Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen, #1)

by John Gwynne

It would be so easy to turn back, to go home and choose another path for his life.

He felt a moment of vertigo, as if standing on the edge of a great chasm, and the world seemed to slow, waiting on the outcome of his decision.

I'm hooked! I can always tell i'll love a book from the first few lines

The world is broken.

Mankind has vanished, annihilated or fled these shores, and we are so few, now.

I am still the Voice, though I do not know who will listen. But if I do not speak, do not write, then there will be nothing for those who follow. All that has happened would be forgotten. And so I shall write a record…

This is so poetic it's devastating

Asroth was first-created, Elyon’s beloved, captain of the Ben-Elim, the Sons of the Mighty.

Asroth’s starstone fell to earth, vast and filled with power. Somehow it carved a link between the world of flesh and spirit, between the earth and the Otherworld. Men were fearful of this strange object, but the giants forged from it, made items of wonder and power, great Treasures. First was the cauldron, its power used to heal. Then a torc, given to Skald, the giant’s king, and a necklace for Nemain, his queen.

War erupted, giant fighting against giant, and the one clan became many. More Treasures were carved from the starstone, this time things of war: spear, axe, dagger. And finally a cup, said to bring strength and long life to all who drank from it.

The mantle of death fell upon the world as war spread.

Blood was spilt in rivers, and Asroth rejoiced.

Seas boiled, mountains spewed fire and the earth was broken as Elyon set about destroying all that he had created.

That is my prayer, but what use is prayer to a god that has abandoned all things…

Brenin, Lord of Dun Carreg and King of all Ardan, his royal torc and chainmail coat glowing red in the first rays of morning. On one side of him rode Alona, his wife, on the other Edana, their daughter.

‘To declare for all what has long been in our hearts. To pledge and bind ourselves, one to the other.’

‘A man should always know where he’s from,’ the trader said, ‘we all need our roots.’

‘If you cannot vanquish a foe,’ he said sagely, ‘then ally yourself to him.’ He winked.

Even his father, Lamar, Baron of Ripa, had risen to his feet and cheered him.

It's amazing how parents approval can change and impact a child so much.

‘Armatus,’ Krelis had whispered to him, a grizzled, knobbly-armed man, his skin looking like the bark of an ancient tree. He was weapons-master of Jerolin, King Aquilus’ first-sword, a man whose reputation with a blade was known to all.

The iron rings woven into braids in his beard chinked together, one for each life he had taken.

When the Vin Thalun raided they took people for plunder as well as food and wealth. Veradis had heard tales that the boys and men taken were forced to fight for the Vin Thalun’s pleasure, the fiercest being given a chance to earn their way out of the pits, and a spot pulling an oar on a Vin Thalun ship. This man had done well to graduate to warrior.

‘Loyalty doesn’t seem so important, when you’re faced with that walk across the bridge of swords,’

For the briefest moment Corban felt something hot flicker within him, a spark of fire deep in the pit of his stomach, like when his da opened the door to his forge and the flames flared.

‘Because I was scared. I wanted to fight back, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move. I tried; it was as if my arms had turned to stone, my feet stuck in one of Baglun’s bogs.’

‘We all fear, Ban. Even Tull. It’s what we do about it–that’s the important thing. That’s what’ll make you the man you grow into. You must learn to control your emotions, boy. Those that don’t do that often end up dead: anger, fear, pride, whatever. If your emotions control you, sooner or later you’re a dead man.’

The forest seemed to be a different world, sometimes unnerving, but always alluring.

Find the book. You know where it is. Find the door and you shall find the book.

‘The time approaches… remember your oath.’ How could he forget? To make Rhin high queen, to bring about the God-War, and Asroth made flesh.

The same tingle of excitement that he always felt whenever he was near the Baglun rippled through him.

is it just excitement or powers?

Within heartbeats the forest became a twilight world. The branches were too low for him to mount Willow, but he moved easily enough between the trees, although he had to pay attention to where he put his feet, the forest floor thick with vines that snared his boots. Small shallow streams crossed his path and the ground became spongier, Willow’s hooves making sucking noises as they sank into and pulled free of the damp earth.

They were fearsome pack hunters, bred by the giant clans during the War of Treasures, if the tales were true. They were wolf-like but bigger, stronger, and with a sharp intelligence.

For a moment boy and beast stared at each other, then the wolven’s jaws snapped, froth bubbling around its mouth.

Then Corban was aware of movement, a presence around him, of deeper shadows pacing. Eyes gleamed out of the darkness, many eyes.

Before him, slow and deliberate, the wolven he had saved padded towards him, thick muscles bunching about its neck and shoulders. Its belly swayed from side to side, full and heavy.

‘Did you know that the giant-stones are bleeding?’

‘A people that have preyed upon those weaker than themselves, that burn and steal, that, until now, have not even been able to maintain a truce amongst themselves?’

The starstone axe was a relic straight out of legend, from a time before the Exiles had set foot in the Banished Lands, from before Elyon’s Scourging, even. Legend told of a star falling from the sky, when giants and men lived in peace and harmony.

Treasures had been forged from the starstone, seven Treasures–cauldron, torc, necklace, spear, dagger, axe and cup.

‘Honour. Father has always spoken so highly of it to me, how it must be the foundation of all actions and decisions. And yet, when it comes down to it, my honour, my oath, seems to count for nothing. I know the Vin Thalun have been Tenebral’s enemy in the past, but I gave my word.’

Our wars are like a thousand duels on a battlefield, all happening at once.’

‘Empire…’ he breathed. ‘There must be an empire. This land needs to be united and strong if we are to be ready when Asroth comes.

Cywen whirled; in a blur she sighted and threw the blade in her hand. With a soft thunk it sank into the tree Ronan was leaning against, about half a hand above his head.

Her mam had taught her to throw a knife, but her da had told her to keep the skill to herself, said others wouldn’t like her being so skilled with a weapon. Said it wasn’t womanly.

The heat of this land had been starting to wear on him, but he had felt his spirits lift ever since they had entered this range of mountains, two nights past now, the temperature dropping as they climbed.

‘The Jehar are of the Old Blood. A people that dwelt here before Elyon’s Scourging–they survived both fire and water when the giant clans and the race of men were decimated. I say survived, but maybe they were spared–I know not,’ he shrugged. ‘All that is told of them is that they are fanatical. They live to serve Elyon, and they are reputed to be warriors without equal, trained from when they can stand.’ He smiled, teeth and eyes reflecting red in the glow of the dying fire. ‘I know not how much truth is in these tales. But some, at least.’

The champion of a god has just walked into his house.

Suddenly Calidus changed. It was as if he had been wreathed in mist, for now his travel-stained clothes were replaced by a coat of gleaming mail, his eyes blazed amber, and things were growing from his back, wings, Veradis realized, great wings of white feather. They extended across the room, flexed, the wind of them staggering Veradis, spilling the jug of wine. ‘The Ben-Elim,’ whispered Akar.

‘The only thing that will part me from you is death.’

‘Your colt, Ban. He just raced past us, from nowhere, threw himself into the hound. He killed it, Ban, defending you.’ She blew out a breath and shook her head. ‘I’ve never seen the like before. I’ve heard tales, of full-grown horses doing things like that, warhorses, but never seen, never heard of a colt doing such a thing.’

‘I shall call you Shield,’ he whispered.

‘The man has not been born who is right all of the time.’