The Blackest Heart
Page 92
“All is not lost,” Hawkwood said, as if reading her mind. “Roguemoore had a theory. To succeed as one of the Five Warrior Angels returned, you, Jondralyn Bronachell, would need to secure within yourself the traits of all Five Warrior Angels: Thief, Slave, Princess, Gladiator, Assassin. And I mean to train you in all.”
“How do you train one to be a slave?”
“Indeed, how?” His gaze again fell upon the altar, brow furrowing. “A verse from The Way and Truth of Laijon has vexed me ever since I met with Tala in this room.”
Eyes cutting into the altar, he recited the passage. “Oh, that King of Slaves, that great One and Only! Oh, that day of his fall! Oh, that we could go back to that day when Mia placed the five of Final Atonement into the flesh of his wound. Oh, that we could accompany his body as it was borne into the tomb. For when we ventured into that veiled place days later, that great Cross Archaic we found empty. For Laijon had been translated into heaven, the weapons and stones with him.’ ”
“Aye, a passage from the Acts of the Second Warrior Angel,” Jondralyn said.
“But there is also a verse in The Moon Scrolls of Mia.” Hawkwood leaned over the altar again, fingers hovering above the silvery splatters in the middle of the dried blood. “I can’t recall the exact wording, but the Moon Scrolls speak of dragons and silver. Silver claws or some such . . . and Laijon’s tomb.”
“You think this is Laijon’s tomb?”
“I do not know.” Hawkwood placed both hands against the blood-crusted edge of the altar’s capstone. “Whatever silver stuff was dripping over this altar stopped some time ago.” He looked straight up into the shadows above, then back down. “I’ve a feeling this altar jealously protects something deep within.”
He pushed against the slab, budging it only a mere few inches, the sound of rock grinding against rock echoing through the red-hazed chamber.
“Help me,” he said, straining at the slab. Jondralyn leaned all her weight into the altar stone and pushed. It tumbled to the floor with a thunderous boom!
Together they glanced at each other, then peered down into the hole, Jondralyn’s heart thudding against her ribs. There was no rotted god down in the darkness, no corpse of Laijon, no stark white skeleton.
In fact, the cross-shaped hollow was empty but for one simple thing.
A silver gauntlet.
It rested palm up at the bottom of the altar—a simple hunk of weaponry, really, yet exquisite too. It had an extended cuff and polished arm bracers that would reach clear up to a man’s elbow if needed. Red light seemed to ebb and flow like rippling waves over its intricate leaf-shaped scales of armor. There were small holes in each of the gauntlet’s curled fingertips, as if something was meant to be fastened or screwed into them . . .
. . . or as if something were meant to grow out of them.
“What did you find?” Lawri Le Graven’s unmistakable voice sounded from behind them, gentle and lilting. Jondralyn whirled. Hawkwood already had his sword out, curved blade glimmering like fire in the red-lit room.
Lawri stood just to the left of the tapestry of Mia, a wicker basket clutched in her good hand, the stump of her arm wrapped in bandages. The long black dress she wore made her ashen face and tawny hair appear almost ghostlike in the shadowy corner.
“What are you doing here?” Jondralyn asked in a breathless rush.
“Don’t you know?” Lawri canted her head to the side. “I came to gather harps and baubles and bracelets and other shiny oddments for Tala’s wedding.”
Harps and baubles. Jondralyn’s mind recoiled. She’s gone insane!
Hawkwood sheathed his sword with a rasp of steel on leather. “What do you mean, Tala’s wedding?”
Lawri stepped softly into the room, gazing at the open altar, round green orbs almost catlike in their curiosity. Since when are her eyes so green? The wicker basket slipped from the girl’s grip to the floor—it was empty.
“I’ve dreamed of this place ever since Tala was stabbed by the Bloodwood.” Lawri approached the altar and looked in.
Then she looked directly at Jondralyn and began unwrapping the bandages from around her arm.
Jondralyn sucked in a breath. “No, Lawri, do not.” She reached out, but Hawkwood stayed her hand with his own.
The bruised and fleshy stump of Lawri’s arm was soon uncovered, bare and raw in the red light. Without hesitation, the girl reached down into the altar with her good hand and brought forth the silver gauntlet, a look of pure awe on her face as she held it up in the scarlet glow of the room.
Then she carefully placed the open end of the gauntlet against the stump of her arm, the scaled arm bracers seeming to mold themselves instantly to the flesh just below her elbow.
Cold dread coiled like a serpent around Jondralyn’s spine as Lawri looked straight at her again, panic rising fierce and bold in her bright green eyes. “Get it off me!”
