Book Preview The food hadn’t quite run out yet, but it would soon. And last night the snows had arrived, laying a white blanket over the plain, cutting off the pass. No relief would be coming now. Not for a month at least. More likely not until spring. The fire had gone out days before. … Read more
Book Preview PROLOGUE The southern shore of Lake Mariut, AD 415 The plaster had dried at last. Marcus scooped up handfuls of dirt and sand from the floor, smeared them across the fresh white surface until it was dulled and dark and virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the wall. He held his oil lamp … Read more
Book Preview This book has been over a decade in the contemplation and writing, and during that time I’ve received help, encouragement, and advice from a great many people—too many to acknowledge individually. But I would particularly like to thank my UK and U.S. agents, Luigi Bonomi and George Lucas, and my editors, Wayne Brookes … Read more
Book Preview When Milo Morai, the Undying High Lord, and his Horseclans warriors found the tower ruins, they welcomed it as the perfect citadel from which to hold off the packs of ravenous wolves eager far their blood. But the ancient building hid a secret far more dangerous than either wolves or any human foe, … Read more
Book Preview Ge ne ra te d by ABC Ambe r LIT Conve rte r, http://www.proce sste xt.com/a bclit.html Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The old, white-haired, newly dead man lay face down upon the floor tiles, the ornate and bejeweled hilt of a dress-dagger jutting up from his back. Beside the body … Read more
Book Preview flanks by both night and day, he soon was losing as many men to desertion as he was losing to enemy action or disease; furthermore, the deeper that the host penetrated into the hostile land, the larger became the percentage of loss figures, with severe malnutrition of men and beasts added into the … Read more
Book Preview Still and unmoving as two statues, the men sat, waiting for one of the browsing, slowly shifting her-bivores to wander within range of the short, powerful bows with which they were armed. The spring was now far enough advanced for the beasts to have begun to fatten, and so, even after they had … Read more
Book Preview and many another also. As Sacred Sun declined in the western sky, the parties began to return to the camp with the spoils of their forays on the countryside and waters. Having distance to travel and being also blessed with the faster, easier road, the fishing party was the first back at the … Read more
Book Preview The prairies and high plains, huge and vast and always awe-inspiring they lie. To the untrained or inexperienced eye, they seem mostly empty, devoid of the life with which they really, truly teem. The grasses—grama grass, blue grama grass, side oats grass, screw grass, tickle grass, buffalo grass and hundreds of other grasses—seem … Read more
Book Preview SHE RODE INTO LEGEND . . . Shunned by her own folk as a creature of Evil.Bettylou Hanson found an instant welcome among the people of the Horseclans. Young, healthy, intelligent, and gifted with powerful mindspeak potential, she was everything Milo Morai’s people looked for in a clan member. But evenMilo himself couldn’t … Read more
Book Preview When once his assistants had, under his supervision, administered the drugs and departed the chamber, the old, wizened Zahrtohgahn physician stood beside the massive bed for long and long, just observing the old, dying man who lay thereon. Master Ahkmehd was, himself, but a bare score of years the junior of his patient … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html possible that you’ll have widespread support from Bili’s people, since you’re related to him, but don’t go wasting a lot of time trying to woo or win over any who seem hostile or uncooperative—replace them immediately they demonstrate an unwillingness to change their ways to suit … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html of us and killed two guards, outright, but the missiles did no permanent harm to the two Undying, of course. The one that sped toward me failed to strike me solidly, thank Sun and Wind, it just tore through my shirt and furrowed my arm before … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html the ancient city of Karaleenop-olis. Once the winter capital of kings, it was now the seat of the Prince of Karaleenos, who ruled the former kingdom as the local satrap of the High Lord of the Confederation of Eastern Peoples. As the small cavalcade neared the … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html nomad weave, beautifully worked leather items and a vast assortment of oddments obtained by the far-ranging horse-nomads of the transriverine plains by trade or warfare from other folk farther west, south or north. This was not Stuart’s first such return from a long summer of trading … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Sir Geros was ensconced in the privy behind his small, neat house when a scurrying servitor brought word that the tower watchers reported two armed riders approaching from the northeast. As the old warrior dropped worn baldric over his … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The narrow, winding streets of the city were dark and utterly deserted, save for the solitary figure whose worn, oft-patched boots crunched through the fresh-fallen snow. The fine stuff of the hooded cloak which shrouded the walker had commenced to fray in places, but still was … Read more
Book Preview Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Horseclans, Volume Four Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The shaven scalp of the tall, broad-shouldered young warrior glinted in the light of the rising sun, as did the burnished surfaces of his suit of three-quarter armor and the dolphin-shaped silver goblet in his right … Read more