by David B. Coe
“Behind you, my lord!”
Tebeo spun, his sword arcing downward, intending to cleave his second attacker in half from shoulder to gut. The soldier danced away, avoiding his blade, and the duke allowed his momentum to carry him all the way around so that he faced the other soldier once more.
The man in front of him lunged forward, sword held high, his dagger hand leveling a killing blow at Tebeo’s side. The duke wrenched himself down and away from both blades, stumbled and fell heavily on his side. Fortunately, one of Dantrielle’s men was there to meet the assault and drive back the Solkaran soldier. It was the second time in the last few moments that Tebeo had needed aid from one of his soldiers just to stay alive.
The second Solkaran soldier advanced on the duke again, his sword and short blade raised. Tebeo scrambled to his feet and readied his steel, his eyes darting to the left and right. All of his men who were close enough to come to his rescue were engaged in combat. He’d have no help with this fight.
They struggled for several moments, silent save for the rasp of their breathing. And just as Tebeo managed to wrap his fingers around the hilt of his dagger, he saw the man’s arm fly free, steel glinting in the sunlight like the wing of a dragonfly. Then the arm dangled downward, a blur of steel and mail and flesh, and Tebeo felt a searing pain in his side.
“If the series continues to maintain its present level of imaginative world-building, superior characterization, and sound prose, the next book too will be as welcome an addition to fantasy collections as this one is.”—Booklist
TOR BOOKS BY DAVID B. COE
THE LONTOBYN CHRONICLE
Children of Amarid
The Outlanders
Eagle-Sage
WINDS OF THE FORELANDS
Rules of Ascension
Seeds of Betrayal
Bonds of Vengeance
Shapers of Darkness
Weavers of War
BOOK FOUR
OF
Winds of the Forelands
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This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
SHAPERS OF DARKNESS:
BOOK FOUR OF WINDS OF THE FORELANDS
Copyright © 2005 by David B. Coe
Excerpt from Weavers of War copyright © 2007 by David B. Coe
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Edited by James Frenkel
Maps by Ellisa Mitchell
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN-13: 978-0-812-59021-0
ISBN-10: 0-812-59021-X
First Edition: December 2005
First Mass Market Edition: February 2007
Printed in the United States of America
0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Harold and Marjorie Roth,
with all my thanks for a lifetime of friendship
Acknowledgments
Again, many thanks to my wonderful agent, Lucienne Diver; my publisher, Tom Doherty; the great people at Tor Books, in particular David Moench and Fiona Lee; Irene Gallo and her staff; Terry McGarry for her friendship and unbelievably thorough copyediting; my terrific editor and good friend, Jim Frenkel; his editorial assistant, Liz Gorinsky; and his interns, in particular Stosh Jonjak, David Polsky, Michael Gorewitz, and John Payne.
As always, I’m most grateful to Nancy, Alex, and Erin, who always manage to keep me laughing.
—D.B.C.
Characters
KINGDOM OF EIBITHAR
City of Kings
KEARNEY THE FIRST, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Glyndwr
LEILIA, queen of Eibithar, formerly duchess of Glyndwr, wife of Kearney
KEZIAH JA DAFYDD, archminister of Eibithar, formerly first minister of Glyndwr
GERSHON TRASKER, swordmaster of Eibithar, formerly swordmaster of Glyndwr
AYLYN THE SECOND, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Thorald (deceased)
WENDA JA BAUL, high minister of Eibithar
PAEGAR JAL BERGET, high minister of Eibithar (deceased)
DYRE JAL FRINVAL, minister of Eibithar
House of Curgh
JAVAN, duke of Curgh
SHONAH, duchess of Curgh, wife of Javan
LORD TAVIS OF CURGH, son of Javan and Shonah
GRINSA JAL ARRIET, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel
FOTIR JAL SALENE, first minister of Curgh
HAGAN MARCULLET, swordmaster of Curgh
DARIA MARCULLET, wife of Hagan (deceased)
XAVER MARCULLET, pledged liege man to Tavis of Curgh, son of Hagan and Daria
House of Kentigern
AINDREAS, duke of Kentigern
IOANNA, duchess of Kentigern, wife of Aindreas
LADY BRIENNE OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna (deceased)
LADY AFFERY OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna
LORD ENNIS OF KENTIGERN, son of Aindreas and loanna
SHURIK JAL MARCINE, formerly first minister of Kentigern (deceased)
VILLYD TEMSTEN, swordmaster of Kentigern
House of Galdasten
RENALD, duke of Galdasten
ELSPETH, duchess of Galdasten, wife of Renald
LORD RENALD THE YOUNGER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
LORD ADLER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
LORD RORY OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth
PILLAD JAL KRENAAR, first minister of Galdasten
EWAN TRAYLEE, swordmaster of Galdasten
House of Thorald
FILIB THE ELDER, duke of Thorald (deceased)
NERINE, duchess of Thorald, wife of Filib the Elder
LORD FILIB THE YOUNGER OF THORALD, son of Filib the Elder and Nerine (deceased)
