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Zusatztext Praise for Dragon Bones “A heartwarming tale…delivers a thrilling coming-of-age story.”— RT Book Reviews “A lot of fun.”— Locus “Wonderful adventure…with charm! intelligence! and excellent plot twists.”— Kliatt Informationen zum Autor Patricia Briggs is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy series and the Alpha and Omega novels. Klappentext The Hurog duology concludes with this fantastical adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs. Ward, ruler of Hurog, is striving to restore his lands and people to prosperity, wanting nothing more than a quiet life. But when an old friend, escaping from High King Jakoven's torturers, seeks refuge in his keep, Ward can no longer ignore the growing rebellion against the tyrannical High King. He realizes that he cannot stand aside-he must join with the rebels. However, Jakoven has a secret weapon with which he intends to crush the rebellion: Farsonsbane, a magical artifact that has destroyed entire cities. But first, Jakoven needs blood to awaken it. Dragon's blood. The very blood that courses through Ward's veins… Dragon Blood Patricia Briggs 1 TISALA IN ESTIAN It takes many years of hard work and dedication to produce a competent torturer. Young men just don’t want to take the time to learn the craft. —Lloth of Edelbreck, Royal Torturer “IT’S JUST LIKE SKINNING A RABBIT,” THE OLD MAN said to his grandson. There was strength in his grip that belied the age on his face as his sharp knife removed another sliver of flesh from Tisala’s finger. “I’ve never skinned a rabbit alive.” The boy looked ill, like a newly blooded recruit, thought Tisala. The old man lost all patience with him. “Don’t be an idiot. Now watch.” The next move of the knife forced Tisala’s attention back to her body. Eventually she would tell the old man what he wanted to know, but if she could wait long enough, they could trust none of what she said. But she’d only been there something under two days and already her body ached and her mind flinched away from what had been done to her. “What do you know about Alizon’s rabble, little girl? Tell me and I can quit hurting you,” he crooned as his knife worked its magic. “I don’t like hurting little girls, but you are hiding something our king needs to know. A brother shouldn’t try to hurt his own kin. What Alizon is doing is wrong and you know it. All you need to do is tell me who’s helping him and I can stop.” She didn’t fear death, not even death by torture. Death was a constant companion in the battlefield, as often a friend as an enemy. Betrayal, though, betrayal was truly frightening. Best she die fast, before she could hurt someone she cared about. She’d bide her time and see if she could use her tongue as a goad to make the torturer slip. Someone had once told her that her tongue was her most formidable weapon, and it was one they hadn’t taken from her. “How can you do this all day?” asked the boy passionately. “Grandfather, cannot the mages make a person talk?” The old man snorted. “The mages can make a person say anything the mages want him to, but they can’t get real information from magic. Good information comes only from men like me. We save lives on the battlefield, give our king his victories.” “Why are you doing this one here, instead of in the castle?” Bravado, not curiosity, sparked his question. Tisala could tell that he knew the answer already. “For secrecy.” The old man’s voice trembled, betrayed by age. The boy sneered. “Because if his precious nobles knew what we did here to a noble woman, they’d join Alizon’s rebellion. Torturing a weak woman is filthy work, unworthy of the king’s torturer. He’ll...
