Bloodheir

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Authors: Brian Ruckley

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BOOK: Bloodheir
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Bloodheir
Brian Ruckley
Copyright © 2008 by Brian Ruckley
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Orbit
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Visit our Web site at
www.HachetteBookGroup.com
First eBook Edition: June 2008
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN: 978-0-316-03262-9
Praise For
Winterbirth
“The author’s unapologetically stark yet darkly poetic narrative displays a refreshing lack of stereotypical genre conventions, ensuring a fervent audience of epic fantasy fans looking for something innovative in a genre that can be anything but.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
(starred review)
“Ruckley is an imaginative, dramatic storyteller. He’s created a world that seems real, with characters who are well drawn and far more than one-dimensional. It’s an engrossing read, one that leaves you looking forward to the next book.”
— Associated Press
“A gripping story that builds to a grim climax. No one who enjoys heroic fantasy should miss this.”

THE TIMES
(London)
“Readers who like their fantasy dark, multithreaded, and political will sink their teeth into this one.”

KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Heroic fantasy splashed with
300
-style gore . . . Ruckley’s realistic characters and sparing use of magic breathe new life into well-trod epic territory.”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

The author delivers what high-fantasy readers want: a big cast of interesting, sympathetic characters involved in complex, intelligent action and intrigue.”

scifi.com

Winterbirth
delivers a meaty, dramatic, and entertaining debut.”

fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com
“Ruckley’s at his strongest and most eloquent when he’s describing the bleak, snowy world in which
Winterbirth
takes place, deftly drawing a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.”
— A Dribble of Ink
(aidanmoher.com/blog)

Winterbirth
by Brian Ruckley is an amazing novel and one that I would highly recommend. Ruckley shows his prowess at worldbuilding by creating a breathtaking world where surprises are regular and no one is safe from death.”

thefantasyreview.com
BY BRIAN RUCKLEY
The Godless World
Winterbirth
Bloodheir
For Fleur because she is wonderful
CAST OF CHARACTERS
THE TRUE BLOODS
Haig
Lannis-Haig
Kilkry-Haig
Dargannan-Haig
Ayth-Haig
Taral-Haig
Haig Blood
Gryvan oc Haig,
The High Thane, Thane of Thanes
Abeh oc Haig,
Gryvan’s wife
Aewult nan Haig,
Gryvan’s first son, the Bloodheir
Ishbel,
Aewult’s companion
Kale,
Gryvan’s bodyguard and Captain of his Shield
Mordyn Jerain, the Shadowhand,
Chancellor of the Haig Blood, a Tal Dyreen
Tara Jerain,
The Chancellor’s wife
Torquentine,
A man in Vaymouth
Magrayn,
A woman in Vaymouth, Torquentine’s doorkeeper
Lammain,
Craftmaster of the Goldsmiths
Lagair Haldyn,
Gryvan’s Steward in Kolkyre
Lannis-Haig Blood
Orisian oc Lannis-Haig,
The Thane
Anyara nan Lannis-Haig,
Orisian’s sister
Taim Narran,
Captain of Castle Anduran
Jaen,
Taim’s wife
Rothe,
Orisian’s shieldman
Coinach,
Anyara’s shieldman
Torcaill,
A warrior
The Dead:
Kennet,
Orisian’s father, killed at Kolglas
Lairis,
Orisian’s mother, died of the Heart Fever
Fariel,
Orisian’s elder brother, died of the Heart Fever
Croesan,
The late Thane, Orisian’s uncle, killed at Anduran
Naradin,
Croesan’s son, killed at Anduran
Eilan,
Naradin’s wife, killed at Anduran
Inurianv,
Kennet’s
na’kyrim
counsellor, killed at Sarn’s Leap
Kilkry-Haig Blood
Lheanor oc Kilkry-Haig,
The Thane
Ilessa oc Kilkry-Haig,
Lheanor’s wife
Roaric nan Kilkry-Haig,
Lheanor’s second son, now the Bloodheir
Cailla,
A kitchen maid in Kolkyre
Ochan the Cook,
A man in Kolkyre
Ammen Sharp,
Ochan’s son
Herraic,
Lheanor’s cousin, Captain of the Highfast garrison
The Dead:
Gerain,
Lheanor’s first son, killed in battle at Grive
Dargannan-Haig Blood
Igryn oc Dargannan-
Haig,
Former Thane, now blinded and imprisoned at Vaymouth
THE BLOODS OF THE BLACK ROAD
Gyre
Horin-Gyre
Gaven-Gyre
Wyn-Gyre
Fane-Gyre
and The Inkallim
Gyre Blood
Ragnor oc Gyre,
The High Thane, Thane of Thanes
Temegrin, the Eagle,
Third Captain of the High Thane’s armies
Horin-Gyre Blood
Kanin oc Horin-Gyre,
The Thane
Wain nan Horin-Gyre,
Kanin’s sister
Vana oc Horin-Gyre,
Mother to Kanin and Wain, widow of Angain
Igris,
Kanin’s shieldman
  The Dead:
Angain,
The late Thane, died in his bed
Inkallim
Theor,
First of the Lore Inkall
Nyve,
First of the Battle Inkall
Avenn,
First of the Hunt Inkall
Fiallic,
Banner-captain and field commander of the Battle Inkall
Goedellin,
Inner Servant of the Lore Inkall, emissary of Theor
Shraeve,
A captain of the Battle Inkall
Cannek,
A Hunt Inkallim
OTHERS
Huanin
Kyrinin
Na’kyrim
Huanin
Alem T’anarch,
Ambassador of the Dornach Kingship to the Haig Blood
Kyrinin
Ess’yr,
A woman of the Fox clan, now in the company of Orisian
Varryn,
Ess’yr’s brother, now in the company of Orisian
Mar’athoin ,
A young warrior of the Heron clan
Hothyn,
Son of the White Owl Voice, leader of a spear
a’an
Na’kyrim
Yvane,
A
na’kyrim
, now in the company of Orisian
Hammarn,
A
na’kyrim
from Koldihrve, now in the company of Orisian
Cerys,
A
na’kyrim
, the Elect of Highfast
Amonyn,
A
na’kyrim
in Highfast, lover of Cerys
Olyn,
A
na’kyrim
in Highfast, Keeper of Crows
Tyn,
A
na’kyrim
, the Dreamer in Highfast
Eshenna,
A
na’kyrim
in Highfast, originally from Dyrkyrnon
Bannain,
A
na’kyrim
in Highfast, a messenger
K’rina,
A
na’kyrim
from Dyrkyrnon, once foster-mother to Aeglyss
Aeglyss,
A
na’kyrim
formerly in the service of the Horin-Gyre Blood, survivor of the Breaking Stone of the White Owls

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