STRANGERof

TEMPEST
TOM LLOYD

GOLLA N CZ
L ON D ON

Copyright Tom Lloyd 2016

All rights reserved
The right of Tom Lloyd to be identified as the author
of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in Great Britain in 2016
by Gollancz
An imprint of the Orion Publishing Group
Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment,
London EC4Y 0DZ
An Hachette UK Company
A CIP catalogue record for this book
is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 473 21317 3
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
Typeset by Born Group
Printed in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY

www.tomlloyd.co.uk
www.orionbooks.co.uk
www.gollancz.co.uk

Soldiers of Anatins
Mercenary Deck
SUN

STARS

BLOOD

SNOW

TEMPEST

PRINCE
17
16

ANATIN
Foren
Sonnersyn

KNIGHT PAYL
Karra
14
13

REFT
OLUT
Dortrinas Silm
Brellis
Arut

TESHEN
SAFIR
Finc
Layir
n
egri
Asp

ESTAL
DIVINER
Haphori Rubesh
11
10

LLAITH
Flinth

HIMBEL
Crast

STRANGER
Darm
8
Brols
7

VARAIN

MADMAN CRAIS
Fael
5
4

KAS
Hald

JESTER
2
1

ASHIS

Toam

ULAX
Sandath

BURNEL
Shoal
Ismont

stranger of tempest B layouts2.indd 7

DEERN
Hule

TYN

BRAQUE
Tunnest

12/01/2016 15:56

Interlude 1
(now)

For a damsel in distress, she was rather more spattered with

someone elses blood than Lynx had expected. And naked.
Very naked.
Well? she demanded.
Lynx could only gape a while longer. Finally his words spilled
out in an abashed mumble. Um come to rescue you, miss.
Youll have to wait, she snapped at the knot of mercenaries
crowding the doorway. Im busy.
Guh.
Lynx tried to say more, but something in his head had
stopped working the moment shed opened the door, and his
tongue seemed to fill his mouth. A beguiling scent of vanilla
and night jasmine fogged his mind. Beside him the hard-bitten
veteran, Varain, sounded like he was choking, while the silent
giant, Reft, was as wordless as ever.
It fell to Safir to remember how to use words and even the
former nobleman hesitated before he offered a deep bow.
We are at your command, my lady.
That prompted a small smile. Glad at least one of yous
seen a woman before.
Safir inclined his head and gave a polite cough. Ah, my lady?
Yes?
Your, ahem, friend, he said, pointing behind her. Hes found
a knife.
1

Once Lynx managed to drag his gaze off the woman, he

saw a half-dressed man with pale hair and chiselled features
staggering woozily in the room behind. Blood dribbled from
his broken nose down a once-fine white doublet and his silk
stockings were ripped and sagging. As the man tried to yank
his britches back up from his ankles he only managed to rip
them further as he snagged one foot.
An emerald silk shift lay on the floor nearby. From the smell
of brandy, Lynx guessed the man had staggered in and ripped
it off her when she answered the door. A broken nose certainly
seemed a fair start.
Eventually the man managed to haul his britches over his
knees and waddle forward, brandishing a gold-hilted dagger
in their direction. His long, oiled hair was now plastered over
one side of his face, his lips swollen and bleeding as he tried
to work his mouth well enough to call for help.
Oh please.
The woman sighed and stalked back into the room, ignoring
the blade Safir offered. Instead she swept up a candlestick from
a side table and lashed out with a ferocious backhand swipe.
She caught the noblemans wrist and Lynx heard something
snap under the impact. As the blade tumbled from the mans
grip she followed the blow up with a knee to his stomach.
That threw him back against the ornate bedpost and drove the
wind from any further attempt to cry out.
Lady Toil, Anatin called from behind Lynx. Were on
something of a schedule here. Could we hurry this up?
Lynx glanced back at their commander. The grey-haired man
didnt seem in the least surprised that their fifteen-year-old
kidnap victim was in fact a muscular veteran of about thirty,
the glisten of sweat on her skin only highlighting her wide
assortment of scars. Nor that she was beating seven shades of
shit out of an armed nobleman.
2

Her long hair was tinted a deep red and had been carefully
styled prior to her current exertions, her fingernails painted a similar
bright shade to her raw, bloodied knuckles. Even naked she stood
tall and moved with lithe purpose, quite unconcerned by the
mercenaries watching like lust-struck little boys. Lynx realised hed
been holding his breath as he watched her and exhaled noisily.
Lady Toil? The woman laughed. I like the sound of that.
She punched the nobleman on his already-broken nose and
he flopped back on the bed, whimpering.
You, Toil ordered, pointing at Lynx. Clothes in that drawer,
boots in the cupboard.
Lynx blinked dumbly at her for a moment. It took a swat
around the head from Anatin before he sheathed his sword
and ducked his head, muttering, Clothes, right.
Good boy.
So who in the coldest black is he then? Lynx added as he
pulled open the drawer and tossed aside a silk dress to unearth
something rather more practical.
A pair of short-swords lay under a plain tunic and trousers
so he pulled them out and threw them over a chair. He shook
his head as though he could dislodge the image of Toil that
had been burned into his mind, stoking his anger to distract
the lurching sensation from deep in his belly.
This ray of sunshine? Toil asked, holding the mans lolling
head up. Cant you guess?
All I knows weve been lied to all the way here, Lynx said.
Those were proper soldiers downstairs, this aint the house of
some minor noble who didnt like being told no.
Toil let the man drop back and hauled on her linen drawers
and shirt. Youre mercs, she commented. You do what youre
told and you get paid for it.
Lynx, Anatin added in a warning tone, you of all folk got
no right to start getting pissy now.
3

