The Daemon Prism: A Novel of the Collegia Magica Read online

  Praise for the Novels of Carol Berg

  The Soul Mirror

  “A compelling and altogether admirable work.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  “Berg brings life and grace to a story of magic and politics that should appeal to the author’s fans as well as lovers of Renaissance-­style fantasy.”

  —Library Journal

  “Lavish.…Berg’s characters return to vivid life.…[She] refreshes and reinvigorates the familiar trappings of epic fantasy, shaping a novel that rings true both linguistically and imaginatively. This is one to savor.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “A novel that stakes an early claim to my Top 10 list of 2011, The Soul Mirror (A++) takes the Collegia Magica series to the next level with a gripping tale.…Magic, science, family feuds, a kingdom and maybe even a world—or at least its laws of nature—in peril, a great heroine with a superb cast, and traditional fantasy does not get better than this!”

  —Fantasy Book Critic

  “An enjoyable otherworld fantasy that has an Age of Reason historical feel to the story line.…Fans will want to accompany the reluctant heroine as she learns there is much more than science in the wonderful world of Carol Berg.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “A compelling addition to the world of the Collegia Magica and you’ll wait with baited breath as you follow Anne’s travels into the unfamiliar world of magic and sorcery.”

  —Bibliophilic Book Blog

  “Ms. Berg’s wonderful use of prose makes Anne’s voice irresistible as she takes us on an incredible journey fraught with mystery, suspense, and fantasy. Incredible world building superbly translates the emotions and feelings of Anne and the court as a whole. The overall story line is quite elegant and lyrical in its ebb and flow.…I recommend Ms. Berg’s Collegia Magica series as a must read for those who enjoy a historical themed fantasy with memorable characters, exciting mystery, taut suspense, and a sprinkling of romance.”

  —Smexy Books Romance Reviews

  continued …

  The Spirit Lens

  “In this superbly realized leadoff to Berg’s quasi-­Renaissance fantasy trilogy…Berg shapes the well-­worn elements of epic fantasy into a lush, absorbing narrative.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “Rich with vivid characters and unforgettable places.…[Berg] spins an infectiously enjoyable series opener that fans of thought-­provoking fantasy and intriguing mystery should appreciate.”

  —Library Journal

  “[An] interestingly twisted new series.”

  —Locus

  “A super opening to what looks like a great alternate Renaissance fantasy.…Fans will appreciate this strong beginning as science and sorcery collide when three undercover agents investigate the divine and unholy collision of murder, magic, and physics.”

  —Genre Go Round Reviews

  “Berg is entirely adept at creating a detailed and nuanced fantasy world, made all the more impressive by noting that other books she has written seem to be about other worlds with other rules.”

  —I Don’t Write Summaries

  “A genuine page-­turner that should please both mystery and fantasy fans.”

  —Booklist

  “Keeps the reader on edge.…Berg keeps the pages turning.”

  —SFRevu

  “A nonstop ride to a superb ending that left my appetite whetted for the next installment.”

  —Fantasy Book Critic

  “Berg is a master world builder that novice fantasy authors would do well to study. This first installment in a new trilogy, Collegia Magica, is a winner.”

  —Romantic Times

  “The Spirit Lens is an incredibly enjoyable fantasy adventure for those who love unexpected heroes, web-­worked plots, magic versus technology, and librarians with a skill for investigative spying.”

  —The Reader Eclectic

  Breath and Bone

  “The narrative crackles with intensity against a vivid backdrop of real depth and conviction, with characters to match. Altogether superior.”

  —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  “Berg’s lush, evocative storytelling and fully developed characters add up to a first-­rate purchase for most fantasy collections.”

  —Library Journal

  “Replete with magic-­powered machinations, secret societies, and doomsday divinations, the emotionally intense second volume of Berg’s intrigue-­laden Lighthouse Duet concludes the story of Valen.…[F]ans of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Avalon sequence and Sharon Shinn will be rewarded.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Flesh and Spirit

  “The vividly rendered details…give this book such power. Berg brings to life every stone in a peaceful monastery and every nuance in a stratified society, describing the difficult dirty work of ordinary life as beautifully as she conveys the heart-­stopping mysticism of holiness just beyond human perception.”

  —Sharon Shinn, national bestselling author of Troubled Waters

  “Valen is unquestionably memorable—in what is definitely a dark fantasy as much concerned with Valen’s internal struggle as with his conflicts with others.”

  —Booklist

  “Chilling fantasy.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  The Bridge of D’Arnath Novels

  “A very promising start to a new series.”

  —The Denver Post

  “Berg has mastered the balance between mystery and storytelling [and] pacing; she weaves past and present together, setting a solid foundation.…It’s obvious [she] has put incredible thought into who and what makes her characters tick.”

  —The Davis Enterprise

  Song of the Beast

  Winner of the Colorado Book Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy

  “The plot keeps twisting right until the end…entertaining characters.”

  —Locus

  “Berg’s fascinating fantasy is a puzzle story, with a Celtic-­flavored setting and a plot as intricate and absorbing as fine Celtic lacework…the characters are memorable, and Berg’s intelligence and narrative skill make this stand-­alone fantasy most commendable.”

  —Booklist

  BOOKS BY CAROL BERG

  THE COLLEGIA MAGICA SERIES

  The Spirit Lens

  The Soul Mirror

  The Daemon Prism

  THE LIGHTHOUSE SERIES

  Flesh and Spirit

  Breath and Bone

  THE BRIDGE OF D’ARNATH SERIES

  Son of Avonar

  Guardians of the Keep

  The Soul Weaver

  Daughter of Ancients

  THE RAI-­KIRAH SERIES

  Transformation

  Revelation

  Restoration

  Song of the Beast

  THE

  DAEMON PRISM

  A Novel of

  the Collegia Magica

  CAROL BERG

  A ROC BOOK

  ROC

  Published by New American Library,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,

  Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,

  Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell,

  Victoria 3124, Australia (a divi
sion of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre,

  Panchsheel Park, New Delhi -­ 110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632,

  New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,

  Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:

  80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  First published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  First Printing, January 2012

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Copyright © Carol Berg, 2012

  All rights reserved

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-­IN-­PUBLICATION DATA:

  Berg, Carol.

