Darkening Skies (The Hadrumal Crisis)

Praise for Juliet E. McKenna

“If your appetite is for fantasy in the epic tradition, with compelling narratives, authentic combat and characters you care about, Juliet E. McKenna is definitely the author for you.”

– Stan Nicholls, author of
Orcs

“The book is a feast of intriguing plot and well-drawn characters, set in a splendidly realized world. High magic, treachery and revenge keep the reader turning the pages.”

– Katherine Kerr, author of
License to Ensorcell

“Juliet McKenna writes classic epic fantasy at its best: with swords, sorcery, fights, and intrigue a-plenty, wrapped around compelling characters struggling to stay alive in an exceptionally well-drawn world whose order has been disrupted by violence, betrayal, and greed. McKenna’s got all the things in her books that I read epic fantasy for.”

– Kate Elliott, author of
Cold Magic

“Juliet E. McKenna invariably delivers an epic fantasy world of real people, sympathetic motivations and delicious consequences. I never know what’s going to happen next and I always want to find out!”

– C.E. Murphy, author of
The Walker Papers
series

“Inventive magic, devious intrigue and appealing characters make for an exciting tale, well-told.”

– Gail Z. Martin, author of
The Sworn

“Juliet McKenna’s latest mixes magic and politics in a fully realized fantasy world. A rewarding new fantasy from a master of the craft.”

– Patrice Sarath, author of
Gordath Wood

Book 2 of
THE HADRUMAL CRISIS

DARKENING

SKIES

Juliet E. McKenna

In memoriam

Anne McCaffrey

with admiration and affection

Pathfinder and trailblazer in her career and in her fiction for so many women writers, with her work read, enjoyed and celebrated by men and women alike.

She was the first writer I met in person, who in the course of an evening revealed so much of both the craft and the practicalities of being an author.

My own books would never have been written without that first encounter. Our handful of subsequent meetings similarly inspired and delighted me.

First published 2012 by Solaris

an imprint of Rebellion Publishing Ltd,

Riverside House, Osney Mead,

Oxford, OX2 0ES, UK

www.solarisbooks.com

ISBN: (ePUB) 978-1-84997-343-4

ISBN: (MOBI) 978-1-84997-344-1

Copyright © Juliet E. McKenna 2012

Map artwork by Juliet E. McKenna and Pye Parr

The right of the author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of he copyright owners.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

Also by Juliet E. McKenna

T
HE
H
ADRUMAL
C
RISIS

Dangerous Waters

Darkening Skies

C
HRONICLES OF THE
L
ESCARI
R
EVOLUTION

Irons in the Fire

Blood in the Water

Banners in the Wind

T
HE
A
LDABRESHIN
C
OMPASS

Southern Fire

Northern Storm

Western Shore

Eastern Tide

T
ALES OF
E
INARINN

The Thief’s Gamble

The Swordsman’s Oath

The Gambler’s Fortune

The Warrior’s Bond

The Assassin’s Edge