Weavers of War: Book Five of Winds of the Forelands Read online

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Maps

  Characters

  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

  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

  Tor Books by David B. Coe

  Praise

  Copyright

  Once again, for Alex and Erin,

  who teach me so much about the world around us

  as they discover its wonders for themselves

  Acknowledgments

  Again, many thanks to my terrific agent, Lucienne Diver; my publisher, Tom Doherty; the great people at Tor Books, in particular David Moench and Fiona Lee; Carol Russo and her staff; Terry McGarry for her friendship and unbelievably thorough copyediting; my fine editor and good friend, Jim Frenkel; his editorial assistants, Liz Gorinsky and Stosh Jonjak; and his interns, in particular David Polsky and John Payne.

  Once more, my deepest thanks go to Nancy, Alex, and Erin, whom I love more than words can say.

  —D. B. C.

  Characters

  KINGDOM OF EIBITHAR

  City of Kings

  KEARNEY THE FIRST, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Glyndwr

  LEILIA, queen of Eibithar, formerly duchess of Glyndwr, wife of Kearney

  KEZIAH JA DAFYDD, archminister of Eibithar, formerly first minister of Glyndwr

  GERSHON TRASKER, swordmaster of Eibithar, formerly swordmaster of Glyndwr

  AYLYN THE SECOND, king of Eibithar, formerly duke of Thorald (deceased)

  WENDA JA BAUL, high minister of Eibithar

  PAEGAR JAL BERGET, high minister of Eibithar (deceased)

  DYRE JAL FRINVAL, minister of Eibithar

  House of Curgh

  JAVAN, duke of Curgh

  SHONAH, duchess of Curgh, wife of Javan

  LORD TAVIS OF CURGH, son of Javan and Shonah

  GRINSA JAL ARRIET, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel

  FOTIR JAL SALENE, first minister of Curgh

  HAGAN MARCULLET, swordmaster of Curgh

  DARIA MARCULLET, wife of Hagan (deceased)

  XAVER MARCULLET, pledged liege man to Tavis of Curgh, son of Hagan and Daria

  House of Kentigern

  AINDREAS, duke of Kentigern

  IOANNA, duchess of Kentigern, wife of Aindreas

  LADY BRIENNE OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna (deceased)

  LADY AFFERY OF KENTIGERN, daughter of Aindreas and Ioanna

  LORD ENNIS OF KENTIGERN, son of Aindreas and Ioanna

  SHURIK JAL MARCINE, formerly first minister of Kentigern (deceased)

  VILLYD TEMSTEN, swordmaster of Kentigern

  House of Galdasten

  RENALD, duke of Galdasten

  ELSPETH, duchess of Galdasten, wife of Renald

  LORD RENALD THE YOUNGER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth

  LORD ADLER OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth

  LORD RORY OF GALDASTEN, son of Renald and Elspeth

  PILLAD JAL KRENAAR, first minister of Galdasten

  EWAN TRAYLEE, swordmaster of Galdasten

  House of Thorald

  FILIB THE ELDER, duke of Thorald (deceased)

  NERINE, duchess of Thorald, wife of Filib the Elder

  LORD FILIB THE YOUNGER OF THORALD, son of Filib the Elder and Nerine (deceased)

  TOBBAR, duke of Thorald, Filib the Elder’s brother

  MARSTON, thane of Shanstead, Tobbar’s son

  ENID JA KOVAR, first minister of Thorald (deceased)

  XIVLED JAL VISTE (XIV), minister of Shanstead

  House of Glyndwr

  KEARNEY THE YOUNGER, duke of Glyndwr, son of King Kearney the First and Queen Leilia