Hawkwood lurched forward, grasping the gauntlet with one hand, her shoulder with the other, pulling on the armor with all his might, but to no avail. He released his hold on the girl, a grave look falling over his face. “I can’t remove it.”
Lawri’s horror-stricken eyes shone green and bright in the myriad reflections cast over her silver-scaled arm.
And then the curled fingers of the gauntlet began to move.
† † † † †
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE LONESOME CROWN, VOLUME THREE OF FIVE WARRIOR ANGELS
APPENDIX
Seasonal Moons of the Five Isles
A year is 360 days.
There are fifteen moons (months) per year.
A moon (month) is twenty-four days long.
A week is eight days long. There are three weeks per moon (month).
Afflicted Moon…………….Winter
Blackest Moon
Shrouded Moon
Mourning Moon
Ethic Moon…………………Spring
Angel Moon
Fire Moon
Blood Moon………………..Summer
Heart Moon
Crown Moon
Thunder Moon………………Fall
Archaic Moon
Lonesome Moon
Forgetting Moon
Winter Moon……………….Winter
Five Tomes of Ancient Writings
The Way and Truth of Laijon
The Chivalric Illuminations of Raijael
The Moon Scrolls of Mia
The Book of the Betrayer
The Angel Stone Codex
Five Weapons of Laijon
Forgetting Moon: battle-ax. Angel stone: blue for the Slave.
Blackest Heart: crossbow. Angel stone: black for the Assassin.
Lonesome Crown: helm. Angel stone: green for the Gladiator.
Ethic Shroud: shield. Angel stone: white for the Thief.
Afflicted Fire: sword. Angel stone: red for the Princess.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FORGETTING MOON
5000–6000 Years Before—Humans arrive on the shores of Gul Kana.
1000 Years Before—Thousand Years’ War of the humans, dwarves, oghuls, and Vallè begins.
Year Zero—Laijon is born.
18th Year of Laijon—Laijon is thrown into the slave pits.
19th Year of Laijon—Rise of the Five Warrior Angels and rise of the Demon Lords.
20th Year of Laijon—Laijon unites all races against the Fiery Demons and Demon Lords (some call this the War of Cleansing, some call it the Vicious War of the Demons).
21st Year of Laijon—Death of Laijon and banishment of all demons to the underworld.
21st Year of Laijon—Raijael, son of Laijon, is born to the Blessed Mother Mia.
22nd Year of Laijon—Church of Laijon formed by the last three Warrior Angels in Amadon.
40th Year of Laijon—Raijael banished from the church and flees Amadon to Sør Sevier.
40th Year of Laijon—Raijael begins his twenty-year war to reclaim his crown as Laijon
’s heir.
60th Year of Laijon—Death of Raijael in war, after having conquered Adin Wyte and Wyn Darrè.
200th Year of Laijon—The Church of Laijon retakes Adin Wyte in war from Sør Sevier
220th Year of Laijon—The Church of Laijon retakes Wyn Darrè in war from Sør Sevier.
300th–400th Years of Laijon—Sør Sevier slowly retakes Adin Wyte and Wyn Darrè in war
500th–900th Years of Laijon—The Church of Laijon reclaims Adin Wyte and Wyn Darrè.
900th Year of Laijon—The Brethren of Mia formed by a secret group of scholars.
900th–985th Years of Laijon—Battles continue between Sør Sevier, Adin Wyte, and Wyn Darrè.
985th Year of Laijon—Shawcroft fights two Bloodwood assassins atop a Sky Lochs glacier.
986th Year of Laijon—Shawcroft and the boy, Nail, arrive in Deadwood Gate.
989th Year of Laijon—Sør Sevier launches its final crusade against Adin Wyte.
994th Year of Laijon—Adin Wyte conquered by Sør Sevier.
994th Year of Laijon—Shawcroft and the boy, Nail, arrive in Gallows Haven.
994th Year of Laijon—Sør Sevier launches its final crusade against Wyn Darrè.
997th Year of Laijon—Squireck Van Hester slays Archbishop Lucas in Amadon.
999th Year of Laijon—Wyn Darrè conquered by Sør Sevier.
999th Year of Laijon—Sør Sevier prepares for the Final Battle of Absolution against Gul Kana.
CHARACTERS IN THE BLACKEST HEART
ROKENWALDER, SØR SEVIER
Crest: the Blue Sword of Laijon
Colors: blue sword on a white field
KING AEVRETT RAIJAEL: King of Rokenwalder and Sør Sevier.
QUEEN NATALIA RAIJAEL: Wed to Aevrett, from Kayde, Sør Sevier.
AEROS RAIJAEL: 28, the Angel Prince. Son of Aevrett.
