Valour Read online

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for buying this book. You may have noticed that it is free of Digital Rights Management. This means we have not enforced copy protection on it. All Tor ebooks are available DRM-free so that once you purchase one of our ebooks, you can download it as many times as you like, on as many e-readers as you like.

  We believe that making our Tor ebooks DRM-free is the best for our readers, allowing you to use legitimately-purchased ebooks in perfectly legal ways, like moving your library from one e-reader to another. We understand that DRM can make your ebooks less easy to read. It also makes building and maintaining your digital library more complicated. For these reasons, we are committed to remaining DRM-free.

  We ask you for your support in ensuring that our DRM-free ebooks are not subject to piracy. Illegally downloaded books deprive authors of their royalties, the salaries they rely on to write. If you want to report an instance of piracy, you can do so by emailing us: [email protected].

  Very best wishes,

  The Tor UK team & our authors

  For Harriett, the bravest soul I know.

  For mum and dad. I wish you could have seen this. Miss you both.

  And for Caroline, of course, just for being you.

  Cast of Characters

  ARDAN

  Anwarth – warrior of Dun Carreg, father of Farrell. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Brenin – murdered King of Ardan.

  Brina – healer of Dun Carreg, owner of a cantankerous crow, Craf. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Corban – warrior of Dun Carreg, son of Thannon and Gwenith, brother of Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Cywen – from Dun Carreg, daughter of Thannon and Gwenith, sister of Corban. Presumed dead in the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Dath – fisherman of Dun Carreg, son of Mordwyr and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Edana – Princess of Ardan, daughter of Brenin. Presumably Queen of Ardan since the death of Brenin, but now a fugitive.

  Evnis – counsellor and murderer of King Brenin and father of Vonn. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren.

  Farrell – warrior, son of Anwarth and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg

  Gar – stablemaster. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg

  Gwenith – wife of Thannon, mother of Corban and Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Heb – loremaster of Dun Carreg. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg

  Marrock – warrior and huntsman, cousin of Edana. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Mordwyr – fisherman of Dun Carreg, father of Dath and Bethan. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Pendathran – battlechief of King Brenin. Held prisoner by Evnis in Dun Carreg.

  Rafe – young warrior belonging to Evnis’ hold. Childhood rival of Corban.

  Thannon – husband of Gwenith, father of Corban and Cywen. Slain by King Nathair of Tenebral in the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Vonn – warrior, son of Evnis. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg.

  BENOTH

  Aric –Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.

  Balur One-Eye – Benothi giant.

  Eisa – Benothi giantess, companion of Uthas.

  Ethlinn – Benothi giantess, daughter of Balur One-Eye, also called the Dreamer.

  Fray – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.

  Kai – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.

  Morc – Benothi giant, keeper of the wyrms.

  Nemain – Queen of the Benothi giants.

  Salach – Benothi giant, shieldman of Uthas.

  Sreng – Benothi giantess, shield-maiden of Nemain.

  Struan – Benothi giant, companion of Uthas.

  Uthas – giant of the Benothi clan, secret ally and conspirator with Queen Rhin of Cambren.

  CAMBREN

  Braith – warrior. One-time leader of the Darkwood outlaws, now huntsman of Queen Rhin.

  Geraint – warrior, battlechief of Queen Rhin.

  Morcant – warrior, first-sword of Queen Rhin.

  Rhin – Queen of Cambren.

  CARNUTAN

  Mandros – King of Carnutan, slain by Veradis in the belief that Mandros murdered King Aquilus of Tenebral.

  DOMHAIN

  Baird – warrior, one of the Degad, Rath’s giant-killers.

  Conall – warrior, bastard son of King Eremon. Brother of Halion and half-brother of Coralen. Sided with Evnis in the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Coralen – warrior, companion of Rath. Bastard daughter of King Eremon, half-sister of Halion and Conall.

  Eremon – King of Domhain.

  Halion – warrior, first-sword of Edana of Ardan. Bastard son of King Eremon, brother of Conall and half-brother of Coralen.

  Lorcan – young Prince of Domhain, son of Eremon and Roisin.

  Maeve – bastard daughter of King Eremon, half-sister to Coralen, Halion and Conall.

  Nara – mother of Coralen.

  Quinn – First-sword of King Eremon.

  Rath – Battlechief of Domhain, giant-hunter.

  Roisin – Queen of Domhain, wife of Eremon, mother of Lorcan.

  HELVETH

  Braster – King of Helveth, wounded in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.

  Lothar – battlechief of Helveth.

  Ventos – a travelling merchant-trader.

  ISILTIR

  Eboric – warrior, Gerda’s huntsman.