  House of Heneagh

  WELFYL, duke of Heneagh

  DUNFYL, thane of Cransher, Welfyl’s son

  RAB AVKAR, swordmaster of Heneagh

  House of Tremain

  LATHROP, duke of Tremain

  EVETTA JA RUDEK, first minister of Tremain

  House of Labruinn

  CAIUS, duke of Labruinn

  OTTAH JAL BITHLAN, first minister of Labruinn

  House of Domnall

  SEAMUS, duke of Domnall

  House of Eardley

  ELAM, duke of Eardley

  CERRI JA RONTAF, first minister of Eardley

  KINGDOM OF ANEIRA

  House Solkara (formerly Aneira’s royal house)

  TOMAZ THE NINTH, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara (deceased)

  CARDEN THE THIRD, king of Aneira, duke of Solkara, Tomaz the Ninth’s son, Kalyi’s father (deceased)

  CHOFYA, formerly queen of Aneira, formerly duchess of Solkara, Carden the Third’s wife, Kalyi’s mother

  KALYI, duchess of Solkara, formerly queen of Aneira, daughter of Carden and Chofya

  GRIGOR, marquess of Renbrere, Carden’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals (deceased)

  HENTHAS, duke of Solkara, Carden and Grigor’s younger brother, known as one of the Jackals (deceased)

  NUMAR, formerly marquess of Renbrere, formerly regent to Queen Kalyi, Carden, Grigor, and Henthas’s younger brother, known as the Fool

  PRONJED JAL DRENTHE, formerly archminister of Aneira

  TRADDEN GRONTALLE, master of arms of Aneira

  House Dantrielle

  TEBEO, duke of Dantrielle

  PELGIA, duchess of Dantrielle, wife of Tebeo

  LORD TAS OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia

  LADY LAYTSA OF DANTRIELLE, daughter of Tebeo and Pelgia

  LORD SENAON OF DANTRIELLE, son of Tebeo and Pelgia

  EVANTHYA JA YISPAR, first minister of Dantrielle

  BAUSEF DARLESTA, master of arms of Dantrielle (deceased)

  GABRYS DINTAVO, master of arms of Dantrielle

  House Orvinti

  BRALL, duke of Orvinti (deceased)

  PAZICE, duchess of Orvinti, Brall’s wife

  FETNALLA JA PRANDT, formerly first minister of Orvinti

  TRAEFAN SOGRANO, master of arms of Orvinti

  House Bistari (now Aneira’s royal house)

  CHAGO, duke of Bistari (deceased)

  RIA, duchess of Bistari, wife of Chago

  SILBRON, king of Aneira, duke of Bistari, so
n of Chago and Ria

  House Mertesse

  ROUEL, duke of Mertesse (deceased)

  ROWAN, duke of Mertesse, son of Rouel

  YAELLA JA BANVEL, first minister of Mertesse

  House Noltierre

  BERTIN THE ELDER, duke of Noltierre (deceased)

  BERTIN THE YOUNGER, duke of Noltierre, son of Bertin the Elder

  MEQIV JAL WANAERE, first minister of Noltierre

  House Kett

  ANSIS, duke of Kett

  House Rassor

  GRESTOS, duke of Rassor

  House Tounstrel

  VIDOR, duke of Tounstrel (deceased)

  VISTAAN, duke of Tounstrel, son of Vidor

  MATRIARCHY OF SANBIRA

  House Yserne

  OLESYA, queen of Sanbira, duchess of Yserne

  ABENI JA KRENTA, archminister of Sanbira

  OHAN DELRASTO, master of arms of Sanbira

  House Curlinte

  DALVIA, duchess of Curlinte (deceased)

  SERTIO, duke of Curlinte, husband of Dalvia, master of arms of Curlinte

  DIANI, duchess of Curlinte, daughter of Dalvia and Sertio

  LORD CYRO OF CURLINTE, son of Dalvia and Sertio, brother of Diani (deceased)

  KREAZUR JAL SYLBE, first minister of Curlinte (deceased)

