Aren’s tune.
When he had completed it, he reached up. The creature stepped onto his forearm, its claws digging into his flesh as it turned to face him. The creature was already anxious and agitated, driven to find, in the gathering night, the notes it had just heard.
Evard spoke simply to the creature.
“Where are you? Do you need me to come?”
Then, with a sweep of his arm, he released the dark, winged creature, sending it into the twilight sky.
Through many nights to come, wherever Evard journeyed in the service of the Obsidians, he would repeat the ritual. Sometimes with one creature, and sometimes with dozens, but each time the creature would return exhausted and silent.
Those notes were never answered.
The song had gone forever silent.
THE END OF BOOK ONE
NOVELS BY TRACY HICKMAN AND RICHARD GARRIOTT
The Sword of Midras*
NOVELS BY TRACY AND LAURA HICKMAN
THE NIGHTBIRDS
Unwept*
Unhonored* (forthcoming)
BRONZE CANTICLES
Mystic Warrior
Mystic Quest
Mystic Empire
TALES OF THE DRAGON’S BARD
Eventide
Swept Up by the Sea
St. Nicholas and the Dragon
NOVELS BY MARGARET WEIS AND TRACY HICKMAN
Bones of the Dragon*
Secret of the Dragon*
Rage of the Dragon*
Doom of the Dragon*
ALSO BY TRACY HICKMAN
THE ANNALS OF DRAKIS
Song of the Dragon
Citadels of the Lost
Blood of the Emperor
The Immortals
StarCraft: Speed of Darkness
Fireborn: Embers of Atlantis
Wayne of Gotham
*A Tor Book
About the Authors
TRACY HICKMAN has been publishing game designs, books, and stories for more than thirty-five years. In addition, he is a New York Times bestselling coauthor of many novels, including the original Dragonlance Chronicles. Hickman lives in Utah. Visit him at www.trhickman.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
RICHARD GARRIOTT DE CAYEUX is a video game designer, collector, and private astronaut. In 2006, Richard was awarded with two industry honors for his work in the games business: selection into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Map of New Britannia
PROLOGUE: The Destiny Pool
PART I: THE OBSIDIANS
CHAPTER 1: Midras
CHAPTER 2: Ruin
CHAPTER 3: The Blade
CHAPTER 4: Messages
CHAPTER 5: Dark Horizon
CHAPTER 6: Desolis
CHAPTER 7: Chamber of Souls
CHAPTER 8: Treacherous Paths
CHAPTER 9: Awry
PART II: THE FALLS
CHAPTER 10: Hilt
CHAPTER 11: Mistral
CHAPTER 12: Amanda
CHAPTER 13: Councils
CHAPTER 14: The Bearer
CHAPTER 15: Bay of Storms
PART III: THE SIEGE
CHAPTER 16: Opalis
CHAPTER 17: Crossroads
CHAPTER 18: Innocents
CHAPTER 19: Dispossessed
CHAPTER 20: Unwilling Help
CHAPTER 21: Practical Men
CHAPTER 22: The Walls
CHAPTER 23: The Gate
CHAPTER 24: Collateral Damage
PART IV: THE TIDE
CHAPTER 25: Bargains
CHAPTER 26: The Open Door
CHAPTER 27: Epiphany
CHAPTER 28: Thundering Silence
Novels by Tracy Hickman and Richard Garriott
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
THE SWORD OF MIDRAS
Copyright © 2016 by Portalarium, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Pierre Droal
Cover design by Peter Lutjen
Map by Portalarium, Inc.
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-8230-6 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-8680-3 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466886803
Our e-books 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 e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: June 2016
The Sword of Midras Page 26