  Gerda – estranged wife of King Romar, lady of Dun Kellen, mother of Haelan.

  Gramm – horse-trader and timber merchant, lord of a hold in the north of Isiltir. Father of Orgull and Wulf.

  Jael – warrior of Isiltir, nephew of King Romar and cousin of Kastell. Allied to Nathair of Tenebral.

  Kastell – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Nephew of King Romar and cousin of Jael.

  Maquin – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai, shieldman of Kastell.

  Orgull – warrior of Isiltir, captain of the elite Gadrai. Son of Gramm.

  Romar – King of Isiltir, slain in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.

  Tahir – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai.

  Thoris – warrior, battlechief of Gerda at Dun Kellen.

  Ulfilas – warrior, shieldman of Jael.

  Varick – Lord of Dun Kellen, brother of Gerda and uncle of Haelan.

  Wulf – warrior, son of Gramm and brother of Orgull.

  NARVON

  Camlin – outlaw of the Darkwood. Recently allied to King Brenin and Edana of Ardan.

  Drust – warrior, shieldman of Owain.

  Owain – King of Narvon. Conqueror of Ardan with the aid of Nathair, King of Tenebral.

  Uthan – Prince of Narvon, Owain’s son. Murdered by Evnis on Rhin’s orders.

  TARBESH

  Akar – captain of the Jehar holy warrior order travelling with Veradis.

  Enkara – warrior of the Jehar holy order. One of the Hundred travelling with Tukul.

  Javed – slave and pit-fighter of the Vin Thalun.

  Sumur – lord of the Jehar holy warrior order.

  Tukul – warrior of the Jehar holy order, leader of the Hundred.

  TENEBRAL

  Aquilus – murdered King of Tenebral.

  Armatus – warrior, former first-sword of King Aquilus.

  Bos – warrior of the eagle-guard and expert in the shield wall, friend of Veradis.

  Ektor – son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Krelis and Veradis.

  Fidele – widow of Aquilus, now Queen Regent of Tenebral, mother of Nathair.

  Krelis – warrior, son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Veradis.

&n
bsp; Lamar – Baron of Ripa, father of Krelis, Ektor and Veradis.

  Marcellin – Baron of Ultas.

  Meical – counsellor to Aquilus, King of Tenebral.

  Nathair – King of Tenebral, son of Aquilus and Fidele. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren.

  Orcus – warrior of the eagle-guard, shieldman of Fidele.

  Peritus – battlechief of Tenebral.

  Rauca – warrior, a captain of the eagle-guard and friend of Veradis. Slain by Gar in the sack of Dun Carreg.

  Veradis – first-sword and friend to King Nathair. Son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Krelis.

  THE THREE ISLANDS

  Alazon – shipwright.

  Calidus – spymaster of Lykos, Lord of the Vin Thalun, and later counsellor to Nathair, King of Tenebral.

  Deinon – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Thaan.

  Emad – shieldman of Herak. Guard and trainer of pit-fighters.

  Herak – pit-trainer.

  Jace – member of Lykos’ ship’s crew.

  Lykos – Lord of the Vin Thalun, the pirate nation that inhabits the Three Islands of Panos, Pelset and Nerin.

  Thaan – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Deinon.

  War eternal between the Faithful and the Fallen,

  infinite wrath come to the world of men.

  Lightbearer seeking flesh from the cauldron,

  to break his chains and wage the war again.

  Two born of blood, dust and ashes shall champion the Choices,

  the Darkness and Light.

  Black Sun will drown the earth in bloodshed,

  Bright Star with the Treasures must unite.

  By their names you shall know them –

  Kin-Slayer, Kin-Avenger, Giant-Friend, Draig-Rider,

  Dark Power ’gainst Lightbringer.

  One shall be the Tide, one the Rock in the swirling sea.

  Before one, storm and shield shall stand,

  before the other, True-Heart and Black-Heart.

  Beside one rides the Beloved, beside the other, the Avenging Hand.

  Behind one, the Sons of the Mighty, the fair Ben-Elim, gathered ’neath the Great Tree.

  Behind the other, the Unholy, dread Kadoshim who seek to cross the bridge,

  force the world to bended knee.

  Look for them when the high king calls, when the shadow warriors ride forth,

  when white-walled Telassar is emptied, when the book is found in the north.

  When the white wyrms spread from their nest,

  when the Firstborn take back what was lost, and the Treasures stir from their rest.

  Both earth and sky shall cry warning, shall herald this War of Sorrows.

  Tears of blood spilt from the earth’s bones, and at Midwinter’s height,

  bright day shall become full night.

