Peril’s Gate: Third Book of The Alliance of Light

Peril’s Gate: Third Book of The Alliance of Light
Janny Wurts

Where there is light, there must always be shadow… The fourth volume in Janny Wurts’s spectacular epic fantasy, now re-released with a striking new cover design along with the rest of the series.The curse that hangs over the Master of Shadow, Arithon, and Lord of Light, Lysaer, is drawing the two half-brothers ever closer towards direct conflict. For the Natural Balance to be maintained, the two must never fight. If they do, one is sure to perish and the Mistwraith will regain its evil power over their world.Even now, Lysaer – convinced of his own godhead and aided by the treacherous Koriani Sisterhood – is tracking Arithon the Masterbard through the snows and wastes of the winter-locked mountains and the Barrens of Daon Ramon. Arithon is tortured by the knowledge that for the sake of future generations he must not be killed, no matter the cost of others’ lives now. Fighting valiantly to prevent unnecessary suffering, he strikes out on his own; but he is injured and failing fast.Meanwhile, the ancient Paravians are stirring, summoned by trespassers on their sacred domain; and the Fellowship of Seven are battling on many other fronts, as the Mistwraith’s wards begin to break, and khadrim and free wraiths roam the land…

Janny Wurts

PERIL’S GATE

The Wars of Light and Shadow

VOLUME 6

THIRD BOOK OF THE ALLIANCE OF LIGHT

To Jeff Watson, the guardian gryphon in charge of technical wonders without which more deadlines would have been missed

Contents

Third Book

Cover (#u2b81df30-f6b7-5337-a527-ad762cdc303c)

Title Page (#ub874ec60-d2b2-59c2-b47a-b73bcd7352fc)

Dedication (#ua4eee898-e30b-59d9-bf4b-8bc5f4677d12)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

I. Retribution (#ub5ac0ebc-5408-5db3-bf6c-3e3f8c25a45b)

II. Recoil (#ud9d0ba0f-af79-5afd-b43d-0dfb66e95e5b)

III. Baiyen Gap (#u149afa06-dc18-51c1-8625-de66f461c212)

IV. Prime Successor (#u31069984-c22d-5e91-b7b0-6e9ff87a2ec5)

V. Spinner of Darkness (#u4b429518-26aa-5cf3-aee9-960135e9af8b)

VI. Clan War Band (#litres_trial_promo)

VII. Threshold (#litres_trial_promo)

VIII. Evasion (#litres_trial_promo)

IX. Caithdein (#litres_trial_promo)

X. False Step (#litres_trial_promo)

XI. Nightfall (#litres_trial_promo)

XII. Rockfell Peak (#litres_trial_promo)

XIII. Teir’s’Ffalenn (#litres_trial_promo)

XIV. Hunted (#litres_trial_promo)

XV. Peril’s Gate (#litres_trial_promo)

XVI. Path of the Damned (#litres_trial_promo)

XVII. Second Recovery (#litres_trial_promo)

Glossary (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

By the same author (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Winter Solstice Night 5670

I. (#u95694e6f-7ac7-56e1-9e81-5cf3419db0ff)

Retribution (#u95694e6f-7ac7-56e1-9e81-5cf3419db0ff)

Arithon s’Ffalenn,called Master of Shadow!For the sake of your crimes against ourfair city of Jaelot, your spirit shall bedelivered by sword and by fire to yourrightful hour of death…

– Mayor of Jaelot, decree of execution

Third Age Year 5669

The storm settled over the Eltair coast just after the advent of nightfall. Like the worst winter gales, it stole in on cat feet. The fitful, fine sleet dusting over sere landscape changed on a breath into muffling snow as the temperature plunged below freezing. The moment caught Arithon s’Ffalenn, last living Prince of Rathain and birth-born Master of Shadow, crouched in the iced brush of a hedgerow.

Each labored breath burned his lungs like cold fire. His sprint was cut short, though the city of Jaelot’s stone walls lay scarcely a bowshot behind him. A skulking fugitive hard-pressed by enemies who hunted by sword and by spellcraft, he shot a concerned glance sidewards as Fionn Areth folded, gasping, beside him. The young man had spent the dregs of his strength.

Even the threat of relentless pursuit could not stave off stark necessity: the goatherd just snatched from death on the scaffold could run no farther without pause for recovery.

‘Rest,’ whispered Arithon, as winded himself. ‘For a moment. No more.’

Fionn Areth’s clipped nod showed resentment, not gratitude.

Yet no moment could be spared to treat with the young man’s inimically misguided loyalties. Enemies hounded their backs without respite. Koriani seeresses would be tracking with spelled snares. If the mayor’s armed guardsmen from Jaelot prevailed first, the pair would be slaughtered on the run.

‘They’ll find us.’ Fionn Areth cast a harrowed glance over his shoulder. His chilled hand tightened on his sword grip as he noticed the patrol sweeping the high crenels of the battlements. The flutter of their pine brands speared rays of light through the thickening snowfall. Arithon measured their movement, intent. The alarm bells stayed mute. No outcry arose from the gatehouse. Careful to mask his own tension, he said, ‘Bide easy. The mayor’s guards can’t know we’ve slipped through the walls unless the Koriathain decide to inform them.’

Nor would the senior enchantress, Lirenda, be anxious to disseminate word of her failure. Since her towering arrogance had granted her quarry the opening to escape, she would be loath to approach her male allies. Once again, her order had bungled their promise to entrap the Master of Shadow.