The Dreaming Hunt (82 page)
Authors: Cindy Dees
“Ahh,” she said in comprehension. “It's time, is it?” She looked over at her fellow spider changelings. “The long wait is over. It is time for the Great Circle to rise.”
He had no idea what she spoke of, and frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
“Tell me of your journey, Cicero. From the beginning, and leave out nothing.”
“It started in the manor house in Tyrel. The second daughter of the house was celebrating her sixteenth birthday⦔
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
Endellian looked out across the assemblage in the Great Throne Room. Tonight's feast was grander than most, the food and drink flowing even more freely than usual. She suspected her father had done it intentionally to put the court into an especially festive mood. But why? He had yet to make an appearance and the hour was growing late. Bored, the revelers were consuming more and more, becoming less and less restrained.
She had some of her father's ability to see into minds, but not, of course, his awesome power at manipulating them. When he'd been gathering power to create her, he had not seen fit to share that particular gift. A fact which made her more than a little bitter at times.
At long last, the chamberlain stepped forward and, using the fantastic acoustics of the hall, proclaimed the arrival of his Most Resplendent Majesty, Maximillian the Third, Emperor of the Eternal Empire of Koth.
As always, the tiniest ripple of jealousy flowed through her. It was a hard lot being heir to a throne occupied by an immortal being. It was always there in front of her, visible but unattainable. All the glory, all the power. Just out of reach, never hers.
Along with everyone else, she made a deep obeisance and held it while her father took his place on the great Throne of the Black Flame. His sonorous voice rolled out across the enormous room, magnified by magic and the acoustics of the throne itself. “Rise.”
An expectant rustle filled the hall. Along with the assembled kings and queens, ambassadors, and advisors ordered to this night's feasting, she waited to hear why they had all been called together.
“Grand Marshal Korovo, step forward,” her father intoned.
A moment passed while Korovo separated himself from the others, made his way up the steps of the tall dais, and knelt before Maximillian.
“Rise, Grand Marshal, and serve me. I bid you to form a new legion. The Legion of the Vast. Train it as you will. And when it is battle hardened, I bid you to set sail for Haelos and conquer the entire continent for the greater glory of Koth and my name. Bring that untamed land to heel once and for all. Bring it into the fold of Kothite possessions: loyal, dutiful, and obedient.”
Korovo's voice rang out clear and strong across the great hall. “So shall it be.”
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T
OR
B
OOKS BY
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Cindy Dees
is the
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author of fifty suspense and thriller novels. She also draws upon her twenty-plus years of live-action roleplaying experience to write epic fantasy novels. She has participated in the Dragon Crest world since 1996 and enjoys collecting the war stories and heroic quests of her fellow players to include in the Dragon Crest novels. You can sign up for email updates
here
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Bill Flippin
is a computer software engineer originally from Boston, Massachusetts. The Dragon Crest world is his brainchild, first imagined more than twenty years ago, drawing from his thirty-four years of roleplaying experience. In 1995, he turned his fictional world into a national live-action roleplaying game. Since then, he has created and overseen ongoing Dragon Crest events and campaigns all over the United States. You can sign up for email updates
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C
ONTENTS
Tor Books by Cindy Dees and Bill Flippin
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously.
THE DREAMING HUNT
Copyright © 2016 by Cindy Dees and Bill Flippin
All rights reserved.
Cover design by FORT
Cover art by Stephen Youll
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Tor
®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-3515-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-2129-3 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466821293
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First Edition: September 2016