The Faithful and the Fallen: Ruin Part 1

The Faithful and the Fallen.

Ruin.

John Gwynne.

Dear Reader, Thank you for buying this book. You may have noticed that it is free of Digital Rights Management. This means we have not enforced copy protection on it. All Tor ebooks are available DRM-free so that once you purchase one of our ebooks, you can download it as many times as you like, on as many e-readers as you like.

We believe that making our Tor ebooks DRM-free is the best for our readers, allowing you to use legitimately-purchased ebooks in perfectly legal ways, like moving your library from one e-reader to another. We understand that DRM can make your ebooks less easy to read. It also makes building and maintaining your digital library more complicated. For these reasons, we are committed to remaining DRM-free.

We ask you for your support in ensuring that our DRM-free ebooks are not subject to piracy. Illegally downloaded books deprive authors of their royalties, the salaries they rely on to write. If you want to report an instance of piracy, you can do so by emailing us:

Very best wishes, The Tor UK team & our authors.

For William, my memory and my joy.

And for Caroline, the air that I breathe.

Cast of Characters.

ARDAN.

Brenin murdered King of Ardan, father of Edana.

Brina healer of Dun Carreg, owner of a cantankerous crow, Craf. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. After reaching Domhain, along with a few companions, she accompanies Corban to Murias in search of Corban's sister, Cywen.

Corban warrior of Dun Carreg, son of Thannon and Gwenith, brother of Cywen. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg and fled to Domhain. Travelled to Murias, a giant fortress of the Benothi clan, in search of his sister, Cywen. Some claim that he is the Bright Star of prophecy.

Cywen from Dun Carreg, daughter of Thannon and Gwenith, sister of Corban. Taken as both prisoner and bait by Calidus and Nathair. Rescued by Corban and his companions during the Battle of Murias.

Dath fisherman of Dun Carreg, friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban in the pursuit of Cywen to the fortress of Murias.

Edana fugitive Queen of Ardan, daughter of Brenin. At present on a ship sailing away from Domhain, accompanied by a handful of faithful shieldmen and Roisin.

Evnis counsellor and murderer of King Brenin and father of Vonn. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren. Now regent of Ardan, ruling as Queen Rhin's right hand.

Farrell warrior, son of Anwarth and friend of Corban. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban north in search of Cywen.

Gar stablemaster, secret guardian of Corban. A Jehar warrior and son of Tukul, lord of the Jehar. Escaped with Corban and Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg. Accompanied Corban north in search of Cywen.

Glyn shieldman of Evnis.

Meg orphaned child from a village on the outskirts of Dun Crin's marshes.

Pendathran battlechief of King Brenin, injured during the fall of Dun Carreg. Held prisoner and tortured by Evnis. Escaped with the help of Cywen.

Rafe young warrior belonging to Evnis' hold. Childhood rival of Corban. Trained as a huntsman, and present during the escape of Edana from Domhain.

Vonn warrior, son of Evnis. Escaped with Edana from the sack of Dun Carreg and remained with her during the fall and flight from Domhain.

CAMBREN.

Braith warrior and huntsman. One-time leader of the Darkwood outlaws, now huntsman of Queen Rhin.

Geraint warrior, battlechief of Queen Rhin.

Morcant warrior, once first-sword of Queen Rhin, defeated and replaced by Conall. Now one of Rhin's battlechiefs, loaned to Evnis to a.s.sist in the suppression of resistance against Rhin in Ardan.

Rhin once-Queen of Cambren, now Queen of the West, having conquered Narvon, Ardan and Domhain. Ally of Nathair. Servant of Asroth, Demon-Lord of the Fallen.

CARNUTAN.

Belo Baron of Tarba, a fortress in Carnutan. Uncle of Gundul. Hostile and suspicious of outside involvement in Carnutan.

Gundul King of Carnutan and ally of Nathair's. Son of Mandros, who was thought to have murdered King Aquilus of Tenebral and was in turn slain by Veradis.

DOMHAIN.

Baird one-eyed warrior of the Degad, Rath's giantkillers. Now guide and protector of Edana.

Brogan warrior of Domhain. Shieldman of Lorcan and Roisin, one of the survivors who fled with them and Edana.

Cian warrior of Domhain, shieldman to Roisin and one of those who escaped the fall of Dun Taras and fled by ship with Edana.

Conall warrior, b.a.s.t.a.r.d son of King Eremon. Brother of Halion and half-brother of Coralen. Sided with Evnis in the sack of Dun Carreg. Now the lord of Domhain, ruling in Queen Rhin's name.

Coralen warrior, companion of Rath. b.a.s.t.a.r.d daughter of King Eremon, half-sister of Halion and Conall. Accompanied Corban north.

Halion warrior, first-sword of Edana of Ardan. b.a.s.t.a.r.d son of King Eremon, brother of Conall and half-brother of Coralen. Captured by Conall as he fought rearguard to enable Edana's escape.

Lorcan young fugitive King of Domhain, son of Eremon and Roisin. Escaped from Domhain by ship with Edana.

Roisin Queen of Domhain, widowed wife of Eremon, mother of Lorcan. Fled by ship with Edana.

