Honour Among Thieves
Book Three of
The Ancient Blades Trilogy
David Chandler
Dedication
For J.R.R.T. and G.R.R.M., the Epic Overlords.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dedication Page
Map
Prologue
The Free City of Ness was known around the world
Part 1
Under the Flag of Parley
Chapter One
On the far side of the Whitewall mountains, in the
Chapter Two
There was a mountain, and then there was no mountain.
Chapter Three
At dawnas promisedCroy returned, looking a little tousled after riding
Chapter Four
On a map the fortress of Helstrow would have resembled
Chapter Five
Inside the common room of the inn, food and wine
Chapter Six
Bursting out into the sunlight, Malden turned his head wildly
Chapter Seven
The marketers all fled or pressed into the doors of
Chapter Eight
When Malden burst out of the inn, Cythera leapt to
Chapter Nine
They dragged Malden through the gate to the inner bailey,
Chapter Ten
This way, sir knight, milady, the castellan said, and ushered
Chapter Eleven
Ulfram V was a year younger than Croy, but the
Chapter Twelve
Is this true, Croy? the king demanded. Did youin factmake
Chapter Thirteen
Instantly Ghostcutter came to Croys hand. Beside him he saw
Chapter Fourteen
After Mörgain left, no one spoke for some while. Croy
Chapter Fifteen
After darkness fell, Malden and Croy headed back into the
Chapter Sixteen
He made a point of saying no more until they
Chapter Seventeen
Cythera stood by the window in their room at the
Chapter Eighteen
Malden never actually lost consciousness, but between the pain in
Chapter Nineteen
The bridge across the river Strow began and ended within
Chapter Twenty
In the kings own chapel in the keep at Helstrow,
Chapter Twenty-One
The day after the gates of Helstrow were sealed, the
Chapter Twenty-Two
Malden put his hand on Acidtongues hilt, but kept the
Chapter Twenty-Three
T he woman from the milehouse turned out to be
Chapter Twenty-Four
Croys rounsey whickered and bucked as he climbed onto its
Chapter Twenty-Five
The king walked his horse up to where the two
Chapter Twenty-Six
The king of Skrae spluttered in rage. Croy didnt blame
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Behind the portcullis, soldiers shouted at one another and men
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Berserkers crashed up against the gate, straining and howling as
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Where do we take him? Orne asked, when they were
Part 2
The Sleeping King
Interlude
There was a place in the Free City of Ness
Chapter Thirty
Helstrow burned for days. The barbarians were too busy celebrating
Chapter Thirty-One
Just outside the gates of Ness a recruiting serjeant had
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cythera found her mother down in Swampwall, where the river
Chapter Thirty-Three
After Cythera went to find her mother, Malden led Slag
Chapter Thirty-Four
Thats ridiculous, Malden said. How could he be Cutbills most
Chapter Thirty-Five
Alright, Malden said. Well, thats got me up to date.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Croy brought the whetstone carefully up the iron edge of
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Through the stout oak door, Croy could hear the voices
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The river Skrait twisted through Ness, carving its way between
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Walking through the brambles surrounding Coruths shack was disincitement enough,
Chapter Forty
Malden moved out of the way as Coruth swept into
Chapter Forty-One
When dinner was finished Malden took his leave. He was
Chapter Forty-Two
The thieves of Ness gathered just before midnight, when the
Chapter Forty-Three
A few murmurs drifted up from the crowd regardless of
Chapter Forty-Four
Perhaps there was a second reason why Cutbill had chosen
Chapter Forty-Five
I have grand plans for the people of Skrae, the
Chapter Forty-Six
The sky glowed a deep blue-black that made Maldens head
Chapter Forty-Seven
The air in Coruths house felt like it had been
Chapter Forty-Eight
Mörget whirled his axe through the air and brought it
Chapter Forty-Nine
The bandit camp proved a sorry affair. Two dozen men
Chapter Fifty
Barbarian pickets controlled the road between Helstrow and Redweir, but
Chapter Fifty-One
The Baron sighed and looked down at his maps and
Chapter Fifty-Two
Money kept coming in, as it always had, and that
Chapter Fifty-Three
It didnt take long for the thief-takers to make their
Chapter Fifty-Four
Slag followed Malden all the way across the Sawyers Bridge
Chapter Fifty-Five
Protection? Malden repeated, when Herwig had told him what she
Chapter Fifty-Six
Croy knelt low in the brambles by the side of
Chapter Fifty-Seven
I didnt want this job, Malden thought. I never asked
Chapter Fifty-Eight
It wasnt easy getting the word out so late in
Chapter Fifty-Nine
An old fishwife with a face like a rotten parsnip
Chapter Sixty
Coruth did not wait to hear if he would follow.
Chapter Sixty-One
In a muddy field just off the Helstrow road, Baron
Chapter Sixty-Two
Mörgains barbarians were distracted by the archers and turned outwards
Chapter Sixty-Three
Spittle flecked their red-painted lips. They came running with blood
Part 3
A Change of Station
Interlude
Halt, here, Mörgain said, and the paltry remnants of her
Chapter Sixty-Four
Malden grabbed onto a window ledge and hauled himself upward.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Malden leaned down and kissed Cythera gently. She wrapped her
Chapter Sixty-Six
Loophole would never walk easy again. When the mob seized
Chapter Sixty-Seven
He already knew what his Helstrovian second-in-command wanted, but still
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Dead bodies littered the forecourt of Easthull manor. Not a
Chapter Sixty-Nine
The king is dead, Coruth said, plucking at long blades
Chapter Seventy
A thousand barbarians marched north, pulling wagons full of books
Chapter Seventy-One
The Godstone is cracked. The cracks need to be repaired.
