Shadow of a Dark Queen
Read Shadow of a Dark Queen Online
Authors: Raymond E. Feist
Contents
Prologue: Deliverance
   The drums thundered.
1 Challenge
   The Trumpet sounded.
2 Deaths
   Tyndal
was
dead.
3 Murder
   Erik halted.
4 Fugitives
   Erik fell.
5 Krondor
   The wagon halted.
6 Discovery
   The creature stirred.
7 Trial
   Roo stirred.
8 Choice
   The door opened.
9 Breakdown
   Erik groaned.
10 Transition
   The alarm sounded.
11 Passage
   Erik yawned.
12 Arrival
   Erik winced.
13 Search
   The barman looked up.
14 Journey
   Erik dismounted.
15 Village
   The lookout shouted.
16 Rendezvous
   Calis signaled a halt.
17 Discovery
   Roo pointed.
18 Escape
   Nakor waved.
19 Discovery
   A gong sounded.
20 Passage
   Calis signaled.
21 Attrition
   Erik ducked.
22 Infiltration
   Calis whispered.
23 Onslaught
   Erik blinked.
24 Escape
   Erik turned.
Epilogue: Reunion
   The traveler squinted.
Praise for The Serpentwar Saga
Aglaranna
âElf Queen in Elvandar
Alika
â“demon” cook at Sorcerer's Isle
Althalâ
elf in Elvandar
Avery, Rupert “Roo”â
boy from Ravensburg, companion of Erik von Darkmoor; later prisoner; later member of Calis's company
Biggo
âprisoner; later member of Erik's company
Calis
âhalf elf, half human son of Aglaranna and Tomas; known as “The Eagle of Krondor”; leader of a military company
Culli
âmurdering mercenary
Dawar
âmercenary in Nahoot's company
de Loungville, Robert “Bobby”
âsergeant in Calis's company
de Savona, Luis
âprisoner; later member of Calis's company
Duranyâ
mercenary in Calis's company
Elliaâ
elven woman saved by Miranda
Embrisaâ
girl from Village Weanat
Esterbrook, Jacobâ
merchant in Krondor
Fadawah, Generalâ
Supreme Commander of the Armies of the Emerald Queen
Finiaâ-
woman at Village Weanat
Foster, Charlie
âguard corporal in Calis's company
Freidaâ
Erik's mother
Galainâ
elf in Elvandar
Gapiâ
general in Emerald Queen's army
Gert
âold crone/charcoal burner met by Erik and Roo
Goodwin, Billy
âprisoner; later member of Calis's company
Greylock, Owen
âSwordmaster of Baron of Darkmoor; later member of Calis's company
Grindle, Helmut
âmerchant
Handy, Jerome
âmember of Calis's company
Jarwa
âSha-shahan of the Seven Nations of the Saaur
Jatukâ
son of Jarwa, heir and later Sha-shahan of the surviving Saaur
Kaba
âShieldbearer to Jarwa
Kelkaâ
corporal in Nahoot's company
Khali-shi
âNovindus name for Death Goddess
Lalial
âelf in Elvandar
Lender, Sebastian
â
Litigator and Solicitor at Barret's Coffee House in Krondor
Lims-Kragmaâ
Death Goddess
Macros the Black
âlegendary sorcerer; considered
the greatest practitioner of magic ever known
Marsten
âsailor on
Trenchard's Revenge
Mathilda
âBaroness of Darkmoor
Milo
âInnkeeper at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg
Miranda
âmysterious friend to Calis
Monis
âJatuk's Shieldbearer
Mugaar
âhorse trader in Novindus
Murtag
âSaaur warrior
Nakor the Isalaniâ
strange companion of Calis
Nathanâ
new smith at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg
Notombi
âformer Keshian Legionary, then prisoner; later member of Calis's company
Pug
âalso known as Milamber; magician of great power; considered second only to Macros the Black in knowledge
Rian
âone of Zila's mercenaries
Rosalyn
âMilo's daughter
Ruthia
âGoddess of Luck
Shati, Jadow
âmember of Calis's company
Shilaâ
Saaur home world
Sho Piâ
Isalani, former Monk of Dala; later prisoner; later member of Calis's company
Taber
âtavern keeper in LaMut
Tarmilâ
villager at Weanat
Tomas
âconsort of Aglaranna, father of Calis; wearer of the Armor of Ashen-Shugar
,
last of the Dragon Lords
Tyndalâ
smith at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg
von Darkmoor, Erikâ
bastard son of the Baron von Darkmoor; later prisoner; later mercenary in Calis's company
von Darkmoor, Manfredâ
youngest son of Otto; later Baron
von Darkmoor, Ottoâ
Baron of Darkmoor; father of Erik
,
Stefan, and Manfred
von Darkmoor, Stefanâ
Otto's eldest son
Zilaâ
treacherous mercenary leader
For Jonathan Matson:
more than my agent
a good friend
Erik's Tale
Days, when the ball of our vision
Had eagles that flew unabashed to sun;
When the grasp on the bow was decision,
And arrow and hand and eye were one;
When the Pleasures, like waves to a swimmer,
Came heaving for rapture ahead! â
Invoke them, they dwindle, they glimmer
As lights over mounds of the dead.
âG
EORGE
M
EREDITH
“Ode to Youth in Memory”
Deliverance
T
he drums
thundered.
Warriors of the Saaur sang their battle chants, preparing for the struggle to come. Tattered war banners hung limply from bloodied lances as thick smoke shrouded the sky from horizon to horizon. Green faces marked with yellow and red paint watched the western skies, where fires cast crimson and ocher light against the black shroud of smoke, blocking the vanishing sun and the familiar tapestry of the western evening stars.
Jarwa, Sha-shahan of the Seven Nations, Ruler of the Empire of Grass, Lord of the Nine Oceans, could not tear his gaze away from the destruction. All day he had watched the great fires burn, and even across the vast distance the howls of the victors and the cries of their victims had carried through the afternoon. Winds that once carried the sweet scent of flowers or the rich aroma of spices from the market now carried the acrid stench of charred wood and burned flesh. He knew without looking that those behind were bracing for the coming trial, resigned in their hearts that the battle was lost and the race would die.
“My lord,” said Kaba, his Shieldbearer and lifelong companion.
Jarwa turned to his oldest friend and saw the concern etched faintly around his eyes. Kaba was an unreadable mask to all but Jarwa; the Sha-shahan could read him as a shaman reads a lore scroll. “What is it?”