  Contents

  CHAPTER ONE: UTHAS

  CHAPTER TWO: CYWEN

  CHAPTER THREE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER FOUR: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER FIVE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SIX: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER SEVEN: LYKOS

  CHAPTER EIGHT: EVNIS

  CHAPTER NINE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER TEN: TUKUL

  CHAPTER ELEVEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE: EVNIS

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN: FIDELE

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN: VERADIS

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN: EVNIS

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: CORBAN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER TWENTY: CYWEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: VERADIS

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: UTHAS

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: CORBAN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: CORALEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: CYWEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: CORBAN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: FIDELE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER THIRTY: UTHAS

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: CYWEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: EVNIS

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: VERADIS

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: CORBAN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: FIDELE

  CHAPTER FORTY: CORALEN

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: UTHAS

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: LYKOS

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE: LYKOS

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX: CORBAN

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN: VERADIS

  CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT: CORBAN

  CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: UTHAS

  CHAPTER FIFTY: CORBAN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE: EVNIS

  CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: VERADIS

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE: FIDELE

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: CYWEN

  CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: TUKUL

  CHAPTER SIXTY: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: FIDELE

  CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR: VERADIS

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE: CORALEN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX: TUKUL

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: CORALEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN: LYKOS

  CHAPTER SEVENTY EIGHT: CORBAN

  CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER EIGHTY: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO: FIDELE

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR: CYWEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN: CORBAN

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: TUKUL

  CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER NINETY: CORALEN

  CHAPTER NINETY-ONE: TUKUL

  CHAPTER NINETY-TWO: CORBAN

  CHAPTER NINETY-THREE: LYKOS

  CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR: CORBAN

  CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER NINETY-NINE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE: VERADIS

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO: UTHAS

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THREE: TUKUL

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: FIDELE

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE: CYWEN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX: CORALEN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT: CORBAN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE: UTHAS

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE: CORBAN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN: MAQUIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN: CAMLIN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN: CORBAN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN: CYWEN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN: CORBAN

  CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY: CORBAN

  BY JOHN GWYNNE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  CHAPTER O
NE

  UTHAS

  The Year 1142 of the Age of Exiles, Birth Moon

  The cauldron was a hulking mass of black iron, tall and wide, squatting upon a dais in the centre of a cavernous room. Torches of blue flame hung on the walls of the chamber, pockets of light punctuating the darkness. In the shadows, circling its edges, long and sinuous shapes moved.

  Uthas of the Benothi giants strode towards the cauldron, his shadow flickering on the walls. He climbed the steps and stopped before it. It was utterly black, appearing to suck the torchlight into it, consuming it, reflecting nothing back. Just for a moment it seemed to shudder, a gentle throb, like a diseased heart.

  A muffled request from the chamber’s entrance reached him but he did not move, just continued to stare.

  ‘What?’ he said eventually.

  ‘Nemain sends for you, Uthas. She says the Dreamer is waking.’

  The giant sighed and turned to leave the chamber. He brushed his fingertips against the cauldron’s cold belly and froze.

  ‘What is it?’ his shieldman Salach called from the chamber’s doorway.

  Uthas cocked his head to one side, closing his eyes. Voices, calling to me. ‘Nothing,’ he murmured, unsure whether he heard or felt the whisperings from within the cauldron. ‘Soon,’ he breathed as he pulled his fingers from the cold iron.

  A shape slithered from the shadows as he walked towards the exit. It blocked his way, gliding about him. A wyrm, white scales glistening as it raised its flat head and regarded him with cold, soulless eyes. He stood there, still and silent, let it taste his scent, felt an instant of unease as he waited, then the snake slithered away, its huge coils bunching and expanding, back to the shadows to rejoin its brood. He let out a breath.

  ‘Come, then,’ he said as he strode past Salach. ‘Best not keep Nemain waiting.’

  He glanced at the chamber’s dour-faced guards, all wrapped in fur and iron, as he marched past them. Salach’s footfalls followed him. In silence they passed through the bowels of Murias, the last stronghold of the Benothi. It was nestled deep in the highlands of Benoth, carved into and beneath the grey, mist-shrouded land.

  In time they reached a wide staircase that spiralled up into darkness and soon Uthas was muttering under his breath, the old pain in his knee gnawing at him as he climbed higher and higher.

  ‘Bitseach,’ he swore, thinking of Nemain waiting for him at the top of this high tower. Salach chuckled behind him.

  Eventually they were at a doorway. Salach nodded to the warrior standing there, Sreng, Nemain’s shield-maiden. She opened the door for them.