Ruin

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  For William, my memory and my joy.

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  Cast of Characters

  ARDAN

  Brenin – murdered King of Ardan, father of Edana.

  Brina – healer of Dun Carreg, owner of a cantankerous crow, Craf. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. After reaching Domhain, along with a few companions, she accompanies Corban to Murias in search of Corban’s sister, Cywen.

  Corban – warrior of Dun Carreg, son of Thannon and Gwenith, brother of Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg and fled to Domhain. Travelled to Murias, a giant fortress of the Benothi clan, in search of his sister, Cywen. Some claim that he is the Bright Star of prophecy.

  Cywen – from Dun Carreg, daughter of Thannon and Gwenith, sister of Corban. Taken as both prisoner and bait by Calidus and Nathair. Rescued by Corban and his companions during the Battle of Murias.

  Dath – fisherman of Dun Carreg, friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban in the pursuit of Cywen to the fortress of Murias.

  Edana – fugitive Queen of Ardan, daughter of Brenin. At present on a ship sailing away from Domhain, accompanied by a handful of faithful shieldmen and Roisin.

  Evnis – counsellor and murderer of King Brenin and father of Vonn. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren. Now regent of Ardan, ruling as Queen Rhin’s right hand.

  Farrell – warrior, son of Anwarth and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban north in search of Cywen.

  Gar – stablemaster, secret guardian of Corban. A Jehar warrior and son of Tukul, lord of the Jehar. Escaped with Corban and Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban north in search of Cywen.

  Glyn – shieldman of Evnis.

  Meg – orphaned child from a village on the outskirts of Dun Crin’s marshes.

  Pendathran – battlechief of King Brenin, injured during the fall of Dun Carreg. Held prisoner and tortured by Evnis. Escaped with the help of Cywen.

  Rafe – young warrior belonging to Evnis’ hold. Childhood rival of Corban. Trained as a huntsman, and present during the escape of Edana from Domhain.

  Vonn – warrior, son of Evnis. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg and remained with her during the fall and flight from Domhain.

  CAMBREN

  Braith – warrior and huntsman. One-time leader of the Darkwood outlaws, now huntsman of Queen Rhin.

  Geraint – warrior, battlechief of Queen Rhin.

  Morcant – warrior, once first-sword of Queen Rhin, defeated and replaced by Conall. Now one of Rhin’s battlechiefs, loaned to Evnis to assist in the suppression of resistance against Rhin in Ardan.

  Rhin – once-Queen of Cambren, now Queen of the West, having conquered Narvon, Ardan and Domhain. Ally of Nathair. Servant of Asroth, Demon-Lord of the Fallen.

  CARNUTAN

  Belo – Baron of Tarba, a fortress in Carnutan. Uncle of Gundul. Hostile and suspicious of outside involvement in Carnutan.

  Gundul – King of Carnutan and ally of Nathair’s. Son of Mandros, who was thought to have murdered King Aquilus of Tenebral and was in turn slain by Veradis.

  DOMHAIN

  Baird – one-eyed warrior of the Degad, Rath’s giantkillers. Now guide and protector of Edana.

  Brogan – warrior of Domhain. Shieldman of Lorcan and Roisin, one of the survivors who fled with them and Edana.

  Cian – warrior of Domhain, shieldman to Roisin and one of those who escaped the fall of Dun Taras and fled by ship with Edana.

  Conall – warrior, bastard son of King Eremon. Brother of Halion and half-brother of Coralen. Sided with Evnis in the sack of Dun Carreg. Now the lord of Domhain, ruling in Queen Rhin’s name.

  Coralen – warrior, companion of Rath. Bastard daughter of King Eremon, half-sister of Halion and Conall. Accompanied Corban north.

  Halion – warrior, first-sword of Edana of Ardan. Bastard son of King Eremon, brother of Conall and half-brother of Coralen. Captured by Conall as he fought rearguard to enable Edana’s escape.

  Lorcan – young fugitive King of Domhain, son of Eremon and Roisin. Escaped from Domhain by ship with Edana.

  Roisin – Queen of Domhain, widowed wife of Eremon, mother of Lorcan. Fled by ship with Edana.

  HELVETH

  Lothar – once battlechief of Helveth, now its king. Murderer of previous king of Helveth, Braster. Ally to Nathair and Calidus.

  ISILTIR

  Dag – huntsman in the service of King Jael of Isiltir.

  Fram – warrior of Isiltir. First-sword to King Jael.

  Gramm – horse-trader and timber merchant, lord of a hold in the north of Isiltir. Father of Orgull and Wulf. Allied to Meical.

