The Killing Song: The Dragon Below Book III Read online

  Singe saw Geth’s eyebrows rose high in surprise, but he doubted that it could be any greater than the surprise he felt himself. A king’s agent? He looked at Natrac, then at Dandra. “There’s something you didn’t tell us,” he said.

  Natrac held out his hand, gesturing in introduction. “Singe, Geth, meet Benti Morren, as she chooses to be known—agent of the King’s Citadel of Breland.” His smile filled out as Singe and Geth gaped in amazement. “I wondered when she helped me escape from Biish if she was more than she seemed to be. After Dandra saved her, she was a little more open with information.”

  Benti bent her head in response to their stares. “The Citadel has had its eye on Biish’s gang for some time. When word circulated that he was looking for someone with the Mark of Storm, the Citadel used the opportunity to put me in place within the gang.” Her lips curved very slightly. “I don’t think they expected this. My report should be received with interest.”

  Singe felt a fury rise within him. “You were at the helm of Dah’mir’s airship. You were going to fly off with the kalashtar!”

  Benti’s expression tightened in response. “No. I found out what was really happening—what I thought was really happening—too late to stop the raid. I was going to take the kalashtar to safety and place Vennet in custody, but when he dragged you onto the deck, I tried to intercede and—” Her voice stopped in her throat as color rushed into her cheeks.

  And Vennet, Singe knew, had thrown her over the side.

  Dandra took his arm. “When we told her what was really happening, she helped us. I told you that she got us the second airship.” She tilted her head up toward the vessel. “This just isn’t so much stolen as commandeered.”

  Singe stared at her and then turned his gaze on Benti. His belly twisted—and the twist turned into a sharp laugh. He shook his head in disbelief. “An agent of the Citadel.” He sighed. “I imagine you’re going to have some explaining to do about the airship.”

  Benti’s nose wrinkled. “Which is why I need to get her back. We should be going.” The half-elf turned and put one foot on the ladder, stilling the shivering ropes with an expert touch. She looked at Ashi. “I know you’re going back to Sharn. Anyone else?”

  Moon stood forward immediately. “Me.” Benti nodded.

  Singe looked at the others—and they looked at him and one another. After a moment, Natrac said, “If you’re going by way of Zarash’ak, I’ll take a ride there.”

  “Not back to Sharn?” Benti asked. “Biish is gone. There will be a vacuum in Malleon’s Gate.”

  Natrac thrust out his tusks. “Host and Six, no. I’ve had enough with Sharn.” His eyes gleamed. “Besides, I think Zarash’ak could use a new arena.”

  “I’ll go with you to Sharn,” said Ekhaas. “It’s closer to Darguun than the Shadow Marches. The other duur’kala will have a new story to sing.”

  Singe winced. “Is everyone going to know what we did?”

  Ekhaas’s ears twitched forward. “Shouldn’t they?”

  He let his breath out through his teeth and looked at Dandra. “Sharn?” he asked. “You could go back to Fan Adar.”

  “I could.” She met his eyes. “Will you go back to the Blademarks?”

  “I could,” he said—and smiled. “But I don’t think I will, and Sharn’s as good a place to make my resignation as any.”

  Dandra raised her chin. “Settle our affairs and move on from there?”

  Singe looked at her and felt his heart burn. “Twelve bloody moons, I love you,” he said. He turned to Geth. “What about you?”

  The shifter shook his head. “Sharn’s not for me.”

  “Back to Bull Hollow?” asked Dandra.

  He shook his head again. Orshok spoke up. “You’d be welcome to stay with the Fat Tusk tribe. You’re a hero again, Geth.”

  Geth’s face twisted. “Grandfather Rat, enough of that! I know where I’m going.” He stepped back and nodded to all of them. “Safe journey,” he said and turned away.

  Dandra drew breath to call something after him, but Singe caught her before she could. “Let him go,” he said.

  EPILOGUE

  The harsh light of morning reflected off the snow. There were no shadows; light just made more light—icy blue in the dimples of footsteps, white where it flashed on the ice crystals drifting in the air. Geth could recall a spot, high up on the walls that loomed above, where it had once been possible to stand on such a morning and look out for leagues across clear sky, perfect snow, and frozen forest.

  Once, the shifter thought, but not now. He reached up, pulled the furry cap from his head, and bared his teeth. His breath streamed away into the Karrnathi winter.