HELVETH.

Lothar once battlechief of Helveth, now its king. Murderer of previous king of Helveth, Braster. Ally to Nathair and Calidus.

ISILTIR.

Dag huntsman in the service of King Jael of Isiltir.

Fram warrior of Isiltir. First-sword to King Jael.

Gramm horse-trader and timber merchant, lord of a hold in the north of Isiltir. Father of Orgull and Wulf. Allied to Meical.

Haelan fugitive child-King of Isiltir, fleeing Jael. In hiding at Gramm's hold, in the far north of Isiltir.

Hild woman of Gramm's hold. Wife of Wulf, son of Gramm. Mother of Swain and Sif.

Jael self-proclaimed King of Isiltir. Allied to Nathair of Tenebral.

Kalf man of Gramm's hold. Overseer of Gramm's river trade and boatwright.

Maquin warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Taken captive during the fall of Dun Kellen by Lykos of the Vin Thalun. Enslaved and thrown into the fighting-pits, where he fought his way almost to freedom. Escaped Lykos during rioting at Jerolin, capital of Tenebral, on Lykos' wedding day. Now a fugitive on the run with Fidele of Tenebral, once-regent of Tenebral and recently wedded to Lykos.

Sif child of Gramm's hold. Daughter of Wulf and Hild, sister of Swain.

Swain child of Gramm's hold. Son of Wulf and Hild, brother of Sif.

Tahir warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Protector to Haelan, child-King of Isiltir.

Trigg orphaned child raised at Gramm's hold. She is a half-breed, part giant.

Ulfilas warrior, shieldman of Jael. Captain of Jael's honour guard.

Wulf warrior, son of Gramm and brother of Orgull. Wed to Hild. Father of Sif and Swain.

Yalric warrior of Gramm's Hold.

NARVON.

Camlin outlaw of the Darkwood. Now companion to Edana. Fled with her from Domhain, fought in the rearguard to protect Edana as she boarded a ship and fought Braith before escaping on the ship.

Drust warrior, shieldman of Owain. Escaped the defeat of Owain and his warband, aided by Cywen.

Gorsedd villager who joins Corban's warband.

Owain King of Narvon. Conqueror of Ardan, with the aid of Nathair, King of Tenebral. Executed after his warband was defeated on Queen Rhin's order.

Teca woman from a northern village of Narvon, joins Corban's warband as she flees Nathair and the Kadoshim.

Uthan Prince of Narvon, Owain's son. Murdered by Evnis on Rhin's orders.

TARBESH.

Akar captain of the Jehar holy warrior order travelling with Veradis.

Enkara warrior of the Jehar holy order. One of the Hundred travelling with Tukul.

Hamil captain of the ten Jehar left by Tukul to guard Dra.s.sil and Skald's spear.

Javed slave and pit-fighter of the Vin Thalun.

Kulla warrior of the Jehar, part of Akar's company that joins Corban.

Sumur lord of the Jehar holy warrior order.

Tukul warrior of the Jehar holy order, leader of the Hundred.

TENEBRAL.

Alben swordsmaster and healer of Ripa.

Atilius warrior of Tenebral. Fought with Peritus against the Vin Thalun during the uprising. Captured, enslaved and put to work on a Vin Thalun oar-bench.

Caesus warrior of the eagle-guard, captain of the shield wall.

Ektor son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Krelis and Veradis. A scholar where his brothers are warriors.

Fidele widow of Aquilus, mother of Nathair. For a time Queen Regent of Tenebral. Lykos uses dark magic to bewitch and control Fidele, eventually marrying her. Riots break out in their wedding celebrations, during which the spell controlling her is broken. She stabs Lykos and with Maquin's help flees in the confusion.

Krelis warrior, son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Veradis.

Lamar Baron of Ripa, father of Krelis, Ektor and Veradis.

Marcellin Baron of Ultas.

Nathair King of Tenebral, son of Aquilus and Fidele. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren. Believes that he is the Bright Star, the one prophesied to be the chosen champion of Elyon. Recently completed his quest to claim the starstone cauldron, one of the Seven Treasures of ancient myth.

Pax son of Atilius. A young warrior captured during the uprising in Tenebral. Made a slave and set to work on a Vin Thalun galley, alongside his father.

Peritus once battlechief of Tenebral. Now leader of the resistance against Lykos and his Vin Thalun.

Valent a warrior of Ripa.

Veradis first-sword and friend to King Nathair. Son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Krelis. He commands a warband of Tenebral, instrumental in the defeats of Owain of Narvon and Eremon of Domhain.

THE THREE ISLANDS.

Alazon chief shipwright of the Vin Thalun.

Demos Vin Thalun ship-lord. Friend of Lykos.

Jayr Vin Thalun healer.

Kolai shieldman of Lykos.

Lykos Lord of the Vin Thalun, the pirate nation that inhabits the Three Islands of Panos, Pelset and Nerin. Sworn to Asroth, ally and co-conspirator of Calidus. Appointed regent of Tenebral by Nathair. Has used sorcery to control and marry Fidele, mother of Nathair.

Nella one-time lover of Lykos. Mother of his child.