His eyes fell to Varama’s waist, and the winesac there. Of course. Her fortifying juices. That could help. He pulled the winesac free and undid the opener before gently lifting her head and pressing the rim to her lips, careful not to spill any of the precious liquid. She swallowed.
After a moment, she blinked, and with shaking hand pushed the container toward him. Her meaning was clear.
He took two swallows, felt a ghost of his own powers restored. With them came a greater measure of clarity.
While it would be enormously satisfying to die in a blaze of glory and take a whole legion of Naor along with him, it would be ultimately futile even if he killed their leader. He couldn’t attempt that without abandoning Varama, and that he refused to do. He’d be damned before he relinquished the most brilliant of the Altenerai, helpless, to the Naor.
He looked down into her eyes, hazy with fatigue. She was obviously struggling to remain conscious.
Besides, it was no longer solely about the Naor. Cerai must be made to pay for her heinous betrayal. He and Lelanc could well have stopped the massive wyrms before they brought down all the walls, especially if his defense had been reinforced by a mage of Cerai’s capability. Rather than honoring her oath of office and acting as shield to her people, she had stolen Lelanc and abandoned the Alantrans. Hundreds now dead would still be breathing, and tens of thousands would not be fated for slavery, or agonizing death upon Naor altars.
And prior to her cowardly departure, Cerai had slain a loyal signalman and blasted Varama senseless. He looked down at his friend, who’d closed her eyes once more. It looked as though her recovery would require time, a commodity in short supply.
He rose with her, baring his teeth at thought of the impossible odds before them. Varama moaned and just managed to get her feet under her, leaning heavily against him.
Somehow he had to get his ailing friend out of the citadel, safely through the Naor horde, and out of the city.
Somehow he had to locate Lelanc, and free her from captivity, provided she still lived.
And then, then he would find the traitor Cerai, even if it meant tracking her into the farthest reaches of the shifts. She might be privy to a hundred secret sorceries, but he would find a way to bring her to justice. Preferably on the edge of his sword.
Acknowledgments
This work would not have been possible without the assistance of numerous fine people, among them Justin Landon, Wayne Gralian, and Darian Jones, who gave vital initial feedback; Jennifer Donovan for behind-the-scenes support; and Edwin Chapman for his experienced eye. John O’Neill and Ian Tregillis provided lengthy and crucial input through several drafts, and Bob Mecoy and Peter Wolverton patiently steered me through dangerous shoals too many times to count. An extra-special thanks goes to my muse, Shannon, who helped untie plot knots, saw the forest for the trees, found the right word or phrase when I was lost in those woods, and sometimes knew Varama better than I did myself.
ALSO BY HOWARD ANDREW JONES
The Bones of the Old Ones
The Desert of Souls
About the Author
HOWARD ANDREW JONES has worked variously as a TV cameraman, a book editor, a recycling consultant, and a college writing instructor. He assembled and edited eight collections of Harold Lamb’s historicals for the University of Nebraska Press, and served as managing editor of Black Gate. He edits the sword-and-sorcery magazine Tales from the Magician’s Skull, and serves as executive editor of the Perilous Worlds book imprint. He lives on a small family farm with his wife and children, and can be found online at www.howardandrewjones.com and @howardandrewjon, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue
1. The Numbered Day
2. A Changing World
3. The Tower in the Snow
4. Storm Ride
5. A Dying Look
6. The Emptied Tomb
7. Seven Bottles
8. Old Friends
10. With Sword in Hand
11. Record of Truths
12. Dueling with the Truth
13. Secrets in the Night
14. Perfect Match
15. The Forging
16. Reunion
17. Faces in the Storm
18. Those Left Behind
19. Time Alone
20. First Flight
21. The Rider on the Black Horse
22. Ring Wearers
23. Wind Rider
24. A Fresher Look
25. The Walls of Alantris
26. Battles in the Dark
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Howard Andrew Jones
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
FOR THE KILLING OF KINGS. Copyright © 2019 by Howard Andrew Jones. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design: Lesley Worrell
Cover Illustration by Lauren Saint-Onge
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available on request.
ISBN 978-1-250-00681-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-02292-9 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250022929
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First Edition: February 2019