ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRIAN D. ANDERSON is the bestselling fantasy author of the Godling Chronicles, Dragonvein, and Akiri (with coauthor Steven Savile) series. Currently, he lives in the sleepy southern town of Fairhope, Alabama, with his wife and son, who inspire him daily.
You can learn more at:
BrianDAndersonbooks.com, or sign up for email updates here
briandandersonbooks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorBrianDAnderson
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CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
DEDICATION
MAP
1. HEART INTERRUPTED
2. THE STRANGER
3. FAREWELL TO VYLARI
4. THE LETTER
5. THE JOURNEY BEGINS
6. STRANGE MEETINGS
7. THE ZARA TRAP
8. BETRAYAL OF THE INNOCENT
9. BATTERED BUT NOT BROKEN
10. THE BARGAIN
11. LOBIN
12. HARSH REALITY
13. PROMISES OF THE HOPELESS
14. A SEA OF BLOOD
15. HOPE AND PORRIDGE
16. A NEAR MISS
17. WARM BEDS AND COLD GREETINGS
18. DECEPTION AND SALVATION
19. THE LESSONS AND TRIALS OF THE IRON LADY
20. HOW TO KILL A HIGH CLERIC
21. GLAMOR, SECRETS, AND POLITICS
22. A FOOL’S PARADISE
23. THE TRUTH REVEALED
24. THE PAIN OF REUNION
25. THE SORROW OF A DREAM COME TRUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE BARD’S BLADE
Copyright © 2019 by Brian D. Anderson
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Felix Ortiz
Map by Rhys Davies
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Anderson, Brian D. (Brian Don), 1971– author.
Title: The bard’s blade / Brian D. Anderson.
Description: First edition.|New York: Tor, a Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2020.|Series: The sorcerer’s song
Identifiers: LCCN 2019041246 (print)|LCCN 2019041247 (ebook)|ISBN 9781250214645 (trade paperback)|ISBN 9781250214638 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Fantasy fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3601.N49 B37 2020 (print)|LCC PS3601.N49 (ebook)|DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019041246
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019041247
eISBN 9781250214638
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: January 2020
The Bard's Blade Page 39