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Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. MARAUDER
  3. HISTORICAL ARCHIVES SUBSECTION C/5 category ALPHA
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. EPILOGUE
  46. TIME LINE
  47. SHOAL TRILOGY
  48. EVENTS FOLLOWING EMPIRE OF LIGHT AND PRECEDING MARAUDER
  49. Acknowledgements
  50. Also by Gary Gibson

She thought of that vial of poison, and felt a thrill of terror mixed with excitement lancing through her. I wont fail you, she said, so quietly that she could barely be heard above the crashing of the waves on the nearby shore. He reached out and caressed her waist. You know that I love you, dont you?

Gabrielle took a step back from Karl, eyes widening as she glanced instinctively towards the doors behind him. They were both hidden by curtains from the direct view of his guards, but still . . .

Karl, she warned, if anyone heard what you just said

But they didnt, said Karl, his tone cool and confident, and they wont. You remember everything you have to do?

She nodded. I remember, she said, her voice sounding stronger this time.

Say it again, he coaxed.

She stared up at him. I remember, she repeated, her tone almost defiant. Then: I love you too, Karl more than you can imagine.

He smiled at that, but again there was something unreadable in his eyes.

TEN

Gabrielle

To our Speaker-Elect, said Thijs, raising his glass high in a toast. Its contents sparkled, reflecting the flames of the fireplace that took up most of one wall of the Grand Barges banqueting hall.

He then turned his gaze from the assembled dignitaries of the Demarchy towards Gabrielle herself. Their eyes met briefly before she looked quickly away.

To Gabrielle, confirmed Thijs, on the eve of her Ascension.

More glasses were raised, their contents as dark and red as arterial blood. There were perhaps thirty men and women here altogether, arranged on either side of the long dining table carved from out of a canopy trees taproot. Gabrielle sat at the head of the table, able to feel, through her feet, the distant vibration of the powerful turbines as the barge carried them onwards.

Semi-transparent glow-globes floated just beneath the ceiling, filling the room with a warm and pearly light. Tiny insect-like shapes occasionally flitted through the air autonomous recording devices, nominally under Thijss control, but secretly slaved, she knew, to Karls command. Tonight, he would make sure they recorded nothing.

Gabrielle nodded to Thijs in acknowledgement. Hear, hear, said someone further down the table, their voice slurring.

Thijs sat down again. This banquet for the Demarchys leading bureaucrats and politicians had been going on for nearly three hours now, yet the after-dinner speeches had still not come to an end.