Engines of chaos, p.1
Engines of Chaos, page 1
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by R. S. Ford
Excerpt from Engines of War copyright © 2023 by R. S. Ford
Excerpt from The Sword Defiant copyright © 2023 by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
Cover design and illustration by Mike Heath | Magnus Creative
Cover copyright © 2023 by Hachette Book Group
Map by Tim Paul
Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Orbit
Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
orbitbooks.net
First Edition: April 2023
Orbit is an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
The Orbit name and logo are trademarks of Little, Brown Book Group Limited.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to hachettespeakersbureau.com or email HachetteSpeakers@hbgusa.com.
Orbit books may be purchased in bulk for business, educational, or promotional use. For information, please contact your local bookseller or the Hachette Book Group Special Markets Department at special.markets@hbgusa.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ford, R. S. (Richard S.) author.
Title: Engines of chaos / R.S. Ford.
Description: First Edition. | New York, NY : Orbit, 2023. | Series: The Age of Uprising ; book 2
Identifiers: LCCN 2022032645 | ISBN 9780316629614 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780316629607 (ebook)
Subjects: LCGFT: Novels.
Classification: LCC PR6106.O757 E53 2023 | DDC 823/.92—dc23/eng/20220711
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022032645
ISBNs: 9780316629614 (trade paperback), 9780316629607 (ebook)
E3-20230210-JV-NF-ORI
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Map
Dramatis Personae
Prologue
Part One: The Spider and the Wyrm Rosomon
Tyreta
Conall
Lancelin
Keara
Conall
Rosomon
Tyreta
Ansell
Conall
Lancelin
Ansell
Keara
Lancelin
Conall
Ansell
Tyreta
Rosomon
Keara
Ansell
Conall
Tyreta
Ansell
Keara
Rosomon
Lancelin
Conall
Ansell
Rosomon
Verlyn
Part Two: A Legacy of Hate Conall
Tyreta
Keara
Rosomon
Conall
Fulren
Ansell
Conall
Rosomon
Fulren
Conall
Tyreta
Keara
The Battle of Oakhelm
Fulren
Tyreta
Ansell
Keara
Fulren
Tyreta
Keara
Conall
Rosomon
Keara
Ansell
Tyreta
Fulren
Keara
Conall
Rosomon
Epilogue
Credits
Discover More
Extras Meet the Author
A Preview of Engines of War
A Preview of The Sword Defiant
Also by R. S. Ford
For Christian Dunn. Who published a short story about twenty years ago and made me believe I could actually do this. I’m still not sure he was right…
Explore book giveaways, sneak peeks, deals, and more.
Tap here to learn more.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
THE HAWKSPURS
Conall Hawkspur—Son of Rosomon. Captain of the Talon.
Crenn—An artificer.
Faiza—A lieutenant in the Talon.
Fulren Hawkspur—Son of Rosomon. A skilled artificer. (Deceased.)
Melrone Hawkspur—Husband of Rosomon. (Deceased.)
Rosomon Hawkspur—Guildmaster. Mother to Conall, Fulren and Tyreta.
Starn Rivers—Swordwright of the Hawkspur Guild. (Deceased.)
Stediana Walden—Sted. A lieutenant in the Talon.
Tyreta Hawkspur—Daughter of Rosomon. A webwainer.
THE ARCHWINDS
Ianto Fray—Imperator of the Titanguard.
Kassian Maine—Former swordwright to Treon Archwind.
Lancelin Jagdor—The Hawkslayer. Swordwright of the Archwind Guild.
Lorens Archwind—Eldest son of Sullivar and Oriel.
Oriel Archwind—Wife of Sullivar.
Philbert Kerrick—An artificer.
Sullivar Archwind—Emperor of Torwyn. (Deceased.)
Treon Archwind—Father of Rosomon and Sullivar. (Deceased.)
Wyllow Archwind—Youngest son of Sullivar and Oriel. A webwainer. (Deceased.)
THE CORWENS
Rearden Corwen—Guildmaster.
Wachelm—A junior actuary of the Corwen Guild.
THE IRONFALLS
Maugar Ironfall—Swordwright of the Ironfall Guild. Brother to Wymar.
Wymar Ironfall—Guildmaster. Brother to Maugar.
Xorya Ironfall—Swordwright-in-training. Daughter of Maugar.
THE MARRLOCKS
Borys Marrlock—Son of Oleksig and swordwright of the Guild.
Donan Marrlock—A minor member of the Guild.
Emony Marrlock—Youngest daughter of Oleksig.
Oleksig Marrlock—Guildmaster.
THE RADWINTERS
Becuma—A senior representative of the Radwinter Guild.
Jarlath Radwinter—Guildmaster.
Mincloth Radwinter—Wife of Jarlath.
Thalleus Brisco—Swordwright of the Radwinter Guild.
THE HALLOWHILLS
Hesse Fortuna—Associate of Keara. A webwainer.
