The Language of Stones

The Language of Stones
Robert Carter

A rich and evocative tale set in a mythic 15th century Britain, to rival the work of Bernard Cornwell.The Realm is poised for war. Its weak king – Hal, grandson of a usurper – is dominated by his beautiful wife and her lover. Against them stands Duke Richard of Ebor and his allies. The two sides are set on a bloody collision course…Gwydion is watching over the Realm. He has walked the land since before the time of the druids, since before the Slavers came to subdue the people. Gwydion was here when Arthur rode to war: then they called him 'Merlyn'. But for his young apprentice, Willand, a fearsome lesson in the ways of men and power lies ahead.The Realm is an England that is still-magical. Legendary beasts still populate its by-ways. It is a land criss-crossed by lines of power upon which standing stones have been set as a secret protection against invasion. But the power of the array was broken by the Slavers who laid straight roads across the land and built walled cities of shattered stone.A thousand years have passed since then, and those roads and walls have fallen into decay. The dangerous stones are awakening, and their unruly influence is calling men to battle. Unless Gwydion and Will can unearth them, the Realm will be plunged into a disastrous civil war. But there are many enemies ranged against them: men, monsters and a sorcerer who is as powerful as Gwydion himself.

The Language of Stones

Robert Carter

This book is dedicated to Britain’s greatest living Welshman – Terry Jones.

‘First there were nine,

Then nine became seven,

And seven became five.

Now, as sure as the Ages decline,

Three are no more,

But one is alive.’

The Black Book of Tara

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u167294c4-f92c-5eaf-9b83-aa63f8a66553)

Title Page (#u5bd82520-7d81-5b99-a210-1d2840b83ffd)

Epigraph (#uf6e04c94-1398-58cb-9232-52bedc978ee9)

PART ONE A BOY, A MAN (#u19e733fc-b7ec-51e5-8045-3c0e3b058b9e)

CHAPTER ONE OUT OF THE VALE (#u28761621-c2aa-5111-8505-ba353a7d00c1)

CHAPTER TWO INTO THE REALM (#ud6ccc662-e012-55a7-96ce-03b5d26bfbb9)

CHAPTER THREE TO THE TOWER OF LORD STRANGE (#uc5786dbd-939e-5f09-930e-cf0500482afd)

CHAPTER FOUR A LITTLE LEARNING (#u9bc802e4-53cd-511a-9efd-0dac27ff2f4a)

CHAPTER FIVE THE MARISH HAG (#u13131a93-fb94-5d25-b0b4-add1861d6404)

PART TWO THE POWERS OF THE EARTH (#u483728a3-7444-5175-8513-79f43076ed85)

CHAPTER SIX A NEST OF SECRETS (#ue78f00bc-c9ce-5cbf-8498-3b3b11ab7a9a)

CHAPTER SEVEN LAMMASTIDE (#uaff93833-5d93-58f9-8eb8-5df89e642326)

CHAPTER EIGHT CLARENDON (#u9ecf067b-33ef-55d0-8b97-d383620470ca)

CHAPTER NINE A BARROW ON THE BLESSED ISLE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN LEIR’S TREASURE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN THE STONE OF CAER LUGDUNUM (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE ALONG THE BANKS OF THE NEANE (#litres_trial_promo)

PART THREE THE DUKE OF EBOR’S PLEASURE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN A WINTER OF DISCONTENT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN AGAINST BETTER JUDGMENT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN COLD COMFORT IN THE WEST (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN IN THE HALL OF KING LUDD (#litres_trial_promo)

PART FOUR WILL’S TEST (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THE PLAGUESTONE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINETEEN AT THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY THE NIGHT RIDE TO HOOE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE SKIES OF FIRE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO THE SARCOPHAGUS OF VERLAMION (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE ALL IS WON, YET ALL IS LOST (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR THE GREEN MAN (#litres_trial_promo)

AUTHOR’S NOTE (#litres_trial_promo)

APPENDIX I ON THE AGES OF THE WORLD (#litres_trial_promo)

APPENDIX II (#litres_trial_promo)

Preview (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)