Lynx gave the commander a level look. I signed up for a

rescue, not an assassination. Right now Im guessing this jobs
a whole lot more dangerous than we thought. You even told
your Knights what the real mission is?
Toil took a step towards him. Despite the fact she was
unarmed and distractingly beautiful, she carried a threatening
air that made him tense.
You were told enough, she said firmly. Get me out of the
house, escort me out of the city. Without warning a dazzling
smile broke like the sun through clouds. Now be a sweetheart
and fetch my pack and boots. Well be running soon.
Shes right, Lynx, Safir added, stepping in to the room
so Lynxs unit commander, Teshen, could look inside. Both
the dark-skinned Safir and pale Teshen were Knights of the
company and neither seemed disquieted by what they saw. I
can put the pieces together, but nows not the time. We ride
clear of the city, then we can fling blame about like angry
monkeys.
Lynx paused as he pulled the boots and pack from the
cupboard shed indicated. He looked over at the battered man
on the bed while Toil continued to dress. Olive-skinned and
blue-eyed, the man was clearly an Asann merchant prince and
now he looked around the room, Lynx realised this wasnt
some noblemans city residence at all. More likely the elegant
home of a merchants mistress, albeit a rich one.
Whatd be the worst trouble we could be in right now?
Lynx sagged. Hes Princip of the Assayed Council, isnt he?
Not for much longer, Toil said darkly, lacing up her boots.
Once that was done she stood and belted her short-swords
on. Anatin, you ready?
The commander nodded towards Teshen and jerked his
thumb at the corridor behind him. Get ready to move, assume
there are more guards.
4

There wont be, Toil interjected. He always comes with

just a handful, but there will be patrols on the street.
So we go quietly, Anatin replied. Teshen, check the street.
Quietly? Sure, I guess, Toil said with a small smile. Now
come here, you gutless little fuck.
She grabbed the Princip of the Assayed ruler of the entire
city-state of Grasiel by his bloodied tunic and hauled him
upright. The man whimpered and snivelled, barely supporting
his own weight, but Toil was a powerful woman and held him
easily.
Yeah, we could do quiet I suppose.
Toil gave the mercenaries a savage grin and lurched abruptly
right. Lynx watched open-mouthed as she took a brief run-up to
the diamond-pattern window that covered much of the western
wall. With a grunt of effort she hurled the Princip at the large
central panel. The glass seemed to explode out into the night
air and he pitched through finally finding his voice as he
flailed at the darkness. He dropped, the echo of his shrieks
cut off by a sickening crunch from the paved street beyond.
There was a moment where no one even breathed. Then
Toil leaned out of the window and gave a grunt of approval.
See, all quiet now, she said as she headed for the door.
It was late into the night and a quiet neighbourhood. Lynx
was in the corridor and already running by the time he heard
the first screams.

Chapter 1
(two weeks earlier)

Lynx opened his eyes and immediately regretted it. Dark stone
walls swam before his eyes, outlined by a faint scrap of light
that crept in through bars set into the door. His breath caught
in his throat as panic set in and his heart began to judder in
his chest. It was a cell.
The cloying stink of shit and rank old sweat hit him like a
punch. Memories blossomed from the dark stars unfolding before
his eyes as pain shot through his head. Voices of men long dead,
cries in the night and the bite of pitted iron shackles on his skin.
He closed his eyes again, as though willing himself away from
that place, but instead another voice came a deep rolling
accent of the far south-east that cut through the fear. A man
hed once known. A man whod once saved him from fear.
Lynx fought the panic down and opened his eyes again,
finally able to notice the sensation of a vice clamped around
his head. For a while that was all he could feel and slowly he
realised that this was no ordinary hangover. The throb seemed
to be most obvious down one side and he tried to touch his
fingers to his head. That prompted a whole new set of hurts
as he discovered his wrists were bound so tight his hands were
numb, his shoulders bruised and aching.
Aye, they fucked you up good.
Lynx turned his head and found a new set of regrets. The view
hadnt improved, but now his neck had joined in the clamour.
6

