Tower Lord (A Raven's Shadow Novel)

by Anthony Ryan

He moved too fast for her to dodge away, large powerful hands gripping her shoulders and drawing her close. She stared into his eyes as they roamed over her scars, seeing only a blank sense of purpose. “Hurt,” he said and enfolded her in his arms, crushing her against the hard muscle of his chest.

  And she burned.

  APPENDIX I

  Dramatis Personae

  THE UNIFIED REALM

  The Royal House of Al Nieren

  Malcius Al Nieren—King of the Unified Realm

  Lyrna Al Nieren—sister to Malcius, Princess of the Realm

  Ordella Al Nieren—wife to Malcius, Queen of the Realm

  Janus Al Nieren—son to Malcius, heir to the throne

  Dirna Al Nieren—daughter to Malcius, Princess of the Realm

  The Noble House of Al Sorna

  Vaelin Al Sorna—former brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Realm and Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches

  Alornis Al Sorna—artist and sister to Vaelin

  The Northern Reaches

  Dahrena Al Myrna—First Counsel to the North Tower

  Adal Zenu—captain of the North Guard

  Kehlan—healer and brother of the Fifth Order

  Hollun—record keeper and brother of the Fourth Order

  Orven Al Melna—captain of the Third Company, King’s Mounted Guard

  Harlick—librarian and brother of the Seventh Order, Archivist of the North Tower

  Nortah Al Sendahl—teacher and former brother of the Sixth Order, friend to Vaelin

  Sella Al Sendahl—wife to Nortah

  Artis Al Sendahl—son to Sella and Nortah

  Lohren Al Sendahl—daughter to Sella and Nortah

  Snowdance—war-cat

  Wise Bear—shaman to the Bear People

  Sanesh Poltar—war chief to the Eorhil Sil

  Wisdom—sage elder to the Eorhil Sil

  Insha ka Forna (Steel in Moonlight)—Eorhil warrior

  Ultin—mine foreman at Reaver’s Gulch, later captain of the First Battalion of the Army of the North

  Davern—shipwright, later sergeant in the Army of the North

  Cara—resident of Nehrin’s Point

  Lorkan—resident of Nehrin’s Point

  Marken—resident of Nehrin’s Point

  Weaver—resident of Nehrin’s Point

  The Sixth Order of the Faith

  Sollis—sword-master and Brother Commander of the Skellan Pass

  Caenis Al Nysa—brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Realm and Lord Marshal of the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Foot

  Frentis—brother of the Sixth Order, friend to Vaelin

  Grealin—Master of Stores and brother of the Sixth Order

  Rensial—horse-master and brother of the Sixth Order

  Ivern—brother of the Sixth Order, stationed at the Skellan Pass

  Hervil—brother of the Sixth Order, stationed at the Skellan Pass

  Alltor

  Sentes Mustor—Fief Lord of Cumbrael

  Reva Mustor—niece to Sentes

  Veliss—Honoured Counsel to the Fief Lord of Cumbrael

  Arentes Varnor—Lord Commander of the City Guard

  Bren Antesh—Lord Commander of Archers

  Harin—healer and brother of the Fifth Order, Master of Bone Lore

  Arken—Asraelin youth, friend to Reva

  The Reader—leader of the Church of the World Father

  Renfael

  Darnel Linel—Fief Lord of Renfael

  Hughlin Banders—knight and Baron of Renfael

  Ulice—illegitimate daughter to Banders

  Arendil—son to Ulice

  Ermund Lewen—knight and chief retainer to Banders

  Rekus Wenders—knight and chief retainer to Darnel

  The Urlish Forest

  Ratter—outlaw

  Draker—outlaw, comrade to Ratter

  Illian Al Jervin—escaped slave, friend to Davoka

  Thirty-Four—former numbered slave and torturer

  Slasher—faith-hound and friend to Frentis

  Blacktooth—faith-hound and friend to Illian

  Others

  Alucius Al Hestian—poet, friend to Alornis and Vaelin

  Nirka Al Smolen—Lord Marshal of the King’s Mounted Guard

  Tendris Al Forne—Aspect of the Fourth Order

  Benril Lenial—renowned artist and brother of the Third Order

  Janril Norin—minstrel and former standard-bearer in the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Foot

