Seven Princes (66 page)
Authors: John R. Fultz
Tong managed to raise his head a bit. He moaned softly at the pain of his pierced flesh. The white creatures crouched among the bodies of the dead men. Scarlet stained their long claws and bony chests. Tongues descended from their fanged maws to lick at the bronze faces of corpses. At first he thought they were lapping up the blood, that they would devour the dead men and himself. He only hoped they would kill him before eating him. Yet the eyeless ones seemed only to explore the men’s faces and armor with their weird pink tongues like curling tendrils. Their tongues moved more like curious fingers than organs made for tasting.
Now they gathered about Tong, sniffing at him and sliding their tongues across his skin. Tongues wrapped about each of the arrow shafts and pulled them from his body in quick, painful jerks. Fresh blood welled from the ragged holes. The eyeless faces drew near to his own, and he heard them sniffing. He must smell like a wild animal dying of infected wounds. Perhaps his stink would drive them away, and he would lie here and die at last.
The shadows of the jungle converged to flood his brain, and the beasts lifted his useless body. He hung weightless in the grip of their powerful hands, and their claws unavoidably
pricked his skin. Blood spilled from his poisoned wounds as awareness spilled from his mind.
The creatures raced in bounding, graceful strides through the scarlet wilderness.
He did not believe they were carrying him toward the green fields of the Deathlands.
THE DRAGON’S PATHDaniel Abraham
All paths lead to war
…Marcus’s hero days are behind him. He knows too well that even the smallest war still means somebody’s death. When his men are impressed into a doomed army, staying out of a battle he wants no part of requires some unorthodox steps.
Cithrin is an orphan, ward of a banking house. Her job is to smuggle a nation’s wealth across a war zone, hiding the gold from both sides. She knows the secret life of commerce like a second language, but the strategies of trade will not defend her from swords.
Geder, sole scion of a noble house, has more interest in philosophy than in swordplay. A poor excuse for a soldier, he is a pawn in these games. No one can predict what he will become.
Falling pebbles can start a landslide. A spat between the Free Cities and the Severed Throne is spiraling out of control. A new player rises from the depths of history, fanning the flames that will sweep the entire region onto the Dragon’s Path—the path to war.
“Prepare to be shocked, startled, and entertained.”
—Locus
“It’s as if Clint Eastwood went to Narnia.”
—Kirkus
THE MAGICIAN’S APPRENTICETrudi Canavan
In the remote village of Mandryn, Tessia serves as assistant to her father, the village Healer. Her mother would rather she found a husband. But her life is about to take a very unexpected turn.
When the advances of a visiting Sachakan mage get violent, Tessia unconsciously taps unknown reserves of magic to defend herself. Lord Dakon, the local magician, takes Tessia under his wing as an apprentice.
The hours are long and the work arduous, but soon an exciting new world opens up to her. There are fine clothes and servants and—to Tessia’s delight—regular trips to the great city of Imardin.
However, Tessia is about to discover that her magical gifts bring with them a great deal of responsibility For a storm is approaching that threatens to tear her world apart.
“Some excellent reading to be had.”
—Robert N. Stephenson on
The Novice“A wonderfully and meticulously detailed world, and an edge-of-the-seat plot, this book is a must for lovers of good fantasy.”
—Jennifer Fallon
THE BLACK PRISMBrent Weeks
Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows his time is short.
But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he’s willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.
“It is a truly visionary and original work, and has set the bar high for others in its subgenre.”
“Weeks manages to ring new tunes on… old bells, letting a deep background slowly reveal its secrets and presenting his characters in a realistically flawed and human way.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE DWARVESMarkus Heitz
For countless millennia, the dwarves of the Fifthling Kingdom have defended the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Many and varied foes have hurled themselves against the portal and died attempting to breach it.
No man or beast has ever succeeded. Until now…Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith labors contentedly in the land of Ionandar, the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. Although he does not want for friends, Tungdil is very much aware that he is alone—indeed, he has not so much as set eyes on another dwarf. But all that is about to change.
Sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety but the life of every man, woman, and child in Girdlegard depends on his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf.
And no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves.
Available wherever good books are sold
Books of the Shaper
Seven Princes
Vod the Giant-King
—Ruler of New Udurum, City of Men and Giants; slayer of Omagh the Serpent-Father; sorcerer and living legend.
Queen Shaira of Udurum
—Wife of Vod; Sister of Ammon; former Princess of Shar Dni; Mother of Fangodrel, Tadarus, Vireon, and Sharadza.
Prince Fangodrel of Udurum
—Shaira’s first son; named after Vod’s father; born during the reconstruction of Udurum.
Prince Tadarus of Udurum
—Shaira’s second son; named after Shaira’s father; born one year after Fangodrel.
Prince Vireon of Udurum
—Shaira’s third son; born one year after Tadarus.
Princess Sharadza of Udurum
—Only daughter of Shaira and Vod; sister of Fangodrel, Tadarus, and Vireon; born several years after Vireon.
Prince Tyro of Uurz
—Son of Dairon; twin brother of Lyrilan; swordsman of renown.
Prince Lyrilan of Uurz
—Son of Dairon; twin brother of Tyro; scholar and scribe.
Prince Andoses of Shar Dni
—Son of Ammon; Nephew of Shaira; Cousin to Fangodrel, Tadarus, Vireon, and Sharadza.
Prince D’zan of Yaskatha
—Son of Trimesqua; lone heir to the throne.
Olthacus the Stone
—Personal bodyguard to Prince D’zan; veteran of the South Island wars.
Elhathym
—Usurper of Yaskatha; ancient sorcerer and necromancer.
Ianthe the Claw
—Empress of Khyrei; former wife of Gammir; a known sorceress.
Gammir of Khyrei
—Former Emperor of Khyrei; a known sorcerer slain by Vod the Giant-King during the rescue of Shaira.
Omagh, Father of Serpents
—Ancient progenitor of Serpents; slain by Vod the Giant-King.
Fangodrim the Gray
—Uncle of Vod; Brother of Fangodrel the First; Great Uncle of Fangodrel, Tadarus, Vireon, and Sharadza; a leader among Giants.
Dairon, Emperor of Uurz
—First Emperor of the New Blood; former Captain of the Uurzian Legions; father to Tyro and Lyrilan.