Divine Sacrifice, The
Read Divine Sacrifice, The Online
Authors: Anthony Hays
Anthony Hays is a journalist and novelist. He has covered topics as varied as narcotics trafficking, political corruption, Civil War history, and the war on terror.
ALSO BY ANTHONY HAYS
The Killing Way
PRAISE FOR ANTHONY HAYS
‘A moving, gritty, intriguing take on the Arthurian myth with solid, well-drawn characters, and a fantastic murder mystery you can really sink your teeth into. The best of
Ellis Peters rendered in the battle-tongue of Bernard Cornwell.’
–
M C Scott
‘Stirring stuff, with plenty of intrigue and atmosphere.’
–
Guardian
‘This author knows his history and produces a first class, page turning tale. We shall doubtless hear much more of Tony Hays.’ –
Peter Tremayne
‘Powerfully told and atmospherically driven.’
–
The New York Journal of Books
‘A fascinating blend of history and fiction … sure to engage fans of both Bernard Cornwell and Ellis Peters.’
–
Library Journal
First published in the United States in 2010 by Forge, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, New York.
First published in paperback in Great Britain in 2013 by Corvus, an imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd.
Copyright © Anthony Hays, 2010
The moral right of Anthony Hays to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 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 both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual
persons, living or dead, events or localities, is entirely coincidental.
Maps by Jon Lansberg and Jennifer Hanover
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Paperback ISBN: 978 0 85789 066 5
E-book ISBN: 978 0 85789 068 9
Printed in Great Britain.
Corvus
An imprint of Atlantic Books Ltd
Ormond House
26–27 Boswell Street
London
WC1N 3JZ
For
R
OBERT
D
OUGLAS
H
AYS
(1917–1981)
and
C
ARL
T. T
ALLENT
(1921–2008)
who sacrificed their youth so that we might be free
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
F
aced with the task of giving credit where it is due for this, the second volume of Malgwyn’s and Arthur’s adventures,
I find that the list grows longer, not shorter. But the length does nothing to diminish the appreciation I feel toward each.
My agent, Frank Weimann, and his assistant, Elyse Tanzillo, are absolutely the best. My delightful editor, Claire Eddy, her assistant, Kristin Sevick, and all the folks at Tor/Forge have been
wonderful. As always, Bo and Dee Grimshaw and Rich and Roz Tuerk have proven themselves true friends. Bill and Diane Pyron and their children, Amelia and Atticus, have been a constant source of
encouragement. Thanks go to Clara Gerl, my lecture partner with DeVry, for her understanding and support. And no list would be complete without Brian Holcombe, who stood by me through some tough
times.
I am forever grateful to Geoffrey and Pat Ashe for their willingness to share their vast knowledge of Arthur and his times as well as their friendship. Dr. Christopher Snyder was always happy to
answer my interminable questions about the Britonic Age.
Much of my life has been spent overseas, teaching English and creative writing at a variety of places. And I am the richer for having enjoyed the friendship of Sonya Mitic, Lela Argus, Anita
Reci, Todor Gajdov, Jeta Rushidi, Luizia Zeqiri, Jazmin Triana Durango, and Qenan Saliu in Macedonia. A world away in Tennessee, my classrooms were blessed with students like Tristan Daniel, Kassie
Vickery, Allen Farmer, Taylor Holder, and more than I could possibly name here. Dear friends from my days in the Marshall Islands include Carolyn Laws, Max Voelzke, and John Tuthill. In England I
enjoyed the hospitality of new friends Diane and Ross Bowman and Jane and Chris Lee and old friends Hazel and Nigel Garwell. I had great times with the folks in Reading at the Thames Valley Writers
group, the Southampton Writers Circle, and Susan Down and her fine group in Salisbury.
The publication of
The Killing Way
brought a host of old friends back into my life. My first coauthor and childhood friend, Michael Greene, classmates Kathy Louvin, Mike Card, Jeff
Harrell, Cindy Lamb, Dave Rizzuto, Dana Spinks, Steve Ellis, Doug Nall, Woodson Marshall, Sheryl Rennie Hall, Bruce Martin, David Vowell, Randy Tarkington, Matt Fischer, Jenny Roberts, Teresa
Vaden, Laura Watts, Joan Howell, Lynn Jones, Jeannie Wagner, Debbie Vaden, Ron Estes, Anjanette Benjamin, and the list goes on.
For ten years, I hung my hat in Savannah, Tennessee. I would be totally remiss if I did not mention Lisa Bevis, Ann Bain, Pat Prather, Jimmy Bain, Steve Bain, Billy Bain, Benson Parris, Diane
Qualls, Deb Gray, Donna Davis, Stacy Carnal, and Tammy Cherry. Tommy Tallent, Mary Sue Vickery, and Becky Bain have been far greater and more loyal friends than I deserve. And that’s true too
of Jana and Kevin Shelby.
And, I cannot forget to mention my newly rediscovered family, the children of my late brother Robert Joe Hays, Sr. His sons, Joe Hays, John Hays, and Jamie Hays. Their children, Amber, Morgan,
Alex, and Katherine Hays. His daughter, Christy Dawn Langford, and her children—Ashley, Ryan, Sarah, and Caleb. And then there are the in-laws, Lisa Hays, Brad Langford, and Samantha Hays.
Last but certainly not least, Shannah Vivian Farr, who was like a sister to me all those years ago.
To those who I have inevitably left out, I apologize. Their friendship and support are not diminished by their absence.
C
ONTENTS
LASTONBURY