This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2023 by Anthony Ryan

  Excerpt from The Lost War copyright © 2019 by King Lot Publishing Ltd.

  Excerpt from Gods of the Wyrdwood copyright © 2023 by RJ Barker

  Cover design by Lauren Panepinto

  Cover illustration by Jaime Jones

  Cover copyright © 2023 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  Maps by Anthony Ryan

  Author photograph by Ellie Grace Photography

  Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Orbit

  Hachette Book Group

  1290 Avenue of the Americas

  New York, NY 10104

  orbitbooks.net

  First Edition: July 2023

  Simultaneously published in Great Britain by Orbit

  Orbit is an imprint of Hachette Book Group.

  The Orbit name and logo are trademarks of Little, Brown Book Group Limited.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to hachettespeakersbureau.com or email HachetteSpeakers@hbgusa.com.

  Orbit books may be purchased in bulk for business, educational, or promotional use. For information, please contact your local bookseller or the Hachette Book Group Special Markets Department at special.markets@hbgusa.com.

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2023934089

  ISBNs: 9780316430838 (trade paperback), 9780316430821 (ebook)

  E3-20230525-JV-NF-ORI

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Maps

  Dramatis Personae

  What Has Gone Before…

  Part One Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Part Two Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Part Three Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Acknowledgements

  Discover More

  Extras Meet the Author

  A Preview of The Lost War

  A Preview of Gods of the Wyrdwood

  Also by Anthony Ryan

  Praise for Anthony Ryan and the Covenant of Steel Trilogy

  Dedicated to the memory of the late David Gemmell from whom I learned the lesson that the hero’s journey is always more tragedy than triumph.

  Explore book giveaways, sneak peeks, deals, and more.

  Tap here to learn more.

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Alwyn Scribe – Outlaw, scribe and later Supplicant Blade in the Covenant Company

  Evadine Courlain – Risen Martyr and Anointed Lady to the Covenant of Martyrs

  Roulgarth Cohlsair – Former Knight Warden of Alundia, younger brother to Duke Oberharth

  Ducinda Cohlsair – Daughter to the late Duke Oberharth and Duchess Celynne of Alundia

  Merick Albrisend – Baron of Lumenstor, nephew by marriage to Oberharth Cohlsair

  Lohrent Lambertain – Duke of the Cordwain

  Gilferd Lambertain – Son and heir to Duke Lohrent

  Viruhlis Guhlmaine – Duke of Rhianvel, possessed of ardent Covenant beliefs

  Lermin Aspard – Duke of Dulsian, possessed of avid mercantile interests

  Therin Gasalle – Dulsian ambassador to the Court of King Arthin

  Jacquel Ebrin – Rhianvelan ambassador to the Court of King Arthin

  Harldin Behrmain – Rhianvelan Cleric in service to the Anointed Lady, Co-Captain of the Lady’s Shield, twin brother to Ildette

  Ildette Behrmain – Rhianvelan Cleric in service to the Anointed Lady, Co-Captain of the Lady’s Shield, twin sister to Harldin

  Erchel – Slain outlaw of vile inclinations

  Shilva Sahken – outlaw leader of the Shavine Marches

  King Arthin Algathinet – Boy-King of Albermaine, formerly named Alfric Keville, son to Princess Leannor

  Princess Leannor Algathinet-Keville – Sister to the late King Tomas, mother and Princess Regent to King Arthin

  Ehlbert Bauldry – knight of famed martial abilities, champion to King Arthin

  Altheric Courlain – veteran knight of high standing, father to Evadine, Knight Marshal of the King’s Host

  Luminant Durehl Vearist – Principal Cleric of the Luminants’ Council, governing body of the Covenant of Martyrs

  Luminant Daryhla Ahlpern – Member of the Luminants’ Council, leader of the Orthodox Faction

  Ascendant Arnabus – Senior Cleric in the Covenant of Martyrs, later leader of the Reformed Orthodox Covenant

  Magnis Lochlain – Pretender to the Throne of Albermaine, also known as the “True King”

  Lorine Blousset – (formerly Lorine D’Ambrille) Duchess of the Shavine Marches, former lover of Deckin Scarl the Outlaw King and associate of Alwyn

  Dervan Pressman – Captain of Duchess Lorine’s Chosen Company

  Albyrn Swain – Supplicant and Lord Captain of the Covenant Host

  Ofihla Barrow – Supplicant Captain to the Covenant Host

  Delric Cleymount – Supplicant and senior healer to the Covenant Host

  The Sack Witch – Caerith spell worker and healer, said to be of hideous appearance beneath the sackcloth mask she wears. Also known as the Doenlisch in the Caerith tongue

  Wilhum Dornmahl – Disgraced turncoat knight formerly in service to the Pretender. Childhood friend to Evadine and commander of the Mounted Company of the Covenant Host

  Eamond Astier – Former novice Supplicant and volunteer member of the Scout Company of the Covenant Host

  Ayin – Soldier in the Covenant Host and page to Lady Evadine Courlain

  Juhlina (known also as the Widow) – Former adherent to the Most Favoured pilgrimage sect, soldier in the Scout Company of the Covenant Host

