by D. P. Prior
“Your mother is going away forever.” Danato crossed one arm over his chest and put his other hand to his jutting chin. “Come, be with her while you can.”
Lucia breathed heavily with her mouth open. Her mother’s face had looked peaceful before—now it was tortured.
“Father, come quickly!”
King Vieri continued to hold Caio in the air, but turned his head to look at his daughter. “Everything is fine, Lucia.”
“No! There’s a man in here. Muh—Muh—Mother needs you!”
He lowered the newborn to his chest and waved to the crowd.
“Father, listen to me!”
As her father strolled into the chamber, all joy drained from his face. He ran straight to Lucia’s mother, never looking at the black god. The queen’s blood was reddening the holy pool.
“Don’t you see him?” Lucia asked.
Her father laid the baby on the stone floor.
Her mother opened her pained, bloodshot eyes.
Lord Danato sauntered toward the stairs that led to the attendants below.
With his hands on his wife’s sweating brow, her father prayed to his god.
“Lord Danato did this to her!”
“Get help, Lucia!” Her father wouldn’t take his eyes off his queen’s face.
Danato stood in the archway between Lucia and the stairs, gazing at her with stony eyes.
“Lord Danato is there! Don’t you see him?”
“Stop your nonsense. Get help!”
Her mother screamed, a harrowing sound Lucia knew she’d never forget.
The baby cried.
Her father kept yelling at her.
Lucia froze. She watched her mother, feeling helpless and mute.
Danato’s voice boomed, “I am sorry, Lucia. There is a reason for all things.”
She looked down to avoid the god’s stare and squeezed her eyelids shut. She found the courage to look up again.
The Black One was gone.
Vieri pulled the queen’s lifeless body from the pool and squeezed it against his trembling chest. His wailing drowned the holy chamber in woe.
Lucia’s dreams of an idyllic life flew away from her, sucked into the black god’s tempest of dust.
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
Praise for The Shader Series
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MAP OF SAHUL
MAP OF THE NOUSIAN THEOCRACY
CADMAN’S GAMBIT
THE SWORD OF THE ARCHON
VISITS IN THE NIGHT
THE BARD OF BROKEN BRIDGE
THE AURA PLACIDA
THE SCENT OF IMMORTALITY
STAGE FRIGHT
RUJALA
THE ANCHORITE
THE STATUE OF EINGANA
THE GIG
CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS
AFTER THE SHOW
WHERE NOUSIA ENDS
THE CAT’S OUT OF THE BAG
THE ORPHAN
THE MAZE
RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL
THE SICARII
A BROTHER IN ARMS
THE TEMPLUM OF THE KNOT
OF EVILS PAST AND PRESENT
THE SHAMAN AND THE IPSISSIMUS
TO FIGHT FOR AIN
THE CHILD IN THE ROAD
THE AID OF THE FALLEN
THE BLACK HAND
THE MEETING
THE MAWGS BENEATH
KNOTS
ILLUSIONS SHATTERED
MALICIDE
TO AWAKEN THE LOST
REJUVENATION
CONFESSION
THE DUEL
CADMAN’S COUP
PAST GLORIES, PRESENT WOES
DREAMER’S APPRENTICE
A TEMPLUM BESIEGED
THE SUMMONING
SCREEN 55
THE COMING TERROR
THE DEATH OF DEACON SHADER
THE STORY CONTINUES IN
shader news and updates are available from