TOBBAR, duke of Thorald, Filib the Elder’s brother
MARSTON, thane of Shanstead, Tobbar’s son
ENID JA KOVAR, first minister of Thorald (deceased)
XIVLED JAL VISTE (XIV), minister of Shanstead
House of Glyndwr
KEARNEY THE YOUNGER, duke of Glyndwr, son of King Kearney the First and Queen Leilia
House of Heneagh
WELFYL, duke of Heneagh
DUNFYL, thane of Cransher, Welfyl’s son
RAB AVKAR, swordmaster of Heneagh
House of Tremain
LATHROP, duke of Tremain
EVETTA JA RUDEK, first minister of Tremain
&nbs
p; House of Labruinn
CAIUS, duke of Labruinn
OTTAH JAL BITHLAN, first minister of Labruinn
House of Domnall
SEAMUS, duke of Domnall
House of Eardley
ELAM, duke of Eardley
CERRI JA RONTAF, first minister of Eardley
KINGDOM OF ANEIRA
House Solkara (Aneira’s royal house)
TOMAZ THE NINTH, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara (deceased)
CARDEN THE THIRD, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara, Tomaz the Ninth’s son, Kalyi’s father (deceased)
CHOFYA, formerly queen of Aneira, formerly duchess of Solkara, Carden the Third’s wife, Kalyi’s mother
KALYI, queen of Solkara, daughter of Carden and Chofya
GRIGOR, marquess of Renbrere, Carden’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals (deceased)
HENTHAS, duke of Solkara, Carden and Grigor’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals
NUMAR, marquess of Renbrere, regent to Queen Kalyi, Carden, Grigor, and Henthas’s younger brother, known as the Fool
PRONJED JAL DRENTHE, archminister of Aneira
TRADDEN GRONTALLE, master of arms of Aneira
House Dantrielle
TEBEO, duke of Dantrielle
PELGIA, duchess of Dantrielle, wife of Tebeo
LORD TAS OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia
LADY LAYTSA OF DANTRIELLE, daughter of Tebeo and Pelgia
LORD SENAON OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia
EVANTHYA JA YISPAR, first minister of Dantrielle
BAUSEF DARLESTA, master of arms of Dantrielle
House Orvinti
BRALL, duke of Orvinti
PAZICE, duchess of Orvinti, Brall’s wife
FETNALLA JA PRANDT, first minister of Orvinti
TRAEFAN SOGRANO, master of arms of Orvinti
House Bistari
CHAGO, duke of Bistari (deceased)
RIA, duchess of Bistari, wife of Chago
SILBRON, duke of Bistari, son of Chago and Ria
House Mertesse
ROUEL, duke of Mertesse (deceased)
ROWAN, duke of Mertesse, son of Rouel
YAELLA JA BANVEL, first minister of Mertesse
House Noltierre
BERTIN THE ELDER, duke of Noltierre (deceased)
BERTIN THE YOUNGER, duke of Noltierre, son of Bertin the Elder
MEQIV JAL WANAERE, first minister of Noltierre
House Kett
ANSIS, duke of Kelt
House Rassor
GRESTOS, duke of Rassor
House Tounstrel
VIDOR, duke of Tounstrel (deceased)
VISTAAN, duke of Tounstrel, son of Vidor
MATRIARCHY OF SANBIRA
House Yserne
OLESYA, queen of Sanbira, duchess of Yserne
ABENI JA KRENTA, archminister of Sanbira
OHAN DELRASTO, master of arms of Sanbira
House Curlinte
DALVIA, duchess of Curlinte (deceased)
SERTIO, duke of Curlinte, husband of Dalvia, master of arms of Curlinte
DIANI, duchess of Curlinte, daughter of Dalvia and Sertio
LORD CYRO OF CURLINTE, son of Dalvia and Sertio, brother of Diani (deceased)
KREAZUR JAL SYLBE, first minister of Curlinte (deceased)
House Brugaosa
EDAMO, duke of Brugaosa
VANJAD JAL QIEN, first minister of Brugaosa
House Norinde
ALAO, duke of Norinde
FILTEM JAL TORQATTE, first minister of Norinde
House Macharzo
NADITIA, duchess of Macharzo
CRAEFFE JA TREF, first minister of Macharzo
Other Sanbiri nobles
VASYONNE, duchess of Listaal
AJY, duchess of Kinsarta
RASHEL, duchess of Trescarri
TAMYRA, duchess of Prentarlo
EMPIRE OF BRAEDON
HAREL THE FOURTH, emperor of Braedon, lord of Curtell
DUSAAN JAL KANIA, high chancellor of Braedon
URIAD GANJER, master of arms of Braedon
KAYIV JAL YIVANNE, minister of Braedon
NITARA JA PLIN, minister of Braedon
STAVEL JAL MIRAAD, chancellor of Braedon
B’SERRE JA DOSH, minister of Braedon
GORLAN JAL AVIARRE, minister of Braedon
ROV JAL TELSA, minister of Braedon
BARDYN JAL FENNE, chancellor of Braedon
THE QIRSI CONSPIRACY
CRESENNE JA TERBA, formerly a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel
BRYNTELLE JA GRINSA, daughter of Cresenne and Grinsa jal Arriet
JASTANNE JA TRILN, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Kentigern, and captain of the White Erne
TIHOD JAL BROSSA, a merchant and captain of the Silver Flame, the man who pays gold to members of the movement (deceased)
UESTEM JAL SAFHIR, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Galdasten
MITTIFAR JAL STEK, member of the Qirsi movement, owner of the White Wave tavern in Galdasten
CADEL NISTAAD, also called Corbin, an assassin (deceased)
Shapers
of
Darkness
Chapter
One
Curtell, Braedon, year 880, Amon’s Moon waning
hat did it mean to be a god? Was it simply immortality that separated the great ones from those who lived on Elined’s earth? Was it their power to bend others to their will, their ability to shape the future and remake the world as they desired? Did he not possess those powers as well? Had he not made himself a god?
