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Zusatztext “S. M. Stirling provides another fabulous postapocalyptic thriller to his Change saga.” – Alternative Worlds “[A] gifted author.” – San Francisco Book Review Informationen zum Autor S. M. Stirling is the New York Time s bestselling author of many science fiction and fantasy novels, including the Novels of the Change (including Prince of Outcasts, The Desert and the Blade, The Golden Princess, The Given Sacrifice, Lord of Mountains ) and the Shadowspawn series ( A Taint in the Blood, The Council of Shadows, Shadows of Falling Night ). Klappentext "S. M. Stirling provides another fabulous postapocalyptic thriller to his Change saga." - Alternative Worlds Rudi Mackenzie traveled to Nantucket, where he found and took up the Sword of the Lady and, with it, his destiny. His return journey to the area known as Montival, in the Pacific Northwest, is a treacherous one since he and his companions must cross three thousand miles, making both allies and adversaries along the way. When he reaches his destination, he will face the legions of the Prophet. To achieve victory, Rudi must assemble a coalition of those who were his enemies just months before, then forge them into an army that will rescue his homeland and tear the heart out of the Church Universal and Triumphant once and for all. Only then will Rudi be able to come to terms with how the Sword has changed him-as well as the world-and assume his place as Artos, High King of Montival… Chapter One Nantucket Island Imbolc, February 18, Change Year 24/2023 AD "Where did it all go ?" Mathilda Arminger said. "There were roads and houses! Now it"s just trees. They're old trees too; you can see that, even if the sea-wind has stunted them." "Why are you asking me?" Rudi Mackenzie said, with studied reason in his tones. The which always drives you crazy and makes your eyes sparkle fetchingly , anamchara mine , he thought. "You're the one with the magic sword!" Mathilda caught the twinkle in his own eye and stuck out her tongue at him. They laughed, a quiet, relieved sound; it was good to have nothing but a mystery troubling them, as opposed to homicidal strangers. Rudi let his hand fall to the hilt of the weapon slung at his right hip. The pommel shaped of moon-crystal held in antlers gave him a slight cool shock as his calloused palm touched it, less a physical sensation than a mental one…;or possibly spiritual. "What does it feel like?" Mathilda asked, subdued again. "To hold it?" She nodded, and he went on: "It's…;hard to describe; that it is. Not as much of a shock as the first time; I grow used to it, but…;It's as if my thoughts themselves were faster somehow. More sure. More themselves . You know how you think, If I do a certain thing, that might happen, or the other thing, or, then again, perhaps this ? And your wit and experience give you an idea of each, and how likely they are? Well, when I do that now it's as if little mummers were making a play of it in my head, and I know what's most likely. It's…;disconcerting; that it is." "It would be," she said seriously. "Useful! But, well, Rudi, if you could really see what would happen whenever you did something, would you have any freedom of choice at all? After all, you'd always know the best thing to do!" He laughed a little, but there was less amusement in it this time. "Sure. Don't folk choose to do things even if they know it's folly and the result will be black disaster? And don't they do that all the time?" She snorted and elbowed him in the side. In armor it was more heard than felt, but he took the point. "So, bearer of the Sword of the Lady, what does its power tell you about this island? What and where and what is it, now?" she said. "I...