  Haelan – fugitive child-King of Isiltir, fleeing Jael. In hiding at Gramm’s hold, in the far north of Isiltir.

  Hild – woman of Gramm’s hold. Wife of Wulf, son of Gramm. Mother of Swain and Sif.

  Jael – self-proclaimed King of Isiltir. Allied to Nathair of Tenebral.

  Kalf – man of Gramm’s hold. Overseer of Gramm’s river trade and boatwright.

  Maquin – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Taken captive during the fall of Dun Kellen by Lykos of the Vin Thalun. Enslaved and thrown into the fighting-pits, where he fought his way almost to freedom. Escaped Lykos during rioting at Jerolin, capital of Tenebral, on Lykos’ wedding day. Now a fugitive on the run with Fidele of Tenebral, once-regent of Tenebral and recently wedded to Lykos.

  Sif – child of Gramm’s hold. Daughter of Wulf and Hild, sister of Swain.

  Swain – child of Gramm’s hold. Son of Wulf and Hild, brother of Sif.

  Tahir – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Protector to Haelan, child-King of Isiltir.

  Trigg – orphaned child raised at Gramm’s hold. She is a half-breed, part giant.

  Ulfilas – warrior, shieldman of Jael. Captain of Jael’s honour guard.

  Wulf – warrior, son of Gramm and brother of Orgull. Wed to Hild. Father of Sif and Swain.

  Yalric – warrior of Gramm’s Hold.

  NARVON

  Camlin – outlaw of the Darkwood. Now companion to Edana. Fled with her from Domhain, fought in the rearguard to protect Edana as she boarded a ship and fought Braith before escaping on the ship.

  Drust – warrior, shieldman of Owain. Escaped the defeat of Owain and his warband, aided by Cywen.

  Gorsedd – villager who joins Corban’s warband.

  Owain – King of Narvon. Conqueror of Ardan, with the aid of Nathair, King of Tenebral. Executed after his warband was defeated on Queen Rhin’s order.

  Teca – woman from a northern village of Narvon, joins Corban’s warband as she flees Nathair a
nd the Kadoshim.

  Uthan – Prince of Narvon, Owain’s son. Murdered by Evnis on Rhin’s orders.

  TARBESH

  Akar – captain of the Jehar holy warrior order travelling with Veradis.

  Enkara – warrior of the Jehar holy order. One of the Hundred travelling with Tukul.

  Hamil – captain of the ten Jehar left by Tukul to guard Drassil and Skald’s spear.

  Javed – slave and pit-fighter of the Vin Thalun.

  Kulla – warrior of the Jehar, part of Akar’s company that joins Corban.

  Sumur – lord of the Jehar holy warrior order.

  Tukul – warrior of the Jehar holy order, leader of the Hundred.

  TENEBRAL

  Alben – swordsmaster and healer of Ripa.

  Atilius – warrior of Tenebral. Fought with Peritus against the Vin Thalun during the uprising. Captured, enslaved and put to work on a Vin Thalun oar-bench.

  Caesus – warrior of the eagle-guard, captain of the shield wall.

  Ektor – son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Krelis and Veradis. A scholar where his brothers are warriors.

  Fidele – widow of Aquilus, mother of Nathair. For a time Queen Regent of Tenebral. Lykos uses dark magic to bewitch and control Fidele, eventually marrying her. Riots break out in their wedding celebrations, during which the spell controlling her is broken. She stabs Lykos and with Maquin’s help flees in the confusion.

  Krelis – warrior, son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Veradis.

  Lamar – Baron of Ripa, father of Krelis, Ektor and Veradis.

  Marcellin – Baron of Ultas.

  Nathair – King of Tenebral, son of Aquilus and Fidele. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren. Believes that he is the Bright Star, the one prophesied to be the chosen champion of Elyon. Recently completed his quest to claim the starstone cauldron, one of the Seven Treasures of ancient myth.

  Pax – son of Atilius. A young warrior captured during the uprising in Tenebral. Made a slave and set to work on a Vin Thalun galley, alongside his father.

  Peritus – once battlechief of Tenebral. Now leader of the resistance against Lykos and his Vin Thalun.

  Valent – a warrior of Ripa.

  Veradis – first-sword and friend to King Nathair. Son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Krelis. He commands a warband of Tenebral, instrumental in the defeats of Owain of Narvon and Eremon of Domhain.

  THE THREE ISLANDS

  Alazon – chief shipwright of the Vin Thalun.

  Demos – Vin Thalun ship-lord. Friend of Lykos.

  Jayr – Vin Thalun healer.

  Kolai – shieldman of Lykos.

