The Core - The Demon Cycle 5

Informationen zum Autor Peter V. Brett Klappentext "For time out of mind, bloodthirsty demons have stalked the night, culling the human herd to scattered remnants dependent on half-forgotten magics to protect them. Then two heroes arose--men as close as brothers, yet divided by bitter betrayal. Arlen Bales became known as the Warded Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat and emerge victorious. Ahmann Jardir, armed with magically warded weapons, called himself the Deliverer, a figure prophesied to unite humanity and lead them to triumph in Sharak Ka--the final war against demonkind. But in their efforts to bring the war to the demons, Arlen and Jardir have set something in motion that may prove the end of everything they hold dear--a Swarm. Now the war is at hand and humanity cannot hope to win it unless Arlen and Jardir, with the help of Arlen's wife, Renna, can bend a captured demon prince to their will and force the devious creature to lead them to the Core, where the Mother of Demons breeds an inexhaustible army. Trusting their closest confidants, Leesha, Inevera, Ragen, and Elissa, to rally the fractious people of the Free Cities and lead them against the Swarm, Arlen, Renna, and Jardir set out on a desperate quest into the darkest depths of evil--from which none of them expects to return alive"--Back cover. Leseprobe Chapter 1 Both 334 AR The cramping startled Leesha awake. Ten days on the road with an escort of five thousand Cutters had gotten her used to discomfort. She could only sleep on her side now, something the carriage bench was not designed for. She had taken to curling on the floor like Amanvah and Sikvah in their carriage full of pillows. Waves of pain washed over her as uterine muscles tightened and contracted, readying themselves for the task to come. Leesha wasn’t due for another thirteen weeks, but it was common for women to experience this. And every one of them panics the first time, Bruna used to say, thinking they’ll birth early. Even me, though I’d smacked dozens of squalling babes into the world before I grunted out one of my own. Leesha began breathing in a quick steady rhythm to calm herself and help endure the pain. Pain was nothing new these days. The skin of her stomach was blackened and bruised from powerful fetal blows. Several times during her pregnancy, Leesha had been forced to channel powerful ward magic. Each time, the baby reacted violently. Feedback from magic could grant inhuman strength and stamina. It made the old young again, and brought the young to primacy before their time. It heightened emotions and lessened control. Folk in the throes of magic could be violent. Dangerous. What might such power do to a child not fully formed? Not even at seven months, Leesha looked and felt full term. She anticipated an early delivery, even welcomed it, lest the child grow too large for natural birth. Or punch through my womb and crawl out on its own. Leesha breathed and breathed, but she did not calm, nor did the pain subside. All sorts of things can bring a set of contractions, Bruna taught. Like the brat kicking a full bladder. Leesha found the chamber pot, but relieving herself did little to ease the spasming. She glanced at the porcelain. Her water was clouded and bloody. She froze, mind racing as she stared at the pot. But then the baby kicked hard. She cried out in pain, and she knew. It was coming. Leesha was propped on the bench by the time Wonda came to report. It was nearly dawn. Wonda handed off her reins, rolling off her horse nimbly as a cat. She landed on the lip of the moving carriage and opened the door, effortlessly swinging onto the bench across from Leesha. “Almost home, mistress, if ya wanna warsh a bit,” Wonda said. “Gar rode on ahead while y...

Product details

• Authors: Peter V. Brett
• Publisher: Del Rey
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 05.03.2024
• EAN: 9780593725382
• ISBN: 978-0-593-72538-2
• No. of pages: 800
• Dimensions: 140 mm x 210 mm x 36 mm
• Series: The Demon Cycle
• Subject: Fiction > Science fiction, fantasy