{"product_id":"the-new-world-isbn-9780553382396","title":"The New World","description":"Time is running out. Nalenyr is besieged on all sides by those who would save the fabled land—and those who would enslave it. Soon the realm will be ravaged by the scourge of magical warfare—overrun by terrifying forces created by an ancient enemy, and soaked in the blood of champions and gods. It is the moment of final conflict, and the grandchildren of the Royal Cartographer are at the center of the climactic struggle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKeles Anturasi will race across the world, fleeing assassins, seeking control over powers he can barely understand. His brother, Jorim, having ascended to godhood, now finds himself pitted against an elder god—the very god who once created the entire pantheon and now seeks its destruction. And their sister, Nirati, embarks on a treacherous crusade with a dead hero to wage war on hell itself!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the final battle lines are drawn, they will gather the land’s newly awakened defenders of the ancient past. But can this small band of champions, mystics, and magicians stand against an evil that threatens to sweep reality itself into an unending dark age of nightmare and oblivion?Michael A. Stackpole is an award-winning author, editor, game and computer game designer. As always, he spends his spare time playing indoor soccer and now has a new hobby, podcasting. Mike will publish \u003cb\u003eA New World\u003c\/b\u003e, the sequel to \u003cb\u003eCartomancy\u003c\/b\u003e, this July, and is currently at work on ideas for a half-dozen other novels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo learn more about Mike's podcasting, please visit \u003cu\u003ewww.tsfpn.com\u003c\/u\u003e (the website of The SciFi Podcast Network).\u003ci\u003eChapter One\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4th day, Month of the Hawk, Year of the Rat\u003cbr\u003eLast Year of Imperial Prince Cyron's Court\u003cbr\u003e163rd Year of the Komyr Dynasty\u003cbr\u003e737th Year since the Cataclysm\u003cbr\u003eVoraxan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras Dejote sighed and wished that the peace of Voraxan might once again infect him. Instead he wandered the empty onyx streets, passing between buildings carved from ruby and emerald, topaz, lapis, and citrine, and felt nothing. The architecture reminded him of the grand palaces of the Empire—relics of a time when heroes walked and epic tales were born.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had grown up listening to such stories and had dreamed of someday becoming a hero. He knew the path to such immortality would require achieving \u003ci\u003ejaedun\u003c\/i\u003e—the magic that transformed an ordinary warrior into a Mystic. Through diligent study and practice, he could become a superior swordsman. But as a Mystic, he would be \u003ci\u003esupernaturally\u003c\/i\u003e gifted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe had set out with his master, Moraven Tolo, on a quest into the Wastes, where wild magic still warped the land. Then his mission had changed. He and the inventor, Borosan Gryst, had set off deep into Ixyll, to find Voraxan, the resting place of the Sleeping Empress. They were to awaken her and bring her army back to the very Empire she had sundered over seven centuries before.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras paused beside a small emerald building. He ran his fingers over the characters gently carved into the lintel: \u003ci\u003eShan Tsiendao\u003c\/i\u003e. Within the building he could see her recumbent form, sleeping, dreaming, waiting to be summoned once again to war. Though \u003ci\u003ehe\u003c\/i\u003e felt drawn back to the Nine Principalities, he regretted the necessity of awakening any of these warriors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHis quest to be a hero had brought him to this grand city of the dead, with tombs carved of gems, styled to be homes. It was not, however, a place of misery and remorse. The streets and buildings all combined instead to make it into a peaceful haven. Given that the warriors resting therein had fought the greatest battle in the history of the world, it seemed appropriate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras walked on, wending his way back toward the onyx courtyard of the ruby palace that had been the Empress' resting place. Trapped between the palace and a diamond fountain, Borosan Gryst sat tinkering with one of his magical machines. Despite the hardship of their journey together, the man remained overweight. He wore no sword and had neither martial skill nor sense. In Ciras' world, those deficiencies would have made the dark-haired man beneath contempt.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd yet, on the journey, Borosan had proven himself clever. \u003ci\u003eAlmost too clever\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras' shadow fell over Borosan. \"I cannot believe you hid the fact that Empress Cyrsa had already left this place.\" He opened his arms wide to take in the gemstone city. \"We traveled across the known world, through strange lands and countless perils, and yet you kept that hidden from me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan smiled indulgently. \"It was not a matter of trust, Master Dejote. I had been given a secret mission by the Empress. I did not tell my father. I would not have told Prince Cyron, had he asked. You should not feel betrayed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe slender swordsman crouched beside his thickset companion, though he remained beyond the reach of the spiderlike \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e on which Borosan worked. \"I understand secrecy. Delivering the message to the people of Voraxan was very important. What would have happened if you had died on the way? The call would not have gone out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan shrugged. Both arms were elbow deep in the inner workings of the \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e's spherical body. \"I would imagine I was not the only person the Empress sent with her message. I'm just the first one to make it. And . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003ci\u003egyanridin\u003c\/i\u003e's right hand emerged from the magical machine's bowels and tossed Ciras a small, yellowed ivory cylinder with delicate script carved on it. \"If I died, there was always this.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras caught it. The writing was in the old Imperial script and therefore taxing to read. \"A poem?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"By Jaor Dirxi. A meditation on the beauty of a woman who became the Empress.\" Borosan nodded. \"I was told he inscribed the ivory himself.