The Crimson Crown. Cinda Williams Chima

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Название The Crimson Crown
Автор произведения Cinda Williams Chima
Жанр Героическая фантастика
Серия
Издательство Героическая фантастика
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9780007498024



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       For my grandfather E. C. Bryan

      Table of Contents

       Title Page

       Dedication

      Chapter One: Clan Princess

      Chapter Two: A Dance in the Dark

      Chapter Three: Crewing for Abelard

       Chapter Thirteen: At Cross-Purposes

       Chapter Fourteen: Queen’s Orders

       Chapter Fifteen: Street Rules

       Chapter Sixteen: Loose Ends

       Chapter Seventeen: From the Snake Pit into the Flames

       Chapter Eighteen: Past Crimes and Misdemeanors

       Chapter Nineteen: A Hot Summer Night

       Chapter Twenty: Blood and Ashes

       Chapter Twenty-One: Earth Magic

       Chapter Twenty-Two: Ashes and Accusations

       Chapter Twenty-Three: Revelations

       Chapter Twenty-Four: An Old Betrayal

       Chapter Twenty-Five: Truth or Lie

       Chapter Twenty-Six: Proofs and Allegations

       Chapter Twenty-Seven: Demonai Delegation

       Chapter Twenty-Eight: Climbing the Deadly Nevergreen

       Chapter Twenty-Nine: In Hanalea’s Garden

       Chapter Thirty: Deadly Music

       Chapter Thirty-One: The Armory of the Gifted Kings

       Chapter Thirty-Two: Betrayal

       Chapter Thirty-Three: In the Deeps

       Chapter Thirty-Four: Agreeing to Disagree

       Chapter Thirty-Five: Back Gamon

       Chapter Thirty-Six: In the Passes

       Chapter Thirty-Seven: Under Siege

       Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Deal with the Devil

       Chapter Thirty-Nine: Queen Counselor

       Chapter Forty: Fever Dreams

       Chapter Forty-One: A New Generation

       Chapter Forty-Two: Walking Out with the Bayars

       Chapter Forty-Three: Standoff

       Chapter Forty-Four: A Meeting Underground

       Chapter Forty-Five: Second-Story Work

       Chapter Forty-Six: On the Inside

       Chapter Forty-Seven: Trader

       Chapter Forty-Eight: Wizard Persuasion

       Chapter Forty-Nine: Uneasy Alliance

       Chapter Fifty: Poor Choices

       Chapter Fifty-One: A Way In

       Chapter Fifty-Two: Darkman’s Hour

       Chapter Fifty-Three: Under the Vale

       Chapter Fifty-Four: A Spectacular Diversion

       Chapter Fifty-Five: Back into the Flame

       Chapter Fifty-Six: A Rematch

       Chapter Fifty-Seven: Blessings and Curses

      Chapter Fifty-Eight: Tangle and a Twist

      Chapter Fifty-Nine: Redo

      Epilogue

      Acknowledgments

       About the Author

       By Cinda Williams Chima

       Copyright

       About the Publisher

       CHAPTER ONE

       CLAN PRINCESS

      It was the largest gathering of the Spirit clans Raisa had ever seen. They came from all over the Fells—from Demonai Camp to the west, from Hunter’s Camp to the east, and from the rugged northern reaches and the river valleys near the West Wall. Some traveled all the way from the fishing camps along Invaders Bay. Demonai warriors rode in from the wilderness, proudly painted, feathered, and braided. Sun-weathered traders journeyed home from throughout the Seven Realms, bringing exotic goods and news from the down-realms.

      Even the elders said that the only other such celebration in their lifetime was the one that marked Raisa’s mother Marianna’s wedding to Averill Demonai—the first marriage of a Gray Wolf queen to clan royalty since the Great Captivity began.

      This time they feasted together on the lower slopes of Hanalea to celebrate the crowning of one of their own—Raisa ana’Marianna, called Briar Rose in the high country—as queen of the Fells. The camp was bedecked with garlands of thorny high country roses—Raisa’s clan totem, which always came into bloom near the time of her birthday.

      Each camp came bearing gifts, competing in honoring and celebrating the new queen. Raisa accumulated enough finery to last for years to come. Clan metalsmiths presented her with a circlet of roses and thorns in beaten gold. They provided silver fittings for her saddles and bridles crafted by leatherworkers.

      Demonai Camp brought her a made-to-measure longbow and a quiver of black-fletched arrows to replace the weapons she’d lost when Micah Bayar carried her off from Oden’s Ford. Marisa Pines Camp gifted her with lotions, remedies, and fragrances that would remind her of the high country in her flatland palace.

      Hunter’s Camp contributed haunches of venison, fish from the Dyrnnewater, braces of rabbits, and wild boars, which had been roasting on spits all day.