"I agree," Byrnak said. "But what is to be our purpose now? Are we still intent on relinquishing all that we are in order that the Lord of Twilight may become whole?" He surveyed the reluctant faces, and nodded. "I thought not. Yet we must deal with him in the end."
"Could there be some way to employ the Weaving of Souls that does not result in our personal obliteration?" Kodel asked. "Perhaps we should put the Acolytes to work on the problem."
Heads nodded.
"In the meantime," Byrnak said. "We need to plan the reconquest of our domain. Our hasty brother has all but wrecked the regard and loyalty we had from the clans, and left us with few available stratagems. There is one, however, which offers a much-needed certainty."
Grazaan gave a wintry smile. "Gorla and Keshada."
"Gorla and Keshada," Byrnak repeated. "Yasgur and those rebels are too weak to challenge the northern warlords, with or without our help. By the time they feel able to, Gorla and Keshada will be ready, along with our new armies. Which the Acolytes assure me will have many willing spirits."
Grazaan and Thraelor exchanged a look. "We shall begin at once," Thraelor said and the two of them faded from the chamber.
Kodel gave Byrnak a thoughtful look.
"Do you trust them?" he said.
"To carry out the seedings? - yes. I also expect them to seek advantages that suit them."
"Of course," Kodel murmured. "I shall gather together our remaining Acolyte masters and exhort them to explore our problem with the Weaving of Souls."
Departing, he left Byrnak alone with the imprisoned Ystregul and the compass of his own inner perceptions.
That will have to suffice for you, he thought inwardly. We will not pay the price of oblivion.
But the only answer was silence, a deep, secretive silence.
The End
(To be continued in SHADOWGOD)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my agent, the indefatigable John Parker, and my editor the inestimable John Jarrold, and to Steve Stone, artist non pareil! And to Rob Holdstock and Chris Evans for taking Waltz In Flexitime all them years ago.
To my brave readers of the 1st draft – Dave W, Dave McG, Eric, Ian, Fiona, Alison, Stewart, Derek H, Neil, Phil, Al, Craig, Barry, and Niall.
To Stewart Robinson, long-time buddy, soulbrother, musician and guru manque - without whom I might have ended up an MP or an engineer – and Alison, Bobby, Alan, Dave R. and Ann, Colin and Adrienne (and the six-legged beastie known as Tranceport).
To David Wingrove, writer among scribblers, prince among men, whose unfailing friendship and sharp-eyed criticism has helped me reach higher.
To Bill King, Eric Brown, Keith Brooke and Ian McDonald, the four Musketeers of British SF. Salute, mon braves! And to Bill Hicks, who rocked!
To Dave McGillivray, staunch friend and fellow C&C Red Alert addict, and Derek Cameron who knows a good game when he sees one. To Melanie, woman of grace and astonishingly good taste in music; and to Antje – Tuus! And to Gary Gibson, publishing magnate and king of the layouts!
To the Glasgow SF Writers Circle, past and present, including Veronica, Duncan, Neil, Gary G, Gerry, Phil, Paul, Al, Irene, Elsie, Graham, Jims Whyte and Steel, Roddy, Barry (the Ferg), Richard, Craig, John, Andrew J, Mike M. Also, Cuddles, Vince, Brian Waugh, Jim Campbell, Russell, Neil at Fshock.
To Peter and Sarah, and the Cobleys of Leicester, and to the Bradys and the Mackenzies, wherever they may be.
To my English teacher, Miss (Ada) Matheson – well, you did tell me not to stop writing…
To Iain Banks, Elizabeth K Ewing, Bill Grant, Noel Hannan, Bruce Sterling, Norman Spinrad, Simon Ings, Ken McLeod, Jack Deighton, Charles Stross, and Steve Brown – bestowers of advice, encouragement, inspiration and Tao!
To Nick Mahoney and Ian Sales, for the immortal Lyre and Turkey Shoot. And to JFM for squeegeeing my 3rd eye before I even knew I had one.
To the old Strathents Crew, 1979-1983 – they knew no fear! Likewise, the GCCS crowd at Strathclyde Students Union, circa 1983-1988.
To the writers who have inspired me by their example, among whom I include (as well as those already mentioned), Harlan Ellison, John Buchan, JRR Tolkien, David Gemmell, Robert Silverberg, George RR Martin, Tim Powers, David Brin, JV Jones, Roger Zelazny, Vernor Vinge, Jack Vance, Walter J Williams, Robert E Howard, and many more.
And for the music that has provided the score for the writing process – Porcupine Tree, Tranceport, Peri Urban, Black Sabbath, BOC, Berlioz, Shostakovich (specifically the Leningrad Symphony), Carl Orff (Carmina Burana), Vaughan Williams (Tallis Fantasia etc), Van Der Graaf Generator, IQ, Yes, Monster Magnet, Paradise Lost, NIN, Sisters of Mercy, The Tea Party, Ozric Tentacles...and the rest.
And in no particular order, I would like to offer thanks to Gigantor, Noggin the Nog, Marine Boy, Ben Okri, the Prisoner, King Tut`s WahWah Hut, Airfix model kits, the Koei Corporation, and the Café India buffet. Oh yeah!
ALSO BY MICHAEL COBLEY
THE SHADOWKINGS TRILOGY
Shadowkings*
Shadowgod*
Shadowmasque*
HUMANITY'S FIRE
Seeds of Earth
The Orphaned Worlds
The Ascendant Stars
Ancestral Machines
SHORT STORY COLLECTION
Iron Mosaic
*available as a Jabberwocky ebook
The adventure continues in...
SHADOWGOD
Ancient powers stir all across the domains of the defeated Khatrimantine Empire. Its last defiant defenders have won a great victory and a new, young emperor has been crowned. A harsh, unseasonal winter has shrouded the land. In the icy north, the Shadowking Byrnak musters his forces, determined to crush the Imperial remnants and their allies. But his freedom to act is hampered by the intrigues of the other four Shadowkings, while a ghostly fragment of the Lord of Twilight haunts them all. If fulfilled, his dread destiny will devour the foundations of the world...
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Shadowkings Page 42