CONTENTS

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Precis
  5. Maps
  6. Part I. Setting Up the Pieces
  7. 1. Step One: Gather Information
  8. 2. Dreams of Sins Past
  9. 3. Royal Obligations
  10. 4. The Most Secure Vault
  11. 5. A Simple Favor
  12. 6. All Hail the King
  13. 7. Step Two: Handle Unexpected Complications
  14. 8. The Purpose of an Emperor
  15. 9. Return to the Capital
  16. 10. The Breaking of the Empire
  17. 11. Step Three: Scout Out the Enemy
  18. 12. Parental Concerns
  19. 13. The Milligreest Family
  20. 14. The Edge of a Knife
  21. 15. The Symptoms of a Greater Problem
  22. 16. Nemesan Gambits
  23. 17. Step Four: Encourage Allies to Cooperate
  24. 18. Mimic Hunt
  25. 19. The Freer of All Slaves
  26. 20. Evacuations
  27. 21. A Touch of Darkness
  28. 22. A Pale Imitation
  29. 23. Step Five: When Necessary, Consult Experts
  30. 24. Border Town
  31. 25. The Eroding Line
  32. 26. Warning Signals
  33. 27. Expectations
  34. 28. A Hint of Betrayal
  35. 29. To Hunt in Dreams
  36. 30. The Dry Mothers
  37. 31. Xivan’s Teacher
  38. 32. The Ruins of a Lighthouse
  39. 33. A Demon’s Appetites
  40. 34. Skyfire
  41. 35. Step Six: Don’t Avoid Working in the Field
  42. 36. An Ungrateful Student
  43. 37. Funeral Arrangements
  44. 38. Last Goodbyes
  45. 39. Step Seven: Spend Time with Loved Ones
  46. 40. The Bargain
  47. 41. Hunting the Ghost Dragon
  48. 42. Leaving Someone Behind
  49. 43. The Enemy of our Enemy
  50. 44. The Land of Peace
  51. 45. The Mimic
  52. 46. A History of Dragons
  53. 47. Conversations with Death
  54. 48. The Problem with Anlyr
  55. 49. A Pause for Planning
  56. 50. A Very Good Girl
  57. 51. How Relos Var Helped Drehemia
  58. 52. The Heir
  59. 53. Rest and Recovery
  60. 54. Retreat
  61. 55. Royal Address
  62. 56. Baiting the Trap
  63. 57. Murderers and Healers
  64. 58. The Babysitting Service
  65. 59. Successful Missions
  66. 60. The Glitter of Blue
  67. 61. Father Issues
  68. 62. Childhood Friends
  69. 63. The King Returns
  70. 64. The Last Mistake
  71. 65. The Duel, Again
  72. Part II. Gambits
  73. 66. The Tower
  74. 67. The Mad Wizard
  75. 68. The Deal with Warmonger
  76. 69. The Angel of Magic
  77. 70. The Name of the Game
  78. 71. Fallen Star
  79. 72. A Bright and Beautiful Light
  80. 73. Extinction Events
  81. 74. Very Bad Timing
  82. 75. Moving Forward
  83. 76. An Unceasing Appetite for Pain
  84. 77. The Yellow Sun
  85. 78. The Ritual of Unmaking
  86. 79. The Empty Cup
  87. 80. The Siege of Atrine
  88. 81. The New Eight
  89. 82. Questions of Identity
  90. 83. Out with the Old Gods
  91. 84. The Name of all Things
  92. 85. Trade Secrets
  93. 86. Asking the Right Questions
  94. 87. Adaptation
  95. 88. The Problem with Cornerstones
  96. 89. The Best View of the End
  97. 90. The Battle of Eight Dragons
  98. 91. Going to War
  99. 92. The Battle of Eight Dragons II
  100. 93. A Previous Engagement
  101. 94: Tactical Maneuvers
  102. 95. The Battle of Eight Dragons III
  103. 96. Cavalry
  104. 97. The Battle of Eight Dragons IV
  105. 98. How to Kill a Mimic
  106. 99. How to Kill an Immortal
  107. 100. Three Rituals
  108. 101. The Death of Vol Karoth
  109. 102. Demon Falls
  110. 103. A Chorus of Dragons
  111. 104. Sleight of Hand
  112. 105. The Switch
  113. 106. The Healing of the Wound
  114. 107. The Cost of Living
  115. Part III. After the Game Is Finished
  116. 108. Happy Endings … of a Sort
  117. 109. And in Conclusion
  118. 110. The Pale Lady Walks
  119. Glossary
  120. Acknowledgments
  121. Also by Jenn Lyons
  122. About the Author
  123. Copyright