Daughter of the Blood
Praise for award-winning author Anne Bishop
Daughter of the Blood
“A terrific writer…. The more I read, the more excited I became because of the freshness of [her] take on the usual high fantasy setting, the assurance of [her] language, all the lovely touches of characterization that [she slips] in so effortlessly.”
—Charles de Lint
“Darkly mesmerizing…[a] fascinating, dark world.”
—Locus
“Vividly painted…dramatic, erotic, hope-filled.”
—Lynn Flewelling
“Lavishly sensual…a richly detailed world based on a reversal of standard genre cliches.”
—Library Journal
“Intense…erotic, violent, and imaginative. This one is white-hot.”
—Nancy Kress
“A fabulous new talent…a uniquely realized fantasy filled with vibrant colors and rich textures. A wonderful new voice, Ms. Bishop holds us spellbound from the very first page.”
—Romantic Times (4½ stars)
“Anne Bishop has scored a hit…. Her poignant storytelling skills are surpassed only by her flair for the dramatic and her deft characterization…. A talented author.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“Mystical, sensual, glittering with dark magic, Anne Bishop’s debut novel brings a strong new voice to the fantasy field.”
—Terri Windling, coeditor of The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror
“Dark, intricate, and disturbing.”
—Josepha Sherman, author of Forging the Runes
“Has immense appeal for fans of dark fantasy or horror. Most highly recommended.”
—Hypatia’s Hoard
“A high-voltage ride through a new realm. Bishop draws her characters with acute emotion [and] leaves the reader lusting for her next novel.”
—Lois H. Gresh, coauthor of The Termination Node
“Dark, morbid, sinister, and yet it holds you completely fascinated and spellbound by its beauty. Once I’d begun reading…I couldn’t bring myself to put down the book and leave the world that Anne Bishop had magically spun around me…. Rich in both positive and negative emotions, and intense in its portrayal of human behavior and human desires…one of the most original and readable books in the fantasy genre.”
—The 11th Hour
Heir to the Shadows
“Daemon, Lucivar, and Saetan ooze more sex appeal than any three fictional characters created in a very long time.”
—The Romance Reader
“Heir to the Shadows isn’t as dark as its predecessor…. All the other elements that made the first book such a gripping read are present: vivid and sympathetic characters, a fascinating and fully realized magical system…lavish and sensuous descriptions, and interesting world building that turns traditional gender roles and concepts of dominance and submission on their heads…. It’s a terrific read, and I highly recommend both it and Daughter of the Blood.”
—SF Site
“Bishop seems to delight in turning fantasy conventions on their heads…. Still darkly opulent, often exotic.”
—Locus
“The fabulous talent of Anne Bishop is showcased in Heir to the Shadows…. Ms. Bishop’s striking magical concepts and powerful images are wonderfully leavened with unexpected dash and humor, creating an irresistible treat for fantasy fans.”
—Romantic Times
Queen of the Darkness
“As engaging, as strongly characterized, and as fully conceived as its predecessors…a perfect—and very moving—conclusion.”
—SF Site
“A storyteller of stunning intensity, Ms. Bishop has a knack for appealing but complex characterization realized in a richly drawn, imaginative ambiance.”
—Romantic Times
“A powerful finale for this fascinating, uniquely dark trilogy.”
—Locus
Dreams Made Flesh
“Fans of Bishop’s Black Jewels Trilogy won’t want to miss this new collection.”
—Locus
“[Full of] sensual richness.”
—Library Journal
“Will delight [Bishop’s] fans…carefully written with lovely language and great characterization and humor.”
—SFRevu
“Exciting, entertaining, and exotic tales…absolutely riveting romantic fantasy…a great character study…beautiful.”
—Midwest Book Review
The Invisible Ring
“Plenty of adventure, romance, dazzling wizardly pyrotechnics, and [a] unique and fascinating hierarchical magic system…. Darkly macabre with spine-tingling emotional intensity, mesmerizing magic, lush sensuality, and exciting action, all set in a thoroughly detailed invented world of cultures in conflict…The Invisible Ring will serve as an enticement, whetting the appetite to explore more of the realms in The Black Jewels Trilogy. It and its predecessors are genuine gems of fantasy much to be prized.”