His vision blurred as muscles fluttered in spasm and the mother

of all hangovers kicked him in the head. For a moment all he
could see was the memory of bottles on a table, and a small
wheeze escaped his cracked and swollen lips. He focused on
the pain, embraced it as a friend compared to his memories.
A small man with long hair sat on a stone ledge, biting filthy
nails as he eyed Lynx.
So whod you kill?
Lynx felt a lurch at the question and his cramping stomach
obliged, heaving up what little remained inside while every
other pain in his body clamoured for attention. A bright white
flash lanced across his eyes, obscuring everything until his
stomach finally settled.
Kill? Nights whispers, what did I do?
The small mans face curled into a cruel smile as he lifted
his feet away from the spattering of puke. Mustve been one
hell of a night, he commented.
Dont remember, Lynx croaked.
He paused and looked again at the man. There was something not quite right about him. Gap-toothed, check. Grimy,
stinking clothes, check. Silver ring on his finger engraved with
three diamond shapes black, grey and white hmm.
Thats . . . Lynx said, almost panting for breath at the effort
of speaking, thats my ring.
Nope, its mine.
Give it back. Now.
Found this a while back, the man said, and it dont have
your name on it. More importantly, youre trussed like a hog
and I could stamp your face in right now if I wanted. Youre
in no condition to give orders.
Whym I tied up?
The man snickered. Cos they had to drag you in, what
with it taking half the guards to beat you senseless. Anyway,
7

I reckon you killed someone last night so you wont need a

ring where youre going.
Lynx spent a dozen breaths trying to order his thoughts.
Even thinking hurt and left him panting for breath.
Thats my ring, he said eventually.
The man hopped forward and bent low over Lynx, teeth
bared in anger now. And I said its fucking mine now, get it, fat
boy? You dont like it, mister tied-up-and-puking, tough shit.
Lynx blinked then very slowly closed his eyes. His head
rang like a temple bell. Cuts and bruises on top of the hangover that was really getting its teeth into him. Inwardly he
shrugged.
With what strength he had left, Lynx grabbed the mans shirt
and hauled him down. Their heads cracked together and stars
burst before his eyes as the other man howled. With a jerk
that made the world swim and his stomach heave, Lynx hauled
his broad body up and the others down so his greater bulk
pinned the man. It wasnt easy with hands and feet bound, but
he had a good enough grip that the squirming wretch couldnt
move. Lynx was on the tall side, barrel-chested and with arms
as thick as the other mans legs. It was true he had something
of a paunch on him too, but he was strong enough that few
were so stupid as to comment on it.
What are you in for? he growled.
Bathtad! squeaked the man, blood squirting from his nose.
Answer me or Ill do it again.
Okay, okay! Theft, itth theft!
So there you sit, half my size and thinking Im in for murder
but you still take my ring? Lynxs hands closed around the
mans neck, not too tight, but enough to make it clear that
even bound he could still throttle the man. You really that
bloody stupid?
No! No, take it!
8

Lynx felt hands fumbling under him and eased to one side
enough to let the man pull the ring from his hand. In his
haste he dropped it between them so Lynx shoved him off the
bench and into the puke on the floor. Slumped on his side,
it took him a while to find the ring, but at last he did and he
jammed it on his left hand as best he could.
Shit, the small man moaned, bathtad! With one sleeve
pressed to his nose the man picked himself up and crawled
on to the other bed. Didnt need to do that.
Pretty sure I did, Lynx muttered, submitting to the cries of
his body and relaxing back down on to the bed with one eye on
the other man. His vision lurched and went from black to purple
and pink as everything hurt at once, but as he lay still it slowly
receded. You didnt figure I could move enough to get it back.
They hang you, the man huffed, guards get ya stuff anyway.
Lynx winced. Shut up.
Shattered gods, did I really kill someone last night?
Praying his expression wasnt obvious in the gloom of the
cell, Lynx stared up at the ceiling and willed the straight lines
above to remain still. He couldnt remember anything from
the previous night and the more he tried the more his head
hurt. The ache was a cloud in his mind that obscured and
confounded every effort.
Gods what town is this, even? Where am I?
Before any clarity could come the cell door was yanked
open. Lynx looked up, scowling at the shaft of daylight that cut
across the room beyond. He screwed up his eyes and managed
to focus on the figure at the door a grey-haired man who
frowned at each of the occupants, one hand on the butt of a
club stuffed into his belt.
Time to go, he said in a gruff voice.
Me, sir? the smaller man piped up hopefully, scrabbling
upright.
9

No. The guard paused and gave the thief an appraising

look. What happened to you?
A scowl. I fell.
The guard snorted and raised an eyebrow at Lynx. He fell,
eh? Thats why theres blood on your face, eh?
Fell on my forehead, Lynx muttered with a wince. Tried
to rob me.
Bloody disgrace you put a thief in gaol and the bugger
just tries to steal stuff.
Lynx decided not to comment. The man was probably joking,
but he wasnt inviting others to the party and anyway, Lynx
wasnt much of a laugh when hungover and hurting.
Can you get up, madman? the guard continued after a
pause. After last night I aint keen on cutting your bonds.
Lynx grunted. His feet were bound too. Whatever had gone
on the previous night, hed been enough trouble to make them
truss him up like a turkey. Not sure Ill manage the walk to
the magistrate.
Your lucky day then, you aint off to see her. Youre getting out.
I am?
Theres a fine to pay, then well be glad to see the back
of you.
I didnt hurt anyone?
From his right the smaller man snorted angrily, but Lynx
ignored him and the guard shut him up with a glare.
Only a mans pride. You were too drunk to do much moren
get a beating.
Thats a mercy then, Lynx said with relief. He glanced down
at himself. He still had his jerkin, boots and trousers, but his
sword-belt and jacket were conspicuous by their absence. A
fine, though. Dont know what money Ive got left.
Enough, the guard said curtly. Were not all thieves round
here. You can come and pick up your possessions now.
10

