Legend (Drenai Saga, #1)

by David Gemmell

“The prophet says, ‘By nature of definition only the coward is capable of the highest heroism.’”

“Then I have a second message. Should the walls be contested and the gates closed, the Lord Ulric wishes it known that every second defender taken alive will be slain, that all the women will be sold into slavery, and that one in three of all citizens will lose his right hand.” “Before that can happen, laddie, the Lord Ulric has to take the Dros. Now you give him this message from Druss the Deathwalker: In the north the mountains may tremble as he breaks wind, but this is Drenai land, and as far as I am concerned he is a potbellied savage who couldn’t pick his own nose without a Drenai map. “Do you think you can remember that, laddie. Or shall I carve it on your ass in large letters?”