  Lykos – Lord of the Vin Thalun, the pirate nation that inhabits the Three Islands of Panos, Pelset and Nerin. Sworn to Asroth, ally and co-conspirator of Calidus. Appointed regent of Tenebral by Nathair. Has used sorcery to control and marry Fidele, mother of Nathair.

  Nella – one-time lover of Lykos. Mother of his child.

  Senios - Vin Thalun pirate. Captive of Maquin and Fidele for a time.

  THE GIANT CLANS

  The Benothi

  Balur One-Eye – Benothi giant. Joined forces with Corban and his company during the Battle of Murias. He took the starstone axe from Alcyon.

  Eisa – Benothi giantess, companion of Uthas.

  Ethlinn – Benothi giantess, daughter of Balur One-Eye, also called the Dreamer.

  Laith – female giantling, one of the survivors of the Battle of Murias who joins Corban and his companions.

  Nemain – Queen of the Benothi giants. Betrayed and slain by Uthas.

  Salach – Benothi giant, shieldman of Uthas.

  Uthas – giant of the Benothi clan, secret ally and conspirator with Queen Rhin of Cambren. Slayer of Queen Nemain and now self-proclaimed Lord of the Benothi. Dreams of reuniting the giant clans and being their lord.

  The Jotun

  Ildaer – warlord of the Jotun.

  Ilska – giantess. Battle-maiden and bear-rider.

  The Kurgan

  Alcyon – servant and guardian of Calidus.

  Raina – giantess. Mother of Tain.

  Tain – giantling. Son of Raina.

  THE BEN-ELIM

  Meical – high captain of the Ben-Elim. Chosen as the one to leave the Otherworld, to be clothed in flesh and sent to the Banished Lands to prepare for the coming war.

  THE KADOSHIM

  Asroth – Demon-Lord of the Fallen.

  Belial – a captain of Asroth, one of the Kadoshim spirits that travels through the cauldron and possesses the body of Sumur, lord of the Jehar warriors.

  Bune – a Kadoshim spirit that possesses the body of a Jehar warrior during the Battle of Murias.

  Calidus – High captain of the Kadoshim, second only to Asroth. Chosen as the Kadoshim to be clothed in flesh and prepare the way for Asroth in the Banished Lands. Adversary and arch-rival of Meical, high captain of the Ben-Elim.

  Danjal – a Kadoshim spirit that possesses the body of a Jehar warrior during the Battle of Murias.

  Legion – many Kadoshim spirits that swarmed into the body of a Jehar warrior as the gateway through the cauldron was closing during the

  ‘Havoc and spoil and ruin are my gain.’

  John Milton, Paradise Lost

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FORTY

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

  CHAPTER SIXTY

  CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

  CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
<
br />   CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE

  CHAPTER NINETY

  CHAPTER NINETY-ONE

  CHAPTER NINETY-TWO

  CHAPTER NINETY-THREE

  CHAPTER ONE

  ULFILAS

  The Year 1143 of the Age of Exiles, Eagle Moon

  Ulfilas touched his heels to his horse’s side, urging her up the incline before him, a slope of grey rock and gravel littered with the remains of long-dead trees. Beside him King Jael kept pace, his face set in rigid lines. A dozen paces ahead of them rode Jael’s huntsman, Dag.

  Jael should not be here, Ulfilas thought, a knot of worry shifting in his gut. The King of Isiltir, wandering in the northern wilderness on a fool’s errand. It was not that Ulfilas felt any great sense of loyalty to Jael; he didn’t even like the man. It was more that after all they had been through, to die now on a journey like this, which he considered a waste of time, would feel foolish.

  Ulfilas was aware that times were changing, there was war on the horizon, and the power in Isiltir needed consolidating. He had been Jael’s shieldman since he’d sat his Long Night, and despite his dislike of Jael’s character and practices, Ulfilas was also a pragmatic man. I’m a warrior. Got to fight for someone. Recent events had proven his choice well made. King Romar was dead. Kastell, Jael’s cousin, was dead. Gerda, estranged wife of Romar, was dead. Her young son, Haelan, technically speaking still heir to the throne of Isiltir, was missing. Running. He knew that Jael felt little to no loyalty towards the men who followed him, that the new self-proclaimed King of Isiltir was scheming, vain and power hungry and would do whatever it took to keep his newly won crown. But he was a man on the rise. And so Ulfilas had stuck with him, when a voice in his mind had been telling him to walk away and find another, more worthy, lord to serve.

  A conscience? he wondered. Hah, a conscience doesn’t put food on my plate or keep my head from a spike.

  ‘How much longer?’ Jael called ahead.

  ‘Not much longer, my lord,’ the huntsman Dag called back. ‘We’ll be with them before sunset.’