Among Wolves
Young Devin Roché is about to graduate as an Archivist from the prestigious Llisé’s University, and there is just one more task he wants to complete – to preserve a complete history of Llisé.The history of Llisé and its fifteen provinces are a peaceful affair, filled with harmony, resolution and a rich oral tradition of storytelling. Nothing untoward ever happens in this peaceful land. Or does it?Trainee archivist Devin Roché has just taken his finals at the prestigious Académie. As the sixth son of the ruler of Llisé, his future is his own, and so he embarks on an adventure to memorize stories chronicling the history of each province.As Devin begins his journey with only his best friend Gaspard and their guardian Marcus, he hears rumors of entire communities suddenly disappearing without a trace and of Master Bards being assassinated in the night.As the three companions get closer to unearthing the truth behind these mysteries, they can’t help but wonder whether it is their pursuit that has led to them.But if that is the case, what do Llisé and Devin’s father have to hide?
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Among Wolves
Book One of The Wolves of Llisé
NANCY K. WALLACE
HarperVoyager
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
1 London Bridge Street,
London SE1 9GF
www.harpervoyagerbooks.co.uk
First published in Great Britain by HarperVoyager 2015
Copyright © Nancy K. Wallace 2015
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015.
Cover photographs © Shutterstock.com
Nancy K. Wallace asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.
Ebook Edition © May 2015 ISBN: 978-0-00-810358-3
Version: 2015-04-08
Among Wolves is dedicated to my family.
My husband, Dennie: without his love and support I would never have become a writer. My daughter, Mollie, who provides technical assistance, and my daughter, Elizabeth, the most tireless and dedicated proofreader ever! I cannot thank you enough for believing in me even when I didnât believe in myself
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 4: Allies and Adversaries
CHAPTER 8: The Stones of Ombria
CHAPTER 13: Inconsistencies and Allegations
CHAPTER 14: âLisetteâs Lamentâ
CHAPTER 19: The Forêt dâHalatte
CHAPTER 21: The Beast of Gévaudan
CHAPTER 22: Unavoidable Delays
CHAPTER 24: The Quest for Truth
CHAPTER 29: Acquainted With Death
CHAPTER 32: The Storytellerâs Sack
CHAPTER 37: âRemi Reynardâ
CHAPTER 40: Bishops and Blacksmiths
âThereâs an urgent message for you, monsieur,â Isaac La Salle said, handing Devin a rolled parchment sealed with the gold signet of the Chancellor Elite. The proctorâs whispered message boomed in the compulsory quiet of the examination hall.
Devin nodded silently, aware of the handful of other graduate students still bent feverishly over their exams. He squared the edges on his sheaf of examination papers and retrieved his jacket from the back of the bench. His friend, Gaspard, glanced desperately his way, eyes rolling, his exam barely started. Shooting him a sympathetic grin, Devin walked to the back of the room. La Salle now sat propped against the Académieâs stone wall, the seventh volume of Bladeâs Laws spread across his lap. Devin handed the proctor his completed papers and left without comment.
Devin pocketed the parchment. It was so like his father to think nothing of interrupting final exams with an urgent missive to report home. He knew without reading it what it required of him. Heâd already planned a visit to his parents into the flurry of tonightâs activity but it would have to be brief. His ship sailed at dawn and he doubted he would even find time to sleep.
He crossed the wide entrance hall, with its two elegantly curving stairways. One led to the Archives, the other to the lecture halls. He mounted neither but walked through the massive double doors into the late spring sunshine. Spray from the central fountain dampened his hair and shirt as he passed through the courtyard. He welcomed the sprinkle of cool water after the stuffiness of the examination hall. Blossoming trees and early bulbs in bloom flanked the perimeter of the cobbled expanse. The fragrance of flowers hung heavy in the air. The sun lying low in the west silhouetted the trees lining the street before him. Horses and buggies hugged the curb, their drivers soliciting fares. He passed by them, content to walk.
