The Riven Shield: The Sun Sword #5

“JEWEL. YOU ARE SEER-BORN. IT IS TIME THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.”

The mists were giving way to flat plains.

“I will tell you. If the seer-born choose to do so, they could see the past of a man almost as clearly as they could see the shadows he cast. The future is a place of possibility; the past is fixed. The road between the two is often connected, and once the path is found, it can be followed. The Oracle invited you to walk upon older roads than could be found in even the Stone Deepings. Walk them, Jewel, and in the end, I will be able to hide nothing.”

She felt cold. Looked down at the hands that had slowly fallen to her sides, and saw, cupped in them, a round, glowing orb. She blinked; her hands were empty.

But the mist had given way in a sudden gust of wind, pulled like curtains to either side.

Beneath her, extending for as far as she could see, lay a sea of tents. She saw horses, haltered, impatient; saw men, some with spears, some with swords.

“Where are we?”

“We are, if I guess correctly, at the border of the Terrean of Raverra. And this is some part of the army the young kai Leonne faces.”

Avandar caught her hand in his. He began to walk toward the body of the army. . . .

The Finest in Fantasy from MICHELLE WEST:

THE SUN SWORD:

THE BROKEN CROWN (Book One)

THE UNCROWNED KING (Book Two)

THE SHINING COURT (Book Three)

SEA OF SORROWS (Book Four)

THE RIVEN SHIELD (Book Five)

THE SUN SWORD (Book Six)

THE SACRED HUNT:

HUNTER’S OATH (Book One)

HUNTER’S DEATH (Book Two)

The
Riven Shield

The Sun Sword: Book Five

Michelle West

DAW BOOKS, INC.

DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, FOUNDER

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

ELIZABETH R. WOLLHEIM

SHEILA E. GILBERT

PUBLISHERS

http://www.dawbooks.com

Copyright © 2003 by Michelle Sagara.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover art by Jody Lee.

Map by Michael Gilbert.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1262.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

First Printing, July 2003

This is for Terry Pearson,
who should know why.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As always, I owe Sheila Gilbert a debt for her patience and her understanding. Debra Euler, called DAW’s Valkyrie by Tanya Huff, provided timely reminders and her particular brand of encouragement. Alis Rasmussen read the early chapters of this book when I despaired of it
being
a book, and as always provided insight and advice. Graydon Saunders also provided a different kind of insight, meant for a later work, which did help for this one.

And Thomas, Daniel, and Ross patiently gave up their time while I wrote, complained, tore out my hair, and wrote more.

Author’s Note

I know that I told a great many of you that I was working on the
last
book of
The Sun Sword
—and this was completely true.

A bit about how I work. I don’t have a formal outline, or rather, I have several, and none of them are binding; they change with time. I approach my novels as if they were a collection of people I grow, with time, to know, and the motivations of those people change everything, time and again.

I have
never
been good at determining the length of a given story. This has led to much good-natured humor at my expense, and because it’s deserved, I accept it.

So . . . I
was
working on the last book of
The Sun Sword
. Family matters brought the book to a screeching halt in January of 2002, as they often do. But we recovered, and the book recovered, and I continued to write it. At the worldcon in San Jose, I was still telling people that this was the last book.

But about a month after I returned home, I realized that I was actually on page 1700 of the manuscript, and by best guess—see above re: me and length—it was going to come in at 2000 pages. So I phoned the DAW offices, and reached Sean Fodera, the rights manager (the wonderful thing about the DAW offices is that you never quite know
who
you’re going to reach, but it’s always a pleasure, regardless), and I said, “Sean, I think this is going to go a bit on the long side.” He laughed and said, “So what else is new?” And after several minutes of ribbing, which I won’t recap here, he got down to business and asked, “How long is long?”

And I said, “Ummm, at least 2000 manuscript pages.” (Writers are not, thank god, paid for conversation).

All laughter vanished at that point, and he said, “Now you have a problem. You’d better talk to Sheila.”

So I did, and at length, and it was decided that instead of attempting to hack 600 pages out of the book, we would split it.

Which is a good thing, given that I’m now at nearly 2100 pages, and although the end
is
definitely in sight, it’s not there yet.

I want to apologize to all of my readers for this. I didn’t intend to mislead anyone, and I didn’t intend to disappoint; to shorten the book would have been to carve out whole characters, and at this point in the story, it seemed to serve no one’s purpose.
The Sun Sword
is almost finished, and it will
definitely
be the concluding volume; I hope that you don’t find
The Riven Shield
, the first half of that longer work, a disappointment because it’s not quite the end.