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe slender swordsman twisted the top and slid the end off. A small scroll of rice paper fell into his hand when he upended the cylinder. He unrolled it. It contained the message Borosan had delivered. \"Unsheathe your claws, spread your wings, and answer the call you have waited so long to hear.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hand that had wielded the brush had been strong yet delicate. Something else struck him about the note, but he could not immediately identify it. Then he raised the note to his nose and breathed in.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras' head snapped up. \"The scent. This wasn't written by the Empress. This was written by the Lady of Jet and Jade. My master knows her. I caught the scent on his robes . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan shook his head. \"You're too quick to jump to conclusions. You're correct in part. It \u003ci\u003ewas\u003c\/i\u003e written by the Lady of Jet and Jade. Why would you assume that she is not also the Empress?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras rocked back and sat staring at the ruby palace. The Empress had led an army of Mystics to destroy the Turasynd horde raiding from the north. Their grand battle released untold amounts of magical energy, which swept over the continent, triggering the Time of Black Ice. The Nine Principalities had been devastated, and even now were only beginning to match their former glory and power.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe swordsman from Tirat frowned. \"The Lady of Jet and Jade is a courtesan of incredible skill. She, too, is a Mystic, hence her longevity, but . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You must have known she became one of the last Emperor's wives as a gift from a courtier. What did you think she had been previous to that?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras shook his head. \"I know you people of Nalenyr think those of us from the islands are provincial, but we, too, have our houses of pleasure. I have no objection to the Lady of Jet and Jade, but she is no warrior, and yet, from the stories, I expected someone more like one of the Keru.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan laughed and closed the \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e's body. \"Yes, tall, strong, able to kill a charging elephant with a single spear thrust. Apparently skill at arms was not where her strength lay—and I don't intend that as a pun. She had the world's greatest warriors with her, many of whom are now being wakened from their Voraxan homes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And they will answer her call.\" Ciras shook his head. \"I wonder what she will ask them to do?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan stood and brushed his hands off. \"We will see when we return with them.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan bowed past Ciras to a slender man with a bald head. Ciras stood immediately and bowed as well. \"Greetings, Master Laedhze.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe warrior returned their bows. \"I have news to impart and a favor to ask.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Of course.\" Ciras answered for the both of them. \"Whatever you need.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVlay Laedhze waved a hand back toward the city. Throughout, people could be seen stirring within their jeweled homes. \"We are waking our companions, and many are consenting to answer the call.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras arched an eyebrow. \" 'Many'? I would have thought they all wanted to answer.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tall man brought his hands together and hung his head with resignation. \"I have little doubt they all intended to answer when they first lay themselves down. Over the years a few of them have done their duty when wakened and have departed Voraxan. Others returned to their homes here, and embraced the peace of this city. You have partaken of this.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras nodded. During his time in Voraxan he had slept very well. He had not once dreamed of violence or warfare. In dreams, he'd journeyed to far Tirat and visited his family. They knew nothing of his sojourns, but he was able to watch them and see that they were happy. That warmed his heart in a way quite beyond value.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaedhze smiled gently. \"The dreams are very seductive, and some will not awaken. And, alas, some of our companions have expired in their sleep. We know they have gone to a better place. They will rest happily in Kianmang, awaiting the call of another time to fight again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"So how many will we have?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We have a battalion.\" Laedhze nodded solemnly. \"We may have a few more.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras' stomach twisted in on itself. \"Two hundred forty-three warriors? Granted, they are all Mystics, but only three companies. How is that possible?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan caught Ciras' sleeve. \"Ask him how many survived the battle.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaedhze's expression became grim. \"Just over four hundred.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Not possible.\" Ciras tore his sleeve from Borosan's grasp. \"All the stories . . . Even this place . . . How could four hundred have created it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe warrior from Voraxan clasped his hands at the small of his back. \"You have traveled past the battlefield. You have seen how the corpses continue to fight. Such was the violence of that day—the venom of each man, the strength of his will—that even death will not release them. Would you care to see the scars I bear from that day? To say we triumphed is an exaggeration—we barely survived. We were the Empress' Bodyguard. There were two thousand of us held in reserve.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe rubbed a hand over his face. \"We were but a tenth of our army, and a twentieth of the horde we faced. The \u003ci\u003evanyesh\u003c\/i\u003e had already been broken, but had bled much of the Turasynd horde. By rights, the nomads should have retreated; but they believed the Empress had brought her treasury with her, so they came on. And came and came and came. And we killed and killed and killed.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras nodded, his anger ablated by the man's sober tone. \"But this place, four hundred of you, how could . . .