Mask of Swords (40 page)

And all it will cost is his soul.

SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.

He doesn't expect to find black magic.

LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.

By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…

Read 
The Tower of Endless Worlds
 for free. The saga of the Tower continues in 
A Knight of the Sacred Blade
, 
A Wizard of the White Council
, and 
The Destroyer of Worlds
.

About the Author

Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.

He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.

Visit his website at:

http://www.jonathanmoeller.com

Visit his technology blog at:

http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com

Contact him at:

[email protected]

You can 
sign up for his email newsletter here
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Facebook page
.

Glossary of Characters

ADALAR GREATHEART - Lord of Castle Dominus and a vassal of Malden Roland. Once the squire of Mazael Cravenlock, and known for his valor and skill with a sword. 

ADELAIDE STORMSEA CHALSAIN – The bastard daughter of Lord Alberon of Castle Stormsea. Wed Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion after the defeat of the usurper Malaric, and is now Hugh's Lady Consort.

AEGIDIA - Once the Guardian of the Tervingi, the teacher of Riothamus, and the mother of Ragnachar. Betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower. 

AGANTYR – Formerly the High King of the Aegonar and the anointed of Sepharivaim. Killed by Hugh Chalsain during the defeat of the usurper Malaric.

AGARIC - A Tervingi swordthain sworn to Earnachar son of Balnachar.

AGRAVAIN RAINIER - Lord of Tumblestone and a vassal of Malden Roland. A skilled battle commander. 

AIDAN TORMAUD - A Commander in the Justiciar Order. Fled with Gerald Roland, and now in rebellion against the Grand Master of the Justiciars. Now a vassal of Lord Gerald Roland.

ALDANE ROLAND – The eldest son of Gerald and Rachel Roland. Now three years old. 

ALBERON STORMSEA – Lord of Castle Stormsea, and now Prince Hugh's Lord Lieutenant in Barellion, though the Lady Consort holds most of the actual power. Known for his petulant and morose nature. 

AMALRIC GALBRAITH - A son of the Old Demon, and half-brother to Mazael Cravenlock. Formerly the Grand Master of the Dominiar Order, and killed by Mazael and Adalar Greatheart at the Battle of Tumblestone. 

ARDANNA - The High Druid of the Elderborn tribes and Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock's mother.

ARDIFF - The bailiff of Blueholt village.

ARNULF, SON OF KAERWULF – Headman and swordthain of the Tervingi nation. Steady and unflappable in combat. A loyal follower of Mazael Cravenlock.

ATARANUR - The alias adopted by Lucan Mandragon while in disguise at Knightcastle. A High Elderborn title meaning "Lord of Gifts."

ATHAELIN GREENSHIELD - Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock's father, and formerly the Champion of Deepforest Keep. Killed by Ultorin during the siege of Deepforest Keep.

ATHANARIC - A hrould of the Tervingi nation, betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower.

AULUS HIRTAN - A knight in Mazael Cravenlock's service, and Mazael's herald.

BASRACUS - A chieftain of the Skuldari. 

BELIFANE ROLAND – The youngest son of Gerald and Rachel Roland, now a year and a half old. Named for Gerald’s elder brother, slain in battle against Lord Richard Mandragon of the Grim Marches. 

BRYCE SPEARSHORE - Lord of Spearshore in southern Greycoast, and a loyal supporter of Prince Hugh Chalsain.

CALDARUS - The Grand Master of the Justiciar Order of knights. Famed for his ruthlessness and his single-minded advancement of the Justiciars' wealth and power. Corrupted by Lucan Mandragon, and then killed at the battle of the Northwater. 

CARASTER – A renegade wizard and rebel, and one of the last remaining Demonsouled. Killed by Lucan Mandragon, and raised as a runedead wizard. His undead form was destroyed at the battle of the Northwater. 

CIRCAN - A wizard formerly in Lord Malden's service, and now aiding Gerald Roland's rebellion. 

CORMANE - A Justiciar knight. Killed at the battle of the Northwater. 

CORVAD – Son of Mazael Cravenlock and twin brother of Molly Cravenlock. Killed by Mazael in the throne chamber of Arylkrad. 

CRAMTON - Formerly the innkeeper of Cravenlock Town, rescued from an unjust execution at the hands of Lord Mitor Cravenlock by Mazael Cravenlock. Now serves as Mazael's seneschal. 

EARNACHAR SON OF BALNACHAR – A headman of the Tervingi nation. Once a loyal supporter of the hrould Ragnachar, but now a grudging follower of Mazael Cravenlock. The village of Banner Hill, north of Greatheart Keep, is his hold. 

