Seconds flowed into minutes flowed into what felt like hours, but finally, his strength began to return, and with a howl of anger and frustration and pain, he hauled himself up the wall, claws gouging rock, sending sparks showering around his muzzled face. Up he climbed, suddenly realising how far he had fallen, and slid, and he glanced back into the gaping black chasm which had claimed the lives of the other soldiers and walriders.
“Bastard,” he growled, and finally reached the jagged, curved lip of the trail and hauled himself onto what remained of the decimated pathway.
He lay on his back for a while, panting, blood in his eyes from a gash opened by a falling rock.
Snow started to fall, a gentle tumbling of pretty white flakes, soothing, calming, and for long minutes, it appeared the huge walrider was sleeping.
Then Five Stripe opened his eyes with a click and growled, and sat upright.
“I’m coming for you, Robert Jones. Your time in this world is done. Your eyes and your soul belong to me now.”
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Lee Harris, for giving me the chance to publish this novella. Thanks to John Jarrold, for his great advice and afternoon lunches. Thanks to Roy, for being a rock, Kareem for the training and bourbon tasting sessions, to Ian Graham for his continued friendship, and heartfelt thanks to my test readers, and my proofreader MDV, who all contribute to make my writing seem professional (ha!). Finally, a big shout-out to the Branston Crew!
About the Author
Photograph by Joseph Remic
Andy Remic started his author career writing high-octane science fiction novels but soon graduated to epic fantasy. His writing is relentless, passionate, visceral. It’s the literary equivalent of an extreme sport and should come with a government health warning. Described by many as the natural successor to David Gemmell, Remic enjoys pummeling his readers with scene after scene of action and mayhem. He also enjoys pummeling his characters.
You’ll never be bored with a Remic novel!
www.andyremic.com
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Also by Andy Remic
A Song for No Man’s Land
Kell’s Legend
Soul Stealers
Vampire Warlords
The Iron Wolves
The White Towers
The Dragon Engine
Spiral
Quake
Warhead
Serial Killers Incorporated
Biohell
Hardcore
Cloneworld
Theme Planet
Toxicity
SIM
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Author’s Note
Part One
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
Part Two
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Part Three
18
19
20
21
22
23
Part Four
24
25
26
27
28
29
About the Author
Also by Andy Remic
Copyright Page
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novella are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
RETURN OF SOULS
Copyright © 2016 by Andy Remic
Cover art by Jeffrey Alan Love
Cover design by Christine Foltzer
Edited by Lee Harris
All rights reserved.
A Tor.com Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
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New York, NY 10010
www.tor.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
ISBN 978-0-7653-8402-7 (ebook)
ISBN 978-0-7653-9024-0 (trade paperback)
First Edition: June 2016
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