Read Luck in the Shadows Online

Authors: Lynn Flewelling

Luck in the Shadows

BOOK: Luck in the Shadows
9.58Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
DEADLY MISSION

“Looks like you’ll have to climb,” Seregil whispered, squinting up. “Be careful going over; most of these places have the walls topped with spikes or sharp flints.”

“Hold on!” Alec tried to make out Seregil’s expression through the darkness. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

“It’s a one-man job; the fewer the better,” Seregil assured him. “Would I send you in alone if I didn’t think you could handle it? Best leave your sword, though.”

“What if someone sees me?”

“Honestly, Alec! You can’t just go hacking your way out of every difficult situation that arises. It’s uncivilized.”

Alec unbuckled his sword and started up the garden wall. He was halfway to the top when Micum called softly, “We’ll meet you back here when you’ve finished. Oh, and look out for the dogs.”

“Dogs?” Alec dropped down again. “What dogs? You didn’t say anything about dogs!”

Seregil tapped himself sharply between the eyes. “Illior’s Fingers, what
am
I thinking of tonight? There’s a pair of Zengati hounds, snow-white and big as bears.”

“That’s a fine detail to forget,” growled Micum.

“Anything else I should know?”

“Let’s see, the spikes, the dogs, the servants—No, I think we covered it. Luck in the shadows, Alec.”

“And to you,” Alec muttered, starting up the wall again.

Praise for
Luck in the Shadows
by Lynn Flewelling

“Part high fantasy and part political intrigue,
Luck in the Shadows
makes a nice change from the usual ruck of contemporary sword-and-sorcery. I especially enjoyed Lynn Flewelling’s obvious affection for her characters. And at unexpected moments she reveals a well-honed gift for the macabre.”

—Stephen R. Donaldson, author of
This Day All Gods Die

“Memorable characters, an enthralling plot, and truly daunting evil. The magic is refreshingly difficult, mysterious, and unpredictable. Lynn Flewelling has eschewed the easy shortcuts of clichéd minor characters and cookie-cutter backdrops to present a unique world peopled by characters who are truly of that world. I commend this one to your attention.”

—Robin Hobb, author of
Royal Assassin

“A splendid read, filled with magic, mystery, adventure, and taut suspense. Lynn Flewelling, bravo! Nicely done.”

—Dennis L. McKiernan, author of
The Dragonstone

“An engrossing and entertaining debut novel. It opens up a new fantasy world that is ripe for exploration—full of magic, intrigues, and fascinating characters … the kind of book you settle down with when you want a long, satisfying read.”

—Michael A. Stackpole,                                  
author of
Star Wars X-Wing: Rogue Squadron

LUCK IN THE SHADOWS
A Bantam Spectra Book/September 1996
SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of Bantam Books,
a division of Random House, Inc.

All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1996 by Lynn Flewelling.
Map by Virginia Norey.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.

eISBN: 978-0-307-77499-6

Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.

v3.1_r2

This one’s for you, Doug,
for all the best reasons.
LBF

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

Like many first novels, this one wouldn’t be complete without acknowledgments. Those of you who don’t know me can skip this part, if you like. Really. I don’t mind.

With deepest gratitude to those hardy early readers who believed in this project long before I did myself: Mom, Fran, and kid sister Sue, God love ’em; Gram, God rest her; Jeffs K. & A.; sisters of the heart Darby, Laurie, the Other Lynn, and Nancy; Bonnie; Cheryl; Marc and the whole BookMarc’s gang; Cathie Pelletier, for her guidance and support; Greta, Sandy F., Gary, Bill & Dorothy, Maria, Sabine, Scott & Julie, Marc & Lisa, Todd, Jen, Gail N.; Suzannes K. & C.; and Pete “The Organmeister” K. and Debbie C., who materialized out of the electronic ether at the nicest possible time. Apologies to anyone I missed.

Love also to Matt and Tim, who’ve heard, “Not now, Mom’s writing,” far too often; and to my dad, who’s probably bragging me up in Heaven, because he always did.

And finally, special thanks to my literary midwives, Lucienne Diver, Eleanor Wood, and Anne Groell, who made it all come real.