  House Brugaosa

  EDAMO, duke of Brugaosa

  VANJAD JAL QIEN, first minister of Brugaosa

  House Norinde

  ALAO, duke of Norinde

  FILTEM JAL TORQATTE, first minister of Norinde

  House Macharzo

  NADITIA, duchess of Macharzo

  CRAEFFE JA TREF, first minister of Macharzo

  Other Sanbiri nobles

  VASYONNE, duchess of Listaal

  AJY, duchess of Kinsarta

  RASHEL, duchess of Trescarri

  TAMYRA, duchess of Prentarlo

  EMPIRE OF BRAEDON

  HAREL THE FOURTH, emperor of Braedon, Lord of Curtell

  DUSAAN JAL KANIA, high chancellor of Braedon

  URIAD GANJER, master of arms of Braedon

  KAYIV JAL YIVANNE, minister of Braedon (deceased)

  NITARA JA PLIN, minister of Braedon

  STAVEL JAL MIRAAD, chancellor of Braedon

  B’SERRE JA DOSH, minister of Braedon

  GORLAN JAL AVIARRE, minister of Braedon

  ROV JA TELSA, minister of Braedon

  BARDYN JAL FENNE, chancellor of Braedon

  THE QIRSI CONSPIRACY

  CRESENNE JA TERBA, formerly a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, formerly a gleaner in Bohdan’s Revel

  BRYNTELLE JA GRINSA, daughter of Cresenne and Grinsa jal Arriet

  JASTANNE JA TRILN, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Kentigern and captain of the White Erne

  TIHOD JAL BROSSA, a merchant and captain of the Silver Flame, the man who pays gold to members of the movement (deceased)

  UESTEM JAL SAFHIR, a chancellor in the Qirsi movement, a merchant in Galdasten

  MITTIFAR JAL STEK, member of the Qirsi movement, owner of the White Wave tavern in Galdasten (deceased)

  CADEL NISTAAD, also called Corbin, an assassin (deceased)

  Chapter One

  City of Kings, Eibithar, Adriel’s Moon waxing

  The touch of his mind on hers was as gentle as the Weaver’s had been brutal, as tender and loving as the Weaver’s had been vengeful and cruel. She sensed in that touch his passion, his longing to be with her, his hope that he could shield her from the pain that seemed to have enveloped all the land. And she wanted nothing more than to hold him in her arms—really to hold him, beyond this haven he had created so that he might speak with her as she slept—to show him that she yearned for him, too.

  Theirs was the most unlikely of loves, having overcome deception, betrayal, and her devotion to the Weaver’s conspiracy. But feeling the caress of his thoughts, Cresenne could not question the power of what they shared.

  “Tell me about Bryntelle,” Grinsa whispered, still holding her close amid the sun-warmed grasses of the plain he had conjured for this dream.

  How could she not smile at the mention of their daughter? The girl had been the lone spark of light in a darkness that had consumed her days and nights over the past several turns.

  “Bryntelle’s fine. She’s been up much of the day, crying, but I think that’s because she’s getting her first tooth.”

  He pulled away slightly, looking down at her, his face lit by a dazzling smile. “A tooth? Really?”

  Cresenne nodded. “It’s not much right now—just a little bump on her gums. But one of the healers tells me that once it appears it’ll grow in very quickly.”

  Grinsa was still smiling, but there was a pained look in his eyes. “I wish I could be there to see it.”

  “Soon,” she said, looking down, her chest tight. She sensed that he wanted to kiss her, and she kept her face turned away from his. “Has the fighting begun?”

  “Yes, we fought our first skirmish this morning.”

  At that she did look up. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, fine.”

  “And Keziah?”

  “She is, too. As are Kearney and Tavis.”

  “Good.” She nodded again, shivering as if the warm breeze had grown icy and harsh. “That’s good.” She hesitated. Then, “Have you seen the Weaver yet?” Her stomach turned to stone as she spoke the words, but she tried to keep her voice even.

  Grinsa shook his head. “Not yet. I expect he wants the war to begin in earnest before he reaches the Moorlands. The more damage the Eandi do to each other, the easier his task when the time comes.”

