by T. A. Pratt
The rings. In Felport, fighting the Outsider, she’d noticed its ostentatious rings. The monster hadn’t been wearing them on the beach, but when the rings appeared later, she’d thought they were merely an ornament, a refinement of its human costume. Her own husband, when he chose to appear in human form, often appeared wearing rings, each holding a precious stone from the wealth below the surface, each imbued with strange magics. The Outsider’s increased power, in the final battle... He’d stolen it from Death.
“He is dead?” she rasped. “My husband is dead?” She touched the necklace at her throat, where her wedding ring hung.
Reva didn’t raise his head. “You’re the only god of Death, now, Marla. I’m so sorry. This realm is yours alone, now... and it’s incomplete. I don’t know what happens next – if you should take a mortal consort, or if another Death will rise, or –”
In the back of her mind, the mortal part of Marla, the part that still longed to do good in the world, to care for her friends, to make amends, to make a difference, to kill monsters, to do better, howled in agony at the loss of her husband, and in fear at what the uncertain future might bring.
The greater part of her, the part that was now the only ruler of the land of the dead, howled in agonies of her own.
The agony of being cut in half, and left alone, to reign in Hell.
Acknowledgments
Thanks, first and always, to my wife Heather Shaw for her love and support, and to my son River for putting up with his dad spending all those hours writing about monsters. Thanks to my artists Lindsey Look (who did the cover) and Zack Stella (who did the interiors) – if you need great art, hire them. My appreciation to Aislinn Quicksilver Harvey for suggesting the title of this novel. Many thanks also to John Teehan of Merry Blacksmith Press for his continued support.
And finally, thanks to all the readers who supported the Kickstarter that made this possible: @atleb, A Anthony James, Adam Caldwell, Alex Moffatt, Alexa Gulliford, Allen L. Edwards, Alpha Chen, Alumiere, Alyssa Ritchie, Amy Kim, Andrea Leeson, Andreas Gustafsson, Andrew Hatchell, Andrew J Clark IV, Andrew Lin, Andrew Wilson, Angela Korra'ti, Ann Lemay, Anton Nath, Arlene Parker, Athena Holter-Mehren, Atlee Breland, BattleVark, Ben Esacove, Ben Meginnis, Beth Rheaume, Beth Wodzinski, Bethany Herron, Betsy Haibel, Bill Jennings, Brenda Hovdenes, Brittany, Bruce F Press, Bryan Sims, Bryant Durrell, C.C. Finlay, Caleb Wilson, Casey Fiesler, Cat Rambo, Catie Murphy, Chad E Price, Charlie Bast, Chelle P, Chris McLaren, Christian Decomain, Christian Stegmann, Christine Chen, Christine Maia-Fleres, Christopher Kastensmidt, Christopher Todd Kjergaard, Christy Corp-Minamiji, Chuck Lawson, Cinnamon Davis, Claire Connelly, Claudia Sadun Muzi, Cliff Winnig, Colette Reap, Colin Anderson, Colleen LeBlanc, Collin Smith, Courtney Ostaff, Craig Hackl, Cynthia Anne Cofer, D-Rock, D. Potter, Dan Percival, Dan Walma, Dana Cate, Dani Daly, Daniel and Trista Robichaud, Daniel Brady, Daniel Lyon, Danielle Benson, Danielle Ching-Yi Kong, Danielle Church, Dave Lawson, Dave Thompson, David Bell, David Bennett, David Martinez, David Rains, Dean M. Roddick, Deanna Stanley, Deb “Seattlejo” Schumacher, Denise Murray, DoorGirl, Douglas Park, Duck Dodgers, Ed Matuskey, Eduardo Tubert, Edward J Smola III, ejhuff, Elias F. Combarro, Ellen Sandberg, Elsa, Emily Agan, Emma Bull, Emma Larkins, Emma Marston, Emrya, Enrica, Ferran Selles, Fred Kiesche, Gann and Constance Bierner, Gary Singer, Gavran, Glenn Seiler, Glennis LeBlanc, Glyph, Greg Levick, GrumpySteen, Guillaume, Gunnar Hagberg, Hathway, Heidi Berthiaume, hipployta, Hugh Berkson, I.Z. aka