Victory would soon be his, and with his triumph would come a new world, one that he had foreseen, a world of his own making. Was that not the highest power? He could not cheat death—Bian would call him to his side eventually. But he would be remembered forever: the Weaver who toppled the Eandi courts and ruled the Forelands as its first Qirsi king. Was that not immortality?
In these last days before war and conquest and the attainment of all for which he had worked and hungered for so long, he found himself remembering a legend told to him by his father when he was no more than a boy, before anyone had thought to call him high chancellor, or Weaver, or king. It was a tale of four brothers, a story his father said had come from the Southlands, with the first Qirsi invaders, nearly nine centuries ago. He had heard it told since by Eandi living in the Forelands, as if the parable and its moral belonged to them. But he knew the truth.
According to the tale, the four brothers were soldiers who, as they wandered the land, came across a white stag that had been caught in a hunter’s snare. The beast was more beautiful than any creature the four men had seen before. It stood taller than the greatest mounts of the southern plains, with a coat the color of cream, and ebony antlers as broad across as an eagle’s wings. White stags were said to be enchanted, and they lived under the protection of royal decrees throughout all the kingdoms of the land. Those who dared hunt them not only invited ill fortune by slaying a magical creature, but also risked execution should they be caught.
Knowing this, the brothers freed the beast, cutting through the snare with their blades. When it was free, the stag bowed to them, and then spoke.
“You have given me my life, and so I will grant to each of you your heart’s desire,” the creature said. “You need only sleep tonight in this glade and await the first light of dawn.”
The stag left them then, and the brothers bedded down in the glade.
In the middle of the night, the oldest of the four awoke to find a warrior standing before him in shining mail, bearing a sword that gleamed in the moonlight. “Come with me,” the warrior said, “and I will make you the greatest swordsman in the land. No enemy will dare stand against you, and bards will sing of your prowess in battle.”
Believing that the stag had made good on his promise, the first brother followed the warrior from the glade. Once beyond the last
of the trees, however, the warrior vanished as if a spirit and the brother found that the trees would not part to allow him back in.
Soon after, the second brother awoke to find an old man standing before him in the robes of a king. “Come with me,” the man said, “and you shall rule all the land. Nobles will bow to you and swordsmen will follow you to war. All power shall be yours.” Like his older brother before him, the second brother thought that this was what the stag had promised. He followed the man from the glade, only to find that the old king had been an apparition and the glade was now closed to him.
A woman came to the third brother, clad in lace, her silken, black hair falling to the small of her back, and her skin gleaming with starlight. She led him from the glade before dissolving into the night like one of Bian’s wraiths.
The youngest of the four brothers awoke to find a child standing before him. It was a boy, though his hair was long and his face as fine-featured as that of a young girl. In his hands he held glittering gems and gold coins and pearls that seemed to glow from within. “There’s more,” he said, holding out his hands to the youngest brother. “Follow me and you’ll have riches beyond your greatest imaginings.”
“No,” said the youngest brother. “The white stag told me I had only to await the dawn. And that is what I shall do.”
The boy begged him to follow, but still the brother refused, and at last the boy left him there.
When morning came, the stag returned. “You have heeded my words and so earned the rewards you were promised.” Then the boy returned, and with him the warrior, the old king, and the woman. The youngest brother became the greatest warrior the land had ever known, the people made him king, and the woman became his queen. Even his brothers knelt before him, knowing that he had succeeded where they failed. And for the rest of his days he enjoyed fame, power, wealth, and deepest happiness.
Dusaan had taken the lesson of this tale to heart years ago; he had awaited his own destiny with the patience of the youngest brother. And even as the time of his victory approached, even as the first spoils presented themselves to him—be it in the form of gold from the emperor’s treasury, or the willing gaze of the underminister who would be his queen—he denied himself the pleasure of taking them as his own. He would in time. Qirsar knew he would. The woman in particular would be a prize to be savored. She had sworn that she would give all to his movement. And he knew that she would give all to him as well. He need only ask. She would bear him children. He had imagined others as his queen; he still did. Harel had several wives, and he was no more than a fat fool, an emperor whose grip on power was more tenuous than he could possibly know. If such a man could claim four women as his own, could not the first Qirsi ruler in the history of the Forelands do the same?