EDGAR TALLBARTH – A knight of Greycoast, in service to Lord Alberon Stormsea of Castle Stormsea. A capable scout and skirmisher, skills acquired during his checkered past of stealing cattle from his neighbors. 

EDMUND - The bailiff of the village of Lord's Stump.

EDMUND CROWHAND - The knight of Castyard and a vassal of Mazael Cravenlock.

ELISE – A maid in service to Rachel Roland of Knightcastle. 

ETHRINGA DAUGHTER OF JORDANIC – A holdmistress of the Tervingi nation, respected and influential among the other holdmistresses. Known for her sharp tongue. 

EVERARD CHALSAIN - Formerly Prince of Barellion and the liege lord of Greycoast. Murdered by Malaric during the Aegonar invasion of Greycoast.

GAITH KALBORN – The knight of Morsen Village, and a San-keth proselyte. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during Corvad’s attack upon the village. 

GARAIN ROLAND - Once Lord Malden's eldest son and the heir to Knightcastle. Murdered by the San-keth during the Malden's war against the Dominiar Order, making Tobias Roland the heir to Knightcastle. 

GERALD ROLAND – The youngest son of Lord Malden Roland of Knightcastle. With all his brothers dead, he was the heir to Knightcastle, and led his father's vassals in a revolt. Now the Lord of Knightcastle and liege lord of Knightreach.

GRULDA - Owner of the Iron River Inn at Cravenlock Town. 

HADRAINE - A commander of the Justiciar Order. Killed at the battle of the Northwater. 

HAGEN BRIDGEBANE – The armsmaster of Castle Cravenlock, and one of Mazael’s loyal vassals. Known for his utter lack of humor. 

HARBINGER - A rebel of Knightreach and a follower of Caraster. 

HELEN - The Marcher-born wife of Vorgaric of Greatheart Keep. 

HIRAM STORMCREST – Liege lord of the Stormvales, and lord of Castle Stormcrest. Generally ignored by his nominal vassals. 

HJALSK - An Aegonar warrior, skilled at carpentry.

HUGH CHALSAIN – The Prince of Barellion and the liege lord of Greycoast. Formerly the youngest son of Prince Everard Chalsain, Hugh became Prince of Greycoast when Malaric murdered most of the House of Chalsain and usurped the Prince's throne. 

KADARIUS - A commander of the Justiciar Order. Killed at the battle of the Northwater.

KALOCHAR SON OF VELCHAR - A Tervingi horsethain in service to Earnachar son of Balnachar. 

KARLAM GANELON - Lord of Castle Rutagne in eastern Greycoast, and only a grudging supporter of Prince Hugh Chalsain. Killed by Hugh Chalsain during Lord Malden's siege of Barellion. 

KULDURA - The wife of the Jutai swordthain Talchar. 

LADY OF BLADES - A powerful spirit creature, and ruler of a domain within the spirit world. 

LIANE - The sister of Sigaldra, the last holdmistress of the Jutai. Blessed and cursed with the Sight. 

LUCAN MANDRAGON – A wizard of terrible power, and the architect of the catastrophic Great Rising. Bearer of the Glamdaigyr and the Banurdem. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during the Great Rising, and now an undead revenant. Destroyed by the Old Demon in the Trysting Ways below Knightcastle. 

KORVAGER – The High Priest of Sepharivaim among the Aegonar, second only to the Heralds and the High King himself. A powerful wizard, and ruthless even by the standards of the Aegonar. Slew himself in despair at the battle of Knightcastle. 

MALARIC - The bastard son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Using the skull of Corvad, Malaric obtained Demonsouled powers, and used them to slaughter his half-brothers and father and claim the throne of Barellion for himself. Later defeated and killed by a spirit he had attempted to enslave. 

MALAVOST – A renegade wizard who tried to murder Aldane Belifane, using his blood to open the Door of Souls. Killed by Rachel Cravenlock Roland in the High Elderborn Temple atop Mount Tynagis. 

MALDEN ROLAND - Lord of Knightcastle, husband to Rhea Roland, and father of Tobias and Gerald. His youth has been restored by Lucan Mandragon's necromancy. Died during the battle of Knightcastle. 

MARAZADRA - A mysterious goddess worshipped by several different sects. 

MATHER - A master assassin of the Skulls.

MAURUS – A master wizard in service to Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion. 

MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK – Lord of Castle Cravenlock, liege lord of the Grim Marches, and the hrould of the Tervingi nation. The son of the Old Demon, and one of the most capable warriors, skilled commanders, and powerful Demonsouled now living. 