Ingelram Hallowhill—Guildmaster.
Keara Hallowhill—Daughter of Ingelram. A webwainer.
Lucasta Hallowhill—Mother to Keara. A webwainer. (Presumed deceased.)
Ulger Vine—Associate of Keara. A webwainer.
THE DRACONATE MINISTRY
Ansell Beckenrike—Knight Commander of the Drakes.
Everis—A junior knight of the Drakes.
Falcar—A young and handsome knight of the Drakes.
Gylbard—Former Archlegate. (Deceased.)
Hisolda—High Legate of Vermitrix.
Hurden—A stern knight of the Drakes.
Lugard—A pious veteran of the Drakes.
Olstrum Garner—Sanctan’s consul.
Regenwulf—A respected veteran of the Drakes.
Sanctan Egelrath—Archlegate.
Willet Kinloth—A junior legate.
IPERION MAGNA
Baenre Mokhtar—Servant of Senmonthis.
Mikal—Prisoner of Senmonthis.
Nylia of Amenak—Prisoner of Senmonthis and friend to Conall.
Orsokon—Warmaven of Arcturius.
Ramassen the Ox—Prisoner of Senmonthis and former pit fighter.
Senmonthis—Scion of Arcturius.
THE ARMIGERS
Draga—Captain of the Mantid Battalion.
Kagan Terswell—Frontier marshal of the Griffin Battalion.
Moraide—Captain of the Viper Battalion.
Rawlin—Drift marshal of the Bloodwolf Battalion.
Sarona—Drift marshal of the Ursus Battalion.
Sonnheld—Frontier marshal of the Viper Battalion.
Tarjan—Drift marshal of the Corvus Battalion.
Ultan—Captain of the Ursus Battalion.
Westley Tarrien—Marshal of the Phoenix Battalion.
PEOPLE OF TORWYN
Ashe Tyburn—Fugitive artificer. Lover of Verlyn.
Nicosse Merigot—Disgraced artificer. Brother of Lysander.
Grace—Daughter of Jessamine and Sanctan.
Jessamine—Lover of Sanctan. Mother to Grace.
Lysander Merigot—Disgraced artificer. Brother of Nicosse.
Verlyn—An unsanctioned webwainer. Lover of Ashe.
ORGANISATIONS OF TORWYN
Armiger Battalions—Military legions that defend Torwyn from foreign threats and protect its interests abroad. The eleven battalions are Auroch, Bloodwolf, Corvus, Griffin, Kraken, Mantid, Phoenix, Raptor, Tigris, Ursus, Viper.
Draconate Ministry—The ecclesiastic power in Torwyn, led by the Archlegate, which worships the five Great Wyrms:<
Ammenodus Rex—Great Wyrm of War.
Ravenothrax the Unvanquished—Great Wyrm of Death.
Saphenodon—Great Wyrm of Knowledge.
Undometh—Great Wyrm of Vengeance.
Vermitrix—Great Wyrm of Peace.
Guilds—The ruling power in Torwyn. The six major Guilds are:
Archwind Guild—Most powerful Guild in Torwyn, specialising in artifice. Its military arm is known as the Titanguard.
Corwen Guild—The nation’s administrators. Its military arm is known as the Revocaters.
Hawkspur Guild—Controls transit. Its military arm is known as the Talon.
Ironfall Guild—Works the forges. Its military arm is known as the Blackshields.
Marrlock Guild—Mines for ore and pyrestone.
Radwinter Guild—Responsible for farming and lumber.
PROLOGUE
The needle dug deep into his forearm, his right hand steady as he carved the last letter into his flesh. He gritted his teeth against the pain, but there was no way he’d show an ounce of discomfort in front of this gathering.
Every now and then he dipped the needle into a well of ink that pooled on top of a rock. The mark had to be permanent, had to show his commitment to this gang. Every eye watched intently as the final letter formed on his arm and the name they’d given him stood out stark against his bare skin.
Stone. It was the only word he could spell with any accuracy. This adopted family had picked it on account of his stubborn head and stout fists. His own family were dead and gone. His mother before he could remember her. His father not three winters ago. Stone could remember those last days—his father coughing up oily shit from the manufactories, looking and sounding older than his years. But the blacklung came for everyone who worked the forges and refineries sooner or later. Even now, the smog hung over them, clinging to the sky above the Burrows.
When finally he’d finished, his arm bleeding like fuck, Stone put the needle back down. Coins wiped his arm for him, round face grinning, more of a leer than a smile. Queen Clariss rose to her feet. She was the oldest and best dressed of all of them, though that wasn’t saying much. The girl sported a blue velvet jacket, frayed about the hem, stained about the sleeve, but still a sight better than what anyone else wore. Her boots were black and muddy, hair tied in a bright red band instead of a crown.
“Stone,” she said, voice making a little whistle on account of her missing front tooth. “Welcome to the Clan of Bastards.”
