Blood Song [Paperback]

“The Sixth Order wields the sword of justice and smites the enemies of the Faith and the Realm.

 Vaelin Al Sorna was only a child of ten when his father left him at the iron gate of the Sixth Order—a caste devoted to battle. Vaelin will be trained and hardened to the austere, celibate and dangerous life of a warrior of the Faith. He has no family now save the Order.

Vaelin’s father was Battle Lord to King Janus, ruler of the Unified Realm—and Vaelin’s rage at being deprived of his birthright knows no bounds. Even his cherished memories of his mother are soon challenged by what he learns within the Order.

But one truth overpowers all the rest: Vaelin Al Sorna is destined for a future he has yet to comprehend. A future that will alter not only the Realm, but the world. Ryan hits all the high notes of epic fantasy—a gritty setting, ancient magics, ruthless intrigue, divided loyalties and bloody action. —Publishers Weekly

“Just impossible to put down…I had to read it ASAP and to reread it immediately on finishing, as I could not part from the wonderful universe the author created.”—Fantasy Book Critic

“Anthony Ryan is a new fantasy author destined to make his mark on the genre...A new master storyteller has hit the scene.”—Michael J. Sullivan, author of the Riyria Revelations seriesAnthony Ryanis the author of the Raven's Shadow novelsBlood Song,Tower Lord, and Queen of Fire. He lives in London.PART I

Raven’s shadow

Sweeps across my heart,

Freezes the torrent of my tears.

—SEORDAH POEM, AUTHOR UNKNOWN

VERNIERS’ ACCOUNT

He had many names. Although yet to reach his thirtieth year, history had seen fit to bestow upon him titles aplenty: Sword of the Realm to the mad king who sent him to plague us, the Young Hawk to the men who followed him thrlƒÐ