Barren. Peter Brett V.

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       Copyright

      HarperVoyager

      An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

      1 London Bridge Street

      London SE1 9GF

       www.harpercollins.co.uk

      First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

      Copyright © Peter V. Brett 2018

      Ward artwork designed by Lauren K. Cannon, copyright © Peter V. Brett

      Cover design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018

      Cover texture © Shutterstock.com

      Peter V. Brett asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

      A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

      This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

      All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

      Source ISBN: 9780008234126

      Ebook Edition © July 2018 ISBN: 9780008234133

      Version: 2018-10-02

       Dedication

       For John Brett Jr. 1970–97 It gets easier, but it never gets easy.

       ‘Know Messengers are in short supply, Leesha.’ Renna’s voice was unusually timid. ‘But if you could spare one for Tibbet’s Brook …’

      ‘We sent one immediately after the attack,’ Leesha said. ‘But Tibbet’s Brook is a long journey, even on warded horseshoes.

       Renna grunted. ‘Even on a straight round trip, it will be new moon again by the time you get an answer.’

       Again the dice clattered.

       Inevera breathed. ‘I see a village entire, dancing like puppets to a demon’s strings. I see brother killing sister, father killing son.

       ‘I see an empty cradle.’

       Map

      Contents

       Cover

       Title Page

      Copyright

      Dedication

       Prophecy

      Map

Chapter 1: Greatward

Chapter 2: The Square Girls’ Club

       Chapter 3: The Hive

       Chapter 4: Far as We Need

       Chapter 5: The Vote

      About the Author

      By the Same Author

       About the Publisher

       1

       Greatward

      334 AR Summer

      Selia shifted, wrapping her arms tighter around the body next to her. Smooth skin with hard muscle beneath, warm like a crock filled with fresh-baked cookies. She put her nose into the thick braid of hair and inhaled. The scent was euphoric.

      Selia’s eyes popped open.

      ‘Night, girl!’ She gave Lesa a shove to wake her. ‘Fell asleep again!’

      Selia glanced at the window, where a faint glow shone through the shutter slats of her house. ‘Nearly sun-up. You’ve got to get—!’

      ‘Shhhhhh.’ Lesa reached a hand behind her, stroking Selia’s face until her calloused fingers settled gently on Selia’s lips. ‘Mam and Da went up to Jeph Bales’ farm to help prepare. Never know I ent been home.’

      Lesa snuggled back into the feathered pillow, quickly falling back to sleep. Selia drew a deep breath and curled around her, attempting the same. Lesa was right.

      But Selia had never been good at sleeping when there were problems to worry at. Lesa’s parents СКАЧАТЬ