Someone started clapping and the rest joined in. Stone stood up to a cacophony of whoops and cheers, and everyone was looking at him with pride. He could put a name to every dirty face—Diamond Tooth, Jaffer Threetoes, Mad Dog Mace, Claiburn the Jester, Ranley Scars, Henny the Razor, Lysa Smokes, Vic the Shark. Now there was Stone to join those names. Another member of the Clan of Bastards, the wiliest street gang in the whole of the Anvil. Or so they told themselves. Stone knew it wasn’t true. There were plenty of wilier gangs besides this, but it wouldn’t do to point that out.
As he looked around at the mob standing in that old crumbling building, the skeleton of what might once have been an artisan’s school or a Guild embassy, Stone felt a part of something, no longer looking in like a stranger. Now he was one of them.
Queen Clariss took her place on the cracked dais of some missing statue. There was a serious look to her youthful features.
“Now we’ve got that shit out of the way, let’s get on to the first order of business,” she said. “Our next job’s gonna be big. We’re gonna hit a Marrlock warehouse. There’s one sitting right on the Riveryard and it’s too tempting to ignore.”
“Fucking Marrlock Guild?” replied Diamond Tooth, through teeth that were conspicuously bereft of diamonds. Stone could hear the fear in his voice. “That is big. How are we supposed to rip that place off?”
“I’ve got it all planned out,” Clariss said. “Won’t be nothing to it. As long as you all do your bit we can be in and out with enough pyrestone to see us all living like Guildmasters. Them Marrlocks won’t even see us coming.”
Stone could see some of them were up for it, their faces greedy and needy. Others weren’t so sure. Least of all Coins.
“Never mind the fucking Marrlock Guild,” he said in his little voice. “We all know what’s waiting down at the Riveryard. And I’m not so sure I want to go strolling around in there, especially after dark.”
That put a dampener on the enthusiasm. They all knew the rumours and the truth that went along with them. People had been going missing, and not the highfalutin citizens of the Anvil—the movers and shakers, the well-dressed and well-moneyed. It was people like them: the underclass, the needy and the dirty living in their hovels.
No one had a clue who was behind it. Could have been Revocaters, picking off the poor. Could have been something else. Stone had heard more than one tale about the Ghost. The spectre that haunted the Riveryard. A man or a beast that stalked the empty warehouses in the dark, picking off its prey and eating their flesh. Maybe it was just some madman getting his kicks from killing the poor. Maybe it was another gang doing its best to rid itself of competition. Whatever it was, neither the Ministry nor the Guilds seemed too keen to stop it.
“Not afraid of bedtime stories, are you, Coins?” Queen Clariss said. “We all thought you were made of tougher stuff.” Giggles from the surrounding gang made Coins’s round face start to redden like a tomato. “Let me worry about monsters in the dark, brother. You concentrate on not getting spotted by the guards.”
They were all looking at him now, and Coins turned a deeper shade of red. It wouldn’t do to show cowardice in front of this gang. That was as likely to get you cast out as anything else.
As they carried on giggling at Coins’s discomfort, Stone turned his attention to something shifting in the shadows of the old building. Movement in the dark. A flash of red and yellow. Before he could shout a warning, the clacking report of splintbow fire echoed across the room.
Queen Clariss went down. She grabbed her leg, splintbolt sticking out like a broken bone, blood pouring between her fingers as she rolled off the dais. More splintbows fired their payloads across the room, but their sound was drowned out by a piercing scream.
Stone had heard people yelling before, but it never sounded so pained, like foxes fucking in the woods. Mad Dog Mace went down but didn’t make a sound, body stuck with two bolts in the chest. Stone was already moving, Coins right by his side, bare feet slapping against the loose floorboards as they fled for cover.
“Revocaters!” someone shouted. Could have been Ranley Scars, could have been Jaffer Threetoes, they both sounded much the same. Whoever it was, they were stating the bloody obvious.
Chaos spread throughout the derelict building. Revocaters burst from out of the shadows and through doorless archways. They’d been harrying the street gangs of the Anvil for years, but Stone had never seen them so determined, never known them to kill with such merciless intent.
He ducked at the sound of a splintbow close by. Heard the snapping ricochet of bolts hitting the wall beside his head. Another of his gang went down with a yelp, but Stone had no mind to stop and see who. He and Coins raced for a gap in the floor that dropped down to the level beneath. Stone’s feet crunched against the bricks below, the marble floor having long since been carved up and sold for pennies.
A deep voice shouted for them to stop, but after what he’d just seen there was no way that was happening. Stone had never been able to work out why they always shouted “Stop!” It wasn’t like you were gonna just give yourself up. Instinct, he supposed, just like running when someone was trying to kill you.
He and Coins sprinted across the ground level, fleeing the ruckus above, until they came out on the street. Another Revocater was waiting behind the wall opposite, looking for runners just like them, but Stone surprised him so much he emptied his clip of splintbolts without thinking to aim. As the bolts clattered harmlessly around them, they raced down the street.
