkry Blood, long a close friend and ally to his own. With him have come Yvane and Hammarn, na'kyrim from the north, Ess'yr and Varryn, Kyrinin of the Fox clan, his shieldman Rothe and his sister Anyara.

  Others have also converged upon Kolkyre, however, and Orisian finds himself the object of unwelcome attention from Mordyn Jerain, the Shadowhand, Chancellor to the Haig Blood, and Aewult, Bloodheir to the High Thane, Gryvan oc Haig. Their intent is to ensure the primacy of Haig in the efforts to turn back the Black Road. Frustrated by the machinations of these supposed allies, Orisian dispatches Taim Narran, his Blood's most accomplished warrior, with their meagre remaining forces northwards, hoping to delay or turn back the Black Road's advance. Orisian himself, concerned that a greater threat than even the armies of the Black Road is being overlooked, travels to Highfast, where a number of na'kyrim maintain a library.

  The threat that so troubles Orisian is Aeglyss, a na'kyrim who has been crucified by the White Owl Kyrinin, but rather than dying, descends from their Breaking Stone imbued with a rare and powerful ability to make use of the powers some na'kyrim can draw from the Shared. Aeglyss first asserts control over the White Owl clan, and then the Black Road army itself. He is the first na'kyrim in centuries with the ability to bind another wholly and unreservedly to his will, and chooses to exercise this power over Wain nan Horin-Gyre, sister of the Thane Kanin, to Kanin's increasingly desperate dismay.

  In the course of his ascent, Aeglyss wins the allegiance of Shraeve, a Battle Inkallim. He completes his rise to power when Shraeve champions him in single combat against the senior war leader of the Battle Inkall, Fiallic. With Aeglyss' subtle intervention, Shraeve is victorious, assumes command of the Battle Inkall's army and immediately pledges it to Aeglyss.

  At Highfast, Orisian discovers that many of the na'kyrim there can feel the alarming changes taking place in the Shared, and the stirring of the Anain. He also finds Eshenna, who tells him that Aeglyss is searching for a na'kyrim called K'rina, his foster mother in his childhood. Believing he can be of more use in such a task than trying to lead an army in the war, Orisian leaves Highfast with a small company of warriors led by Torcaill, crosses the Karkyre Peaks and descends into the Veiled Woods, where Eshenna is certain K'rina can be found. They do indeed discover the na'kyrim, but she has been mysteriously and disturbingly transformed by the Anain, and in the course of capturing her, Rothe, Orisian's shieldman and in some ways his closest surviving friend, is slain in battle with White Owl Kyrinin.

  Orisian and the other survivors are driven by pursuing White Owls back over the Karkyre Peaks. In their absence, Aeglyss invades Highfast by possessing the body of Tyn, a na'kyrim known as the Dreamer. When the other na'kyrim there refuse to offer him any aid, Aeglyss destroys their library and kills many of them. He also discovers Mordyn Jerain, the Shadowhand, who lies injured after being attacked while he travelled there in pursuit of Orisian. The Shadowhand is carried away by Aeglyss' forces, and brought to Kan Avor in the Glas Valley, where the na'kyrim now resides. Aeglyss reluctantly resolves that the Shadowhand would be more valuable to him than Wain nan Horin-Gyre. He releases Wain from her binding, but has Shraeve kill her rather than let her go free. He then binds Mordyn Jerain, and sends him south to return to the Vaymouth, the capital of the Haig Bloods.

  Taim Narran, leading the remaining forces of the Lannis Blood, is caught up in a great battle near Glasbridge. There, due to the pride and inexperience of Aewult nan Haig, the Black Road wins a major victory, and the armies of the True Bloods fall back in disarray to Kolkyre, where Aewult nan Haig accuses Taim Narran of treachery and imprisons him. He also takes hostage Anyara, Orisian's sister. She reluctantly remains in Kolkyre when Orisian sets out for Highfast, and there witnesses the assassination of Lheanor, the Kilkry Thane, by a member of the Hunt Inkall. As a result, Lheanor's son Roaric, a tempestuous young man, rises to the Thaneship of the Kilkry Blood. Aewult sends Anyara south to Vaymouth and the court of the Thane of Thanes.

  The Black Road army descends upon Kolkyre and there, with the aid of Aeglyss' immense power, inflicts a further crippling defeat upon Aewult's forces. Escaping in the chaos, Taim Narran flees before the disaster now engulfing the lands of the Kilkry Blood. On the road to Ive, a small town south of Kolkyre, he is reunited with Orisian.

  Chapter

  1

  ____

  Ruins

  Loss alone is but the wounding of a heart; it is memory that makes it our ruin.

  A proverb of the Aygll Kingship

  Pay no heed to grief. It is only weakness leaving your heart.

  A saying of the Battle Inkall

  I

  The movement of birds. That was what told Orisian oc Lannis-Haig that they were coming. Wood pigeons, half a dozen, took flight from the leafless treetops, their wingtips cracking like a rattle of drums. He saw them arrowing away over the canopy, and knew that in their flight they told a tale of what lay beneath. Somewhere there, down amidst the dank greys and browns of the tree trunks and undergrowth, the enemy were coming: men, and likely women, he meant to see dead before the pale, sinking sun touched the horizon.

  The woodlands were not large, not compared to the great tracts of forest Orisian had seen on the flanks of the Car Criagar or beyond the Karkyre Peaks. He shied away from that latter thought. His mind refused to approach too closely any memory of the Veiled Woods, and of what had happened there. If once he turned over that rock, what he uncovered might break him.

  These woods were tame, as docile as any horse broken to the saddle and bit. Their oaks grew straight and tall above thickets of coppiced hazel. They lay amidst vast swathes of farmland and pasture on the gentle slopes west of Ive, and were just as much shaped by human hand as were those surrounding fields. Charcoal burners and timber merchants had laid out nets of pathways and clearings and campsites through them. Now, Orisian knew, one of those trails was being followed not by woodsmen but by the wolves of the Black Road.

  He glanced at the warrior Torcaill, who was crouched alongside him amongst the rocks at the top of the slope.

  "You saw?"

  "Yes, sire. It won't be long. Will you come away now? Back behind the crest, at least?"

  "No," murmured Orisian. "I'll see what's done in my name."

  He looked up, briefly, towards the west. There were clouds there: great dark masses that would muffle the sun before it set. More snow to come. The last fall had been almost a week ago, and light enough that no trace of it now remained.

  "Let me bring up your horse, at least, sire," Torcaill said.

  "So I can flee more easily? No. Leave it where it is."

  The warrior frowned, his displeasure unconcealed.

  "Go to your men," Orisian told him. "Make sure they're mounted and ready. If Taim needs you, it'll be soon."

  Torcaill went, scrambling back over the rocks. He had two dozen men waiting just out of sight. Orisian knew they would already be fully prepared. They were as eager as anyone to spill Black Road blood, and needed no encouragement from Torcaill to ready themselves for the task, but he found the warrior's concern for his safety unsettling. Troubling.