Best Served Cold

Joe Abercrombie

Language: English

Pages: 672

ISBN: 0316198358

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub

Springtime in Styria. And that means war.

There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll and cities burn, and behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria's least reliable drunkard, Styria's most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a Northman who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that's all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started...

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

his jaw, twisted fingers pulling at his ear, turning his head sideways, thumb dragging his mouth open so she could push her tongue into it. It tasted of the cheap wine they’d been drinking, but hers probably did too, and who cared a shit anyway? She drew him close, pressing up against him, skin sliding against skin. Not thinking about her dead brother, not thinking about her crippled hand, not thinking about the war outside, or needing a smoke, or the men she had to kill. Just his fingers and

shining helmets of half a dozen no less furious guardsmen. He was flanked by two men who could not have been more polar opposites. On the left a plump, ruddy-faced old fellow stood with a respectful but painful-looking bend to his hips, gold buttons about his chubby throat fastened to the point of uncomfortable tightness and, indeed, considerably beyond. He had ill-advisedly attempted to conceal his utter and obvious baldness by combing back and forth a few sad strands of wiry grey hair,

Duke of Delay, now. My guess is he’ll be putting her in Orso’s place, keep the people of Talins alongside when he reaches for the crown.” “Then she’ll be following him. Back to Talins.” “That’s right.” “Then I will follow them. Back to Talins.” Shenkt frowned. “I could have stayed there these past weeks, and simply waited for her.” “That’s what happens if you’re always chasing things. Works better if you wait for what you want to come to you.” “I was sure you’d have found another man by

“You sure this is the best time for jokes?” Monza muttered. “Unhappy times are the best for levity. You don’t light candles in the middle of the day, do you?” Shivers was frowning up the slope towards Fontezarmo. “You really think you’ve a chance of carrying those walls?” “Those? Are you mad? They’re some of the strongest in Styria.” “Then why—” “Bad form to just sit outside and do nothing. They have ample stocks of food, water, weapons and, worst of all, loyalty. They might last months in

avenge. Spare them, we make resistance seem absurd. Watch them. You said yourself they’re stupid. If they plan more treason they’ll lead us to it. We can hang them then.” Rubine cleared his throat. “As your Excellency commands. I will have bills printed detailing your mercy to these men. The Serpent of Talins forbears to use her fangs.” “For now. How are the markets?” A hard smile crossed Scavier’s soft face. “Busy, busy, morning until night. Traders have come to us fleeing the chaos in

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