  Tiler – Former outlaw and soldier in the Scout Company of the Covenant Host

  Lilat – Caerith huntress, friend to Alwyn

  The Eithlisch – Caerith of arcane power and importance

  Estrik – Soldier in the Covenant Host. Castellan of the Lady’s Reach

  Desmena Lehville – Rebel knight once in service to the Pretender Magnis Lochlain

  Quintrell D’Elffir – Minstrel and spy in service to the Duchess Lorine Blousset

  Adlar Spinner – Former juggler and soldier in the Scout Company of the Covenant Host

  Archel Shelvane – Caretaker Governor of the Duchy of Althiene

  Supplicant Hilbert Forswith – Former Senior Cleric of the Shrine to Martyr Callin in the Sanctuary Town of Callintor

  Morieth – Caerith warrior of the Paelith horse clans

  Corieth – Caerith elder of the Paelith horse clans

  Turlia – Caerith elder of the toalisch warrior caste

  Deracsh – Caerith elder and scholar

  Shaelisch – Caerith elder of extensive years

  WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE…

  Missive to the Luminants Council of the Eastern Reformed Covenant of Martyrs – Archivist’s note: fragment only. Date and author unknown but believed to have been set down several years after the previously discovered fragment.

  In my prior missives I was given to addressing you as the Blessed Brethren of the Council – this I shall do no more. It is clear to me now that you are not blessed, but cursed. This is the truth I have learned in my study of the Testament of Alwyn Scribe. The truth for which you sent assassins to kill me. Now, I find myself a homeless, wandering pauper, rich only in unwanted truth. Since this is the only weapon left to me, wield it I shall.

  Previously, I related how Alwyn Scribe had risen from whorehouse orphan to trusted lieutenant of the R
isen Martyr Evadine Courlain. It was a long road marked by betrayal, violence and the accumulation of secrets – two being greatest import: firstly, King Tomas Algathinet was the bastard son of his Champion Sir Ehlbret Bauldry and therefore an illegitimate occupant of the throne of Albermaine. Secondly, the supposedly divine resurrection of Evadine Courlain was not, in fact, the work of the Seraphile but achieved through the arcane agency of a Caerith mystic known as the Sack Witch. I further detailed how the Risen Martyr had been kidnapped and subjected to a farce trial by an alliance of Covenant clerics and Albermaine nobility. It was the intervention of Alwyn Scribe and his duel with Sir Althus Levalle that freed her, together with the assault launched by her loyal soldiers of the Covenant Company and a mass of devotional churls. And so, to the Shavine Forest they fled, carrying a grievously injured Alwyn.

  Alwyn’s recovery was slow. His principal injury suffered at the hands of Sir Althus leaving him at the mercy of recurrent, agonising headaches. His slumber was also tormented by dreams of his perverted and justly murdered associate Erchel, a phantom given to speaking curiously accurate visions of future travails.

  This brief period of woodland skulking was interrupted by the arrival of Evadine’s father, Lord Altheric Courlain, bearing an invitation to parley from King Tomas. Despite misgivings, Alwyn advised her to agree, and the Covenant Company set out for the cathedral city of Athiltor. The sojourn was marked by an accumulation of devotional souls adding greatly to the number who had flocked to Evadine’s banner during her interlude in the forest. The outcome of the parley at Athiltor is well documented and therefore requires only a brief summation: Evadine received formal recognition as a Risen Martyr after swearing fealty to King Tomas.

  Now bound by her oath to the crown, Evadine was obliged to accept King Tomas’s commission to travel to the troubled duchy of Alundia. Once there, she would occupy the ruin of Walvern Castle as a means of demonstrating the authority of both king and Covenant. Before setting off, Alwyn sought knowledge of Alundia at the Covenant Library, where he was reacquainted with Ascendant Arnabus, the cleric who had overseen the farce trial of the Risen Martyr. Finding his suspicions stirred by the cleric’s cryptic allusions to the Sack Witch, Alwyn attempted to force more information from him, only to be interrupted by Princess Leannor, sister to King Tomas. During this meeting, Alwyn divined that the princess was chiefly responsible for keeping her brother on the throne via a network of spies.

  During the journey to Alundia, Alwyn’s dreams continued to be troubled by visitations from the odious Erchel. Roused by the pestilent ghost’s warning, Alwyn woke in time to save himself and Evadine from an attack by hired assassins, although the identity of their employer remained a mystery. Arriving at the Alundian border, Evadine and Alwyn endured a tense meeting with Duchess Celynne Cohlsair, wife of Duke Oberharth, and Lord Roulgarth Cohlsair, the duke’s brother and commander of his host. It is clear they were not welcome in this land.

  Undaunted, Evadine led the Covenant Company on to Walvern Castle, finding it in a parlous state of repair. Nevertheless, Evadine ordered reconstruction of the stronghold and began patrolling the surrounding country. Awlyn and Wilhum Dornmahl, former lord and childhood friend of Evadine’s, now commander of her mounted guard, discovered a burnt-out shrine and several pilgrims slaughtered by fanatical Alundian heretics. Hunting down the miscreants, they captured some and killed the others, freeing the lone survivor of the pilgrim massacre, one Mistress Juhlina, referred to by Alwyn subsequently as simply the Widow.

