Read Kushiel's Mercy Online

Authors: Jacqueline Carey

Tags: #Fiction, #Kings and rulers, #General, #Romance, #Fantasy, #Erotica, #Epic

Kushiel's Mercy

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 © 2008 by Jacqueline Carey

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Grand Central Publishing

Hachette Book Group USA

237 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Visit our Web site at
www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com
.

First eBook Edition: June 2008

ISBN: 978-0-446-53745-2

Contents

Acknowledgments

Dramatis Personae

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

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

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 Fourty

Chapter Fourty-One

Chapter Fourty-Two

Chapter Fourty-Three

Chapter Fourty-Four

Chapter Fourty-Five

Chapter Fourty-Six

Chapter Fourty-Seven

Chapter Fourty-Eight

Chapter Fourty-Nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-Two

Chapter Fifty-Three

Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Five

Chapter Fifty-Six

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Three

Chapter Sixty-Four

Chapter Sixty-Five

Chapter Sixty-Six

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Chapter Seventy

Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-Two

Chapter Seventy-Three

Chapter Seventy-Four

Chapter Seventy-Five

Chapter Seventy-Six

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Chapter Eighty

Chapter Eighty-One

Chapter Eighty-Two

Chapter Eighty-Three

Chapter Eighty-Four

Chapter Eighty-Five

Chapter Eighty-Six

Chapter Eighty-Seven

Chapter Eighty-Eight

Chapter Eighty-Nine

other books by Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel’s Legacy

Kushiel’s Justice*

Kushiel’s Scion*

Kushiel’s Avatar

Kushiel’s Chosen

Kushiel’s Dart

The Sundering

Godslayer

Banewreaker

*Available from Grand Central Publishing

Acknowledgments

A
s another trilogy draws to a conclusion, I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who’s contributed to its success. Thanks to my agent, Jane Dystel, for her wise advice and unfailing support. Thanks to everyone at Grand Central (a.k.a. Hachette Book Group, a.k.a. Warner Books), and especially to my editor, Jaime Levine, for her dedication and enthusiasm. Thanks to all the booksellers who’ve done so much to hand-sell the series. And as always, thanks to my readers.

Dramatis Personae

H
OUSE
M
ONTRÈVE

Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève—Comtesse de Montrève

Joscelin Verreuil—Phèdre’s consort; Cassiline Brother (Siovale)

Imriel nó Montrève de la Courcel—Phèdre’s foster-son (also member of the Royal Family)

Ti-Philippe—chevalier

Hugues, Gilot (
deceased
)—men at arms

Eugènie—mistress of the household, townhouse

M
EMBERS OF THE
D’
ANGELINE
R
OYAL
F
AMILY

Ysandre de la Courcel—Queen of Terre d’Ange; wed to Drustan mab Necthana

Sidonie de la Courcel—elder daughter of Ysandre; heir to Terre d’Ange

Alais de la Courcel—younger daughter of Ysandre

Imriel nó Montréve de la Courcel—cousin; son of Benedicte de la Courcel (
deceased
) and Melisande Shahrizai

Barquiel L’Envers—uncle of Ysandre; Duc L’Envers (Namarre)

H
OUSE
S
HAHRIZAI

Melisande Shahrizai—mother of Imriel; wed to Benedicte de la Courcel (
deceased
)

Mavros, Roshana, Baptiste Shahrizai—cousins of Imriel

M
EMBERS OF THE
R
OYAL
C
OURT

Ghislain nó Trevalion—noble; Royal Commander; son of Percy de Somerville (
deceased
)

Bernadette de Trevalion—noble, wed to Ghislain, sister of Baudoin (
deceased
)

Bertran de Trevalion—son of Ghislain and Bernadette

Amaury Trente—noble, former Commander of the Queen’s Guard

Julien and Colette Trente—children of Amaury

Raul L’Envers y Aragon—son of Nicola and Ramiro (see Aragonia)

