Raymond Feist - Shadow of a Dark Queen

Book One of The Serpentwar Saga

Voyager

An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF

www.harpervoyagerbooks.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by Voyager 1997

Copyright © Raymond E. Feist 1997

The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN: 9780006480266

Ebook Edition © AUGUST 2012 ISBN 9780007385379

Version: 2018-08-13

For Jonathan Matson:

more than my agent, a good friend

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Cast of Characters

Maps

Book One: Erik’s Tale

Prologue: Deliverance

Chapter One: Challenge

Chapter Two: Deaths

Chapter Three: Murder

Chapter Four: Fugitives

Chapter Five: Krondor

Chapter Six: Discovery

Chapter Seven: Trial

Chapter Eight: Choice

Chapter Nine: Breakdown

Chapter Ten: Transition

Chapter Eleven: Passage

Chapter Twelve: Arrival

Chapter Thirteen: Search

Chapter Fourteen: Journey

Chapter Fifteen: Village

Chapter Sixteen: Rendezvous

Chapter Seventeen: Discovery

Chapter Eighteen: Escape

Chapter Nineteen: Discovery

Chapter Twenty: Passage

Chapter Twenty-One: Attrition

Chapter Twenty-Two: Infiltration

Chapter Twenty-Three: Onslaught

Twenty-Four: Escape

Epilogue: Reunion

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About the Author

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Aglaranna– Elf Queen in Elvandar

Alika– ‘demon’ cook at Sorcerer’s Isle

Althal– elf in Elvandar

Avery, Rupert ‘Roo’– boy from Ravensburg, companion of Erik von Darkmoor; later prisoner; later member of Calis’s company

Biggo– prisoner; later member of Erik’s company

Calis– half elf, half human son of Aglaranna and Tomas; known as ‘The Eagle of Krondor’; leader of a military company

Culli– murdering mercenary

Dawar– mercenary in Nahoot’s company

de Loungville, Robert ‘Bobby’– sergeant in Calis’s company

de Savona, Luis– prisoner; later member of Calis’s company

Durany– mercenary in Calis’s company

Ellia– elven woman saved by Miranda

Embrisa– girl from Village Weanat

Esterbrook, Jacob– merchant in Krondor

Fadawah, General– Supreme Commander of the Armies of the Emerald Queen

Finia– woman at Village Weanat

Foster, Charlie– guard corporal in Calis’s company

Freida– Erik’s mother

Galain– elf in Elvandar

Gapi– general in Emerald Queen’s army

Gert– old crone/charcoal burner met by Erik and Roo

Goodwin, Billy– prisoner; later member of Calis’s company

Greylock, Owen– Swordmaster of Baron of Darkmoor; later member of Calis’s company

Grindle, Helmut– merchant

Handy, Jerome– member of Calis’s company

Jarwa– Sha-shahan of the Seven Nations of the Saaur

Jatuk– son of Jarwa, heir and later Sha-shahan of the surviving Saaur

Kaba– Shieldbearer to Jarwa

Kelka– corporal in Nahoot’s company

Khali-shi– Novindus name for Death Goddess

Lalial– elf in Elvandar

Lender, Sebastian– Litigator and Solicitor at Barret’s Coffee House in Krondor

Lims-Kragma– Death Goddess

Macros the Black– legendary sorcerer; considered the greatest practitioner of magic ever known

Marsten– sailor on Trenchard’s Revenge

Mathilda– Baroness of Darkmoor

Milo– Innkeeper at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg

Miranda– mysterious friend to Calis

Monis– Jarwa’s Shieldbearer

Mugaar– horse trader in Novindus

Murtag– Saaur warrior

Nakor the Isalani– strange companion of Calis

Nathan– new smith at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg

Notombi– former Keshian Legionary, then prisoner; later member of Calis’s company

Pug– also known as Milamber; magician of great power; considered second only to Macros the Black in knowledge

Rian– one of Zila’s mercenaries

Rosalyn– Milo’s daughter

Ruthia– Goddess of Luck

Shati, Jadow– member of Calis’s company

Shila– Saaur home world

Sho Pi– Isalani, former Monk of Dala; later prisoner; later member of Calis’s company

Taber– tavern keeper in LaMut

Tarmil– villager at Weanat

Tomas– consort of Aglaranna, father of Calis; wearer of the Armor of Ashen-Shugar, last of the Dragon Lords

Tyndal– smith at Inn of the Pintail in Ravensburg

von Darkmoor, Erik– bastard son of the Baron von Darkmoor; later prisoner; later mercenary in Calis’s company

von Darkmoor, Manfred– youngest son of Otto; later Baron

von Darkmoor, Otto– Baron of Darkmoor; father of Erik, Stefan, and Manfred

von Darkmoor, Stefan– Otto’s eldest son

Zila– treacherous mercenary leader

Days, when the ball of our vision

Had eagles that flew unabashed to sun;

When the grasp on the bow was decision.

And arrow and hand and eye were one;