  She felt certain that he was right. While Grinsa and the Weaver had little in common beyond their powers and their formidable appearance, Grinsa had come to understand the conspiracy’s leader quite well. Only a year before, Grinsa had been but a gleaner in Eibithar’s Revel, concealing the true extent of his powers and spending his days and his magic showing others glimpses of their futures. Now he was an advisor to kings and nobles, though still they called him gleaner. Cresenne of all people, having been one of the Weaver’s most trusted servants—a chancellor in his movement—knew how strong the enemy was, and so how great the land’s need. If anyone could destroy the Weaver and his movement, her beloved could. So why did she find it so difficult to take comfort in Grinsa’s arms, to believe that he could prevail in this war that loomed before them, as black and menacing as some seaborne storm summoned by Amon himself?

  For a long time, neither of them spoke. Cresenne sensed that Grinsa was gathering himself to end the dream. She could feel his despair at the distance between them, how he begrudged every day they spent apart. No, there could be no doubting the power of their love.

  All of which made what the Weaver had done to her that much more galling.

  “I should return to the front lines,” he said, grimacing. “Who knows when the empire’s men will attack again?”

  “I understand.”

  “You’ll kiss Bryntelle for me?”

  Again she smiled. “Of course.”

  Grinsa pulled her close again, kissing her deeply. Cresenne returned the kiss with as much passion as she could muster, not wanting him to sense how she suffered for it.

  At last he released her, a frown on his handsome face.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Cresenne—”

  “Please, Grinsa,” she said, closing her eyes, wishing she could just sleep. “I just … It’s going to take some time for me to … to heal.”

  “I want to help.”

  “You can’t. No one can,” she added, seeing how this hurt him. “Just make certain that you win. Killing the Weaver will do more to help me than you can know. Destroy him for me, and I’ll see to the rest.”

  He just gazed at her, looking so sad. “I’ll do what I can.”

  That’s not enough! she wanted to say. You can’t fail at this! He’ll kill me
! He’ll kill Bryntelle! But he knew all of this. As much as she wanted Dusaan jal Kania dead, Grinsa wanted it more.

  “I know you will.”

  He brushed a strand of hair from her brow with the back of his hand. And even this gesture, done with such care and tenderness, was nearly enough to make her shudder with the memory of the Weaver’s brutality.

  “I love you, Grinsa.”

  “And I love you, more than you know.”

  She awoke to the sound of swifts chattering as they soared past the narrow window of her chamber. Bryntelle still slept in her cradle, her arms stretched over her head, her mouth making suckling movements. Cresenne sat up, taking a long breath and running both hands through her hair. Grinsa deserved better from her. He carried the burdens of every man and woman of the Forelands on his shoulders, and all she could think to do was tell him what he already knew: that in order to be whole again she needed for him to destroy the Weaver.

  Her wounds had healed, and in recent days she had finally begun to eat again, slowly regaining her strength after the poisoning that almost killed her. But the Weaver had left her with other scars that remained beyond a healer’s touch. True, she had managed to fight Dusaan off and then to end that horrific dream before he could take her life, but the memory of rape clung to her bed, her hair, her body—the stench of his breath, hot and damp against her neck. She could still feel him driving himself into her again and again, tearing her flesh, his weight bearing down on her until she wondered if she could even draw breath. She could hear him calling her “whore.” It had only been a dream, she tried to tell herself, an illusion he had conjured by using her own magic against her. But did that lessen the humiliation or deepen it? It had been a violation in so many ways and on so many levels. Did his invasion of her mind make what he seemed to have done to her body any less real?

  She feared that she might never again be able to bear Grinsa’s touch. The Weaver had poisoned all of her dreams, even those in which her love spoke to her. Grinsa’s merest kiss when he walked in her sleep, his most gentle caress, made her feel once more the savagery of Dusaan’s assault. Cresenne wanted desperately to believe that it was the dreams that did this, that once she and Grinsa were together again, and he could hold her in his arms without touching her mind, everything would be all right. But she had no way of knowing this for certain, and doubt lay heavy on her heart.