  There was a memorial taking place within the walls of Narath, marking ten years to the day that the town had burned and its people had died. Geth didn’t want to be at the memorial. He’d slipped into the town late last night and slipped out again early. The room he’d found had been in an inn he didn’t know, but he didn’t know most of the buildings in the town—almost all of them had been built within the last ten years. The innkeeper was no one he knew either. Like its buildings, much of Narath’s population had been there less than ten years, arriving as the town grew back into itself.

  It was hard to avoid signs of the massacre, though. The town and its people might seem new, but the people of Karrnath had old memories. Shrines in the town held heaped skulls and walls of stacked bones. Every old building showed charred timbers. Every new building had a bit of burned wood fixed like a talisman above the door. In many places, the scorch marks of a raging fire still stained the town’s walls. And there were monuments. Statues. Pillars. Markers. Stone. Rough wood. Dedicated to victims. Dedicated to heroes.

  Geth had expected a plaque fixed to the wall. He hadn’t expected a whole bronze statue. Raised up on a plinth, a muscular man stood in a pose of heroic defense, his thick hair curling like a lion’s mane, his eyes fixed defiantly into the distance. In one hand, he held a heavy sword. With the other, he gripped the severed head of an Aundairian raider.

  Had the sculptor known or was it just an ironic coincidence?

  Wreaths of flowers had been laid in memorial at the base of the plinth in some earlier ceremony, laid carefully around the dedication plaque to leave it clear.

  Coron Balich. Defender of Narath, true son of Karrnath. Betrayed by a coward. Died a hero, Olarune 4, 989 YK. May his sacrifice inspire generations.

  Geth dropped to his knees in the snow and closed his eyes. In his memory, Coron leaped forward to meet the charging raiders and was brutally hamstrung. In his memory, one of the raiders grabbed a handful of Coron’s black curls, jerked his head back, and raised a heavy knife. In his memory, Geth charged without thinking.

  The knife had fallen before Geth could reach Coron, but at least his killer had died. So had four other raiders—but not the one who swung a heavy club. Geth had woken to an aching head, snow red with blood and a sky black with smoke. The raiders were gone. Narath had fallen and screams came from the burning town.

  Snow crunched under approaching feet. The approaching footfalls stopped for a long moment, then crunched forward again to stop at Geth’s side.

  “I thought you might come here,” said Singe.

  Geth glance up. The wizard was bundled in a Karrnathi-style coat topped off with a thick cloak. A dark hat with a wide brim was pulled well down, hiding his face and much of his blond hair, while his chin and the whiskers on it were hidden by a heavy scarf. Neither hat nor scarf could hide the black patch that covered his left eye, though. Geth let out a slow breath and stood up.

  “Did you know about the statue?” he asked.

  “I haven’t seen it before, but I’d heard about it, yes,” Singe said. “It was only erected a few years ago. It got some tempers up in the Blademarks. The lords of Deneith thought that erecting a memorial in front of a dung gate—” His hand rose and flicked toward a rusty, filth encrusted grate set into the wall a short distance away “—wasn�
��t dignified, even if it was just for a rank and file mercenary. The elders of Narath insisted that the memorial stand where Coron fell. Eventually the crown of Karrnath became involved, and the elders won.”

  He looked over the statue. “Coron has become quite the local hero. I don’t know what he would have thought of it himself, considering he wasn’t the only one who died defending the gate. Robrand and I found both him and Bikk that day.”

  “Bikk wasn’t Karrnathi,” said Geth.

  The wizard glanced at him and added. “The struggle messed up the snow. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if what Robrand and I really understood what we saw.”

  “You saw right,” Geth told him bluntly. “There were three men defending the gate. Coron and Bikk died. I ran away.” Singe tilted his head and narrowed his eye.

  “Ekhaas,” he said, “told Dandra that Wrath wouldn’t bear the touch of a coward.”

  Geth growled. “Ekhaas told me that I didn’t understand honor.”

  Singe’s eyebrows rose. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing.” He turned away from Coron’s statue.

  Singe caught his arm. “Geth, what happened here? You’re the only one who knows the whole story. I spent years hating you because I blamed you for a massacre.”

  Geth shook off the wizard’s hand. “So did I,” he said.

  Singe sighed. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?” he asked.

  Geth didn’t answer him.

