The Riven Shield
Page 1
“JEWEL. YOU ARE SEER-BORN. IT IS TIME THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.”
The mists were giving way to flat plains.
“I will tell you. If the seer-born choose to do so, they could see the past of a man almost as clearly as they could see the shadows he cast. The future is a place of possibility; the past is fixed. The road between the two is often connected, and once the path is found, it can be followed. The Oracle invited you to walk upon older roads than could be found in even the Stone Deepings. Walk them, Jewel, and in the end, I will be able to hide nothing.”
She felt cold. Looked down at the hands that had slowly fallen to her sides, and saw, cupped in them, a round, glowing orb. She blinked; her hands were empty.
But the mist had given way in a sudden gust of wind, pulled like curtains to either side.
Beneath her, extending for as far as she could see, lay a sea of tents. She saw horses, haltered, impatient; saw men, some with spears, some with swords.
“Where are we?”
“We are, if I guess correctly, at the border of the Terrean of Raverra. And this is some part of the army the young kai Leonne faces.”
Avandar caught her hand in his. He began to walk toward the body of the army. . . .
The Finest in Fantasy from MICHELLE WEST:
THE SUN SWORD:
THE BROKEN CROWN (Book One)
THE UNCROWNED KING (Book Two)
THE SHINING COURT (Book Three)
SEA OF SORROWS (Book Four)
THE RIVEN SHIELD (Book Five)
THE SUN SWORD (Book Six)
THE SACRED HUNT:
HUNTER’S OATH (Book One)
HUNTER’S DEATH (Book Two)
The
Riven Shield
The Sun Sword: Book Five
Michelle West
DAW BOOKS, INC.
DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, FOUNDER
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ELIZABETH R. WOLLHEIM
SHEILA E. GILBERT
PUBLISHERS
http://www.dawbooks.com
Copyright © 2003 by Michelle Sagara.
All Rights Reserved.
Cover art by Jody Lee.
Map by Michael Gilbert.
DAW Book Collectors No. 1262.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
First Printing, July 2003
DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED
U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES
—MARCA REGISTRADA.
HECHO EN U.S.A.
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
Version_2
This is for Terry Pearson,
who should know why.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As always, I owe Sheila Gilbert a debt for her patience and her understanding. Debra Euler, called DAW’s Valkyrie by Tanya Huff, provided timely reminders and her particular brand of encouragement. Alis Rasmussen read the early chapters of this book when I despaired of it being a book, and as always provided insight and advice. Graydon Saunders also provided a different kind of insight, meant for a later work, which did help for this one.
And Thomas, Daniel, and Ross patiently gave up their time while I wrote, complained, tore out my hair, and wrote more.
Author’s Note
I know that I told a great many of you that I was working on the last book of The Sun Sword—and this was completely true.
A bit about how I work. I don’t have a formal outline, or rather, I have several, and none of them are binding; they change with time. I approach my novels as if they were a collection of people I grow, with time, to know, and the motivations of those people change everything, time and again.
I have never been good at determining the length of a given story. This has led to much good-natured humor at my expense, and because it’s deserved, I accept it.
So . . . I was working on the last book of The Sun Sword. Family matters brought the book to a screeching halt in January of 2002, as they often do. But we recovered, and the book recovered, and I continued to write it. At the worldcon in San Jose, I was still telling people that this was the last book.
But about a month after I returned home, I realized that I was actually on page 1700 of the manuscript, and by best guess—see above re: me and length—it was going to come in at 2000 pages. So I phoned the DAW offices, and reached Sean Fodera, the rights manager (the wonderful thing about the DAW offices is that you never quite know who you’re going to reach, but it’s always a pleasure, regardless), and I said, “Sean, I think this is going to go a bit on the long side.” He laughed and said, “So what else is new?” And after several minutes of ribbing, which I won’t recap here, he got down to business and asked, “How long is long?”
And I said, “Ummm, at least 2000 manuscript pages.” (Writers are not, thank god, paid for conversation).
All laughter vanished at that point, and he said, “Now you have a problem. You’d better talk to Sheila.”
So I did, and at length, and it was decided that instead of attempting to hack 600 pages out of the book, we would split it.
Which is a good thing, given that I’m now at nearly 2100 pages, and although the end is definitely in sight, it’s not there yet.
I want to apologize to all of my readers for this. I didn’t intend to mislead anyone, and I didn’t intend to disappoint; to shorten the book would have been to carve out whole characters, and at this point in the story, it seemed to serve no one’s purpose. The Sun Sword is almost finished, and it will definitely be the concluding volume; I hope that you don’t find The Riven Shield, the first half of that longer work, a disappointment because it’s not quite the end.