Lynx nodded. Definitely wont get any trouble from me

in that case, he said, lifting his hands in a suitably pathetic
manner.
He gets off with just a fine? the smaller man yelped furiously. Hes mad, you said it yourself! Probably a murderer
too! Just broke my damn nose!
Shut up, the guard and Lynx said in unison.
The men exchanged looks and Lynx tried to remember
what apologetic looked like. He was well aware he was still
bound and in gaol. He wasnt sure if the guard was annoyed
or amused, but either way the man didnt comment.
Your nose aint broken, the guard said at last, cos youd
be squealing like a pig if it were. And none of us give a damn
anyway certainly not enough to trouble the magistrate over
some thieving scrote who deserved it. Frankly, compared to
the chair he fell on while trying to punch old man Greyn, your
nose aint worth anything.
The interruption seemed to make the guards mind up and he
drew a knife. Lynx tensed instinctively as the man approached
him then lowered his eyes, feeling foolish.
Sorry, old habits.
Soldier?
Lynx nodded.
The guard paused. What side?
Not one I care to defend these days.
The guard nodded and cut through the rope around Lynxs
hands. When the heavyset mercenary only groaned with
pleasure and rubbed his wrists, he did the same for his feet
and stepped back. Lynx sat up as best he could and propped
himself against the wall.
Thanks.
That seemed to surprise the guard. He gave Lynx a suspicious
look, then shrugged and backed away to allow him to rise and
11

leave the cell. Lynx did so without haste. The nice man was
letting him leave and Lynx had no intention of startling him,
even if his protesting body suddenly became capable of it. He
shuffled out and stood where the guard directed, trying not
to fall over, while the man locked the door again.
That done, Lynx was ushered down the corridor and up
a short flight of stone steps, emerging into a square guardroom where three armed man glared at him. Thin strips of
light slanted down through the narrow windows on the far
wall and Lynx faltered as he blinked away the bright trails
in his vision.
Over there, the guard ordered, pointing to a pair of ironbound doors on the left. A lock-room, Lynx guessed, with a
messy desk placed at one side of it. He dutifully shuffled over
as a portly old guard with impressive whiskers took station
there. With a self-important huff the guard sat and opened a
ledger, eyeing Lynx with disdain.
Name?
Lynx?
The guard paused. Real name.
Lynx.
The guard placed a hand flat down on the ledger page.
Listen, son, youre getting off with a fine. Nows not the time
for playing silly buggers.
I realise that, he said, adding sir a little later than intended.
Name I was born with got left behind years back, along with
the damn fool who was proud of it. Ive been just Lynx for
moren five years now. Suits me bettern anything from a place
I dont care for any more.
And wheres that?
So Han. He knew it was coming, but still he felt the hairs
on the back of his neck rise as the men around him tensed.
Youre one of them, eh?
12

Lynx shook his head. Not since before the war ended
place can rot for all I care. Ive left all that behind, is why Ive
gone by Lynx ever since.
Why Lynx? asked the guard whod escorted him up,
appearing at the older ones side. Of all the men in the room,
his was the only demeanour not affected by the place of Lynxs
birth, which presumably meant he was an easterner. So Hans
brutal campaign of conquest had gobbled up a fair chunk of
the Greater Lakes, but had imploded before it could reach
across the continent.
Lynx shrugged as best he could without provoking his
hangover.
They dont live in packs; prefer their own company and rely
just on themselves, but theyre not the biggest or toughest out
there. I aint trying to persuade the world Im as dangerous as
a mountain lion. Thatll just get a man in more trouble than
his drinking is likely to land him in.
His attempt at a self-deprecating smile got little change from
his audience so he quickly continued. Also, my eyes are a funny
colour; folks used to say like a cats when I was young. Lynx
turned to look at the man properly, blinking as he afforded
him a look at his yellow-flecked brown eyes.
The older guard grunted, clearly unwilling to give too much
of a damn about Lynx, even if he didnt like his name.
Fine, Lynx it is, once of So Han. Weve got a note of your
marks already if any bounty hunter comes looking for the
man you once were, the descriptions clear enough.
Lynx nodded. The scars on his back were extensive, one
of the many joys of his homelands army discipline, and he
also had cats claws tattooed on his forearm, legacy of another
nights excess. Most obvious though was the complex character
on his right cheek a stylised script from somewhere to the
south that translated to honour or death. He preferred the
13