\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You forget, Master Dejote, that this place was alive with wild magic. All of us were steeped in it. There were those of us who could work magic—not all the magicians belonged to Prince Nelesquin's \u003ci\u003evanyesh\u003c\/i\u003e. They and a Viruk companion of ours shaped the magic and made this place. They made it to be our haven. If what you tell me of Tolwreen is true, then \u003ci\u003evanyesh\u003c\/i\u003e survivors have done the same thing.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But not as well.\" Borosan shook his head. \"This place nourishes you, but Tolwreen is just a shabby mausoleum.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I am certain they would just as soon call this place a mausoleum, too.\" Laedhze looked up, his face again a pleasant mask. \"It is not a mausoleum, however, and we have not all just lain sleeping. It is with this in mind that I need your aid, Borosan Gryst. You may come, too, Master Dejote.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras agreed with a nod, his mind still reeling. The trio set off, with Borosan's \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e pacing them. Its metal feet ticked loudly on the onyx road, reminding Ciras of the ringing of one blade against another. The peace of Voraxan was something he would know no more, and he felt certain none of those waking would ever return to it, either.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaedhze led them into a bloodstone building and down a broad set of stairs. They emerged in what might once have been a natural cavern but had been shaped and carved into a stable of stone that extended into darkness. The nearest end had been transformed into a smithy, and though the fires were out, there was ample evidence that it had been very active throughout the ages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan gasped and drifted toward the nearest stall. \"I don't believe it. I have dreamed it, of course, but . . .\" He raised a hand and stroked a sleek metal muzzle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e had wandered forward, and there was a clear kinship between it and the tall mechanical horse Borosan stood admiring. The \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e had an insect's simplicity, but the steed revealed intricate gearing and springs, support pieces and joints. All the mechanical beasts had been decorated with plating, making them as beautiful as they were sturdy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaedhze pointed off into the darkness. \"When we awakened to rotate through sentinel duty, we each assembled at least one of these creatures. We were given plans for how they were to be constructed and examples of the pieces. The original plans have long since been lost, though each of us has memorized them. We know each beast is meant to be ridden, yet each is immobile. And we know no magic to make them work, though we are certain some must exist.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan moved into the stable and slowly made a circuit of the steed. He ran his hand over the flanks and along the neck, then reemerged at the head. He stared closely at it, then waved Ciras over. \"Come here. I need your help.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras frowned. \"Have you forgotten I want nothing to do with your \u003ci\u003egyanrigot\u003c\/i\u003e?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan looked back at him, incredulous. \"This isn't mine. I mean, I dreamed it, but this is more refined. It . . . I can't explain, but I need your help.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras approached reluctantly, and almost retreated when he saw himself reflected in the steed's dead ruby eyes. \"What do you need?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Up there, by the ear, there is a spring-loaded catch. Press down and in.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras did as he was bidden. Something clicked and he pulled his hand back fast, dropping it to the hilt of the sword at his waist. He reached out and tugged Borosan back with his other hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan smiled, but did not laugh. \"It won't hurt us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith a hiss the faceplate tipped up near the ears and extended straight out, coming down near the muzzle. At the same time the steed's head dipped, bringing the cavity behind the faceplate into clear view. The fact that the ruby eyes still stared at Ciras did not make him feel any better.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan stepped forward and poked at five narrow slots in a flat plate. \"Of course. Brilliant.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Voraxan warrior came forward. \"What is it, Master Borosan?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The one useful thing I discovered in Tolwreen was an alloy of \u003ci\u003ethaumston\u003c\/i\u003e, which could store both the wild magic and directions for the operation of a \u003ci\u003egyanrigot\u003c\/i\u003e. Made into command-slates and properly inscribed, they should power and direct one of these mounts. They work in the \u003ci\u003ethanaton\u003c\/i\u003e, so there is no reason they won't work here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras folded his arms over his chest. \"I will not ride one of those things.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorosan smiled. \"On our horses we can go maybe thirty miles in a day. What if these will take us sixty, and in half the time? In a quarter of it?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaedhze nodded solemnly. \"And think of these mounts in combat. Just their weight alone will shatter an enemy formation in a charge.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras frowned. \"And where is the heroism in that? It takes no skill and wins no honor.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe ancient warrior pressed his hands together. \"Our final battle was not a matter of skill. There was no honor to be won. It was a war of survival, and we did what we were required to do. We won \u003ci\u003ebecause\u003c\/i\u003e we survived.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCiras bowed. \"I mean to suggest no dishonor.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"And I did not think you had.\" Laedhze smiled cautiously. \"But the Empress has summoned us, and it is not to display skill or win glory. She summoned us because of dire peril. And so I will not hesitate to use whatever means are at my disposal to reach her side as fast as possible, and do her bidding with all the strength I possess.\"","brand":"Spectra","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300414443749,"sku":"NP9780553382396","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780553382396.jpg?v=1767740690","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-new-world-isbn-9780553382396","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}