  Ellora—dancer and wife to Janril

  Count Marven—commander of the Nilsaelin contingent of the Army of the North

  Jehrid Al Bera—Tower Lord of the Southern Shore

  LONAK DOMINION

  The Mahlessa—High Priestess and leader of the Lonakhim

  Davoka—warrior of the Black River Clan, Servant of the Mountain, friend to Lyrna

  Kiral—huntress of the Black River Clan and sister to Davoka

  Alturk—Tahlessa of the Grey Hawk Clan

  Mastek—warrior of the Grey Hawk Clan

  THE ALPIRAN EMPIRE

  Aluran Maxtor Selsus—Emperor

  Emeren Nasur Ailers—former ward to the Emperor

  Verniers Alishe Someren—Imperial Chronicler

  Neliesen Nester Hevren—captain in the Imperial Guard

  THE VOLARIAN EMPIRE

  Arklev Entril—member of the Volarian Ruling Council

  Reklar Tokrev—general of the Twentieth Corps of the Volarian Imperial Host

  Fornella Av Entril Av Tokrev—sister to Arklev, wife to Reklar

  Vastir—overseer of the pits, in the employ of Arklev

  MELDENEAN ISLANDS

  Atheran Ell-Nestra—Meldenean sea captain and Shield of the Isles

  Carval Ell-Nurin—Ship Lord and captain of the Red Falcon

  Belorath—captain of the Sea Sabre

  SEORDAH SIL

  Nersus Sil Nin (Song of the Wind)—seer of ancient legend

  Hera Drakil (Red Hawk)—elder and war chief

  APPENDIX II

  The Rules of Warrior’s Bluff

  A standard Asraelin deck holds the following cards, listed in order of rank:

  King of Wolves (value: 12)

  Queen of Roses (value: 11)

  Prince of Snakes (value: 10)

  Lord of Blades (value: 9)

  Lady of Crows (value: 8)

  Red Captain (value: 7)

  Black Sergeant (value: 7)

  Golden Guard (value: 7)

  Green Archer (value: 7)

  White Swordsman (value: 7)

  Blind Blacksmith (value: 6)

  Smiling Mason (value: 6)

  Lovelorn Miller (value: 6)

  Happy Weaver (value: 6)

  Weeping Maid (value: 6)

  Howling Wolf (value: 5)

  Soaring Hawk (value: 5)

  Feasting Crow (value: 5)

  Rearing Horse (value: 5)

  Coiled Snake (value: 5)

  Palace (value: 4)

  Throne (value: 4)

  Castle (value: 4)

  Crown (value: 4)

  Scroll (value: 4)

  Crossed Swords (value: 3)

  Poisoned Cup (value: 3)

  Bloody Dagger (value: 3)

  Drawn Bow (value: 3)

  Shining Axe (value: 3)

  Candle (value: 2)

  Book (value: 2)

  Spyglass (value: 2)

  Pestle (value: 2)

  Quill (value: 2)

  Grey Ship (value: 1)

  Merry Sailor (value: 1)

  Rising Storm (value: 1)

  Darkening Sea (value: 1)

  Drown
ed Man (value: 1)

  Warrior’s Bluff may be played by up to five players. At the start of the game the dealer shuffles the cards and deals six cards to each player. Each player may choose two cards from his hand to be substituted for two from the deck.

  The player to the dealer’s left will make the first bet or fold his hand and so on until each player has either placed a bet or folded. During the next round the players have the option of raising or sticking with their previous bets. If all players opt to stick, the cards will be shown and the player with the highest-value hand wins the pot. If one or more players opt to raise, each player must match the highest bet to stay in the game. Betting continues until all remaining players stick in the same round, after which all cards are shown and the player with the highest-value hand wins.

  Any player drawing the Lord of Blades plus the five cards in the Martial Suit (Red Captain, Black Sergeant, Golden Guard, Green Archer and White Swordsman) has drawn the Warrior’s Bluff and wins the hand. All other hands are won by virtue of the total value of all five cards held by each player. Where the value of two or more hands is identical, the player with the highest-ranking card wins, e.g. a player holding the King of Wolves and five other cards with a total value of thirty will win over a player with a Queen of Roses and five other cards also with a value of thirty.