The dagger of adendigaeth (a pattern of shadow light)

THE DAGGER OF ADENDIGAETH A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book Two MELISSA MCPHAIL Books by Melissa McPhail Cephrael’s Hand The Dagger of Adendigaeth The Dagger of Adendigaeth A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book This is a work of fiction The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book The Dagger of Adendigaeth A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2012 Melissa McPhail v1.0 Cover art by Kentaro Kanamoto http://kentarokan amoto.com Map art by Ramah Palmer and Brandon Lidgard Edited by Purple Pen Editing and Melissa Bowling This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews Outskirts Press, Inc http://www.outskirtspress.com Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4327-9824-6 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4787-2013-3 Ebook ASIN: B0046A9VLO Outskirts Press and the “OP” logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements Maps Author's Note Prologue Part One 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Part Two 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Epilogue Glossary of Terms Dramatis Persona ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my incredibly loyal and supportive friends and family—for your patience and unconditional love despite my becoming a missing person so often during the writing of this novel; for the endless discussions and conjecturing that so often spurred new threads of storyline, for your amazing feedback, for tea and quiet moments of inspiration, for your constant, unwavering support And to Sarah, Juliet and Shon, for loving me in spite of my many hours spent creating with the characters in this tale instead of with you Thank you—a hundred times, thank you MAPS The Five Vestals: Alshiba Torinin—the First Vestal, an Adept Healer and the Alorin Seat Dagmar Ranneskjöld—the Second Vestal, an Espial Seth nach Davvies—the Third Vestal, an avieth of the Wildling races Raine D’Lacourte—the Fourth Vestal, a truthreader and raedan Björn van Gelderan—the Fifth Vestal, branded a traitor Members of the Royal Family of Dannym Gydryn val Lorian—King of Dannym Errodan Renwyr n’Owain val Lorian—Queen of Dannym Ysolde Remalkhen—the Queen’s Companion; a Fire Princess from Avatar Ean val Lorian—Prince of Dannym, the youngest son Trell val Lorian—Prince of Dannym, the Queen’s treasured middle son Sebastian val Lorian—oldest son (a victim of assassination) Creighton Khelspath—ward of Gydryn, blood-brother to Ean (now a Shade) Ryan val Lorian—brother to Gydryn, posted as Dannym’s Ambassador to Agasan Fynnlar val Lorian—son of Ryan, a prince of Dannym Brody the Bull—Fynnlar’s bodyguard In the King’s Cabinet & Guard Morin d’Hain—Spymaster Donnal val Amrein—Minister of the Interior Mandor val Kess—Minister of Culture Vitriam O’reith—truthreader to the King Kjieran van Stone—truthreader to the King (assigned as a spy to Bethamin’s Temple) Rhys val Kincaide—Lord Captain of the King’s Own Guard Bastian val Renly—a lieutenant of the King’s Own Guard Cayal—a soldier of the King’s Own Guard Dorin—a soldier of the King’s Own Guard Of the Peerage & Their Households Gareth val Mallonwey—Duke of Towermount and General of the West Tad val Mallonwey—Heir to Towermount Katerine val Mallonwey—daughter of Gareth, engaged to Creighton Khelspath Lisandre val Mallonwey—daughter of Gareth Loran val Whitney—Duke of Marion and General of the East Killian val Whitney—Heir to Marion Melisande d’Giverny—mother to Alyneri (deceased) Prince Jair—Prince of Kandori, father of Alyneri (deceased) Alyneri d’Giverny—Duchess of Aracine, an Adept Healer Tanis—an Adept truthreader, Melisande’s ward Farshideh—a Nadori midwife, Seneschal of Fersthaven (deceased) Stefan val Tryst—Duke of Morwyk Wilamina—Dowager Countess of Astor Ianthe d’Jesune val Rothschen—Marchioness of Wynne Wilem val Rothschen—Marquess of Wynne The Contessa di Remy—wife of the Agasi Ambassador’s Aide In T’khendar Balaeric de Parma—a pirate from Alorin, now a gypsy Iluminari Carian vran Lea—a pirate of Jamaii, an Adept Nodefinder Gwynnleth—an avieth from Elvior Isabel van Gelderan—Epiphany’s Prophet, sister to Björn van Gelderan Julian d’Artenis—a fifth-strand Adept from Jeune, Veneisea Markal Morrelaine—a wielder, one of the First Lord’s three generals The Council of Nine Björn van Gelderan—the First Lord and Alorin’s Fifth Vestal