Annagarian Ranks

Tyr’agar
Ruler of the Dominion

Tyr’agnate
Ruler of one of the five Terreans of the Dominion

Tyr
The
Tyr’agar
or one of the four
Tyr’agnate

Tyran
Personal bodyguard (oathguard) of a
Tyr

Tor’agar
A noble in service to a
Tyr

Tor’agnate
A noble in service to a
Tor’agar
; least of noble ranks

Tor
A
Tor’agar
or
Tor’agnate

Toran
Personal bodyguard (oathguard) of a
Tor

Ser
A clansman

Serra
The primary wife and legitimate daughters of a clansman

kai
The holder or first in line to the clan title

par
The brother of the first in line; the direct son of the title holder

Dramatis Personae

ESSALIEYAN

AVANTARI (The Palace)

The Royals

King Reymalyn
: The Justice-born King

King Cormalyn
: The Wisdom-born King

Princess Mirialyn ACormaris
: Daughter of Queen Marieyan and King Cormalyn

The Astari

Duvari
: The Lord of the Compact; leader of the Astari, the protectors of the Kings

Devon ATerafin
: Member of the Astari and of House Terafin

Gregori ATerafin
: The second of the Astari to take the Terafin oath

The Hostages

Serra Marlena en’Leonne
: Valedan’s mother; born a slave but granted honorific “Serra” because her son has been recognized and claimed as legitimate

Ser Kyro di’Lorenza (Sorgassa)
: The oldest of the hostages

Imperial Army

The Eagle
:
Commander Bruce Allen
—commands the First Army

The Hawk
:
Commander Berriliya
—commands the Second Army

The Kestrel
:
Commander Kalakar
—commands the Third Army and the Ospreys

THE TEN

KALAKAR

Ellora
: The Kalakar

Verrus Korama
: Her closest friend and adjutant

Verrus Vernon Loris
: Friend and counselor

The Ospreys

Primus Duarte
: Leader

Alexis
: (Sentrus or Decarus)

Auralis
: (Sentrus or Decarus)

Fiara
: (Sentrus)

Cook
: (Sentrus)

Sanderton
: (Decarus)

Kiriel di’Ashaf

BERRILIYA

Devran
: The Berriliya

TERAFIN

Amarais Handernesse ATerafin
: The Terafin

Morretz
: Her domicis

Jewel Markess ATerafin
: Part of her House Council; also seer-born; her den are:

Finch

Teller

Angel
: He is not ATerafin

Carver

Arann
: House Guard

Jester

Daine
: Healer-born

Ellerson
: He serves the den as domicis

Avandar Gallais
: Also known as Viandaran; he is Jewel’s domicis

The Winter King
: Great stag, taken from the Stone Deepings

Lord Celleriant of the Green Deepings
: Compelled by Arianne to serve Jewel for his failure, he is Arianni

Ariel
: Young child given Jewel by Lord Isladar for her protection

Rymark ATerafin
: Member of the House Council

Haerrad ATerafin
: Member of the House Council

Elonne ATerafin
: Member of the House Council

Marrick Tremblant ATerafin
: Member of the House Council

Torvan ATerafin
: Captain of the Chosen

THE ORDER OF KNOWLEDGE

Meralonne APhaniel
: Member of the Council of the Magi; first circle mage

Sigurne Mellifas
: Member of the Council of the Magi; first circle mage

Gyrrick
: One of Meralonne’s warrior mages; seconded by the army

SENNIEL COLLEGE

Solran Marten
: Bardmaster of Senniel College

Kallandras
: Master Bard of Senniel College

ANNAGAR

THE CLANS

LEONNE: Ruling clan of the Dominion of Annagar

Ser Valedan kai di’Leonne (Raverra):
The heir to the Dominion

Markaso kai di’Leonne:
The assassinated Tyr’agar, Valedan’s father

Serra Diora en’Leonne:
Also
Serra Diora di’Marano

Serra Diora’s harem wives

Faida en’Leonne:
Oathwife to Diora; dead

Ruatha en’Leonne:
Oathwife to Diora; dead

Dierdre en’Leonne:
Oathwife to Diora; dead

In Service to Leonne

Ser Baredan di’Navarre:
Former General of the Third Army, under Valedan’s father

Ser Anton di’Guivera:
Foremost Swordmaster of the Dominion; twice winner of the Kings’ Crown

Ser Andaro di’Corsarro:
Tyran; the only Tyran who serves Valedan kai di’Leonne

Ser Laonis di’Caveras:
Healer-born; he has left his home in the North to travel with Valedan

