The first blow drove the central peg deep enough to split the stone down to its base. It fell apart, thumping heavily onto the deck. He raised the hammer and brought it down, again and again, heaving with tireless fury as a cloud of black dust rose around him. Some drifted away on the wind but for the most part it settled into a pile on the deck, glittering in the fast rising sun. When the last fragment had been pounded to powder he ordered it all gathered up in the canvas and cast over the side. The stain of it roiled their wake, lingering for only seconds before fading completely as they sailed on, carried home by the westerly winds.
APPENDIX
Dramatis Personae
THE UNIFIED REALM
Lyrna Al Nieren—Queen of the Unified Realm
Iltis Al Adral—Sword of the Realm, Lord Protector of the Queen’s Person
Benten Al Grey Gull—Sword of the Realm, Protector of the Queen’s Person
Orena Al Vardrian—lady to the queen
Murel Al Harten—lady to the queen
Hollun—brother of the Fourth Order and Keeper of the Queen’s Purse
Vaelin Al Sorna—Tower Lord of the Northern Reaches and Battle Lord of the Queen’s Host
Alornis Al Sorna—artist and sister to Vaelin, later Lady Artificer to Queen Lyrna
Dahrena Al Myrna—First Counsel to the North Tower
Caenis Al Nysa—brother of the Sixth Order, Sword of the Realm and Lord Marshal of the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Foot; later Aspect of the Seventh Order
Count Marven—commander of the Nilsaelin contingent of the Queen’s Host
Adal Zenu—captain of the North Guard, later Lord Marshal and Sword of the Realm
Kehlan—healer and brother of the Fifth Order
Orven Al Melna—captain of the Third Company, King’s Mounted Guard; later Lord Marshal and Sword of the Realm, husband to Insha ka Forna
Insha ka Forna (Steel in Moonlight)—Eorhil warrior, wife to Orven
Harlick—brother of the Seventh Order, Archivist of the North Tower; later First Librarian to the Great Library of the Unified Realm
Nortah Al Sendahl—friend to Vaelin, later Lord Marshal of the Queen’s Daggers and Sword of the Realm
Snowdance—war-cat
Sanesh Poltar—war chief to the Eorhil Sil
Wisdom—sage elder to the Eorhil Sil
Ultin—mine foreman at Reaver’s Gulch, later captain of the First Battalion of the Army of the North
Davern—shipwright and sergeant in the Army of the North, later Master of the Queen’s Yard
Furelah—guardswoman in the Queen’s Daggers
Atheran Ell-Nestra—Meldenean sea captain and Shield of the Isles, later Fleet Lord to Queen Lyrna
Carval Ell-Nurin—Ship Lord and captain of the
Cara—gifted resident of Nehrin’s Point
Lorkan—gifted resident of Nehrin’s Point
Marken—gifted resident of Nehrin’s Point
Weaver—gifted resident of Nehrin’s Point
Reva Mustor—Lady Governess of Cumbrael
Lady Veliss—Honoured Counsel to the Lady Governess
Arentes Varnor—Lord Commander of the City Guard
Bren Antesh—Lord Commander of Archers
The Reader—leader of the Church of the World Father
Ellese Brahdor—orphan and ward of the Lady Governess
Allern Varesh—guardsman to House Mustor
Darnel Linel—Fief Lord of Renfael, Volarian vassal
Alucius Al Hestian—poet, friend to Alornis and Vaelin, son to Lakrhil
Lakrhil Al Hestian—father to Alucius, Battle Lord to Darnel
Elera Al Mendah—Aspect of the Fifth Order
Dendrish Hendrahl—Aspect of the Third Order
Benril Lernial—renowned artist and brother of the Third Order
Mirvek Korvin—commander of the Volarian garrison
Twenty-Seven—Kuritai, guard to Alucius
Cresia—sister of the Seventh Order
Inehla—sister of the Seventh Order
Rhelkin—brother of the Seventh Order
Frentis—brother of the Sixth Order, friend to Vaelin, known as the Red Brother
Davoka—warrior of the Black River Clan, Servant of the Mountain, friend to Lyrna, fighter in the Red Brother’s company
Sollis—sword-master and Brother Commander of the Sixth Order
Rensial—horse-master and brother of the Sixth Order
Hughlin Banders—knight and Baron of Renfael
Ulice—illegitimate daughter to Banders
Arendil—son to Ulice and Darnel, heir to Fief Lordship of Renfael, fighter in the Red Brother’s company
Ermund Lewen—knight and chief retainer to Banders
Draker—former outlaw, fighter in the Red Brother’s company
Illian Al Jervin—escaped slave and fighter in the Red Brother’s company