SPIDERWOOD: Aeros’ Knight Archaic bodyguard. A Bloodwood Assassin.
HAMMERFISS: Aeros’ Knight Archaic bodyguard.
BEAU STABLER: Aeros’ Knight Archaic bodyguard.
ENNA SPADES: 27, Aeros’ Knight Archaic bodyguard.
GAULT AULBREK: 38, Aeros’ Knight Archaic bodyguard.
AVRIL AULBREK: Wed to Gault. Mother of Krista.
KRISTA AULBREK: 17, Crystalwood. A Bloodwood assassin. Gault’s stepdaughter.
AGUS AULBREK: Gault’s father. Lord of the Sør Sevier Nordland Highlands.
EVALYN AULBREK: Gault’s mother. Sister to Edmon Guy Van Hester of Saint Only.
MARCUS GYLL: a Rowdie.
PATRYK LAURENTS: a Rowdie.
BLODEVED WYNSTONE: a Rowdie.
RUFUC BRADULF: Hound Guard captain.
KARLOS: a Hound Guard.
ALVIN: a Hound Guard.
BLACK DUGAL: Head of the Bloodwood assassins.
MANCELLOR ALLEN: 22, Knight of the Blue Sword. From Wyn Darrè.
HANS RAKE: Shadowwood. A Bloodwood assassin.
AULMUT KLINGANDE: a Rokenwalder noble.
SOLVIA KLINGANDE: Wed to Aulmut.
DAME PORTEA: head laundress in Aevrett’s palace.
BOGG: warden of the dungeons of Rokenwalder.
SQUATEYE: dwarf gaoler and cohort of Bogg.
GALLOWS HAVEN, GUL KANA
BARON JUBAL BRUK: Baron of Gallows Haven and owner of the Lady Kindly.
JENKO BRUK: 18, Baron Jubal Bruk’s son.
BRUTUS GROVE: works for Baron Jubal Bruk.
OL’ MAN LEDDINGHAM: owner of the Grayken Spear Inn.
AVA SHAY: 17, works at the Grayken Spear Inn.
TYLDA EGBERT: 16, works at the Grayken Spear Inn.
POLLY MOTT: 16, works at the Grayken Spear Inn.
GISELA BARNWELL: 15, Maiden Blue of the Mourning Moon Feast.
SHAWCROFT: also known as Ser Roderic Raybourne.
NAIL: 17, a bastard boy under the care of Shawcroft.
STEFAN WAYLAND: 17, friend of Nail.
DOKIE LIDDLE: 17, friend of Nail.
ZANE NEVILLE: 17, Liz Hen’s brother.
LIZ HEN NEVILLE: 18, Zane’s sister.
BISHOP TOLBRET: Bishop of Gallows Haven chapel.
BISHOP HUGH GODWYN: Bishop of the Swithen Wells Trail Abbey.
AMADON, GUL KANA
Crest: the Atonement Tree
Colors: the silver Atonement Tree on a black field.
Silver Guard. Silver Throne.
KING BORDEN BRONACHELL: Former King of Amadon and Gul Kana.
QUEEN ALANA BRONACHELL: Wed to Borden. Sister of Mona Le Graven.
JOVAN BRONACHELL: 28, Borden’s son. King of Amadon and Gul Kana.
JONDRALYN BRONACHELL: 25, Borden’s daughter.
TALA BRONACHELL: 16, Borden’s daughter.
ANSEL BRONACHELL: 5, Borden’s son.
DAME MAIRGRID: Tutor to Tala and Ansel.
SER STERLING PRENTISS: Dayknight captain.
SER LARS CASTLEGRAIL: Commander of the Silver Guard.
SER TOMAS VORKINK: Steward of Amadon Castle.
SER LANDON GALLOWAY: Chamberlain of Amadon Castle.
SER TERRELL WICKHAM: Stable marshal of Amadon Castle.
SER OSTEN NORTHANGER: Blacksmith of Amadon Castle.
DAME VILAMINA: Old kitchen matron of Amadon Castle.
DAME NELS DOUGHTY: New kitchen matron of Amadon Castle.
GRAND VICAR DENARIUS: Grand vicar in Amadon. Holy Prophet of Laijon.
ARCHBISHOP VANDIVOR: Quorum of the Five Archbishops in Amadon.
ARCHBISHOP DONALBAIN: Quorum of the Five Archbishops in Amadon.
ARCHBISHOP SPENCERVILLE: Quorum of the Five Archbishops in Amadon.
ARCHBISHOP LEAFORD: Quorum of the Five Archbishops in Amadon.
ARCHBISHOP RHYS-DUNCAN: Quorum of the Five Archbishops in Amadon.