Chapter Seventy-Two
Be of good cheer, lad, Slag said, as he led
Chapter Seventy-Three
Croy kept his horse to a walk as they crept
Chapter Seventy-Four
Malden reached up and grasped the snout of a gargoyle.
Chapter Seventy-Five
Malden lowered himself through the trap door by his hands.
Chapter Seventy-Six
Maldens candle fell from his hand and flickered out instantly.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Malden closed the door behind him and bent low to
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Malden, no one loves me, Cutbill said. He poured two
Chapter Seventy-Nine
The barbarians will arrive within the week, Cutbill told Malden.
Chapter Eighty
Mörget tramped up the frost-crackling hill, naked axe in hand,
Part 4
The Siege of Ness
Interlude
In theory there were no officers in the Army of
Chapter Eighty-One
North of Helstrow, Croy took to the road.
Chapter Eighty-Two
Nock! Draw! Fire! Herwig the madam shouted, beating time against
Chapter Eighty-Three
Halloo! Halloo! Ness! People of Ness! Is someone in charge
Chapter Eighty-Four
Get me out of this ridiculous stuff, Malden growled, trying
Chapter Eighty-Five
Malden hurried through the streets, headed for the bridge to
Chapter Eighty-Six
Fascinating. In the space of one night they built three
Chapter Eighty-Seven
Bethane slumped down to sit on a rock and rub
Chapter Eighty-Eight
The whispers became murmurs. The murmurs became disgusted looks in
Chapter Eighty-Nine
The rocks kept coming, though not as frequently as when
Chapter Ninety
The rider had come very close, now. He could descend
Chapter Ninety-One
The Skilfinger knight wore a byrnie of chain mail that
Chapter Ninety-Two
Mörg was no fool.
Chapter Ninety-Three
The workshop stank of brimstone and urine, enough to make
Chapter Ninety-four
Theyre scaling Ditchwall now, and theres no one to stop
Chapter Ninety-Five
There seemed to be no end to the berserkers willing
Chapter Ninety-Six
Malden followed the dwarf down a flight of stairs to
Chapter Ninety-Seven
Croy could stand, and if he used Ghostcutter as a
Chapter Ninety-Eight
A single trebuchet stone arced over the city that day.
Chapter Ninety-Nine
Malden wrapped a loaf of bread in a silken cloththe
Chapter One Hundred
The Lemon Garden could no longer hold all the supplicants
Chapter One Hundred and One
The wailing of Mörgains female warriors set Mörgets teeth on
Chapter One Hundred and Two
Come forth! Step up, and receive Sadus bounty! Food for
Chapter One Hundred and Three
Croy rode at the head of an army of two
Chapter One Hundred and Four
Mörget raced back into the camp, Balint at his heels,
Chapter One Hundred and Five
Malden ordered Velmont to search for other survivors in the
Chapter One Hundred and Six
Malden looked to Cythera. She was drained, and worse than
Chapter One Hundred and Seven
In her bed, Coruth struggled for every breath. Her hair
Chapter One Hundred and Eight
On the march, it is far too easy to slip
Chapter One Hundred and Nine
There was no time to think on all that had
Chapter One Hundred and Ten
Get that iron off him, Velmont commanded. His eyes stayed
Chapter One Hundred and Eleven
An hour before dawn, the snow burned a deep blue.
Chapter One Hundred and Twelve
As soon as Malden could stand on his own two
Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen
The crowd of devout citizens gasped and ran as a
Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen
Croy brought Ghostcutter around and disemboweled a gray-bearded reaver, then
Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen
When Ryewall collapsed Malden was thrown from his feet. He
Chapter One Hundred and Sixteen
What in the Ladys name was that? Hew asked.
Chapter One Hundred and Seventeen
Slag crowed and danced and shouted up to Malden where
Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen
Mörget shouted in pain and for a moment froze in
Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen
Smoke from the explosion of Slags weapon hung in the
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty
The Lemon Garden was far enough from Ryewall that Malden
Epilogue
Hed made his decision. Hed been forced to pick between
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Other Books by David Chandler
Copyright
About the Publisher
Map
PROLOGUE
The Free City of Ness was known around the world as a hotbed of thievery, and one man alone was responsible for that reputation. Cutbill, master of that citys guild of thieves, controlled almost every aspect of clandestine commerce within its wallsfrom extortion to pickpocketing, from blackmail to shoplifting he oversaw a great empire of crime. His fingers were in far more pies than anyone even realized, and his ambitions far greater than simple acquisition of wealthand far broader-reaching than the affairs of just one city. His interests lay in every corner of the globe and his spies were everywhere.
As a result he received a fair volume of mail every day.
In his office under the streets of Ness he went through this pile of correspondence with the aid of only one assistant. Lockjaw, an elderly thief with a legendary reputation was always there when Cutbill opened his letters. There were two reasons why Lockjaw held this privileged responsibilityfor one, Lockjaw was famous for his discretion. Hed received his sobriquet for the fact he never revealed a secret. The other reason was that hed never learned to read.
It was Lockjaws duty to receive the correspondence, usually from messengers who stuck around only long enough to get paid, and to comment on each message as Cutbill told him its contents. If Lockjaw wondered why such a clever man wanted his untutored opinion, he never asked.
Interesting, Cutbill said, holding a piece of parchment up to the light. This is from the dwarven kingdom. It seems theyve invented a new machine up there. Some kind of winepress that churns out books instead of vintage.
The old thief scowled. That right? Do they come out soaking wet?
I imagine that would be a defect in the process, Cutbill agreed. Still. If it works, it could produce books at a fraction of the cost a copyist charges now.