BY DAVID DALGLISH AND ROBERT J. DUPERRE
The Breaking World Series
Dawn of Swords
Wrath of Lions
Blood of Gods
ALSO BY DAVID DALGLISH
The Shadowdance Series
A Dance of Cloaks
A Dance of Blades
A Dance of Mirrors
A Dance of Shadows
A Dance of Ghosts
The Half-Orcs
The Weight of Blood
The Cost of Betrayal
The Death of Promises
The Shadows of Grace
A Sliver of Redemption
The Prison of Angels
The Paladins
Night of Wolves
Clash of Faiths
The Old Ways
The Broken Pieces
Others
A Land of Ash (compilation)
ALSO BY ROBERT J. DUPERRE
The Rift
Volume 1: The Fall & Dead of Winter
Volume 2: Death Springs Eternal & The Summer Son
Others
Silas
The Gate: 13 Dark and Odd Tales (compilation)
The Gate 2: 13 Tales of Isolation and Despair (compilation)
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Text copyright © 2014 by David Dalglish and Robert J. Duperre
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by 47North, Seattle
www.apub.com
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and 47North are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781477824986
ISBN-10: 1477824987
Cover design by Kerrie Robertson Illustration, Inc.
Illustrated by Alejandro Colucci
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014936354
To all our dear readers, this book is for you.
CONTENTS
ASHHUR’S PARADISE
NELDAR
CAST OF CHARACTERS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
EPILOGUE
AFTERWORD
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ASHHUR’S PARADISE
NELDAR
CAST OF CHARACTERS
ASHHUR’S PARADISE
ASHHUR, God of Justice, creator of ASHHUR’S PARADISE
—AHAESARUS, Master Warden of the west
—JUDARIUS, a Warden of the west
—AZARIAH, a Warden of the west, brother of JUDARIUS
—ROLAND NORSMAN, his confidant, deceased
—JUDAH, a Warden of the west
—GRENDEL, a Warden of the west
MORDEINA
BENJAMIN MARYLL, first king of ASHHUR’S PARADISE, 16 years old
HOUSE DUTAUREAU
ISABEL DUTAUREAU, first child of ASHHUR
—RICHARD, her created husband
—ABIGAIL ESCHETON, their first daughter, 72 years old
—TUROCK ESCHETON, her husband, 40 years old
—their children:
LAURIA DAGEESH, daughter, 25 years old, wife of UULON
CETHLYNN, daughter, 23 years old
DOREK, son, 20 years old
BYRON, son, 19 years old
JARAK, son, 17 years old
PENDET, son, 9 years old
—PATRICK, their only son, 67 years old
—BRIGID FRONIN, their second daughter, 64 years old, wife of BAYEN
—CARA, their third daughter, 63 years old
—KEELA NEFRAM, their fourth daughter, 60 years old, wife of DANIEL
—NESSA, their fifth daughter, deceased
—HOWARD PHILIP BAEDAN, master steward of the house
THE TURNCLOAKS
—PRESTON ENDER, brother of CORTON, leader of the TURNCLOAKS
—EDWARD, his son, 18 years old
—RAGNAR, his son, 17 years old
—BRICK MULLIN, a boy from NELDAR, deceased
—TRISTAN VALESON, a boy from NELDAR, 15 years old
—JOFFREY GOLDENROD, a boy from NELDAR, 14 years old
—RYANN MATHESON, a boy from NELDAR, 17 years old
—BIG FLICK, a boy from NELDAR, 18 years old
—LITTLE FLICK, a boy from NELDAR, 16 years old
KER
HOUSE GOROGOROS
BESSUS GORGOROS, second child of ASHHUR, deceased
—DAMASPIA, his created wife, deceased
—BARDIYA, their only son, 88 years old
—KI-NAN RENALD, his friend and confidante
—GORDO HEMPSMAN, a man of KER
—TULANI, his wife
—KEISHA, their daughter, 8 years old
—ONNA LENSBROUGH, a man of KER
NELDAR
KARAK, God of Order, Divinity of the East, creator of NELDAR
VELIXAR (formerly JACOB EVENINGSTAR), first man of DEZREL, High Prophet of KARAK
—MALCOLM GREGORIAN, Lord Commander of THE ARMY OF KARAK