IDzeroNo, Ian Mond, Iysha Evelyn, J Quincy Sperber, J. Croisant, J.R. Murdock, Jacqueline H. Kessler, James Burbidge, James M. Yager, Jamie Grove, Jasmine Stairs, Jason D Wilson, Jay G, Jaym Gates, Jean Marie Ward, Jeannette Lane, Jeff Huse, Jeffrey Krauss, Jeffrey Reed, Jen Sparenberg, Jen Warren, Jen Woods, Jenn Ridley, Jenn Snively, Jennifer Berk, Jennifer Howland, Jennifer Theis, Jeremy Rosehart, Jim Crose, Jim Lewinson, JM Templet, Joanna Fuller, Joe Rosenblum, John Blankenship, John Curley, John Dees, John Devenny, Jon Eichten, Jon Hansen, Jon Lundy, Jonas Wisser, Jonathan Duhrkoop, Jose Rafael Martinez Pina, Josh Lowman, Juli McDermott & Rob Batchellor, Justin Morton, Justine Baker, Karen Tucker, Kate and Andrew Barton, Kathlyn Luliak, Katie Douglas, Keith Hall, Keith Teklits, Keith Weinzerl, Kelly A. Hong, Kendall P. Bullen, Kenn Luby, Kerim, Kevin Hogan, Kevin Tibbs, Kiara Pyrenei, Konstantin Gorelyy, KorieK, Kris Downs, Kristin Bodreau, Laura A Burns, Laura Hobbs, Laura McIntyre, Lavendermintrose, Lexie C., Lianne Burwell, Lilly Ibelo, Logan Waterman, Lori L. Gildersleeve, Lori Lum, Lukas Bürgi, M.K. Carroll, Magentawolf, Mara Jade Smith, Marc Carnovale, Margaret Klee, Margaret Taylor, Marie Jones, Marius Gedminas, Mark "The Guitartist" Loggins, Mark Rowe, Martin S. Hesseling, Martin Wagner, Matthew Sheahan, Matthew Wayne Selznick, Max Kaehn, Maynard Garrett, Melissa Tabon, Michael "Maikeruu" Pierno, Michael Bernardi, Michael D. Blanchard, Michelle, Mike, Mike Bavister, Mike, Jen, Keira & Rowan Schwartz, Miles Matton, Mitch Anderson, Morgan McCauley, Mur Lafferty, Natalie Luhrs, Nathan Bremmer, Nellie, Nicole, Nicole Dutton, Ori Shifrin, Paul Bulmer, Paul Echeverri, Pedro Arjona, Philda, Philip Adler, Phillip Jones, Poppy Terwilliger Lammergeier, Rachel Sanders, Ragi Gonçalves, Reed Lindner, Renee D. LeBeau, Rhonda Parrish, Richard Leaver, Rick Cambere, Ro Molina, Rob Steinberger, Robin in Vermont, Robin0, Rodelle Ladia Jr., Rodrigo Martin, Roger Silverstein, Ron Jarrell, Rosie, Rowan A., Ryan Rapp, Ryan Spicher, S. Nasiri, Sally Novak Janin, Sam Courtney, Sarah Kingdred, Sarah Livingston Heitz, Scott Drummond, Scott Serafin, Sean Brennan, Shadow, Sharon Wood, Sheryl R. Hayes, SJ Elliott, Skyler Spurgeon, Smith Roberts, Sophia Fisher, Stephanie Langdeau, Steve Dean, Steve Feldon, Steven Desjardins, Steven Saus, Su Lem, summervillain, Sy Bram, T.Thaggert, Tamara L. DeGray, Tania Clucas, Tara Rowan, Tara Smith, Tara Yoshikawa, Ted Brown, Thomas Zilling, Tim & Meredith Hines, Tim Uruski, Timothy Moore, Tina Kirk, Tom Bridge, Topher, Travis M. Dunn, Trey Wren, Vincent Meijer, Von Welch, Yoshio Kobayashi, Younjee Shon, ZenDog, Joey Shoji, Armi Guerilla, Evan Ladouceur, Richard Ludwig, Heather Richardson, Keith Garcia, Edward Greaves, Cailtin Savage, Michelle Bourne, Lucinda Bromfield, and Duncan McNiff.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Bradley in the Gazebo at the Center of the Multiverse
Rondeau in Las Vegas
Marzi in Santa Cruz
Rondeau and Pelham in (and Under) Vegas
Marzi in Genius Loci
Bradley in the Wilderness
Rondeau in a Dirty RV Somewhere in Death Valley
Crapsey in a Cave
Bradley on the Road
Crapsey on the Floor
Bradley in Vegas
Marzi in a Mood
Pelham Imprisoned
Marzi in the Medicine Lands
Bradley in Trouble
Marzi in the Oracle's Lair
Bradley in the Streets
Marzi at Home
Bradley on the Road Again
Rondeau in a Limo
Marzi in Conversation
Nicolette in Control
Bradley in the Park with Marla
Little B in the Big City
Crapsey in Felport
Bradley on the Beach and Beyond
Rondeau in His Element
Marzi in the War Room
Bradley in, and Just Outside, Felport
Epilogue: The Dread Queen in Her Realm
Acknowledgments