Lady Knight. Tamora Pierce

      

      LADY KNIGHT

      BOOK 4 OF THE PROTECTOR OF THE SMALL QUARTET

      Tamora Pierce

       Copyright

      HarperVoyager

      An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

      1 London Bridge Street

      London SE1 9GF

       www.harpercollins.co.uk

      First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2019

      Copyright © Tamora Pierce 2002

      Map copyright © Isidre Mones 2017

      Jacket design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

      Tamora Pierce 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 author’s 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: 9780008304287

      Ebook Edition © September 2019 ISBN: 9780008304294

      Version: 2019-06-25

       PRAISE FOR TAMORA PIERCE

      ‘Tamora Pierce didn’t just blaze a trail. Her heroines cut a swathe through the fantasy world with wit, strength, and savvy. Pierce is the real lioness, and we’re all just running to keep pace.’

      LEIGH BARDUGO, #1 New York Times bestselling author

      ‘Tamora Pierce creates epic worlds populated by girls and women of bravery, heart, and strength. Her work inspired a generation of writers and continues to inspire us.’

      HOLLY BLACK, #1 New York Times bestselling author

      ‘Tamora Pierce’s books shaped me not only as a young writer but also as a young woman. Her complex, unforgettable heroines and vibrant, intricate worlds blazed a trail for young adult fantasy – and I get to write what I love today because of the path she forged throughout her career. She is a pillar, an icon, and an inspiration.’

      SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author

      ‘I take more comfort from and as great pleasure in Tamora Pierce’s Tortall novels as I do from Game of Thrones’

       Washington Post

      ‘Tamora Pierce and her brilliant heroines didn’t just break down barriers; they smashed them with magical fire.’

      KATHERINE ARDEN, author of The Bear and the Nightingale

       Dedication

       To the people of New York City, I always knew the great sacrifice and kindness my neighbours are capable of, but now the rest of the country knows, too.

      Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

      Copyright

      Praise for Tamora Pierce

      Dedication

      Map

      Mid-March, Corus, the capital of Tortall; in the 21st year of the reign of Jonathan IV and Thayet, his Queen, 460 H.E. (Human Era)

Chapter 1: Storm Warnings

Chapter 2: Tobe

April 1–14, 460 near the Scanran border

Chapter 3: Long, Cold Road

Chapter 4: Kel Takes Command

April 15–23, 460 the refugee camp on the Greenwoods River

       Chapter 5: Clerks

       Chapter 6: Defence Plans

       Chapter 7: Tirrsmont Refugees

       Chapter 8: First Defence

       April 30, 460 Fort Mastiff

       Chapter 9: Mastiff

       May 2–3, 460 Haven

       Chapter 10: The Refugees Fight

       May 6–June 3, 460 Haven and Fort Mastiff

       Chapter 11: Shattered Sanctuary

       June 4–7, 460 Haven and Fort Mastiff

       Chapter 12: Renegade

       Chapter 13: Friends

       Chapter 14: Vassa Crossing

       June 8, 460 Scanra, between the Vassa and Smiskir Rivers

       Chapter 15: Enemy Territory

       June 9–10, 460 the Pakkai road

       Chapter 16: Opportunities

       June 10–11, 460 Blayce’s Castle

       Chapter 17: The Gallan’s Lair

       Chapter 18: Blayce

       September 10, 460

       Epilogue

       Cast of Characters

       Glossary

       Notes and Acknowledgments

       Read on for a Preview of Tempests and Slaughter

       Also by Tamora Pierce

       About the Publisher

       Map

Mid-March, Corus, the capital of Tortall; in the 21st year of the reign of Jonathan IV and Thayet, his Queen, 460 H.E. (Human Era)