SER CULPA BARRA: 28, a young Dayknight.
TATUM BARRA: Ser Culpa Barra’s father.
DELIA: Barmaid at the Filthy Horse Saloon.
GEOFF: Patron of the Filthy Horse Saloon.
SHKILL GHA: an oghul. Gladiator.
ANJK BOURBON: an oghul. Gladiator trainer.
G’MELKI: an oghul.
ROGUEMOORE: Dwarf ambassador from Ankar.
HAWKWOOD: from Sør Sevier.
TOLZ TRENTO: a young Silver Guard.
ALAIN GRATZER: a young Silver Guard.
BOPPARD STOCKACH: a young Silver Guard.
HIGGEN: slave at Riven Rock Quarry.
WOADSON: slave at Riven Rock Quarry.
MAIZY: a nobody.
ESKANDER, GUL KANA
Crest: the Saber-Toothed Lion
Colors: black lion on a yellow field
Lion Guard. Lion Throne.
LORD LOTT LE GRAVEN: Lord of Eskander, Lion Throne.
MONA LE GRAVEN: Wed to Lott. From Reinhold. Sister of Alana Bronachell.
LINDHOLF LE GRAVEN: 17, Lott’s son, twin to Lawri.
LAWRI LE GRAVEN: 17, Lott’s daughter, twin to Lindholf.
LORHAND LE GRAVEN: 12, Lott’s son, twin to Lilith.
LILITH LE GRAVEN: 12, Lott’s daughter, twin to Lorhand.
RIVERMEADE, GUL KANA
Crest: the Wolf
Colors: gray wolf on a maroon field
Wolf Guard. Wolf Throne.
LORD CLAYBOR CHAPARRAL: Lord of Rivermeade. Wolf Throne.
LESIA CHAPARRAL: Wed to Claybor. Sister of Nolan Darkliegh.
LEIF CHAPARRAL: 28, Claybor’s son.
SHARLA CHAPARRAL: 23, Claybor’s daughter.
JACLYN CHAPARRAL: 21, Claybor’s daughter.
GLADE CHAPARRAL: 17, Claybor’s son.
AVLONIA, GUL KANA
Crest: white with silver overlay
Colors: silver overlay on a white field
Marble Guard. Marble Throne.
LORD NOLAN DARKLIEGH: Lord of Avlonia.
ELYNOR DARKLIEGH: Wed to Nolan. Edmon Guy Van Hester’s sister.
LESIA CHAPARRAL: Nolan’s sister. Wed to Claybor Chaparral.
STANCLYFFE, GUL KANA
MARDGOT: Stanclyffe street
merchant.
S’IST RUNK: an oghul. Stanclyffe street merchant.
LORD’S POINT, GUL KANA
Crest: Blue of the Ocean
Colors: blue
Ocean Guard. Ocean Throne.
LORD KELVIN KRONNIN: Lord of Lord’s Point.
EMOGEN KRONNIN: Wed to Kelvin.
BEATRIZ VAN HESTER: Kronnin’s sister. Wed to King Edmon Guy Van Hester.
RAYE KRONNIN: Kronnin’s baby daughter.
SER REVALARD AVOCET: one of the Ocean Guard.
PRAED: leader of the Untamed—a small gang of roaming thieves.
LLEWELLYN: part of the Untamed.
CLIVE: part of the Untamed.
JUDI: part of the Untamed.
DERRY RICHRATH: owner of the Turn Key Inn & Saloon.
OTTO: worker in the Turn Key Inn & Saloon.
BROWN R’ELK: an oghul merchant.
BAINBRIDGE, GUL KANA
Crest: Purple Stag
Colors: purple stag on a black field
BARON BRENDER WAYLAND: Uncle of Stefan Wayland.
SAINT ONLY, ADIN WYTE
Crest: two Crossed Spears
Colors: two white crossed spears on a field of red
Spear Guard. Throne of Spears.
KING EDMON GUY VAN HESTER: King of Saint Only and Adin Wyte.
QUEEN BEATRIZ VAN HESTER: Wed to Edmon. From Lord’s Point.
SQUIRECK VAN HESTER: 28, Edmon’s son. Prince of Saint Only. Gladiator.
EVALYN AULBREK: Edmon’s sister. Wed to Lord Agus Aulbrek of Sør Sevier.
ELYNOR DARKLIEGH: Edmon’s sister. Wed to Lord Nolan Darkliegh of Avlonia.
ELYSE KOHN-AGAR: Edmon’s sister. Wed to Lord Nigel Kohn-Agar of Agonmoore.
SER IVOR JACE: warden of Mont Saint Only.
LEISEL: a servant girl.
WYN DARRÈ