Cristien Tagliaferro—an Adept truthreader Anglar Tempest (deceased, revived as a Shade) Dunglei ap’Turic (deceased) Parsifal D’Marre (deceased) Arion Tavestra (deceased) Markal Morrelaine—a wielder, one of Björn’s three Generals Ramuhárikhamáth—a drachwyr, one of Björn’s three Generals Malachai ap’Kalien (deceased) The Warring Princes & Their Allies Emir Zafir bin Safwan al Abdul-Basir—Akkadian Emir, Unifier of the Seventeen Tribes Rajiid bin Yemen al Basreh—Prime Minister of the Akkad Radov abin Hadorin—Ruling Prince of M’Nador Viernan hal’Jaitar—Radov’s wielder (see The Fifty Companions) Raliax—a Saldarian mercenary The Prophet Bethamin (origins unknown) Dore Madden—an Adept wielder serving the Prophet (see The Fifty Companions) Işak Getirmek—a wielder bound to Dore Madden The Karakurt—a female truthreader, leader of an infamous ring of assassins At the First Lord’s Sa’reyth Vaile—a zanthyr Leyd—a zanthyr Loghain—a Tyriolicci (of the Wildling races, called Whisper Lord by the races of men) The Fifty Companions (those known to be living) Pavran Ahlamby—a truthreader Usil al’Haba—a Nodefinder Elien ap’Gentrys—an Adept wielder Gannon Bair—a truthreader Karienna D’Artenis—an Adept Healer Laira di Giancora—an Adept Healer Mian Gartelt—an Adept Healer Viernan hal’Jaitar—an Adept wielder Socotra Isio—a Nodefinder Ledio Jerouen—an Adept Wildling Dore Madden—an Adept wielder Mazur of Elvior—an Avieth of Elvior Franco Rohre—a Nodefinder Delanthine Tanner—an Adept wielder Thessaly Vahn—An Adept Healer Devangshu Vita—a Nodefinder Niko van Amstel—a Nodefinder The Malorin’athgul Darshanvenkhátraman (Dar´shan – vin ka´tra mahn) called Darshan whose name means Destroyer of Hope Pelasommáyurek (Pe´las – oh my´yur eck) called Pelas whose name means Ender of Paths Rinokhálpeşumar (Rin´och – cal pesh´oo mar) called Rinokh whose name means The Mountain That Flames Shailabhanáchtran (Shale´ – ah bah nock´trun) called Shail whose name means Maker of Storms The Six Sundragons (Drachwyr) Dhábu’balaji’şridanaí (Da´boo – ba lah´gee – shree´da nye) called Balaji whose name means He Who Walks The Edge Of The World Şrivas’rhakárakek (Shree´vas – rah kar´akeck) called Rhakar whose name means The Shadow Of The Light Jayachándranáptra (Jai´ah – shan´dra – nap´tra) called Jaya whose name means Rival Of The Sun Ramuhárikhamáth (Rah´moo – hareek´amath) called Ramu whose name means Lord of the Heavens Amithaiya’geshwen (Ami-thi´ya – gesh´win) called Mithaiya whose name means The Bosom of God’s Nectar Náeb’nabdurin’náiir (Ni eb´– nab dur´en – ny´ear) called Náiir whose name means Chaser Of The Dawn The Seventeen Gods of the Akkad Jai’Gar—the Prime God Azerjaiman—the Wind God Sons of the wind god—North son, Shamal; South son, Asfal; East son, Sherq Daughter of the wind god—West daughter, Qharp Shamash—God of Travelers and the Poor Inanna—Goddess of War Naiadithine—Goddess of Water Enlil—God of Earth and Agriculture Inithiya—Goddess of Restoration (Spirit) Angharad—Goddess of Fortune (Fate) Thalma—Goddess of Luck (Virtue) Huhktu—God of Bones Baharan/Baharani—The two-headed God of Blood/Goddess of Birth Ha’viv—the Trickster God, patron of thieves If you enjoyed The Dagger of Adendigaeth and would like to support the author, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, the iBookstore, or wherever you purchased the novel Stay in touch with Melissa and A Pattern of Shadow & Light on these social sites: http://melissamcphail.com http://Facebook.com/cephraelshand http://twitter.com/melissagmcphail http://goodreads.com/melissagmcphail Table of Contents Other Books by the author Copyright Acknowledgements Maps Author's Note Prologue Part One 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Part Two 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Epilogue Glossary of Terms Dramatis Persona .. .THE DAGGER OF ADENDIGAETH A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book Two MELISSA MCPHAIL Books by Melissa McPhail Cephrael’s Hand The Dagger of Adendigaeth The Dagger of Adendigaeth A Pattern of Shadow. .. new pattern, the merest whisper of intent, Markal’s sight changed to view the fourth strand, the one comprising the patterns of thought On these tides he learned of recent workings of elae, of. .. at the Citadel, and Dunglei and Parcifal before them at Gimlalai Their smiles, their sarcastic wit, their brilliant minds—all lost, casualties of the larger war The best and the brightest of