sentiment to the tattoo, but it was far better than the prison
designation it had suborned.
No ones looking for me, he said. Ive done nothing but
bodyguard work for years and made no enemies.
Well I suggest you keep on doing that away from Janagrai
too.
Lynx winced as he suddenly remembered why hed come to
this town in the first place. Got something I need to do here
first. Think my last employers family are here.
Dont tell me youre dumb enough to go and start making
demands for payment now?
Just returning whats theirs, he said with a shake of the
head. We got hit a couple of days back by bandits and Master
Simbly took an arrow in the lung. I brought his goods, came to
give them to his widow and tell her where I buried the man.
Master Simbly? the guard growled. I know him, knew
anyway. Whered this happen?
Out on the lake road from Tambal.
Why would you be taking that route?
Lynx shrugged. Said he was late and needed to take the
shorter road. Hed heard the road was safe this season and
I wasnt the only one with a mage-gun. He took passengers too, woman who said she was from somewhere down
towards the ocean channel coast and her retainer. Some sort
of militia officer she was, called Kelleby. Once we sent a few
icers their way the bandits scarpered, but theyd already got
in a lucky shot.
The guard glanced around his fellows and someone behind
Lynx spoke up. Ive seen the woman; shes staying at the
Witchlight too, waiting for passage onwards.
Lynx nodded. The name rang a bell. He just had to hope the
rest of his kit and Master Simblys goods were still stored there,
otherwise folk might start getting an unfriendly impression.
14

Hach, called the whiskered guard to a younger one loitering

nearby, go and find her, check that out. Guess Ill be giving
the bad news to the Widow Simbly.
Ill do that, Lynx said. I was there when he died, thats
on me.
The guards lips tightened as he stood up. If she wants to
talk to you, Ill fetch you, get me? Hach will take you to the
Witchlight Inn and take charge o the goods so theres no
argument.
His expression made it clear he didnt want to hear anything
more on the matter. Lynx kept quiet while the guard unlocked
the strongroom and fetched out Lynxs sword-belt, tricorn hat
and jacket. Hanging from the sword-belt was a wooden cartridge
box, slightly curved to settle comfortably at his hip. Just the
sight was enough to make Lynx break out in a sweat.
I picked a fight wearing my cartridge case? Deepest black!
The guard nodded. Aye, we noticed that too, he said with
a scowl. Didnt much appreciate it neither, just glad all those
burners and sparkers are properly packed given the way you
fell on them.
Lynx winced at the thought. He had two fire-bolts in the
pouch, alongside seven spark-bolts. The twenty-four ice-bolts
icers could themselves have easily killed someone if hed
broken the seal around the magic-charged glass packed into
one end, given the power of the mage-made weapons. But
burners or sparkers could have set the whole building on fire
and killed them all.
Guess that was my years worth of luck used up, Lynx said
once hed checked the cartridges were still packed securely in
their individual pouches. The guard didnt speak as he waited
for Lynx to finish, though no doubt hed done the same. There
were some things you didnt skimp on or rush.
Five silver fine, make your mark here.
15

Lynx dug his purse out of an inner pocket and hefted it.
A little lighter than he remembered but a night of drinking
accounted for that. The fine made a considerable dent in
what was left but he didnt argue, just wrote his name in a
neat copperplate hand that raised eyebrows. That done he ran
his hands over the scabbard and falchion within to check for
damage, then buckled it to his waist. It took him a little longer
to wrestle his grey jacket over his aching shoulders, though,
and by the time hed succeeded he was groaning in discomfort.
The guard looked him up and down. Black boots, once-white
shirt, grey trousers and jacket, black tricorn.
Shades of grey, eh? Some sort of mercenary statement, is it?
Not the one youre thinking of, friend, Lynx thought as he
shook his head, just a sign to a brother that Im wearing the ring.
Just doesnt show the dust of the road so much.
Aye, mebbe a bit deep for your sort, even if you write like a
noblewoman. My advice is you move on smartish, the whiskered guard added as Lynx straightened his hat. Youve caused
enough trouble in these parts.
Lynx nodded. Any suggestions? he said as he straightened
up, determined to walk out with his head held high. Im out
of a job now.
Aye. I suggest you keep your head down for the rest of the
day and leave in the morning, on foot if you have to. The guard
scowled. If it gets you gone, tip the landlord at the Witchlight
when you reimburse him for the chair. Remind him hell see
the back of you faster if he hears any of his evening trade needs
an extra hand.
Lynx nodded and turned to the door as the bearded young
guard, Hach, beckoned him forward and opened it. Sunlight
streamed through, a beautiful spring day by the looks of it.
Lynx scowled as the throb in his head intensified, screwed up
his eyes and followed the man out.
16