MITOR CRAVENLOCK - The older brother of Mazael Cravenlock and Rachel Cravenlock Roland. Allied with the San-keth and rebelled against Richard Mandragon, but killed by the San-keth after his defeat. 

MOLLY CRAVENLOCK – Mazael Cravenlock’s daughter and heir to Castle Cravenlock. A powerful Demonsouled. Raised as an assassin by the Skulls, Barellion’s feared brotherhood of paid killers. Called “the Lady of the Shadows” by the Tervingi for her Demonsouled-granted ability to travel instantaneously through the shadows. Married to Riothamus, Guardian of the Tervingi. 

MOREBETH GALBRAITH - A daughter of the Old Demon, and half-sister to Mazael Cravenlock. Seduced Mazael, and attempted to turn him into the Destroyer, the prophesied Demonsouled who will destroy the kingdoms of men. Killed by Mazael and Lucan Mandragon at Knightcastle. Her spirit has returned to aid Mazael agains the Old Demon, and saved Mazael after the final battle in Cythraul Urdvul. 

NICHOLAS RANDERLY - Lord of Knightport. Young, and newly come to his position, as his father and older brothers were slain in the Great Rising. 

NILES CARVER - A merchant of Barellion. 

NIZIUS - A calibah of Aegonar descent, in service to Skalatan.

THE OLD DEMON – The eldest and most powerful of the Demonsouled, and the father of Mazael Cravenlock, Morebeth Galbraith, Ragnachar, Amalric Galbraith, and the grandfather of Molly Cravenlock and Corvad. A wizard of unsurpassed might and a manipulator of great skill and cunning. Killed in the instant of his triumph by Mazael Cravenlock.

PHILIP MONTIGARD – A Travian knight, now in service to Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion. 

THE PROPHETESS - A mysterious sorceress, her origins and purpose unknown. 

RACHEL CRAVENLOCK ROLAND – The younger sister of Lord Mazael Cravenlock, and the wife of Sir Gerald Roland. Mother of Aldane and Belifane. Once a San-keth proselyte, but since repented. 

RAGNACHAR SON OF NO ONE – Once a powerful hrould of the Tervingi nation. A son of the Old Demon, and at his bidding led the Tervingi over the Great Mountains to the Grim Marches. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock outside the walls of Sword Town. 

RANDUR MAENDRAG – The most powerful high lord of Old Dracaryl, and using knowledge obtained from the Old Demon, the creator of the Glamdaigyr, the Banurdem, and the Wraithaldr. The creator of the Great Rising, and transformed into a revenant in the great spell’s failure. Later destroyed by Lucan Mandragon using the Glamdaigyr, who then claimed Randur’s knowledge and powers. 

RHEA ROLAND – Wife of Lord Malden Roland, and mother of Tobias and Gerald Roland. Dignified and respected, and indifferent to her husband’s frequent infidelities. Killed by the runedead at Knightcastle.

RHODEMAR GREENSHIELD - The half-brother of Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock, and current champion of Deepforest Keep.

RIGORIC - An orcragar and former thain of Ragnachar. 

RILARIC SON OF RILAGO - A Tervingi skythain. 

RIOTHAMUS SON OF RIGOTHARIC – The Guardian of the Tervingi nation, their defender from supernatural threats, and wielder of the ancient Staff of the Guardian. Married to Molly Cravenlock, the heir to the Grim Marches. 

ROBERT HIGHGATE - The Lord of Castle Highgate, and one of the most powerful lords of the Grim Marches. A skilled commander. 

ROCARD - A knight of Tumblestone, in service to Lord Agravain.

RODRIC CHALSAIN – The eldest son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion, and heir to the throne of Greycoast and Barellion. Murdered by Malaric at the Prince's Keep in Barellion.

ROGER SPEARSHORE - Son of Lord Bryce, and currently serving as squire to Hugh Chalsain.  

ROMARIA GREENSHIELD CRAVENLOCK – Wife of Mazael Cravenlock. Half Elderborn, giving her the ability to change her shape to that of a great black wolf. A skilled hunter, archer, and tracker.

ROSALA - A serving maid at the Knights' Inn of Barellion, and a member of the assassins' brotherhood known as the Skulls. 

RUDOLPH LARSAR - Squire to Mazael Cravenlock.  

RUFUS HIGHGATE - The eldest son of Lord Robert Highgate. Formerly served as Mazael's squire, and now a knight of the Grim Marches. 

RYNTALD - Formerly an earl of the Aegonar and a trusted advisor to High King Agantyr. Known for his cunning in battle. Ryntald became the High King of the Aegonar after Agantyr's death.