Annagarian Ranks
Tyr’agarRuler of the Dominion
Tyr’agnateRuler of one of the five Terreans of the Dominion
TyrThe Tyr’agar or one of the four Tyr’agnate
TyranPersonal bodyguard (oathguard) of a Tyr
Tor’agarA noble in service to a Tyr
Tor’agnateA noble in service to a Tor’agar; least of noble ranks
TorA Tor’agar or Tor’agnate
ToranPersonal bodyguard (oathguard) of a Tor
SerA clansman
SerraThe primary wife and legitimate daughters of a clansman
kaiThe holder or first in line to the clan title
parThe brother of the first in line; the direct son of the title holder
Dramatis Personae
ESSALIEYAN
AVANTARI (The Palace)
The Royals
King Reymalyn: The Justice-born King
King Cormalyn: The Wisdom-born King
Princess Mirialyn ACormaris: Daughter of Queen Marieyan and King Cormalyn
The Astari
Duvari: The Lord of the Compact; leader of the Astari, the protectors of the Kings
Devon ATerafin: Member of the Astari and of House Terafin
Gregori ATerafin: The second of the Astari to take the Terafin oat
h
The Hostages
Serra Marlena en’Leonne: Valedan’s mother; born a slave but granted honorific “Serra” because her son has been recognized and claimed as legitimate
Ser Kyro di’Lorenza (Sorgassa): The oldest of the hostages
Imperial Army
The Eagle: Commander Bruce Allen—commands the First Army
The Hawk: Commander Berriliya—commands the Second Army
The Kestrel: Commander Kalakar—commands the Third Army and the Ospreys
THE TEN
KALAKAR
Ellora: The Kalakar
Verrus Korama: Her closest friend and adjutant
Verrus Vernon Loris: Friend and counselor
The Ospreys
Primus Duarte: Leader
Alexis: (Sentrus or Decarus)
Auralis: (Sentrus or Decarus)
Fiara: (Sentrus)
Cook: (Sentrus)
Sanderton: (Decarus)
Kiriel di’Ashaf
BERRILIYA
Devran: The Berriliya
TERAFIN
Amarais Handernesse ATerafin: The Terafin
Morretz: Her domicis
Jewel Markess ATerafin: Part of her House Council; also seer-born; her den are:
Finch
Teller
Angel: He is not ATerafin
Carver
Arann: House Guard
Jester
Daine: Healer-born
Ellerson: He serves the den as domicis
Avandar Gallais: Also known as Viandaran; he is Jewel’s domicis
The Winter King: Great stag, taken from the Stone Deepings
Lord Celleriant of the Green Deepings: Compelled by Arianne to serve Jewel for his failure, he is Arianni
Ariel: Young child given Jewel by Lord Isladar for her protection
Rymark ATerafin: Member of the House Council
Haerrad ATerafin: Member of the House Council
Elonne ATerafin: Member of the House Council
Marrick Tremblant ATerafin: Member of the House Council
Torvan ATerafin: Captain of the Chosen
THE ORDER OF KNOWLEDGE
Meralonne APhaniel: Member of the Council of the Magi; first circle mage
Sigurne Mellifas: Member of the Council of the Magi; first circle mage
Gyrrick: One of Meralonne’s warrior mages; seconded by the army
SENNIEL COLLEGE
Solran Marten: Bardmaster of Senniel College
Kallandras: Master Bard of Senniel College
ANNAGAR
THE CLANS
LEONNE: Ruling clan of the Dominion of Annagar
Ser Valedan kai di’Leonne (Raverra): The heir to the Dominion
Markaso kai di’Leonne: The assassinated Tyr’agar, Valedan’s father
Serra Diora en’Leonne: Also Serra Diora di’Marano
Serra Diora’s harem wives
Faida en’Leonne: Oathwife to Diora; dead
Ruatha en’Leonne: Oathwife to Diora; dead
Dierdre en’Leonne: Oathwife to Diora; dead
In Service to Leonne
Ser Baredan di’Navarre: Former General of the Third Army, under Valedan’s father
Ser Anton di’Guivera: Foremost Swordmaster of the Dominion; twice winner of the Kings’ Crown
Ser Andaro di’Corsarro: Tyran; the only Tyran who serves Valedan kai di’Leonne
Ser Laonis di’Caveras: Healer-born; he has left his home in the North to travel with Valedan
Aidan a’Cooper: Standard-bearer or mascot; young boy
CALLESTA: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Averda
Ser Ramiro kai di’Callesta: The Tyr
Serra Amara en’Callesta: Wife to the Tyr
Eliana en’Callesta: Concubine to the Tyr
Aliane en’Callesta: Concubine to the Tyr
Maria en’Callesta: Concubine to the Tyr
Sara en’Callesta: Concubine to the Tyr
Deana en’Callesta: Concubine to the Tyr
Ser Fillipo par di’Callesta: Brother to the Tyr’agnate of Averda; Captain of his Tyran
Ser Carelo kai di’Callesta: The heir to Callesta, Ramiro’s oldest son; dead
Ser Alfredo par di’Callesta: Youngest son of Ramiro, and now his heir
Ser Karro di Callesta: Tyran; half brother (concubine’s son); the oldest of the Tyran
Ser Miko di Callesta: Tyran; half brother (concubine’s son)
GARRARDI: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Oerta
Eduardo kai di’Garrardi: The Tyr’agnate of the Terrean of Oerta
