The Emperors Knife : Tower and Knife 2: Book One of the Tower and Knife Trilogy

There is a cancer at the heart of the mighty Cerani Empire: a plague that attacks young and old, rich and poor alike, marking each victim with a fragment of a greater pattern. Anyone showing the marks is put to death. That is Emperor Beyon's law . . . But now the pattern is reaching closer to the palace than ever before. In a hidden room, a forgotten prince has grown from child to man, and as the empire sickens, Sarmin, the emperor�s only surviving brother, is remembered. He awaits the bride his mother has chosen: a chieftain�s daughter from the northern plains. Mesema travels from her homeland, an offering for the empire�s favour. She is a Windreader, used to riding free across the grasslands, not posing and primping in rare silks. She finds the Imperial Court�s protocols stifling, but she doesn�t take long to realise the politicking and intrigues are not a game, but deadly earnest. Eyul is burdened both by years and by the horrors he has carried out in service to the throne. At his emperor�s command he bears the emperor�s Knife to the desert in search of a cure for the pattern-markings. As long-planned conspiracies boil over into open violence and rebellion, the enemy moves toward victory. Now only three people stand in his way: a lost prince, a world-weary killer, and a young girl from the steppes who once saw a path through a pattern, among the waving grasses. Mazarkis Williams pieces together a complex mosaic of personality and ambition in a brilliant work of magic and mystery set in a richly imagined world, the first book in a fantastic new series. "There is a cancer at the heart of the mighty Cerani Empire: a plague that attacks young and old, rich and poor alike. Geometric patterns spread across the skin, until you die in agony, or become a Carrier, doing the bidding of an evil intelligence, the Pattern Master. Anyone showing the tell-tale marks is put to death; that is Emperor Beyon''s law ... but now the pattern is running over the Emperor''s own arms. His body servants have been executed, he ignores his wives, but he is doomed, for soon the pattern will reach his face. While Beyon''s agents scour the land for a cure, Sarmin, the Emperor''s only surviving brother, awaits his bride, Mesema, a windreader from the northern plains. Unused to the Imperial Court''s stifling protocols and deadly intrigues, Mesema has no one to turn to but an ageing imperial assassin, the Emperor''s Knife. As long-planned conspiracies boil over into open violence, the invincible Pattern Master appears from the deep desert. Now only three people stand in his way: a lost prince, a world-weary killer, and a young girl from the steppes who saw a path in a pattern once, among the waving grasses - a path that just might save them all!" There Is A Cancer At The Heart Of The Mighty Cerani Empire: A Plague That Marks Each Victim With A Fragment Of A Greater Design. Geometric Patterns Spread Across The Skin, Until The Victim Dies In Agony Or Becomes A Carrier, Doing The Bidding Of An Evil Intelligence. The Lost Prince Sarmin, The Emperor's Only Surviving Brother, Lies Locked In A Hidden Room. As The Pattern Draws Closer To The Palace He Is At Last Remembered: Now He Awaits A Bride, Mesema, A Windreader From The Northern Plains. She Is Accustomed To Riding Free Across The Grasslands And Finds The Imperial Court Stifling, But She Soon Realizes The Politicking Is Not A Game. It Is In Deadly Earnest. Eyul, The Imperial Assassin, Is Burdened By The Atrocities He Has Committed. As Commanded, He Bears The Emperor's Knife To The Desert In Search Of A Cure For The Pattern-markings. As Long-planned Conspiracies Boil Over Into Open Violence, The Enemy Moves Towards Victory. Now Only Three People Stand In His Way: A Lost Prince, A World-weary Killer, And A Young Girl From The Steppes Who Saw A Path In A Pattern Once, Among The Waving Grasses.