  Shortly after, Lord Roulgarth arrived with a sizeable host demanding the captives be turned over to his custody. Alwyn is clear that the Risen Martyr’s subsequent actions were driven by a desire to bring the smouldering crisis in Alundia to a head: she allowed the vengeful Widow to execute the captives, hanging them from the castle walls, and leaving Lord Roulgarth no option but to lay siege or cede to the authority of the Crown.

  Alwyn depicts the subsequent contest for mastery of Walvern Castle as a gruelling and drawn-out affair, endured in the expectation that King Tomas would fulfil his promise to come to the Risen Martyr’s aid should she be imperilled. It was only after the arrival of Duke Oberharth himself, together with the full strength of his mustered duchy, that the Crown Host deigned to appear, personally led by Princess Leannor. Evadine struck down the duke in the ensuing melee and the Alundian forces, exhausted by the siege, were swiftly routed.

  All Alundia now lay at the mercy of the Algathinet throne, save for the port city of Highsahl, where Duchess Celynne still held sway. Grief-stricken and reputedly mad, the duchess refused all offers of parley, thereby forcing Leannor to order an assault. Alwyn describes how he further enhanced his martial reputation by orchestrating the main attack through the breach. Leading a small advance party to the ducal keep, he found to his horror that Celynne and her entire household had taken poison rather than allow themselves to be captured. The only survivor was the infant Lady Ducinda Cohlsair, saved by Alwyn rushing her to the Covenant Company Healer, Supplicant Delric.

  In the aftermath of Highsahl’s fall, Lady Ducinda was conveyed to the court of King Tomas, there to be betrothed to Princess Leannor’s son Alfric. Princess Leannor ordered Alwyn and Sir Ehlbert Bauldry to hunt down Lord Roulgarth, now leading a dwindling band of Alundian rebels. Calling on his outlaw skills, Alwyn tracked down a former rebel, a guilt-ridden wretch who nevertheless agreed on the promise of riches to lead them to Roulgarth. Guided by the turncoat, they pursued Roulgarth and his nephew Merick Albrisend into the mountains bordering the Caerith dominion.

  Alwyn recounts his confrontation with a defiant Roulgarth, however, before a blow could be struck, the turncoat, apparently maddened by his own treachery, gave voice to a shout of such volume that it dislodged a vast slab of snow and ice from the mountain above. Alwyn found himself carried off by the avalanche, fetching up battered but miraculously alive in Caerith territory.

  As he lay insensate beneath a pile of snow, Alwyn received another visitation from the dream-haunting ghost of Erchel. This time the leering spectre offered a vision of the impending death of King Tomas.

  Rescued by a reluctant group of Caerith, Alwyn relates how he was saved from immediate execution by virtue of his prior association with the Sack Witch. Known to the Cearith by the name Doenlisch, she was clearly a person of considerable importance who appeared to arouse unquestioning respect. The Caerith also captured Roulgarth and Merick, who were spared on the weight of Alwyn’s word. During his time among the Caerith, Alwyn befriended a hunter name Lilat who showed him the ancient ruins of a once mighty civilisation now brought to ruin. After a beating at the hands of a dispirited and vengeful Roulgarth, Alwyn prevailed upon the exiled lord to teach him the sword, mainly by pointing out that it provided an opportunity for the man to beat him every day.

  Alwyn’s time with the Caerith came to an end with the arrival of a mystic known as the Eithlisch, a physically imposing figure who appeared to command only marginally less awe than the Doenlisch. The Eithlisch compelled Alwyn to follow him into the heart of a nearby mountain, a cavernous space piled with ancient bones. Here, Alwyn’s narrative presents the most difficulty for the devout scholar, for he describes an event that can only be termed as both arcane and unnatural.

  Alwyn claims that, upon touching a finger to the ancient skull of a crow, his mind was somehow transported to a bygone age. He found himself in the tower shown to him by Lilat, overlooking the nearby city, whole, not ruined, and conversed with a man who called himself a historian. It was apparent to Alwyn that they had met before, although he had no memory of it. He came to understand that it was his future self that previously spoke to the historian, revealed now as the author of the Caerith book once entrusted to Alwyn by the Sack Witch. Before this arcane visitation ends, Alwyn witnessed the destruction of the city below by its own inhabitants, recognising it as the beginnings of an event we call the Scourge.

  Upon waking, Alwyn found himself alone with Lilat in the mountains. She informs him he has been sent back to his own people, and she had been dispatched to find the Doenlisch. Roulgarth and Merick have been permitted to stay among the Caerith, the Alundian lord now named as Vahlisch, or Swordmaster, by the Eithlisch.

  Together, Alwyn and Lilat made their way to Walvern Castle, traversing a land ravaged by a war that had worsened in his absence, despoiled by atrocities committed in the name of the Risen Martyr. Elevated to command Evadine’s Scout Company, Alwyn effectively became the Risen Martyr’s spymaster, a role to which he was eminently suited.