Mercedes Lackey: Crown of Vengeance

“Then Caerthalien fights beside you,” Helecanth said steadily.

“Do you think I mean to take my House into useless rebellion?” Runacarendalur said. “I go because the High King is my destined Bondmate—”

His words stumbled to a stop as he heard what he’d said. Ivrulion is dead. The geasa he set upon me is broken. Once he’d yearned for this moment, for his freedom. Now it seemed a distant and trivial thing.

“She is my Bondmate,” he repeated. “But I reject her, and I reject her kingship. All I ask is that I may never hear the name of Vieliessar High King again.” He closed his eyes in weariness. “Stay, Helecanth. They will need you.”

“As you have ordered it, I will obey,” Helecanth said. “But you will need a good horse. Come.”

Numbly Runacarendalur followed as she led him from his pavilion. The weight of the sword upon his hip was the only familiar thing. Helecanth led him to the tiny paddock in the middle of the Caerthalien precinct where horses were held saddled and ready for Caerthalien’s great nobles. Helecanth’s Rochonan was there, muddy, blood-spattered, and weary—and beside her waited another mare. A pale grey palfrey, fresh and alert. Her saddle leather and her bridle were both deep green, the saddle stamped in gold with the three stars of Caerthalien. I suppose my brother won’t need her now.

“Thank you,” Runacarendalur said. “You have been a good— You have been a good friend to me, Helecanth.”

“It has been a privilege to serve you, my lord,” Helecanth answered gravely.

Runacarendalur walked over to the mare. She nuzzled at his chest, obviously hoping for treats. He stroked her nose in mute apology, and with a grunt of effort, thrust his foot into her waiting stirrup and swung into the saddle. She was Ivrulion’s, and I do not even remember her name.…

“Fare you well, Lady Helecanth,” he said.

“Sword and Star defend you, Lord Runacarendalur,” Helecanth answered. She nodded once—as if some question had at last been answered—and turned and walked away.

Nielriel. That is her name. Nielriel.

Runacarendalur pulled the hood of his cloak up to cover as much of his face as he could, and turned Nielriel’s head westward. In the distance lay the forest the army had crossed to reach the place of its destruction—trackless, unmapped. It would conceal him. Where he went then, he did not care. There was nothing left for him in the Fortunate Lands, but the forest would be a good place to hide.

ALSO BY MERCEDES LACKEY AND JAMES MALLORY

THE OBSIDIAN TRILOGY

The Outstretched Shadow

To Light a Candle

When Darkness Falls

THE ENDURING FLAME

The Phoenix Unchained

The Phoenix Endangered

The Phoenix Transformed

ALSO BY JAMES MALLORY

Merlin: The Old Magic

Merlin: The King’s Wizard

Merlin: The End of Magic

TOR BOOKS BY MERCEDES LACKEY

Firebird

Sacred Ground

DIANA TREGARDE NOVELS

Burning Water

Children of the Night

Jinx High

THE HALFBLOOD CHRONICLES

(written with Andre Norton)

The Elvenbane

Elvenblood

Elvenborn

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory have written the Enduring Flame trilogy, which includes the New York Times bestseller The Phoenix Transformed, and the Obsidian Mountain trilogy: The Outstretched Shadow, named Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror by VOYA; To Light a Candle, a USA Today bestseller; and When Darkness Falls, a New York Times bestseller. Lackey lives in Claremore, Oklahoma. Mallory lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.

CROWN OF VENGEANCE

Copyright © 2012 by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

All rights reserved.

Cover art by Todd Lockwood

Map by Jon Lansberg

A Tor Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor ®is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

First Edition: November 2012