“Darkness?” the figure asked. He closed his eyes as if remembering the meaning of the word. “No, death is not darkness. Nor have I forgotten life. Each moment brings new souls into the afterdeath. They bring news of the living, though it fades from them fast. But I have not been dead to life.” He opened his eyes again. “I know of you and the things you have done.”

Corinn had not expected to say what she did then. She had not even known she thought it. But it was true, and it felt very important to say it now. “Then you know that only you can save me. Please.”

As she waited for the answer, the figure before her became that much more tangible, just a little more solid, not quite so transparent, even though he remained vague and half formed. The man held up a hand. He nodded, not in affirmation but to indicate that he would answer her. It was an offer that deserved consideration, and he was not so at peace with death that he would fail to think it through. He just needed a few moments. Then he would answer her.

Queen Corinn Akaran folded her hands in her lap and sat as straight backed as she could in her fatigue, awaiting the spirit’s answer, ready—if he should accept—to whisper his name and complete the spell and bring him truly back into the world. Aliver Akaran, she would say, and mean every word, life needs you still. I need you still. Come back. Fight the coming war at my side. Complete the work you left undone….

Acknowledgments

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

Gudrun reads everything first, which is lucky for us all. I thank her for that; readers should, too. I’d also like to thank Jamie Johnston (aka Dariel) for giving this novel the once-over. Hannah Strom-Martin was a wonder with an editorial pen, and this novel is better for her efforts. As ever, I’m so pleased and lucky to be able to work with my editor, Gerry Howard, and to have the guidance of my agent, Sloan Harris. I’d also like to welcome the widening family of editors and readers coming to my work around the world, in tongues I don’t yet speak. Thank you.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2009 by David Anthony Durham

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto.
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Map illustration by David Cain