Bloodheir Read online

  Bloodheir

  Brian Ruckley

  Copyright © 2008 by Brian Ruckley

  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.

  Orbit

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

  Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

  First eBook Edition: June 2008

  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: 978-0-316-03262-9

  Contents

  Copyright

  Cast of Characters

  Maps

  Preface

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Kilkry-Haig

  Chapter 2: Highfast

  Chapter 3: Anain

  Chapter 4: Shadowhand

  Chapter 5: Thane

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Meet the Author

  The Passage of Time

  Praise For Winterbirth

  “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 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, multithreaded, 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

  “Winterbirth delivers a meaty, dramatic, and entertaining debut.”

  — 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)

  “Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley is an amazing novel and one that I would highly recommend. Ruckley shows his prowess at worldbuilding by creating a breathtaking world where surprises are regular and no one is safe from death.”

  — thefantasyreview.com

  BY BRIAN RUCKLEY

  The Godless World

  Winterbirth

  Bloodheir

  For Fleur because she is wonderful

  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

  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

  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

  Rothe, Orisian’s shieldman

  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

  Inurianv, Kennet’s na’kyrim counsellor, killed at Sarn’s Leap

  Kilkry-Haig Blood

  Lheanor oc Kilkry-Haig, The Thane

  Ilessa oc Kilkry-Haig, Lheanor’s wife

  Roaric nan Kilkry-Haig, Lheanor’s second son, now the Bloodheir

  Cailla, A kitchen maid in Kolkyre

  Ochan the Cook, A man in Kolkyre

  Ammen Sharp, Ochan’s son

  Herraic, Lheanor’s cousin, Captain of the Highfast garrison

  The Dead: 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

  Temegrin, the Eagle, Third Captain of the High Thane’s armies

  Horin-Gyre Blood

  Kanin oc Horin-Gyre, The Thane

  Wain nan Horin-Gyre, Kanin’s sister

  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

  Inkallim

  Theor, First of the Lore Inkall

  Nyve, First of the Battle Inkall

  Avenn, First of the Hunt Inkall

  Fiallic, Banner-captain and field commander of the Battle Inkall

  Goedellin, Inner Servant of the Lore Inkall, emissary of Theor

  Shraeve, A captain of the Battle Inkall

  Cannek, A Hunt Inkallim

  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, now in the company of Orisian

  Varryn, Ess’yr’s brother, now in the company of Orisian

  Mar’athoin , A young warrior of the Heron clan

  Hothyn, Son of the White Owl Voice, leader of a spear a’an

  Na’kyrim

  Yvane, A na’kyrim, now in the company of Orisian

  Hammarn, A na’kyrim from Koldihrve, now in the company of Orisian

  Cerys, A na’kyrim, the Elect of Highfast

  Amonyn, A na’kyrim in Highfast, lover of Cerys

  Olyn, A na’kyrim in Highfast, Keeper of Crows

  Tyn, A na’kyrim, the Dreamer in Highfast

  Eshenna, A na’kyrim in Highfast, originally from Dyrkyrnon

  Bannain, A na’kyrim in Highfast, a messenger

  K’rina, A na’kyrim from Dyrkyrnon, once foster-mother to Aeglyss


  Aeglyss, A na’kyrim formerly in the service of the Horin-Gyre Blood, survivor of the Breaking Stone of the White Owls

  WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

  For years, an uneasy peace has held between the True Bloods and the followers of the Black Road, whose uncompromising creed of predestination long ago led to their exile into the north. The Lannis and Kilkry Bloods remain wary of the threat posed by the Black Road, but elsewhere in the domains of Gryvan oc Haig, the High Thane of the True Bloods, thoughts have turned to commerce and conquest in the far-distant south.

  On the night of the annual festival of Winterbirth, sudden disaster engulfs the Lannis Blood. Their frontier stronghold of Tanwrye is besieged by one Black Road army; a second, impossibly, emerges from the vast forests of Anlane to assault their capital at Anduran. And Castle Kolglas, home to the Lannis Thane’s nephew Orisian, is overrun by Inkallim, the dreaded elite warriors of the Black Road. Orisian sees his father slain, and his sister Anyara carried off into captivity along with his friend and mentor, the na’kyrim Inurian. Orisian himself barely escapes, fleeing into the wilderness with his bodyguard Rothe.

  The Black Road invaders, led by Kanin and Wain nan Horin-Gyre, have forged an improbable and fragile alliance with the White Owl Kyrinin, mediated by a bitter na’kyrim named Aeglyss. With surprise on their side, and the fierce fatalism of their creed driving them on, they seize Anduran and slaughter the Lannis Thane and his family. Amidst the ruin, Inurian increasingly comes to fear that still greater danger lurks unrecognised, for he senses in Aeglyss both disfiguring anger and immense, as yet untapped, power.

  Orisian receives unexpected aid from the Fox Kyrinin, and is soon reunited with Anyara and Inurian, who have made good their escape. But it is a joyless reunion: the enemy are in close pursuit and Inurian has been gravely wounded. As his strength fades, Inurian compels Orisian and the others to leave him behind.

  Aeglyss confronts the dying Inurian, pleading for his aid and guidance, offering the chance of survival in exchange. Inurian refuses, and is slain by an enraged Aeglyss. Increasingly unstable, Aeglyss then finds himself rejected by the leaders of the Black Road as well. The alliance he built for them with the White Owls is repudiated by Kanin nan Horin-Gyre and Aeglyss is seized by the Kyrinin, required to answer for the failure of the promises he made.

