Cinda Chima - The Crimson Crown

For my grandfather E. C. Bryan

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication For my grandfather E. C. Bryan

Chapter One: Clan Princess

Chapter Two: A Dance in the Dark

Chapter Three: Crewing for Abelard

Chapter Four: Family Matters

Chapter Five: A High Country Meeting

Chapter Six: What Happened on Hanalea

Chapter Seven: A Crack in the Mountain

Chapter Eight: Blood and Politics

Chapter Nine: Of Consorts and Kings

Chapter Ten: Into the Snake Pit

Chapter Eleven: Meetings at Midnight

Chapter Twelve: Meetings at Midday

Chapter Thirteen: At Cross-Purposes

Chapter Fourteen: Queen’s Orders

Chapter Fifteen: Street Rules

Chapter Sixteen: Loose Ends

Chapter Seventeen: From the Snake Pit into the Flames

Chapter Eighteen: Past Crimes and Misdemeanors

Chapter Nineteen: A Hot Summer Night

Chapter Twenty: Blood and Ashes

Chapter Twenty-One: Earth Magic

Chapter Twenty-Two: Ashes and Accusations

Chapter Twenty-Three: Revelations

Chapter Twenty-Four: An Old Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-Five: Truth or Lie

Chapter Twenty-Six: Proofs and Allegations

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Demonai Delegation

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Climbing the Deadly Nevergreen

Chapter Twenty-Nine: In Hanalea’s Garden

Chapter Thirty: Deadly Music

Chapter Thirty-One: The Armory of the Gifted Kings

Chapter Thirty-Two: Betrayal

Chapter Thirty-Three: In the Deeps

Chapter Thirty-Four: Agreeing to Disagree

Chapter Thirty-Five: Back Gamon

Chapter Thirty-Six: In the Passes

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Under Siege

Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Deal with the Devil

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Queen Counselor

Chapter Forty: Fever Dreams

Chapter Forty-One: A New Generation

Chapter Forty-Two: Walking Out with the Bayars

Chapter Forty-Three: Standoff

Chapter Forty-Four: A Meeting Underground

Chapter Forty-Five: Second-Story Work

Chapter Forty-Six: On the Inside

Chapter Forty-Seven: Trader

Chapter Forty-Eight: Wizard Persuasion

Chapter Forty-Nine: Uneasy Alliance

Chapter Fifty: Poor Choices

Chapter Fifty-One: A Way In

Chapter Fifty-Two: Darkman’s Hour

Chapter Fifty-Three: Under the Vale

Chapter Fifty-Four: A Spectacular Diversion

Chapter Fifty-Five: Back into the Flame

Chapter Fifty-Six: A Rematch

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Blessings and Curses

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Tangle and a Twist

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Redo

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

By Cinda Williams Chima Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

Copyright Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

About the Publisher Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

It was the largest gathering of the Spirit clans Raisa had ever seen. They came from all over the Fells—from Demonai Camp to the west, from Hunter’s Camp to the east, and from the rugged northern reaches and the river valleys near the West Wall. Some traveled all the way from the fishing camps along Invaders Bay. Demonai warriors rode in from the wilderness, proudly painted, feathered, and braided. Sun-weathered traders journeyed home from throughout the Seven Realms, bringing exotic goods and news from the down-realms.

Even the elders said that the only other such celebration in their lifetime was the one that marked Raisa’s mother Marianna’s wedding to Averill Demonai—the first marriage of a Gray Wolf queen to clan royalty since the Great Captivity began.

This time they feasted together on the lower slopes of Hanalea to celebrate the crowning of one of their own—Raisa ana ’Marianna, called Briar Rose in the high country—as queen of the Fells. The camp was bedecked with garlands of thorny high country roses—Raisa’s clan totem, which always came into bloom near the time of her birthday.

Each camp came bearing gifts, competing in honoring and celebrating the new queen. Raisa accumulated enough finery to last for years to come. Clan metalsmiths presented her with a circlet of roses and thorns in beaten gold. They provided silver fittings for her saddles and bridles crafted by leatherworkers.

Demonai Camp brought her a made-to-measure longbow and a quiver of black-fletched arrows to replace the weapons she’d lost when Micah Bayar carried her off from Oden’s Ford. Marisa Pines Camp gifted her with lotions, remedies, and fragrances that would remind her of the high country in her flatland palace.

Hunter’s Camp contributed haunches of venison, fish from the Dyrnnewater, braces of rabbits, and wild boars, which had been roasting on spits all day.

Storytellers and musicians showered Raisa with songs and stories, predicting a long and glorious reign. This premature praise made her squirm. She was superstitious enough to believe in not tempting fate.