LAMBERTO: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Mancorvo
Ser Mareo kai di’Lamberto: The Tyr’agnate of Mancorvo
Ser Fredero par di’Lamberto: Younger brother to the Tyr’agnate; left the clan in order to become the kai el’Sol, the leader of the Radann
Serra Alina di’Lamberto: Once given as hostage to the Imperial Court in Essalieyan, she now advises Ser Valedan kai di’Leonne and travels with his forces
Serra Donna en’Lamberto: Mareo’s Serra
Ser Galen kai di’Lamberto: The kai (former par)
Ser Andreas kai di’Lamberto: The dead kai
Renaldo: Tyran; sent to Lamberto by the former kai el’Sol
Marano:
Ser Adano kai di’Marano: Tor’agar to Mareo kai di’Lamberto
Ser Sendari par di’Marano: His brother; Widan; also called Ser Sendari di’Sendari, the founding name of a new clan
Serra Fiona en’Marano: Sendari’s wife
Ser Artano: Sendari’s oldest son
Serra Diora di’Marano: Sendari’s only child by his first wife
Serra Teresa di’Marano: Sister to Adano and Sendari; companion to Yollana of the Havalla Voyani, aunt to the Serra Diora
Clemente
Ser Alessandro kai di’Clemente: The Tor’agar; his Tyr is Ser Mareo
Ser Janos kai di’Clemente: The son of Ser Alessandro’s dead brother, and the heir
Serra Celina en’Clemente: Wife to Ser Alessandro
Ser Reymos: Toran to Ser Alessandro
Ser Adelos: Toran to Ser Alessandro
Manelo
Ser Amando kai di’Manelo: The Tor’agnate
Ser Franko kai di’Manelo: The former kai; killed in combat after being accused of attempted murder by the kai el’Sol
Darran di’Sambali: Village clansman, almost killed by Ser Franko
Talia en’Sambali: His wife
LORENZA: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Sorgassa
Ser Jarrani kai di’Lorenza: The Tyr’agnate of Sorgassa
Ser Hectore kai di’Lorenza: The kai, heir to Sorgassa
Ser Alef par di’Lorenza: Hectore’s younger brother
Serra Maria en’Lorenza: Ser Hectore’s wife
THE SWORD OF KNOWLEDGE
Ser Cortano di’Alexes: The Sword’s Edge; the ruler of the Widan
Ser Sendari di’Marano: Widan
Ser Mikalis di’Arretta: Widan
THE RADANN
Radann Fredero kai el’Sol: The former leader of the Radann; died in the Lake of the Tor Leonne, drawing the Sun Sword
Jevri el’Sol: His loyal servitor; he also serves Lamberto after the death of the kai el’Sol
Radann Peder kai el’Sol: The man who now leads the Radann
Radann Samiel par el’Sol: Youngest of the Hand of God
Radann Marakas par el’Sol: Contemporary of Fredero; healer-born
Radann Samadar par el’Sol: The oldest of the par el’Sol
Radann Jordan el’Sol: A servitor wh
o is a faithful follower of the ways of Fredero within the Radann
Radann Paolo el’Sol: Another of Fredero’s servitors
Radann Santos el’Sol: The leader of the Radann in the city of Sarel
Radann Fiero el’Sol: The leader of the Radann in the city of Callesta, and therefore the most senior Radann in the Terrean of Averda
THE VOYANI
Arkosa
Evallen of the Arkosa Voyani: The former Matriarch
Margret of the Arkosa Voyani: The current Matriarch
Elena Tamaraan: Margret’s heir, Daughter to Arkosa
Stavos: Travels with Yollana and the Serra Diora
Havalla
Yollana of the Havalla Voyani: Matriarch of the Havallans
Nadia: Her oldest daughter, and Daughter to the Havallans
Varya: Yollana’s younger daughter
THE SHINING COURT
The Lord of the Shining Court: Allasakar
THE FIST
Lord Assarak
Lord Alcrax
Lord Ishavriel
Lord Etridian
Lord Nugratz
THE COURT
The Kialli
Lord Isladar
Lord Telakar
Anduvin The Smith
The Humans
Anya a’Cooper: Powerful mage, serves Ishavriel—sometimes
PROLOGUE
17 of Scaral, 416 AA
THE wind was a wild taste in her mouth, a thing that kicked at the tongue and the lips with its strangeness.
It carried the embers of a dead fire, wood ash long past the point of burning, in the lengthening shadows of the coming evening. The living fire burned around it, swirling like eddies of brightly colored water. Wrong, wrong. She lifted a hand, rubbing her mouth with the back of it as if the taste would somehow come off. As if she could clean it away.
“Anya,” Devlin said. He caught her hand before she could cut her lips against her teeth; she’d been rubbing too hard, without thinking.
Almost, she pulled his fingers back, but as she touched them, she realized that his skin felt the cool, crisp color of blue—and she knew it was happening again. The tears started, and as they ran down her face, they tingled, a jumble of red and exquisite yellow, burning brightly. She heard the wind, held its voice a moment before it slid into something that she did not understand—some thing that made her mouth water, a smell.