  Orisian and his companions find brief refuge in the mountainous Car Criagar with Yvane, another na’kyrim , but continuing pursuit drives them on and they make for Koldihrve, a remote town where they hope to find a ship to carry them south. In the course of their journey Orisian’s interest in Ess’yr, the Kyrinin woman acting as both guide and guardian to him, grows. He comes to realise that she was Inurian’s lover, but is nevertheless increasingly, though hesitantly, attracted to her himself.

  Events are moving rapidly elsewhere, as the world slips towards chaos. The forces of the Black Road, led by Wain nan Horin-Gyre and by the implacable Inkallim Shraeve, continue their remorseless destruction of the Lannis Blood. In the far north, the secretive leaders of the Inkallim compete with the High Thane of Gyre himself for influence over this invasion that has achieved successes far beyond anyone’s expectations; in the south, Gryvan oc Haig reluctantly and sluggishly assembles an army to march in support of Lannis, relying always upon the assurances of his infamous Chancellor, Mordyn Jerain, that events can be easily controlled.

  Orisian and his companions escape on a ship even as Black Road warriors, with Kanin himself at their head, descend upon Koldihrve. They are carried to safety in Kolkyre, the capital of the Kilkry Blood.

  Meanwhile, the White Owl Kyrinin have made a fateful decision. Considering themselves betrayed, they crucify Aeglyss upon their ancient Breaking Stone. His agonies, though, lead not to death but to transformation. And in the moment of that transformation, na’kyrim everywhere – whether Yvane in Kolkyre’s Tower of Thrones, or those hiding away in the fortress sanctuary of Highfast – sense the burgeoning of his terrible power; power that could have dire consequences for everyone in the Godless World.

  PROLOGUE

  I

  I will set the tale down here much as I had it from an old woman in Hoke, as she had it from her grandmother, and she from her grandmother before. I doubt there is anyone who has not heard it in one form or another. It is a good tale, but the wise will not take it as the truth, whole and entire. However flawed our understanding of the Anain may be, we can assume that they would not trouble to be so clear in the expression of their desire as this tale would have us believe. Nor does it seem likely that they would display even such brief patience as the story suggests. We lesser races, after all, must seem to them as slow and stilted and inconsequential as the mute and dull beasts of the field seem to us.

  Tane, the Shining City, had fallen. The Kyrinin were undone, their lords and captains slain, their armies scattered to the winds. The streets were strewn with bodies and the drains overflowing with blood. The triumphant Huanin armies, marching under the argent stag-banner of the Alsire King, had broken down the walls and claimed the city as their own.

  The conquering King stared out from the highest room of the Rose Citadel, in Tane’s gilded heart, and he looked upon his work and was glad, for though he saw ruin and fire, still the city was the greatest in all the world and in it he would be the greatest King.

  Now a tall tree grew in the courtyard outside that noble tower. The tree stretched a branch in through the window, and the branch twisted and cracked as it came. In the sound of its wooden bones breaking was a voice that spoke to the King.

  “This city has run with blood, and the mind of the world is riven with pain and grief and fury. It is enough. Now we claim this place and will cleanse it and make it ours. You must take your armies away.”

  “I will not,” the King replied, “for my warriors have given their lives to win this great city for me and it is to be the home and heart of my people.”

  At these words, the branch withdrew and the great tree was once more a tree, silent and still. The King summoned his servants and said to them, “Take your axes and cut down the tree in the courtyard, for I mislike its countenance. And when you have cut it down, burn the wood so that not a twig remains.”

  On the evening of the following day the King was again in that high chamber. Leaves blew in through the open window and spun upon the breeze and filled the room, and in the sighing of their dance was a voice that spoke to the King.

  “This war of yours fouls the mind of the world. This city is filled with the cries of the dead and it is no place for the living. We will see an end to this war; we will take this city and still its torment.

  Yours is the heart that will be broken if you do not depart from here with all your host, for this is a city of the dead and so it will remain.”

  But again the King shook his head. “If I leave as you request, all that has gone before – all the strife and the struggle that cast their dark pall over the land these last years – all this will be for nothing. I will not go, for all the lives that have been taken and all the loss that has been suffered were for the purpose of bringing me here.”

  And at these words of the King, the leaves that were in the room fell to the floor and spoke no more to him. The King summoned his servants and said to them, “Clear out these leaves and make a fire of them in the courtyard. When they are burned away to nothing, return and close this window up with shutters, and nail it fast. I dislike the breeze.”

  Now the King had a daughter, who was as bright in his eyes as the morning. On the third night the father and the daughter ate together in that highest chamber of the Rose Citadel, and made one another great promises for a glorious future.

  But the Citadel shook in its stone bones, and the walls trembled. The shutters that had been fixed across the window were torn apart. Vines that grew without the Citadel came in like a thousand writhing snakes and they seized the King’s daughter. They lifted her from the floor and coiled about her.

  And the voice of the vines said, �
�Twice you have refused us, and thrice we will not allow. You will depart from this place on the morrow, or nothing of your happiness will remain unruined.”

  And the vines broke the neck of the King’s child, and cracked her spine and snapped her arms and legs and cast her down on the cold stone floor at the King’s feet.

  As the heartbroken King’s host departed the next morning, the ground shivered behind them and brought forth saplings: an ocean of trees sprang from the blood-fed loam and reached up towards the sun. When night fell and the King turned and looked back the way he had come, he saw not the great plain there had once been but a forest so vast that his eye could not track its limits. And of Tane, of the greatest and most wondrous city in all the world, there was no sign, for the forest had swallowed it and all its countless corpses.