Contents
A
UTHOR’S
N
OTE

The ancient Hierophantic calendar is based on a lunar year divided into twelve 29-day months and four seasonal festivals, which account for an additional twelve days.

Winter Solstice—observance of the longest night and celebration of the lengthening of days to come. (Mourning Night and Festival of Sakor in Skala.) Followed by:

Sarisin

Dostin

Klesin

Spring Festival—preparation for planting, celebration of fertility of Dalna. (Festival of the Flowers in Mycena.) Followed by:

Lithion

Nythin

Gorathin

Summer Solstice—celebration of the longest day, followed by:

Shemin

Lenthin

Rhythin

Harvest Home—finish of harvest, time of thankfulness. (Great Festival of Dalna in Mycena.) Followed by:

Erasin

Kemmin

Cinrin

PROLOGUE

M
ouldering bone crumbled beneath their boots as Lord Mardus and Varûgl Ashnazai lowered themselves down into the tiny chamber beneath the earthen mound. Oblivious to the pervasive odor of swamp and old death, to the dank earth filtering down the back of his neck and into his hair, Mardus crunched across more bones to a rough stone slab at the back of the chamber. Brushing aside brittle ribs and skulls, he reverently lifted a small pouch from the stone. The rotted leather fell to pieces at a touch, spilling eight carved wooden disks across his palm.

“It appears you’ve accomplished your purpose, Vargûl Ashnazai.” Mardus smiled and the scar beneath his left eye tightened.

Ashnazai’s sharp, sallow face was ghostly in the uncertain light. With a nod of satisfaction, he passed a hand over the disks and for an instant their form wavered, giving hint of their true shape.

“After all these centuries, another fragment reclaimed!” he exclaimed softly. “It’s a sign, my lord. The time draws nigh.”

“A most propitious sign. Let us hope that the remainder of our quest is as successful. Captain Tildus!”

A black-bearded face appeared in the
rough opening at the top of the mound. “Here, my lord.”

“Have the villagers been gathered?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good. You may begin.”

“I shall make preparations for the safe conveyance of these,” Vargûl Ashnazai said, reaching to take the disks.

“And what could
you
do that the ancients have not already done?” Mardus inquired coldly, pocketing them as casually as if they were gaming stones. “There’s nothing so safe as that which appears to be worthless. For the time being, we will trust in the wisdom of our ancestors.”

Ashnazai quickly withdrew his hand. “As you wish, my lord.”

Mardus’ soulless black eyes met and held his as the first screams erupted above them.

Vargûl Ashnazai was the first to look away.

1
L
UCK IN THE
S
HADOWS

A
sengai’s torturers were regular in their habits—they always left off at sunset. Chained again in his corner of the drafty cell, Alec turned his face to the rough stone wall and sobbed until his chest ached.

An icy mountain wind sighed through the grating overhead, carrying with it the sweet scent of snow to come. Still weeping, the boy burrowed deeper into the sour straw. It scratched painfully against the welts and bruises that bloomed across his bare skin, but it was better than nothing and all he had.

He was alone now. They’d hanged the miller yesterday and the one called Danker had died under torture. Alec had never met either of them before his capture but they had treated him kindly. Now he wept for them, too, and for the horror of their death.

As the tears subsided, he wondered again why he’d been spared, why Lord Asengai repeatedly told the torturers, “Don’t mark the boy too badly.” So they hadn’t seared him with red-hot irons or cut off his ears or opened his skin with knotted whips as they had with the others. Instead, they’d beaten him skillfully and dunked him until he thought he was drowned. And no matter how many times he’d screamed out the truth, he couldn’t seem to convince his captors that he’d wandered onto
Asengai’s remote freeholding seeking nothing more than the pelts of spotted cats.

BOOK: Luck in the Shadows
9.58Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Younger Gods 1: The Younger Gods by Michael R. Underwood
Still Lake by Anne Stuart
Three Wishes by Barbara Delinsky
Come Home Bad Boy by Leah Holt
The Proof House by K J. Parker
Craig Kreident #1: Virtual Destruction by Kevin J Anderson, Doug Beason
A Reason to Love by Alexis Morgan