Chapter 2

For a two-bit backwater town, Janagrai looked pretty good to

Lynx even through the grey tint of a hangover. He stumbled
down the street under Hachs direction, squinting through
the morning sun at the street of houses and shopfronts on
either side. Above the sun was the hazy smear of the Skyriver,
a vast striated band that encircled the world, barely visible
behind a tattered curtain of cloud. Up ahead he saw a large
marketplace where a handful of farmers had their wares laid
out, while on the corner stood an L-shaped inn that had to
be their destination.
Somewhere at the back of one of the shops a pair of dogs
began to bark, the noise enough to set off some geese sat around
a pond opposite the tavern. Lynx scowled both at the unwelcome noise and the realisation of what those geese signified.
Knights of the Oak, eh? he commented to his guide. Lynx
nodded towards the squat stone building behind the pond that,
while not exactly fortified, wouldnt be much fun to attack.
As they passed it, Lynx saw the small stone canopy over the
door which sheltered the craggy features and jutting tusks of
their patron god Ulfer, Lord of the Earth. A heavy shroud of
creeper covered half the buildings flank and a chaotic bloom
of wild flowers filled the ground around it, both heavy with
the hum of honeybees. Their scent drifted across the street
and Lynx filled his lungs.
17

Aye, Janagrai had one of the first waystations around, so they tell
me, Hach said. Why, you got a problem with one of the Orders?
None of em got a problem with me, Lynx clarified, but
religion and soldiers aint a good mix in my opinion.
Thought your lot were in favour of that?
Lynx grimaced. So Han? Oh yes. Always surprised me that
the first Orders didnt come out o the place. Authority of the
gods themselves and overwhelming military might bloody wet
dream to most o the Lan Esk Ren, but they dont like foreign
priests much.
These ones keep to themselves mostly. Hach shrugged.
The townspeople are glad for em. We see a good number of
wealthy travellers stop here.
No doubt. But it only takes one bastard to decide his god
dont like how youre doing things. Then they start to look
like professional soldiers who outgun the rest o you on top
of supplying most o the continents ammunition.
Something tells me youre this cheerful even without the
hangover, Hach said with a snort.
Lynx ducked his head in acknowledgement. Oh aye Suns
own Jester, thats me most of the time. Mercenary work really
makes a man happy and welcoming over the years.
He tried to smile to back up the unlikely claim, but it
proved difficult to muster. Quickly Lynx gave up in favour of
concentrating on walking in a straight line.
They reached the inn and headed on inside to a relatively
bright barroom where a man and woman were bent over a
piece of paper on the bar.
Morning, Master Efrin, Hach called, his smile widening a little
as he gave a half-bow to the woman. Mistress Pallow, looking
lovely as always.
Lynx frowned at the room as his eyes readjusted feebly from
the brightness of outside. Despite the large open windows it
18

still seemed blessedly cool and dim inside, but the faces ahead
of him were a blur to start with.
Youve got some nerve coming back in here, the woman
snapped at Lynx, who rocked back on his heels. Didnt you
cause enough trouble last night?
Lynx raised his hand. Im not here for trouble, but as your
fine towns guardsmen, he said, indicating Hach, are more
honest than most Ive met over the years, I can pay for the
damage I caused. He winced at the effort of thinking and
speaking but made himself struggle on. And I need to see the
wagon to my employers widow. Its in your stable; I took a
room here, right?
You did, was the curt response.
And I paid ahead? Just need to sleep this off, have some
food and see what new works going here.
Well be looking in on him, Hach added. The wagon
belongs to Mistress Simbly and well need her to confirm the
goods are all there before hes free of us.
Mistress Pallow frowned at Lynx, but Hachs words had
dampened her anger. Mistress Simbly? Ornan Simbly is dead?
Bandits, Lynx confirmed, hoping his efforts not to be sick
would be taken as feelings of sympathy for his late employer.
I suppose you have paid ahead of time, she said after a
moments pause. Go on then, its the first attic room top
of the stairs. Therell be fried onions and potatoes for lunch
so I wont need to wake you.
*
Lunch came and went in a rather more literal fashion than
Lynx was comfortable with, but the handful of hours sleep he
managed beforehand improved the state of the world dramat
ically. He was still a scarred, unwanted exile from a country
19

of bastards whod spent years brutalising their neighbours, but

he could at least walk in a straight line without feeling like the
floor was going to punch him.
The afternoon passed quietly, the only break to self-indulgent
wallowing being when Lynx found himself inspected by a tall
and beautiful woman with red-rimmed eyes. She seemed the
least likely candidate for Mistress Simbly hed met in Janagrai,
but he managed to conceal his surprise as he struggled up from
his seat. Her husband had been an amiable fellow, but on the
short side with something of a squint and thinning hair. His
wife was of a similar age, it was true, but had she been wearing
finer clothing Lynx would have thought her some local duchess.
The formalities were dealt with easily and with little input
from Lynx, he was glad to discover. His account had been
confirmed by the militia officer, Kelleby, and the goods in the
wagon were as Mistress Simbly had expected. Though Lynx
had been careful to take his pay before arriving in town, the
bereaved merchant added to it in thanks for his honesty
enough to pay for a broken chair at least. She left about her
own business soon enough and Lynx found only himself and
Mistress Pellow in the common room, an hour or more before
the evening trade was likely to begin.
So youre looking for fighting work? she called to him
from behind the bar.
Lynx looked up. The woman hadnt exactly warmed to
him, but her manner had thawed somewhat in the face of a
newcomer who could string a sentence together. In his years
of wandering, Lynx had seen that often enough. Villages and
towns were so small most wanted news of the outside, but
many were just glad to talk to someone new.
He shook his head. Not if I can help it.
We dont have many merchants looking to take on a stranger
as escort, she warned, not with the Knights outpost in town.
20

