Blood in the Water (60 page)

She had drawn a blade on her husband. Iruvain couldn’t ignore that. The sorry remnants of their household and his retinue must all be within earshot too. He couldn’t pretend it had never happened, not with a scar across his palm to remind him. Everyone would see it, each and every day.

What allies did she have among these ragtag servants and swordsmen? None that she could think of. Some seemed more trustworthy than others, but how long would it be before she woke to find every last one had fled in the night? Litasse thought her heart would burst. Pelletria’s death was a physical ache in her breast.

No. She couldn’t break. If she did, she would be utterly lost. She must take stock of her situation. She couldn’t rely on Iruvain’s protection or even his forbearance any more. Her status as duchess was no shield. He had nothing to lose by repudiating her now. How could Triolle’s duke be any more humiliated, after fleeing headlong from the battle that saw the loss of his dukedom?

She had no protector now that Hamare was dead. She had no home, not as a wife nor as a disgraced daughter. Her father was dead, her mother and sisters captive. Those few confidants she might have called friends were dead or scattered to the four winds. They had no idea what had happened to Triolle’s vassal lords. Who had come to terms with these exiles? Who defied them? They didn’t even know what had befallen Lord Roreth.

Her unseeing eyes focused on the fallen dagger. Stooping, she picked it up. If Iruvain came looking for vengeance, she had better be ready. The only question remaining was did she wait for him to throw her in the gutter or should she strike out now to fend for herself?

It was that Mountain Man’s dagger. The one who’d killed Hamare. Who’d come to kill Minelas though his fellow had actually done the deed. Litasse admitted she could hardly hold that against them.

Her expression hardened. If Hamare’s killer thought that levelled the scales, he was sorely mistaken. If she ever got the chance, she would still make him pay. She would make them all pay. Wherever she fled, she would make it her business to find out who’d encompassed this ruination of Sharlac, of Triolle, even of Parnilesse and Carluse.

She had Karn. He had no real tie to Iruvain. He knew some of Hamare’s old contacts. There would surely be some of those in Relshaz. Together, could they make use of such knowledge?

Litasse slowly wiped Iruvain’s blood from the steel. Throwing her soiled kerchief in the fire, she watched the muslin flare before it fell into ashes. She had nothing left to lose. Vengeance was all that remained to her now.

Dukedoms of Lescar

EXILES AND REBELS

Tathrin: Originally from the Lescari dukedom of Carluse, apprenticed to Master Wyess, a fur trader in Vanam.

Aremil: A nobleman crippled from birth living a retired, scholarly life in Vanam.

Lyrlen: His loyal nurse.

Reniack: Originally from Parnilesse, born to a whore in the mercenary enclave of Carif. A rabble rouser and pamphleteer.

Lady Derenna: A noblewoman exiled from Sharlac when her husband,

Lord Rousharn of Nolsedge: fell foul of the duke.

Master Gruit: A wine merchant of Vanam originally from the dukedom of Marlier.

Courra and Sibetha: Servants in his Abray household.

Failla: Previously mistress to Duke Garnot of Carluse.

Anilt: Her daughter.

Lathi: Failla’s cousin and Anilt’s foster-mother

Serafia: Failla’s cousin and mother to the orphaned Kip.

Derou: Their aunt and Ernout’s sister.

Ernout: Priest of Saedrin at the shrine in Carluse town and Failla’s uncle.

Master Settan and Master Findrin: Guildmasters of Carluse town, conspiring with Ernout to relieve local people’s suffering.

Jerich Sayron: Innkeeper at the Ring of Birches. An ally of the Guildmasters and Tathrin’s father.

Reher: A mageborn blacksmith originally from Carluse.

Milar: A Carluse innkeeper and ally of Ernout and the Guildmasters.

Branca: A student at Vanam’s university, born of Lescari blood. Adept at using the ancient enchantments called Artifice.

Kerith and Jettin: Also Adepts, also of Lescari origins,

Mentor Tonin: A noted Vanam scholar engaged in unravelling the secrets of Artifice.

Charoleia: An intelligent and beautiful information broker.

Her aliases include Lady Alaric, Mistress Larch, Lady Rochiel,

Mistress Horelle, Mistress Halisoun, Mistress Lanagyre.

Trissa: Her maid. Extremely discreet.

Nath. An itinerant mapmaker with links to Charoleia.

Welgren. A travelling apothecary with links to Charoleia.

Sorgrad and Gren. Mountain-born brothers. Mercenaries long involved in shady dealings the length and breadth of Einarinn.

Evord Fal Breven: Captain General of the Exiles’ Army.

Dagaran Esk Breven: His principle lieutenant, also from the ancient Kingdom of Solura, to the far west of the Great Forest.

Sia Kersain: Dalasorian Clan Lord and commander of the northern grassland lancers.

Sia Nanas: His son.

Rega Taszar: A Dalasorian clan lord.

Pata Mezian: A Dalasorian clan lord.

Alrene and Thyren: Commanders of the two regiments of Mountain Men.

Mercenary companies hired by Captain General Evord include:

The Wyvern Hunters

Juxon’s Raiders

The Gallowsfruit

The Tallymen

The Longshanks

Vendist’s Spearmen

Nyer’s Watchmen

The Shearlings

The Sundowners

The Wheelwrights

THE DUKES OF LESCAR

Carluse

Insignia: a black boar’s head on a white ground.