—SF Site
“[An] entertaining otherworld fantasy adventure with battles and dangers and chases. Fresh and interesting.”
—Chronicle
“A weird but highly diverting and oddly heartwarming mix.”
—Locus
“A formidable talent, Ms. Bishop weaves another intense emotional tale that sparkles with powerful and imaginative magic.”
—Romantic Times
Sebastian
“Erotic, fervently romantic, superbly entertaining, Sebastian satisfies.”
—Booklist
“Bishop’s talents lie both in her ability to craft a story filled with intriguing characters and in her flair for smoldering sensuality that recommends her to fans of Tanith Lee, Storm Constantine, and Anne Rice. Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal
“Pure originality and lyrical prose…. Tender romances and friendships will delight fantasy readers tired of gore and lust.”
—Publishers Weekly
ALSO BY ANNE BISHOP
THE EPHEMERA SERIES
Sebastian
Belladonna
THE BLACK JEWELS SERIES
Heir to the Shadows
Queen of the Darkness
The Invisible Ring
Dreams Made Flesh
THE TIR ALAINN TRILOGY
Pillars of the World
Shadows and Light
The House of Gaian
ANNE BISHOP
DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD
Book I of
The Black Jewels Trilogy
ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Share, Auckland 1311, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a Roc mass market edition and as part of the Roc trade paperback omnibus edition of The Black Jewels Trilogy.
Copyright © Anne Bishop, 1998
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
ISBN: 9781101419045
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
For
Blair Boone
and
Charles de Lint
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
JEWELS
BLOOD HIERARCHY/CASTES
PROLOGUE
PART I
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
PART II
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
PART III
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acknowledgments
Every creative endeavor, especially the creative endeavor we call Life, is a journey of many. My thanks to the friends and neighbors who make that endeavor a joyous one, and to the members of Spin-a-Story Tellers for the stories shared in performance and around the table. A special thanks to Kathy and Blair Boone, Nadine and Mike Fallacaro, Pat and Bill Feidner, Neil Schmitz, Grace Tongue, Ellen Datlow, Charles de Lint, Nancy Kress, Pat York, Laura Anne Gilman, Jennifer Jackson—and you who have picked up this book to share in the wonder of Story.
Jewels
White
Yellow
Tiger Eye
Rose
Summer-sky
Purple Dusk
Opal*
Green
Sapphire
Red
Gray
Ebon-gray
Black
*Opal is the dividing line between lighter and darker Jewels because it can be either.
When making the Offering to the Darkness, a person can descend a maximum of three ranks from his/her Birthright Jewel.
Example: Birthright White could descend to Rose.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The “Sc” in the names Scelt, Sceval, and Sceron is pronounced “Sh.”
Blood Hierarchy/Castes
MALES:
landen—non-Blood of any race
Blood male—a general term for all males of the Blood; also refers to any Blood male who doesn’t wear Jewels
Warlord—a Jeweled male equal in status to a witch
Prince—a Jeweled male equal in status to a Priestess or a Healer
Warlord Prince—a dangerous, extremely aggressive Jeweled male; in status, slightly lower than a Queen
FEMALES:
landen—non-Blood of any race
Blood female—a general term for all females of the Blood; mostly refers to any Blood female who doesn’t wear Jewels
witch—a Blood female who wears Jewels but isn’t one of the other hierarchical levels; also refers to any Jeweled female.
Healer—a witch who heals physical wounds and illnesses; equal in status to a Priestess and a Prince
Priestess—a witch who cares for altars, Sanctuaries, and Dark Altars; witnesses handfasts and marriages; performs offerings; equal in status to a Healer and a Prince
Black Widow—a witch who heals the mind; weaves the tangled webs of dreams and visions; is trained in illusions and poisons
Queen—a witch who rules the Blood; is considered to be the land’s heart and the Blood’s moral center; as such, she is the focal point of their society
PROLOGUE
Terreille
I am Tersa the Weaver, Tersa the Liar, Tersa the Fool.
When the Blood-Jeweled Lords and Ladies hold a banquet, I’m the entertainment that comes after the musicians have played and the lithesome girls and boys have danced and the Lords have drunk too much wine and demand to have their fortunes told. “Tell us a story, Weaver,” they yell as their hands pass over the serving girls’ rumps and their Ladies eye the young men and decide who will have the painful pleasure of serving in the bed that night.