If theres labouring work, Ill do that. Can balance books

too, if you want it.
You? Ive not met many mercenaries who can write their
own name.
Wasnt born a soldier, Lynx replied. Father was a shopkeeper in a town not much bigger than this. Cant say its a
job Id like for the rest of my life, but I can remember it well
enough. He grunted and glanced at the long leather sheath
beside him that contained his mage-gun. Cant say theres any
job Id like for the rest of my life, actually, but I guess itd be
better than the alternative.
From So Han, right? she said with a pointed look.
Lynx paused. Aye, once upon a time.
So you served.
We all did, if you were of an age. All swallowed the same
shit about the honour of our flag, defence of our people.
My brothers died in the Valleys campaign.
Lynx ducked his head in acknowledgement. Lot of folk did.
Glad I wasnt there myself.
So where, then?
Mind if we drop this? Aint exactly a happy subject for
any of us.
The Greensea?
Despite himself, Lynx felt the memory like a claw inside his
gut. For a time, he said in a half-whisper.
So youre one of them?
The condemnation in her voice was enough to make his
fists tighten, but Lynx was no stranger to it and he relaxed
quick enough.
Never one of them, he said firmly. There was some real
fighting to be done there too, at first anyway. I had no part
in what came after.
Easy enough to claim, that.
21

He looked her straight in the eye. You want to see the scars
on my back, Ill show you. Aint ashamed of what I did in
that war, Ill tell you now. Wont bloody defend what others
did either, but in So Han they dont whip a man for liking the
killing too much.
That stopped her short at least. This part of the Riven
Kingdom hadnt seen the worst of So Hans violent spasms of
conquest. There wasnt the hatred ingrained in the very earth
that hed find in the Greensea or the Hand Valleys if he was
ever stupid enough to visit them.
So Han was the westernmost of the so-called warrior republics, nestled in the lee of the mountains off which most of the
rivers in the area flowed. The Greensea lay to the south of So
Han, a prosperous scattering of principalities around the shore
of that inland sea, while the Hand Valleys was the long region
to the east through which mountain rivers flowed and merged.
The victories there had been swift and accomplished the
brutalising of the population seemingly a punishment for not
proving enough of a challenge.
You clearly learned your trade there well enough, Pellow
said, a smaller note of antipathy in her voice. Lynx could tell
her enthusiasm for it was waning. You still live by the sword
and the gun.
Sometimes it aint so easy to escape your past, Lynx
muttered, and yeah, I was good at the fighting. Wouldnt say
I enjoyed it, but Im good at it still. It was a war at first, you
had men out there looking to kill you and you knew your
purpose. Mightve been the goal was a crock of shit, but I
didnt know that at the time, was just a stupid kid with dreams
of glory. Been in a few more since . . . well, since I came
east, but none of em you could much call a war. Handful of
skirmishes over some small slight no real cause to fight for
or sense of purpose.
22

She had no questions after that and Lynx found himself

sitting alone, morose and brooding on times past.
Must be ten years since the start of the war, he realised sourly.
And look at the world now, just a little more broken and miserable
than before. So much for the Shonrin and his grand vision. Hope
hes enjoying his life stuck up that miserable bloody mountain.
Lynx groaned and stood, stretching expansively. One day,
mebbe, Ill go and try to kill him, even if it does mean going back
to that place.
Finally deciding he was capable of something real to drink,
Lynx shifted his mage-gun and other valuables with him to
the bar. He knew what people were looking for in a guard, or
anything else Lynx was capable of. Slumped in the back room
was hardly the best advertisement, while at the bar he would
be in view of all the shopkeepers and traders heading in for
the evening.
Sit upright and look big, Lynx told himself as he found a quiet
corner where he could sit at the bar, out of the way but in
view for the curious. Folk want a man who looks dangerous, but
aint causing trouble or drinking too hard. Not sure Im capable of
either of those right now anyway.
After receiving a stern look his late mother would have been
proud of, Lynx found himself nursing a battered tankard of beer
while the evening trade filtered in. First the towns shop boys
and apprentices clattered in, then their masters and mistresses
once everything was locked away. Towns like this flourished
on the travelling routes, Lynx knew, so he was unsurprised
when the door opened again and the smell of horses and dust
heralded more strangers to town.
He was careful not to stare at those when they arrived,
knowing they wouldnt want to deal with hiring extra guards
until they had rooms secured and the weight off their feet.
Slowly the room became filled with a gentle babble of noise
23