Aidan a’Cooper:
Standard-bearer or mascot; young boy

CALLESTA: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Averda

Ser Ramiro kai di’Callesta:
The Tyr

Serra Amara en’Callesta:
Wife to the Tyr

Eliana en’Callesta:
Concubine to the Tyr

Aliane en’Callesta:
Concubine to the Tyr

Maria en’Callesta:
Concubine to the Tyr

Sara en’Callesta:
Concubine to the Tyr

Deana en’Callesta:
Concubine to the Tyr

Ser Fillipo par di’Callesta:
Brother to the Tyr’agnate of Averda; Captain of his Tyran

Ser Carelo kai di’Callesta:
The heir to Callesta, Ramiro’s oldest son; dead

Ser Alfredo par di’Callesta:
Youngest son of Ramiro, and now his heir

Ser Karro di Callesta:
Tyran; half brother (concubine’s son); the oldest of the Tyran

Ser Miko di Callesta:
Tyran; half brother (concubine’s son)

GARRARDI: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Oerta

Eduardo kai di’Garrardi:
The Tyr’agnate of the Terrean of Oerta

LAMBERTO: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Mancorvo

Ser Mareo kai di’Lamberto:
The Tyr’agnate of Mancorvo

Ser Fredero par di’Lamberto:
Younger brother to the Tyr’agnate; left the clan in order to become the kai el’Sol, the leader of the Radann

Serra Alina di’Lamberto:
Once given as hostage to the Imperial Court in Essalieyan, she now advises
Ser Valedan kai di’Leonne
and travels with his forces

Serra Donna en’Lamberto:
Mareo’s Serra

Ser Galen kai di’Lamberto:
The kai (former par)

Ser Andreas kai di’Lamberto:
The dead kai

Renaldo:
Tyran; sent to Lamberto by the former kai el’Sol

Marano:

Ser Adano kai di’Marano:
Tor’agar to
Mareo kai di’Lamberto

Ser Sendari par di’Marano:
His brother; Widan; also called
Ser Sendari di’Sendari
, the founding name of a new clan

Serra Fiona en’Marano:
Sendari’s wife

Ser Artano:
Sendari’s oldest son

Serra Diora di’Marano:
Sendari’s only child by his first wife

Serra Teresa di’Marano:
Sister to Adano and Sendari; companion to Yollana of the Havalla Voyani, aunt to the Serra Diora

Clemente

Ser Alessandro kai di’Clemente:
The Tor’agar; his Tyr is Ser Mareo

Ser Janos kai di’Clemente:
The son of Ser Alessandro’s dead brother, and the heir

Serra Celina en’Clemente:
Wife to Ser Alessandro

Ser Reymos:
Toran to Ser Alessandro

Ser Adelos:
Toran to Ser Alessandro

Manelo

Ser Amando kai di’Manelo:
The Tor’agnate

Ser Franko kai di’Manelo:
The former kai; killed in combat after being accused of attempted murder by the kai el’Sol

Darran di’Sambali:
Village clansman, almost killed by Ser Franko

Talia en’Sambali:
His wife

LORENZA: Ruling clan of the Terrean of Sorgassa

Ser Jarrani kai di’Lorenza:
The Tyr’agnate of Sorgassa

Ser Hectore kai di’Lorenza:
The kai, heir to Sorgassa

Ser Alef par di’Lorenza:
Hectore’s younger brother

Serra Maria en’Lorenza:
Ser Hectore’s wife

THE SWORD OF KNOWLEDGE

Ser Cortano di’Alexes:
The Sword’s Edge; the ruler of the Widan

Ser Sendari di’Marano:
Widan

Ser Mikalis di’Arretta:
Widan

THE RADANN

Radann Fredero kai el’Sol:
The former leader of the Radann; died in the Lake of the Tor Leonne, drawing the Sun Sword

Jevri el’Sol:
His loyal servitor; he also serves Lamberto after the death of the kai el’Sol

Radann Peder kai el’Sol:
The man who now leads the Radann

Radann Samiel par el’Sol:
Youngest of the Hand of God

Radann Marakas par el’Sol:
Contemporary of Fredero; healer-born

Radann Samadar par el’Sol:
The oldest of the par el’Sol

Radann Jordan el’Sol:
A servitor who is a faithful follower of the ways of Fredero within the Radann

Radann Paolo el’Sol:
Another of Fredero’s servitors

Radann Santos el’Sol:
The leader of the Radann in the city of Sarel

Radann Fiero el’Sol:
The leader of the Radann in the city of Callesta, and therefore the most senior Radann in the Terrean of Averda

THE VOYANI

Arkosa

Evallen of the Arkosa Voyani:
The former Matriarch

Margret of the Arkosa Voyani:
The current Matriarch