  Singe shook his head. “All right then.” He reached into a pocket, brought out a silver flask, and twisted the top off it. “To our friends,” he said, raising it. He drank and held the flask out.

  Geth took it and raised it first to Singe, then to Coron’s statue. “To other people’s heroes,” he said.

  GLOSSARY

  Adar: A small nation on the continent of Sarlona. Homeland of the kalashtar.

  Adar! Adar! Bhintava adarani!: An Adaran battlecry that translates to “Adar! Adar! Defend those who seek aid!”

  Adolan: A druid of the Gatekeeper sect, killed in the Bonetree clan’s attack on Bull Hollow.

  Ahron: A hunter of the Bonetree clan, little more than a girl but still quick and deadly.

  airship: A flying ship, held aloft by magical wood and the power of an elemental (either air or fire or both) bound to her. The elemental, in the form of a large ring around the belly of the ship, propels the ship and keeps her aloft.

  Ashi: A former hunter of the Bonetree, she has turned her back on the clan after discovering her descent from House Deneith. She wields a ceremonial honor blade granted to her ancestor by House Deneith. She bears the Siberys Mark of Sentinel, a powerful dragonmark that patterns her entire body.

  ashi: A dark gold reed. The inhabitants of the Shadow Marches use its starchy pith to make a type of bread.

  Aundair: One of the original Five Nations of Galifar, Aundair is houses the seat of the Arcane Congress and the University of Wyrnarn. Currently under the rule of Queen Aurala ir’Wyrnarn.

  Azhani: The language shared by the human clans of the Shadow Marches.

  Bado: A hunter of the Bonetree clan.

  Balich, Coron: A member of the Frostbrand company killed at Narath.

  ban: A goblin expression of non-commital agreement, roughly equivalent to “yeah” or “your funeral.”

  Batul: An elder orc druid of the Gatekeeper sect and the spiritual leader of the Fat Tusk tribe. He is blind in one eye, but gifted with prophetic dreams.

  Bear: A cultural hero figure among shifters based on one of the animal forms of their lycanthrope ancestors. Usually referred to as “Cousin,” Bear embodies the attributes of strength and caution.

  Bibahronaz, Bava: A human woman of Zarash’ak, originally of the Howling Rabbit clan, and an old friend of Natrac’s. Under the name Bava Bahron, she is an artist known across the Five Nations for her paintings.

  Bibahronaz, Diad: One of Bava’s sons. A half-orc.

  Bibahronaz, Mine: One of Bava’s daughters. A half-orc and twin of Ose.

  Bibahronaz, Ose: One of Bava’s daughters. A half-orc and twin of Mine.

  Blademarks: The mercenary’s guild of House Deneith.

  bo: Azhani for “a place, a piece of land or an area.”

  Boar: A cultural hero figure among shifters based on one of the animal forms of their lycanthrope ancestors. Usually referred to as “Cousin,” Boar represents tremendous endurance, but also unrestrained and reckless enthusiasm.

  Bonetree clan: A human barbarian clan of the Shadow Marches, worshipers of the Dragon Below. The heart of their territory is an enormous earthen mound built over generations. The Azhani term is Drumasaz.

  Breff: Huntmaster of the Bonetree clan.

  Broken Mirror: A small gang of changeling mischief-makers found in Malleon’s Gate and other areas of Lower Dura.

  Bull Hollow: A hamlet on the far western edge of the Eldeen Reaches, devastated in an attack by Bonetree hunters and dolgrims in pursuit of Dandra.

  byeshk: A rare metal, hard and dense with a purple sheen. Weapons made of byeshk are capable of inflicting great injuries on daelkyr and their creations.

  “By the six kings!”: A Dhakaani oath of sincerity.

  chib: Goblin for “boss” or “big man.” Used colloquially by goblins to refer to any taller humanoid, including hobgoblins, humans, and dwarves.

  chuul: Monstrous creatures larger than a man, resembling huge crayfish with four powerful legs and enormous claws. The tentacles surrounding a chuul’s mouth are capable of paralyzing its prey.

  Cliffside: One of the wards of Sharn, a steep and narrow part of the city that rises up the cliffs from the waterfront on the Dagger River.

  cold fire: Magical flame that produces no heat and doesn’t burn. Cold fire is used to light most of the cities of Khorvaire.

  crysteel: An alloy created from iron and a rare crystalline substance. Crysteel is used to make weapons favored by those skilled in psionics.

