Contents ( 43)
Errors, as always, are my responsibility.
Contents
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Dramatis Personae
Map
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
About the Author
Dramatis Personae
Fox Company (was Kieri Phelan’s mercenary company)
Jandelir Arcolin, commander, Lord of the North Marches
Burek, junior captain of first cohort
Stammel, senior sergeant of first cohort
Devlin, junior sergeant of first cohort
Arñe, corporal of first cohort
Selfer, captain of second (short-sword) cohort
Tsaia: senior noble families
Mikeli Vostan Kieriel Mahieran, king of Tsaia
Camwyn, his younger brother
Sonder Mahieran, Duke Mahieran, king’s uncle
Beclan, a younger son and Duke Verrakia’s squire
Selis Marrakai, Duke Marrakai
Gwennothlin, his daughter and Duke Verrakai’s squire
Galyan Serrostin, Duke Serrostin
Daryan, youngest son and Duke Verrakai’s squire
Dorrin Verrakai, Duke Verrakai, formerly a senior captain in Phelan’s company, now Constable for kingdom
Oktar, new Marshal-Judicar of Tsaia (interprets Code of Gird for Tsaia)
Arianya, Marshal-General of Gird (commands entire Company of Gird)
Lyonya
Kieri Phelan, king, former mercenary commander and duke in Tsaia
Sier Halveric, Aliam Halveric’s older brother, vocal member of Council
Aliam Halveric, commands Halveric Company, Kieri Phelan’s mentor and friend
Estil Halveric, his wife
Garris, senior King’s Squire
Arian, half-elf King’s Squire
elvesOrlith, Kieri Phelan’s tutor in elven magic
Flessinathlin, the Lady of the Ladysforest, elven ruler of this elvenhome kingdom, Kieri’s grandmother
Dameroth, Arian’s father
Pargun
Torfinn, king
Elis, his daughter
Iolin, younger son
Einar, king’s brother, traitor
Aarenis
Jeddrin, Count of Andressat
Alured the Black, former pirate, self-styled Duke of Immer, taking new name “Visla Vaskronin”
Fenin Kavarthin, Arcolin’s banker in Valdaire
Adventurers
Arvid Semminson, Vérella Thieves’ Guild
Dattur, kteknik gnome and Arvid’s companion
Chaya, Midsummer Feast
Falkieri Artfielan Phelan, King of Lyonya, waited with barely concealed impatience for his grandmother, the elven queen of the Ladysforest, to appear for the Midsummer ritual. Under his bare feet, the moss of the King’s Grove felt cool and welcoming; the fragrance of the summer night, flowers that bloomed at no other time, filled his nostrils. Yet he could not take full pleasure in the soft breeze, the cool moss, the sweet scents. Where was she?
He had spent the entire short night on the central mound near the Oathstone, expecting the Lady to appear, but she had neither granted his request to come early nor sent a clear refusal. He had hoped to use this auspicious day to ask her once again for help with his continuing effort to reconcile the two peoples, elves and humans … but since his coronation she had come seldom, and never for long. The whole night she had been elsewhere, and not even his growing taig-sense could find the direction.