and the smell of stew. Lynx let it all flow over him, pulling out
one of his most treasured possessions from the bag at his feet;
a leather-bound book from the heyday of the Riven Kingdom.
It was an account, of sorts, retelling an adventurers travels
across the kingdom and as far as one man could travel into
the east. It was a story unlike most Lynx got his hands on a
meditation on that supposed golden age as much as it was an
account of the adventurers journey, but also a descent into
madness and back as he encountered the five gods and beings
from no known mythology.
He let himself sink into the much-read tale and time passed
without him being aware of it. Only the arrival of a bowl of stew
and a corner of peasants bread distracted him, whereupon he
carefully put the precious book away and set about his food.
The noise behind him edged up a notch, the pair of serving
girls under Mistress Pellows supervision moving a step brisker
to keep up with a busy days trade. Belatedly Lynx remembered
it was Feastday, the end of the week, when evening would see
prayers or merriment depending on each individuals particular
bent.
Most likely its Ulfer getting the thanks here, given those Brothers
of the Oak outside, Lynx realised. He glanced down at the bag
where hed just put his book with all the care most reserved
only for mage-cartridges. So heres to you, Lord of the Earth.
Our man here seemed to like you when he met you, so thats good
enough for me.
Hello, sailor, came a breathy voice in his ear. Sitting all
alone?
Lynx snorted and continued to eat his stew. I dont pay for it.
What Im paid for, the unseen woman continued in an
amused voice, you wouldnt want.
Lynx turned and paused. Hed seen more than a few tavern
whores in his time and most werent anything close to pretty
24

 certainly not after a few years of a job that wasnt easy so

this woman had them all beaten.
He smiled at her, somewhat awkwardly given his lack of
practice in recent months.
Think I was a bit hasty there, Lynx said as the woman
tilted her head and let her loose hair cascade over one shoulder.
With an easy smile, twinkling reddish eyes and smooth brown
skin, she was a sight indeed sufficiently arresting that it took
him a moment to notice her clothes and realise she wasnt a
whore after all.
Still not what I get paid for, the woman said, grinning quite
unconcernedly at the desire in his eyes. But buy me a drink
and you might be in the right direction.
Lynx looked her up and down: a short-sword on her belt,
a stiletto strapped to the outside of the archers bracer on her
left arm. What she didnt have was a uniform, just a sleeveless
tunic that showed off her bare arms.
Depends if youre recruiting, he said, sounding gruff as
he got a hold of himself and started to think straight. Ive
seen that one before a woman merc there to tempt boys
into joining.
Sorry, friend, but you aint been a boy for a few years now,
she said, not in the least offended. Maybe Ive had that effect
once or twice, sure, but it still aint what Im paid for. She
offered her hand. Im Kas.
Kas? What sort of a names that?
She shrugged. Kasorennel, if you must know, but you white
people butcher names something awful, so the Cards mostly
just know me as Kas. All except the boss when hes pissed at
me. Then he remembers how to pronounce it.
Just Kas?
Yup. We all go by one name in the Cards. You know how
it is, moren a few with a past theyre keen to avoid.
25

Lynx nodded slowly. Yeah, reckon I can appreciate that.

The Cards?
Our company. She nodded off behind her, where the bulk
of the rooms noise was now coming from. Anatins Mercenary
Deck, but everyone calls us the Cards, o course.
Lynx nodded. There were more than a few variants on a
deck of cards, more than hed heard of no doubt, but if you
spent enough time around soldiers you got to know several.
The Mercenarys Deck was just a twist on the Soldiers Deck
found in every army across the Riven Kingdom. In his experience, the sight of one was a good indicator that you were about
to be fleeced for everything you had.
Sounds like youd all be great under pressure, then, Lynx
grunted as he returned to his drink.
Hey, you aint introduced yourself yet, Kas said, nudging
his arm without an indication shed noticed his attempt at a
joke, or offered me a drink.
I aint interested in joining the Cards, Lynx repeated. Ill
buy you that drink, since you asked so nicely, but Im not
joining your company.
Kas slipped on to the stool beside him, leg brushing his
just enough to make him very aware of her warmth and scent.
He focused on his drink. Friendly and beautiful she might be,
but his experience of mercenary companies warned him off
however long it was since hed been with a woman.
From what I hear, youre not the most popular in town
right now, she said softly. And youre looking for work. Well,
were hiring. Is anyone else?
Lynx took a long swig. She had an easy way about her, likeable.
It didnt seem to fit that well with a mercenary and certainly
wasnt making it easy for him to ignore her. A life on the road was
a lonely one and Lynx knew all too well that most of those who
walked alone were bastards, mad or broken in some other way.
26

Broken was something he was intimately acquainted with,

but not so broken that the loneliness of the open road was
always craved. Kas had an air of immediate familiarity about
her, of friendship where there was none, and that made him
both wary and faintly giddy.
The mercenary rapped her knuckles on the bartop. Her
calloused fingers, marked with a half-dozen scars, declared
she was either an inattentive cook or had been in the fighting
game a while now. Another beer, please.
A tankard was deposited in front of Kas and Lynx stared at
it for a moment before sighing and reaching for his coin purse.
She raised the tankard and knocked it against his.
Cheers then, even if you still havent told me your name.
Despite himself, Lynx smiled. Cheers, he echoed and took
a long drink. Names Lynx. Just Lynx.
Kas stared at him for a moment. And you thought Kas
was odd? Bloody westerners.
Lynx nodded. Ill drink to that.

27