Engines of Chaos

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. FordExcerpt from Engines of War copyright © 2023 by R. S. FordExcerpt from The Sword Defiant copyright © 2023 by Gareth Ryder-HanrahanCover design and illustration by Mike Heath | Magnus CreativeCover copyright © 2023 by Hachette Book GroupMap by Tim PaulHachette 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 [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.OrbitHachette Book Group1290 Avenue of the AmericasNew York, NY 10104orbitbooks.netFirst Edition: April 2023Orbit 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataNames: 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 2Identifiers: LCCN 2022032645 | ISBN 9780316629614 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780316629607 (ebook)Subjects: LCGFT: Novels.Classification: LCC PR6106.O757 E53 2023 | DDC 823/.92—dc23/eng/20220711LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022032645ISBNs: 9780316629614 (trade paperback), 9780316629607 (ebook)E3-20230210-JV-NF-ORI Contents CoverTitle PageCopyrightDedicationMapDramatis PersonaeProloguePart One: The Spider and the Wyrm RosomonTyretaConallLancelinKearaConallRosomonTyretaAnsellConallLancelinAnsellKearaLancelinConallAnsellTyretaRosomonKearaAnsellConallTyretaAnsellKearaRosomonLancelinConallAnsellRosomonVerlynPart Two: A Legacy of Hate ConallTyretaKearaRosomonConallFulrenAnsellConallRosomonFulrenConallTyretaKearaThe Battle of OakhelmFulrenTyretaAnsellKearaFulrenTyretaKearaConallRosomonKearaAnsellTyretaFulrenKearaConallRosomonEpilogueCreditsDiscover MoreExtras Meet the AuthorA Preview of Engines of WarA Preview of The Sword DefiantAlso 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 PERSONAETHE HAWKSPURSConall 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 ARCHWINDSIanto 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 CORWENSRearden Corwen—Guildmaster.Wachelm—A junior actuary of the Corwen Guild.THE IRONFALLSMaugar Ironfall—Swordwright of the Ironfall Guild. Brother to Wymar.Wymar Ironfall—Guildmaster. Brother to Maugar.Xorya Ironfall—Swordwright-in-training. Daughter of Maugar.THE MARRLOCKSBorys 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 RADWINTERSBecuma—A senior PROLOGUEThe 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