I was one of them once, Blood as they are Blood.
No, that’s not true. I wasn’t Blood as they are Blood. That’s why I was broken on a Warlord’s spear and became shattered glass that only reflects what might have been.
It’s hard to break a Blood-Jeweled male, but a witch’s life hangs by the hymenal thread, and what happens on her Virgin Night determines whether she is whole to practice the Craft or becomes a broken vessel, forever aching for the part of her that’s lost. Oh, some magic always remains, enough for day-to-day living and parlor tricks, but not the Craft, not the lifeblood of our kind.
But the Craft can be reclaimed—if one is willing to pay the price.
When I was younger, I fought against that final slide into the Twisted Kingdom. Better to be broken and sane than broken and mad. Better to see the world and know a tree for a tree, a flower for a flower rather than to look through gauze at gray and ghostly shapes and see clearly only the shards of one’s self.
So I thought then.
As I shuffle to the low stool, I struggle to stay at the edge of the Twisted Kingdom and see the physical world clearly one last time. I carefully place the wooden frame that holds my tangled web, the web of dreams and visions, on the small table near the stool.
The Lords and Ladies expect me to tell their fortunes, and I always have, not by magic but by keeping my eyes and ears open and then telling them what they want to hear.
Simple. No magic to it.
But not tonight.
For days now I have heard a strange kind of thunder, a distant calling. Last night I surrendered to madness in order to reclaim my Craft as a Black Widow, a witch of the Hourglass covens. Last night I wove a tangled web to see the dreams and visions.
Tonight there will be no fortunes. I have the strength to say this only once. I must be sure that those who must hear it are in the room before I speak.
I wait. They don’t notice. Glasses are filled and refilled as I fight to stay on the edge of the Twisted Kingdom.
Ah, there he is. Daemon Sadi, from the Territory called Hayll. He’s beautiful, bitter, cruel. He has a seducer’s smile and a body women want to touch and be caressed by, but he’s filled with a cold, unquenchable rage. When the Ladies talk about his bedroom skills, the words they whisper are “excruciating pleasure.” I don’t doubt he’s enough of a sadist to mix pain and pleasure in equal portions, but he’s always been kind to me, and it’s a small bone of hope that I throw out to him tonight. Still, it’s more than anyone else has given him.
The Lords and Ladies grow restless. I usually don’t take this long to begin my pronouncements. Agitation and annoyance build, but I wait. After tonight, it will make no difference.
There’s the other one, in the opposite corner of the room. Lucivar Yaslana, the Eyrien half-breed from the Territory called Askavi.
Hayll has no love for Askavi, nor Askavi for Hayll, but Daemon and Lucivar are drawn to one another without understanding why, so wound into each other’s lives they cannot separate. Uneasy friends, they have fought legendary battles, have destroyed so many courts the Blood are afraid to have them together for any length of time.
I raise my hands, let them fall into my lap. Daemon watches me. Nothing about him has changed, but I know he’s waiting, listening. And because he’s listening, Lucivar listens too.
“She is coming.”
At first they don’t realize I’ve spoken. Then the angry murmurs begin when the words are understood.
“Stupid bitch,” someone yells. “Tell me who I’ll love tonight.”
“What does it matter?” I answer. “She is coming. The Realm of Terreille will be torn apart by its own foolish greed. Those who survive will serve, but few will survive.”
I’m slipping farther from the edge. Tears of frustration spill down my cheeks. Not yet. Sweet Darkness, not yet. I must say this.
Daemon kneels beside me, his hands covering mine. I speak to him, only to him, and through him, to Lucivar.
“The Blood in Terreille whore the old ways and make a mockery of everything we are.” I wave my hand to indicate the ones who now rule. “They twist things to suit themselves. They dress up and pretend. They wear Blood Jewels but don’t understand what it means to be Blood. They talk of honoring the Darkness, but it’s a lie. They honor nothing but their own ambitions. The Blood were created to be the caretakers of the Realms. That’s why we were given our power. That’s why we come from, yet are apart from, the people in every Territory. The perversion of what we are can’t go on. The day is coming when the debt will be called in, and the Blood will have to answer for what they’ve become.”