HOUSE CRESTWELL
CLOVIS CRESTWELL, first child of KARAK
—LANIKE, his created wife, deceased
—LORD COMMANDER AVILA, their first daughter, deceased
—JOSEPH, their first son, deceased
—THESSALY, their second daughter, deceased
—MOIRA ELREN, their exiled third daughter, 54 years old
—UTHER, their second son, deceased
—CRIAN, their third son, deceased
HOUSE MORI
SOLEH MORI, second child of KARAK, deceased
—IBIS, her created husband, deceased
—VULFRAM, their first son, deceased
—YENGE, his wife, 35 years old
—their children:
ALEXANDER, son, 20 years old
LYANA, daughter, 18 years old
CALEIGH, daughter, 14 years old
—ORIS, their second son, 68 years old
—EBBE, his wife, 28 years old
—their children:
CONATA, daughter, 11 years old
ZEPPA, da
ughter, 9 years old
—ADELINE PALING, their first daughter, deceased
—ULRIC, their third son, deceased
—DIMONA, his wife, 43 years old
—their children:
TITON, son, 22 years old
APHREDES, son, 21 years old
JULIAN, son, 18 years old
—RACHIDA GEMCROFT, wife of PEYTR, 53 years old
VELDAREN
KING ELDRICH VAELOR THE FIRST, second king of NELDAR, 39 years old
—KARL DOGON, the king’s bodyguard
—PULO JENATT, captain of the Palace Guard
—JONN TREMMEN, Palace Guard
—RODDALIN HARLAN, Palace Guard
—JOBEN TUSTLEWHITE, priest of KARAK
—LAUREL LAWRENCE, councilwoman, 23 years old
—GUSTER HALFHORN, elder councilman, deceased
—ZEBEDIAH ZANE, councilman
—DIRK COLDMINE, councilman, deceased
—WALTER OLLERAY, councilman
—LENROY MOTT, councilman
THE MERCHANTS
—ROMEO CONNINGTON, high merchant of RIVERRUN
—CLEO CONNINGTON, high merchant of RIVERRUN
—QUESTER BILLINGS, Crimson Sword of RIVERRUN
—MATTHEW BRENNAN, high merchant of PORT LANCASTER, deceased
—CATHERINE, his widow, regent of PORT LANCASTER
—their children:
MARGERY, daughter, 15 years old
ELLA, daughter, 13 years old
RHODA, daughter, 10 years old
CATTIA, daughter, 5 years old
RYAN, son, 3 years old
—BREN TORRANT, bodyguard of CATHERINE
—URSULA, housemaid
—PENETTA, housemaid
—LORI, housemaid
—PEYTR GEMCROFT, high merchant of HAVEN, husband of RACHIDA
—TRENTON BLACKBARD, high merchant of BRENT
—TOD GARLAND, high merchant of THETTLETOWN
—TOMAS MUDRAKER, high merchant of GRONSWIK
THE ELVES
THE DEZREN
STONEWOOD
—CLEOTIS MELN, former Lord of STONEWOOD, deceased
—AUDRIANNA, his wife
—their children:
CARSKEL, their banished son, 183 years old
AUBRIENNA, daughter, deceased
AULLIENNA, daughter, 14 years old, betrothed to KINDREN THYNE
—AAROMAR KULN, protector of LADY AUDRIANNA
—NONI CLANSHAW, nursemaid of AULLIENNA
—DETRICK MELN, brother of CLEOTIS, acting Lord of STONEWOOD
—ETHIR AYERS, confidante of DETRICK
—DAVISHON HINSBREW, confidante of DETRICK
DEZEREA
—ORDEN THYNE, Lord of DEZEREA
—PHYRRA, his wife
—KINDREN, son, 18 years old, betrothed to AULLIENNA MELN
THE QUELLAN
—RUVEN SINISTEL, Neyvar (King) of QUELLASAR
—JEADRA, his wife
—CEREDON, their son, 97 years old
—IOLAS SINISTEL, cousin of RUVEN, member of the TRIAD
—CONALL SINISTEL, cousin of RUVEN, member of the TRIAD, deceased
—AESON SINISTEL, cousin of RUVEN, member of the TRIAD, deceased
—AERLAND SHEN, chief of the EKREISSAR
PROLOGUE
The skies burned red as men fell bleeding from above, and Ashhur watched it all with a shard of fear in his heart. His city of Allaketh was protected by a massive circular wall, the homes within dwarfed by a mountain of marble. Yet that mattered not when Thulos’s soldiers flew on crimson wings, their bronze armor glistening in the twilight of a fading sun as the light of a thousand fires consuming his beloved city.
