The Demon Cycle Books 1-3 and Novellas: The Painted Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War plus The Great Bazaar and Brayan’s Gold and Messenger’s Legacy. Peter V. Brett

took control of the transition; I dragged the demon back up to the sun. Even now, I can feel the pull of the Core. If I let myself, I could slip down into its infernal depths with the other corelings.’

      ‘The wards …’ Leesha began.

      ‘It’s not the wards,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I’m telling you it’s me. I’ve absorbed too much of their magic over the years. I’m not even human anymore. Who knows what kind of monster would spring from my seed?’

      Leesha went to him, taking his face in her hands as she had that morning they made love. ‘You’re a good man,’ she said, her eyes welling with tears. ‘Whatever the magic has done to you, it hasn’t changed that. Nothing else matters.’

      She leaned in to kiss him, but he had hardened his heart to her, and held her back.

      ‘It matters to me,’ he said. ‘Until I know what I am, I can’t be with you, or anyone.’

      ‘Then I’ll discover what you are,’ Leesha said. ‘I swear it.’

      ‘Leesha,’ he said, ‘you can’t …’

      ‘Don’t you tell me what I can’t do!’ she barked. ‘I’ve had enough of that from others to last a lifetime.’

      He held up his hands in submission. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

      Leesha sniffed, and closed her hands over his. ‘Don’t be sorry,’ she said. ‘This is a condition to diagnose and cure, like any other.’

      ‘I’m not sick,’ the Painted Man said.

      She looked at him sadly. ‘I know that,’ she said, ‘but it seems you don’t.’

      Out in the Krasian desert, there was a stirring on the horizon. Lines of men appeared, thousand upon thousand, swathed in loose black cloth drawn about their faces to ward off the stinging sand. The vanguard was composed of two mounted groups, the smaller riding light, quick horses, and the larger upon powerful humped beasts suited to desert crossings. They were followed by columns of footmen, and they, in turn, by a seemingly endless train of carts and supplies. Each warrior carried a spear etched with an intricate pattern of wards.

      At their head rode a man dressed all in white, on top of a sleek charger of the same colour. He raised a hand, and the horde behind him halted and stood in silence to gaze upon the ruins of Anoch Sun.

      Unlike the wood and iron spears of his warriors, this man carried an ancient weapon made of a bright, unknown metal. He was Ahmann asu Hoshkamin am’Jardir, but his people had not used that name in years.

      They called him Shar’Dama Ka, the Deliverer.

       Acknowledgements

      Special thanks to all the people who test-read this book: Dani, Myke, Amelia, Neil, Matt, Joshua, Steve, Mom, Dad, Trisha, Netta & Cobie. Your advice and encouragement made it possible for me to turn a hobby into something more. And to my editors, Liz & Emma, who took a chance on a new author and challenged me to exceed even my own high standards. I could never have done it without you.

      

      THE DESERT SPEAR

      PETER V. BRETT

       Dedication

      For Dani and Cassie.

      Contents

Title Page
Dedication
Map
Prologue: Mind Demons
Section I: Victory Without Honor
Chapter 1: Fort Rizon
Chapter 2: Abban
Chapter 3: Chin
Chapter 4: Losing the Bido