Then a dwarf stepped forward, head to foot in dark armor made of tionium; glimmering inlay patterns glowed in turn. The creatures all drew back in respect.
In his right hand he held a weapon that was a legend in Girdlegard and in the Outer Lands alike: black as the blackest shadow and longer than a human arm. On one side the blade was thicker and had long thin teeth like a comb, and on the other side it thinned out like a sword.
“Bloodthirster,” breathed Goda and stopped in her tracks.
Ireheart was brought to a halt. He turned—and froze. Words failed him.
The dwarf in the night-colored armor raised his left hand to lift his visor. A familiar face with a golden eye patch could be seen, but the features were hard and marked with bitterness. His cold, cruel smile promised death. Then he held his weapon aloft and looked to the right and to the left. The creatures responded with shouts.
“Vraccas defend us: he has returned!” whispered Goda in horror. “Returned as the Commander of Evil!”
At that moment discordant trumpets blared out from the abyss, echoing off the bare rock. The Kordrion opened its muzzle to utter a furious roar.
Contents
Front Cover Image
Welcome
Dedication
Map
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XXI
Dramatis Personae
Acknowledgments
Extras
Meet the Author
A Preview of THE FATE OF THE DWARVES
By Markus Heitz
Copyright
BY MARKUS HEITZ
The Dwarves
The War of the Dwarves
The Revenge of the Dwarves
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 by Piper Verlag GmbH, Munich
English translation copyright © 2011 by Sheelagh Alabaster
Excerpt from The Fate of the Dwarves English translation copyright © 2011 by Sheelagh Alabaster
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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First eBook Edition: November 2011
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ISBN: 978-0-316-19335-1