Ashes of Man (Sun Eater, #5)

by Christopher Ruocchio

Dust would gather in Maddalo House once more, and there the dust would remain . . . until fire fell upon Nessus like rain. As fall it would. You have heard that story, heard how the Cielcin came to Nessus and set the hills ablaze. You have heard how it was that Lynch and Kartzinel organized the last defense, and how the great shipyards were burned and the city of Sananne was harvested and brought low, its men and towers threshed like grain. Some of you will have seen the footage, will have seen the great fleet commanded by the Grand Vayadan Vati Inamna, and seen the Grand Vayadan itself standing on the steps of the Magnarch’s palace as the black banners of its king snapped against the sky. You will have heard how a certain Captain Hector Oliva stood against the enemy when all was lost. And you will have heard, too, how when his Empire needed him most, Hadrian Marlowe did not appear. But that was all to come,

Fall of Nessus.