  Dabrak: A bugbear member of the Longtooth.

  daelkyr: Powerful lords of Xoriat, the daelkyr are madness and corruption personified. After the Daelkyr War, surviving daelkyr on Eberron were bound in the depths of Khyber by Gatekeeper druids.

  Daelkyr War: An invasion of Eberron by creatures from Xoriat, led by the daelkyr, approximately nine thousand years before the present. Centered around the Shadow Marches, it ended with the defeat of the daelkyr by the united forces of the orcs of the Shadow Marches and the hobgoblins of the Empire of Dhakaan, but left both races decimated.

  dagga: An orc expression of affirmation commonly used by folk of Zarash’ak. A more intense version, “Kuv dagga!” is akin to swearing a minor oath.

  Dah’mir: A shapechanging dragon and a priest of the Dragon Below. Once leader of the Bonetree clan.

  dahr: An Adaran expression for something or someone vile; pl. “dahri.”

  Dal Quor: Another plane of existence, the Region of Dreams. Mortal spirits are said to journey to Dal Quor when they dream. Kalashtar are the descendants of refugee spirits from Dal Quor who bonded with human hosts in order to enter Eberron.

  Dandra: Superficially a kalashtar, Dandra is actually the consciousness of a psicrystal inhabiting the body of her creator, Tetkashtai. She wields a spear forged from crysteel, and specializes in whitefire, augmented by her skill with vayhatana.

  Darguun: A nation of goblinoids, founded in 969 YK when a hobgoblin leader named Haruuc formed an alliance among the goblinoid mercenaries and annexed a section of southern Cyre. Breland recognized this new nation in exchange for a peaceful border and an ally against Cyre. Few people trust the people of Darguun, but their soldiers remain a force to be reckoned with.

  daashor: A goblinoid artificer, especially one from the time of the Empire of Dhakaan. The secret knowledge of the daashor has largely vanished, but at one time they were capable of creating wonders. Most daashor were male.

  d’Deneith, Mithas: An ambitious scion of House Deneith and a sorcerer, but not the be
arer of a dragonmark. Mithas has risen to moderately high rank within the command of the Blademarks, though not by scrupulous means.

  d’Deneith, Robrand: A dragonmarked heir of House Deneith, once leader of the Frostbrand company of the Blademarks, disgraced after the Massacre at Narath.

  d’Deneith, Toller: A dragonmarked heir of House Deneith, nephew to Robrand d’Deneith. Killed in the defense of Bull Hollow.

  Deathsgate: A district in the Middle Tavick’s Landing ward of Sharn with a reputation for attracting a tough population of adventurers and mercenaries. It takes its name from its proximity to one of Sharn’s necropolises.

  Deneith, House: A dragonmark house bearing the Mark of Sentinel. House Deneith operates services offering various forms of protection, including the mercenary companies of the Blademarks and the law enforcement services of the Sentinel Marshals.

  Dhakaani Empire: see Empire of Dhakaan.

  d’Lyrandar, Vennet: A dragonmarked half-elf of House Lyrandar, once captain of Lightning on Water. A follower of the Cult of the Dragon Below, now bound to Dah’mir.

  dolgaunt: Horrid creatures created by the daelkyr from hobgoblins during the Daelkyr War, dolgaunts have long, powerful tentacles springing from their shoulders. They have no eyes but perceive their surroundings through sensitive cilia that cover their skin.

  dolgrim: Foot soldiers in the armies of the daelkyr, dolgrims were created by the daelkyr from goblins. A dolgrim has four arms and two mouths and resembles two goblins crushed together.

  Dragon Below, The: see Khyber

  dragonmark: 1) A mystical mark that appears on the surface of the skin and grants mystical powers to its bearer. 2) A slang term for the bearer of a dragonmark.

  dragonshard: A form of mineral with mystical properties, said to be a shard of one of the great progenitor dragons. There are three different types of shard, each with different properties. A shard has no abilities in and of itself, but an artificer or wizard can use a shard to create an object with useful effects. Siberys shards fall from the sky and have the potential to enhance the power of dragonmarks. Eberron shards are found in the soil and enhance traditional magic. Khyber shards are found deep below the surface of the world and are used as a focus binding mystical energy.