Suddenly Beauceron smiled. ‘Do you remember when we used to play raiders?’
Eilla laughed. ‘And now you are truly King of the Raiders.’
At least I have never stolen a cow.’
‘I have enough of my own now,’ she said. ‘I no longer need to dare such extravagance.’
They had returned to where Beauceron’s gallumpher was tethered. ‘I should leave now, Eilla: my men are far ahead and I must join them. I am glad I have seen you.’
‘Even though you have not found what you hoped to find.’
Beauceron leaned forward and embraced her one last time. ‘I have found you safe, healthy, happy. I do not think we shall meet again: it gladdens me to think of you like this. Goodbye, Eilla.’
She reached out and took his hand as he mounted the gallumpher. ‘Goodbye, Arren,’ she said through a voice choked with tears.
Beauceron gently spurred his gallumpher into motion. As the track turned away into the wood he looked back to see her watching his departure with an unreadable expression. With a hand raised in salute he dug his heels into the gal-lumpher’s side and Eilla was lost from view.
Eilla walked back to the cesspit, drying her eyes on her sleeve. She called softly: ‘Arren, you can come out now. The raider is gone.’
And young Arren clambered from the pit into his mother’s waiting arms, to wonder at the fervour of the kisses she rained upon his head.
The DOG of the NORTH
Tim Stretton was born on the Isle of Wight in 1967. A graduate in English and American Literature, he now lives in West Sussex.
Acknowledgements
Although there is only one name on the cover, many hands go into the making of a book. Patrick Dusoulier, Paul Rhoads and Steve Sherman all believed in The Dog of the North before it was published, and made many useful suggestions to the early drafts. Greg and Kate Mosse also provided technical advice, encouragement and the suggestion that I submit the book to Macmillan New Writing. At Macmillan, I’m indebted to my editor Will Atkins, both for having faith in the book in the first place, and for his invaluable editorial comments.
I’d like also to mention Jack Vance, for writing better than anyone else the kind of books I like to read – books that made me realize I wanted to be a writer too. For over a quarter of a century his writing has inspired and delighted in equal measure.
Finally I should say a big thank you to Sue and Danielle for accepting uncomplainingly the ruthlessness with which I’ve appropriated evenings and weekends in pursuit of my writing, the most unforgiving and demanding mistress of all.
Principal Characters
Arren
Son of Darrien
Beauceron
‘The Dog of the North’, brigand captain of Mettingloom
Brissio
Heir to the Winter Throne of Mettingloom, son of King Fanrolio
Coppercake
Tutor of mathematics and adviser to Lord Thaume
Cosetta
Companion to Lady Isola
Darrien
Captain of Lord Thaume’s Guard
Davanzato
Under-Chamberlain to King Fanrolio
Eilla
Daughter of Croad’s master mason Jandille
Fanrolio
Winter King of Mettingloom
Goccio
Knight of the Summer Court, Mettingloom
Guigot
Nephew of Lord Thaume
Isola
Daughter of Lord Sprang of Sey
Laertio
Langlan
Knight of Emmen, adviser to Lord Thaume
Monetto
Beauceron’s lieutenant
Mongrissore
Legulier
Oricien
Son and heir to Lord Thaume
Panarre
Duke of Lynnoc; liege-lord of Lord Thaume
Pinch
Thaumaturge in the service of Lord Thaume
Raugier
Lord High Viator, Emmen
Siedra
Daughter of Lord Thaume
Tardolio
Summer King of Mettingloom
Thaume
Lord of Croad
Virnesto
Captain-General of the Winter Armies, Mettingloom
First published 2008 by Macmillan New Writing
First published in paperback 2009 by Tor
This electronic edition published 2010 by Tor
an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
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ISBN 978-0-230-73848-5 PDF
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Copyright © Tim Stretton 2008
The right of Tim Stretton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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