Colours: black and white

Duke Garnot.

Duchess Tadira: Born sister to the Duke of Parnilesse.

Lord Ricart: Heir to the dukedom.

Veblen: Duke Garnot’s bastard son, killed in battle two years ago.

Corrad: Carluse Castle’s horse master.

Vrist and Parlin: Grooms.

Zarene: A maidservant.

Sergeant Banel and Sergeant Haddow: Officers of the castle garrison

Triolle

Insignia: a green grebe on a pale yellow ground.

Colours: green and yellow

Duke Iruvain: Succeeded his father Duke Gerone less than a year ago.

Litasse: His duchess, born daughter of the Duke of Sharlac.

Pelletria: Her attendant and confidante. Also an enquiry agent. Previously confidante of the late Duchess Casatia.

Valesti: Litasse’s previous lady in waiting.

Milda: An insignificant maidservant.

Lord Roreth: Duke Iruvain’s brother and heir.

Lady Mazien and Lady Erasie: Noblewomen of Triolle.

Hamare: Litasse’s lover, Triolle’s spymaster and erstwhile scholar of Col’s university. Now dead.

Karn: An enquiry agent. Born in Marlier and orphaned as a child.

Minelas of Grynth: A renegade wizard, latterly employed in Caladhria to defend Lord Halferan’s lands against Aldabreshin corsairs.

Sharlac

Insignia: a russet stag on a green ground.

Colours: brown and green

Duke Moncan: Slain in the battle for Sharlac Castle.

Lord Kerlin: Second son and heir, slain in the battle for Sharlac Castle.

Lord Jaras: Heir to Sharlac previously killed in battle by Veblen of Carluse.

Duchess Aphanie: Mother of Litasse of Triolle, now widowed.

Draximal

Insignia: a golden brazier on a blue ground.

Colours: red and gold

Duke Secaris.

Lord Cassat. His heir.

Marlier

Isignia: three silver swords on a scarlet ground.

Colours: silver-grey and red

Duke Ferdain.

Ridianne the Vixen: His mistress and captain of his mercenaries.

Parnilesse

Insignia: a green wreath overlaying a black sword and halberd crossed on a blue ground.

Colours: green and black

Duke Orlin.

Lord Geferin: His brother.

Duchess Sherista: Wife to Duke Orlin.

Mercenary companies serving the dukes of Lescar include:

Wynald’s Warband (defeated and disbanded after the battle for Losand)

The Moonrakers

The Red Hounds

The Slippery Eels

The Locksmiths

The Tunnellers’ Sons

The Quicksilver Men

The Steelhands

Alsar’s Eaglets

The Flintstrikers

OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES

Toremal

Tadriol the Provident, Emperor of Tormalin, Third of that Name.

The Wizard City of Hadrumal

Planir the Black: Archmage.

Jilseth: Magewoman and enquiry agent.

Relshaz

Mellitha Esterlin: Magewoman and tax-collector.

Egil the Toad: Information broker.

Downy Scardin: Introductions agent.

Caladhria

Baron Dacren, Baron Lynast, Lord Kishote and Lord Vapanet. Noblemen with border interests along the river Rel and a voice in the Caladhrian Parliament.

Master Cardel and Master Bohad: Senior guildsmen of Abray.

Solura

King Solquen IV.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Juliet E McKenna has been interested in fantasy stories since childhood, from Winnie the Pooh to
The Iliad
. An abiding fascination with other worlds and their peoples played its part in her subsequently reading Classics at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford. After combining bookselling and motherhood for a couple of years, she now fits in her writing around her family and vice versa. She lives with her husband and children in West Oxfordshire, England.

SOLARIS BOOKS

Founded in 2007 as an independent imprint, Solaris set out to publish a mix of innovative and traditional science fiction, fantasy and horror, by new and familiar authors alike, and to fill the gap between large-scale mass-market publishers and the small genre press. In two years, we’ve published gritty, hard-SF and high-octane adventure, creepy horror and swashbuckling fantasy. We’ve discovered new gems like the hugely successful Gail Z. Martin and snagged old favourites like Brian Lumley and Eric Brown. We’ve published many anthologies, including new science fiction and fantasy, steampunk, and stories inspired by H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, with contributions by some of the best-loved and most recognised names in science fiction. As of 2009, Solaris has been part of Rebellion, and are confident that we can only go from strength to strength in the future.

More than anything, Solaris exists to publish fantastic books by great authors, and to bring to your attention, as a reader, a plethora of exciting new stories and novels.

http://www.solarisbooks.com/

Acknowledgements

In another year of change, the invaluable support of friends and family, and of fellow writers and fans keeps me keen to do the very best work I can and to further explore my scope as a writer. Thank you all.

Not for the first time, being married to an old-school wargamer has proved priceless. Thanks, Steve, for marshalling the battles, as well as for all the other things.

Mike and Sue, Rachel, Gill, my thanks for your various perspectives on my work, as well as on life, the universe and everything else, and for prompting me to take a step back and look at the bigger picture when necessary.