The Skull Throne
In the grand tradition of George R.R. Martin and Robert Jordan, Sunday Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett continues his critically acclaimed Demon Cycle with the next dramatic instalment: THE SKULL THRONE.The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty.Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honour and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all.But Arlen Bales, the Painted Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel he could not in honour refuse. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast them both from a precipice, leaving the world without a saviour, and opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.In the south, Inevera, Jardir's first wife, must find a way to keep their sons from killing one another and plunging their people into civil war as they strive for enough glory to make a claim on the throne.In the north, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to forge an alliance between the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians before it is too late.Caught in the crossfire is the duchy of Lakton – rich and unprotected, ripe for conquest.All the while, the corelings have been growing stronger, and without Arlen and Jardir there may be none strong enough to stop them.Only Renna Bales may know more about the fate of the missing men, but she, too, has disappeared…
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HarperVoyager
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd
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London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HarperVoyager 2015
Copyright © Peter V. Brett 2015
Ward artwork designed by Lauren K. Cannon, copyright © Peter V. Brett
Map by Andrew Ashton
Jacket layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2015
Jacket illustration by Larry Rostant
Peter V. Brett asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of 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, down-loaded, 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.
Source ISBN: 9780007425686
Ebook Edition © April 2015 ISBN: 9780007425709
Version: 2018-02-16
For Lauren
Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Map
Prologue: No Victor
Chapter 1: The Hunt
Chapter 2: Vacuum
Chapter 3: Ashia
Chapter 4: Sharum Blood
Chapter 5: Kajivah
Chapter 6: A Man Is Nothing
Chapter 7: More Sack Than Sense
Chapter 8: The True Warrior
Chapter 9: Anoch Sun
Chapter 10: The Chin Rebellion
Chapter 11: Docktown
Chapter 12: Filling the Hollow
Chapter 13: Foul Meat
Chapter 14: The Prisoner
Chapter 15: The Painted Children
Chapter 16: Demonâs Heir
Chapter 17: Goldentone
Chapter 18: A Whisper of Night
Chapter 19: Tea Politics
Chapter 20: Sibling Rivalry
Chapter 21: The Weed Gatherer
Chapter 22: Bachelorâs Ball
Chapter 23: Inquisition
Chapter 24: Briar
Chapter 25: The Spy
Chapter 26: First Strike
Chapter 27: Dama in the Dark
Chapter 28: SharâDama
Chapter 29: Dama Gorja
Chapter 30: The Princessâ Guard
Chapter 31: Whistler
Chapter 32: The Night of Hora
Chapter 33: A Voice in the Dark
Jardir Family Tree
Krasian Dictionary
Acknowledgements
About the Author
By the Same Author
âNo!â Inevera reached out, clutching empty air as the Parâchin pitched himself and her husband over the cliff.
Taking with them all the hope of the human race.
On the opposite side of the circle of combat, Leesha Paper let out a similar cry. The strict ritual laws of Domin Sharum were forgotten as witnesses from both sides rushed to the precipice, crowding together to peer into the darkness that had swallowed the combatants.
In Everamâs light, Inevera could see as clearly in darkness as brightest day, the world defined by magicâs glow. But magic was drawn to life, and there was little below save barren rock and dirt. The two men, glowing as fiercely as the sun a moment ago, had vanished into the dull gloom of ambient magic as it vented to the surface.
Inevera twisted her earring, the hora stone within attuned to its mate on her husbandâs ear, but she heard nothing. It could be out of range, or broken in the fall.
Or there might be nothing to hear. She suppressed a shiver as a chill mountain wind blew over her.
She glanced at the others clustered at the edge, reading their expressions, searching for a hint of betrayal, a sign one of them had known this was coming. She read the magic that emanated from them, as well. The circlet of warded electrum coins she wore did not let her read spirits as fluidly as her husband did with the Crown of Kaji, but she was getting more and more skilled at reading emotions. Shock was clear throughout the group. There were variations from one to another, but this was not the outcome any of them had expected.
Even Abban, the smug liar, always hiding something, stood horrified. He and Inevera had been bitter rivals, each attempting to undo the other, but he loved Ahmann as much as an honourless khaffit could, and stood to lose more than any, should he prove dead.
I should have poisoned the Parâchinâs tea, Inevera thought, remembering the guileless face of the Parâchin the night he appeared from the desert with the Spear of Kaji. Pricked him with a venom-dipped needle. Put an asp in his pillows as he dozed before alagaiâsharak. Even claimed offence and killed him with my bare hands. Anything but leave it to Ahmann. His heart was too true for murder and betrayal, even with the fate of Ala in the balance.
