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Back Copper Chain Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

‘We receive many gifts of precious goods and rare metals. Raiders are always a threat. But we are also well placed to know about the affairs of the world, and how to shape the future to the betterment of all. Sometimes the Oracle has visions, and gives us direct guidance, as with you.’

Chloe tilted her head, surprised. Zedo often spoke of things that she knew he hadn’t seen with his own eyes – like her father’s death. But he’d never revealed why they’d gone to such lengths to help her. ‘What did the Oracle say about me?’

‘The world is about to face a new threat, greater than any before,’ he said. ‘The Oracle believes that you may have an opportunity to end it.’

‘She is the Oracle. Doesn’t she know?’

‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘It involves the eldren – and one in particular. His presence in your future interferes with the Oracle’s ability to see.’

‘Who is he?’

‘I think you know the answer.’ He spread his hands. ‘If you learn, you can leave. But if you leave before you are ready, you will not live long.’

‘Then teach me more,’ Chloe said. She lifted her chin. ‘I’m ready.’

Zedo smiled. ‘I believe you may be.’ He gazed into her eyes. ‘You truly believe you are?’

‘I do.’

‘Then come. Today, you will learn how to listen to the wind.’

3

3

Kargan, King of Kings, ruler of the Ilean Empire, leaned forward on the high-backed ebony throne. The occasion was formal, and he was dressed for the part, wearing a flowing orange robe with a belt of woven gold. His mop of dark hair was combed and oiled, and his beard curled outward from his chin. He hated the ceremonies and customs of the court, but he knew he needed to play his part nonetheless.

He gripped the arms of the throne as he regarded his guest, trying to keep his expression pleasant, for Lord Samar, prince of Haria, was a powerful nobleman in his own right. Twice Kargan’s age, Samar’s face was as wrinkled as a raisin, but his eyes were intelligent and his bearing was proud. The nation of Haria, with its great port city of Efu dominating the Ilean Sea, had a special relationship with the empire, and trade between Haria and Ilea dwarfed that of the other dominions. In return for giving Kargan his allegiance, Samar expected Kargan’s help when he asked for it.

‘Well, Lord Samar, is it enough?’

Standing in front of the throne, flanked by priests, lords, and courtiers on both sides, the prince of Haria glanced down at the three wooden chests on the floor in front of him. The lids were open, tilted back on their hinges, revealing the shining gold coins within. Kargan disliked depleting his treasury, but if the gold was necessary to preserve his empire, it was a price he would pay gladly.