Denise Grosmaine—Secretary of the Presence

A
LBA

Drustan mab Necthana—Cruarch of Alba, wed to Ysandre de la Courcel

Breidaia—sister of Drustan, daughter of Necthana

Talorcan—son of Breidaia

Dorelei (
deceased
)—daughter of Breidaia, wed to Imriel

Sibeal—sister of Drustan, daughter of Necthana, wed to Hyacinthe

Hyacinthe—Master of the Straits, wed to Sibeal

Grainne mac Conor—Lady of the Dalriada

Eamonn, Mairead, Brennan, Caolinn, Conor—Lady Grainne’s children

Brigitta—Skaldi wife of Eamonn

Urist—commander of the garrison of Clunderry

Berlik (
deceased
), Morwen (
deceased
)—magicians of the Maghuin Dhonn

C
YTHERA

Ptolemy Solon—Governor

Leander Maignard—D’Angeline expatriate

Deimos—sea-captain

C
ARTHAGE

Astegal, House of Sarkal—General of Carthage

Jabnit, House of Philosir—gem-merchant

Sunjata—Jabnit’s assistant

Bodeshmun, House of Sarkal—Chief Horologist

Gillimas, House of Hiram—magistrate; member of the Unseen Guild

Maharbal—innkeeper

Kratos, Ghanim, Carthaginian Brothers One and Two—bearers

Gemelquart, House of Zinnrid—noble; member of the Unseen Guild

A
RAGONIA

Roderico de Aragon—King of Aragonia

Justina—member of the Unseen Guild

Esme—bath-house attendant

Nicola L’Envers y Aragon—noble; kin to Queen Ysandre

Ramiro Zornín y Aragon—noble; kin to King Roderico

Serafin L’Envers y Aragon—son of Nicola and Ramiro

Rachel—D’Angeline chirurgeon

Liberio—army general

Aureliano—army captain

Marmion Shahrizai—D’Angeline exile

Paskal—guide

Leopoldo—Duke of Tibado

E
USKERRIA

Janpier Iturralde—ambassador

Bixenta—keeper of the guesthouse

Nuno Agirre—messenger

Gaskon, Miquel—soldiers

O
THERS

Brother Thomas Jubert—Priest of Elua

Claude de Monluc—Captain of the Dauphine’s Guard

Lelahiah Valais—Queen Ysandre’s chirurgeon

Emile—proprietor of the Cockerel

Quintilius Rousse—Royal Admiral, father of Eamonn

Favrielle nó Eglantine—couturiere

Bérèngere of Namarre—head of Naamah’s Order

Amarante of Namarre—daughter of Bérèngere

Diokles Agallon—Ephesian ambassador; member of the Unseen Guild

Jean Le Blanc—noble

Tibault de Toluard—Marquis of Toluard (Siovale)

Roxanne de Mereliot—Lady of Marsilikos

Jeanne de Mereliot—daughter of Roxanne; chirurgeon

Oppius da Lippi—captain of the
Aeolia

Lucius Tadius da Lucca—friend of Imriel’s

Claudia Fulvia—Lucius’ sister; member of the Unseen Guild

Maslin de Lombelon—former lieutenant in the Dauphine’s Guard

Henri Voisin—captain in the D’Angeline Navy

Marc Faucon—lieutenant in the D’Angeline Navy

Gilbert Dumel—D’Angeline barge captain

Antonio Peruggi—Caerdicci trader

Isabel de Bretel—Baronesse of Bretel

H
ISTORICAL
F
IGURES

Benedicte de la Courcel (
deceased
)—great-uncle of Ysandre; Imriel’s father

Baudoin de Trevalion (
deceased
)—cousin of Ysandre; executed for treason

Isidore d’Aiglemort (
deceased
)—noble; traitor turned hero (Camlach)

Waldemar Selig (
deceased
)—Skaldi warlord; invaded Terre d’Ange

Necthana (
deceased
)—mother of Drustan

The Mahrkagir (
deceased
)—mad ruler of Drujan; lord of Darˆsanga

Jagun (
deceased
)—chief of the Kereyit Tatars

Gallus Tadius (
deceased
)—great-grandfather of Lucius

Cinhil Ru (
deceased
)—legendary leader of the Cruithne

Donnchadh (
deceased
)—legendary magician of the Maghuin Dhonn

One

T
here are people in my country who have never travelled beyond the boundaries of Terre d’Ange. Indeed, there are many who have never left the province in which they were born; contented crofters tilling the land, tending orchards, or raising sheep, never venturing farther than the nearest market.

Betimes, I envy them.

Already, as a young man, I have gone farther than I could have imagined as a boy daydreaming in the Sanctuary of Elua where I was raised. It did not begin by choice—as all the world knows, I was abducted by Carthaginian slave-traders, sold into slavery in Menekhet, and from thence taken to the land of Drujan, ruled by a madman who consorted with a dark and ancient god.

It was a short time ago as historians reckon such things, but a long time ago in my life. I will never bear those memories lightly, but I have learned to bear them. Since that time, since I was rescued and restored, I have ventured as far south as Jebe-Barkal and lost Saba; and as far north as Vralia, an unlikely kingdom arising in the harsh glory of the cold north.

I have been wed and widowed.

I have become a father, almost.

And I have fallen in love, which is somewhat altogether different. It was not with my wife, Dorelei, although she was worthy of such devotion and in the end I did come to love her. Love of my wife is what drove me to Vralia, seeking justice on her behalf. I found it, too, although it was not entirely what I expected. Still, the man who killed her is dead, and his skull lies buried beneath her feet in Alba.

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