“Trust our archers,” Karak said beside him, the two overlooking the battle from the steps of the Golden Castle. Ashhur glanced to his brother, bedecked in fine dark steel plate and resting an enormous ethereal sword across his broad shoulders. He looked confident, but Ashhur knew it for the lie it was. They could hold no confidence in their creations, for they were weak compared to Thulos. The humans had trusted in Justice and Order to prevail, for their allies in Love and Creation to hold back the tide, but against the God of War, they were all inferior. Humankind sought power, and the easiest way to achieve it was through their vengeful brother.
Giant balls of flaming pitch soared over the walls, accompanied by another wave of winged soldiers. The pitch smashed atop homes, setting them ablaze as Allaketh’s archers fired in vain from along the walls, downing foes with their deadly aim, yet unable to stem the tide. Ashhur drew his own sword as battle began atop those ramparts, their men quickly falling.
“We have no choice,” Ashhur said. “The gates will soon fall, and the footmen of Thulos will make their charge. We must meet them head on.”
Karak pulled the sword from his back and ran his other hand through his dark brown hair, for not a single strand would he allow to remain out of place.
“So be it,” he said. “If our followers cannot find victory, let us give it to them.”
The red haze blackened as the fire spread throughout the city. The two brother gods walked side by side down the road, leaving the castle behind them, listening to the screams of the dying. Every whisper, every groan was perfectly clear to their ears. For Ashhur, it was nearly overwhelming. There was no justice in what they witnessed, only betrayal and murder. He wished he could grant them comfort, even in their dying breaths, but there would be no time for that. The God of War came to their gates, and strength alone would defy him.
Ashhur readied his blade, its fine edge shimmering white and gold. Thirty of the winged soldiers—war demons, as Thulos had named them—approached from above in a diamond formation. Letting out a cry to their god, the demons dove with near suicidal speed. They’d give their lives for Thulos, if only to bring him a drop of blood closer to victory. Such devotion. Such loyalty. Ashhur wondered where he and his brother had gone so very wrong.
“Your very forms reek of chaos!” Karak shouted to them as they dove. “Come die and be cleansed.”
Fire wreathed his sword, and he swung in wide arcs, unafraid of the charge. Ashhur stepped aside, giving himself room to fight, and he met the assault with his own twirling blade of light. With each swing they cut down several demons at once, blasting through their bronze armor, shattering their wings so that both blood and feathers rained down from above.
Three demons flew past, slashing out with long halberds. Ashhur twisted, let his armor absorb the glancing hits, and then spun with sword raised high. As the third demon curved about, a great flash shone from the metal, blinding in its power. Unable to see, the three banked upward, failing to react in time. Into one of the tall marble homes they slammed. Ashhur heard every bone break, heard the drip of their blood, the crunch of their armor as the force of their impact bent its shape. A single step left, a pivot, and his sword swung through the air, the arc perfect, slicing in twain the first demon and removing the head of the second following behind. Their bodies crashed against Ashhur, but his feet remained planted, their weight bouncing off him as if he were made of stone.
“Chaos!” Karak screamed, seemingly overwhelmed by fury. Fire blasted from his sword, lashing into the air in great waves. Those demons unfortunate enough to be in its way were pulverized, screaming and plummeting, their skin blackening to ash, their armor melting. Around and around danced Karak’s sword, filling the sky with fire, until the last of the demons fled toward the outer wall to rejoin their god.
Their departure did little to calm Ashhur’s brother.
“Everywhere, chaos!” Karak roared. “The fields, the rivers, our cities and forests! Only the graveyards know peace.”
The ground rumbled, and from the far wall they both heard a loud crack.
“Blame our brother,” Ashhur said. “And save your fury. The siege engines roll forth.”
They ran faster, taking giant strides wit
h their long legs. At either side cowered the women and children of Allaketh, taking to the streets to cry out their fear and grief to their gods. Ashhur did his best to ignore them, to focus on the task at hand. It was they he sought to defend, those powerless before the war machines of Thulos, his demons ruling the air, his paladins overwhelming the ground. At least the archers had done much to whittle down the fliers so that they were but a nuisance to Allaketh’s ground troops as they massed before the great double doors protecting the city. But without men on the walls, there was nothing to slow the battering rams, and with another great tremble the doors shook.