  The daemon prism: a novel of the Collegia Magica/Carol Berg.

  p. cm.—(Collegia Magica series)

  EISBN: 9781101559604

  1. Magic—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3602.E7523D34 2012

  813.6—dc23 2011032115

  Set in Bembo

  Designed by Elke Sigal

  Printed in the United States of America

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-­party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  For Kylie, Madeline, and Ethan.

  May you always see the magic.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many thanks to Ken Perry and Celu Amberston for their gracious insights into the world of the senses. To Susan Smith and Linda Kinsel for your most special friendship, support, encouragement, and writerly counsel, and to the whole circle of Brian, Catherine, Courtney, Curt, and Susan for keeping me honest. To my dear readers and colleagues near and far for encouragement and commiseration through the tough days as well as the fine ones. To Mother, Brian, Jerry, and Andrew for understanding. And forever to the Exceptional Spouse for patience and support above and beyond.

  THE

  DAEMON PRISM

  Table of Contents

  Dante

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  Anne

  CHAPTER 12

  Dante

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  Anne

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  Dante

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  Anne

  CHAPTER 26

  Dante

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  Anne

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  Portier

  CHAPTER 36

  Anne

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  Dante

  CHAPTER 39

  Ilario

  CHAPTER 40

  Anne

  CHAPTER 41

  Dante

  CHAPTER 1

  30 OCET, 883RD YEAR OF

  THE SABRIAN REALM, SUNSET

  PRADOVERDE

  “Stop right there!” I bellowed. My student’s resolute little inhalation signaled her ready to bind her first complex spell. I resisted the temptation to shatter or repair the well-­structured but ill-­conceived little charm. She had to learn.

  Mercifully, she was well disciplined. Though her will tugged fiercely against mine, she obeyed.

  “Concentrate. Look deeper. A hundred thousand streams in Sabria comprise water, rocks, willows, and trout. But to draw on this stream’s keirna—­its essence—­you must unearth the secrets that make it unique. You’re no child swatting a fly. Misjudgment could drown us…or bury us…or turn yon pasture into a swamp.” In this case, likely all of them and worse.

  She knelt along the stream bank, not half a metre from my boots. Having spent most of every day for two years in her presence, I could sense her every muscle twitch, accurate signals for divining her level of confidence. It had taken her a very long time to prepare for this step, and she was very sure of herself. She hated mistakes.

  “There’s nothing wrong with it,” she said after a few moments’ contemplation. “Sealing the snag will just divert the water around the end of it, digging out the far bank a little more. I’m not blocking the water flow completely. There’s plenty of leeway.”

  She readied herself again.

  “No!” I drove the heel of my staff into the rocky streambed.

  She jerked but held her ground, not yanking her hand from the water. It wasn’t so easy to startle her into attendance anymore. So I assaulted her weakness with words. “Have you learned nothing? There’s mud between the rocks. What color is it? What consistency? Does the sun reveal glints of metal in it? What would that tell you of the stream’s origins and use? You’re a woman of science. Where is its source? Has its course evolved as nature prescribes or has it been purposely altered? Your friend Simon provided you the Pradoverde land grants. If you’d studied them with half a mind, you’d know this land was once a disputed boundary between two blood families. Why?”

  “None of those things has to do with a snag of twigs formed this past summer.” She was so sure. So calm.

  “Wrong! If you’d studied the legends of the Fremoline outcrops, where our stream has its source, you’d know there were persistent tales of gold deposits—­”

  “There are no gold deposits anywhere in the demesne of Louvel.” I could imagine her rolling her eyes. “The rocks are almost entirely limestone. The rumors provide nothing useful to weave into the spellwork.”

  Breaking her prim, scholarly ways of thinking had been my most difficult challenge. It was why I had chosen this particular exercise on this particular day.

  I repeated my probe of the streambed. Again, and then again, moving upstream until the muffled jar of metal shivered my staff and the razored sting of long-bound enchantment flowed up my arm. The virulence of the spell threatened to dissolve the bone. But I held the staff in place and tapped it sharply with my forefinger, my signal that she should touch it, too. She had to feel the magnitude of her error.

  Her discipline held. A gurgle out of place in the rhythmic bubbling of the stream told me she’d withdrawn her hand from the water. A quiet chink, a scuff of dirt, and the release of pent power said she’d kicked aside the length of slender chain she’d laid out for her s
pell enclosure. Determined steps and a brush of skirts brought her to my side.

  “If you’d looked deeper,” I said, cooler now that I’d snared her full attention, “you’d have found a bronze casket buried here at the seventh metre past the dogleg bend—the corner of the disputed territory. This is how the one faction, intending to ensure that they alone could harvest these rumored riches, shifted the streambed to fit their desired boundary.”

  I could not see her face any better than I could see anything else in this daemon-blasted world. Yet, even had I not smelled her soap-scented sweat or heard the tight hiss of her annoyance, I’d have known her the moment she laid her finger on the carved hornbeam of my ancille—the moment the spells bound into my staff became instantly more useful, more lethal, faster, sharper, swollen from the inborn power she brought to any working. One would have to plumb the tangled depths of a forest’s roots or the moldered residue of an ancient battleground to match Anne de Vernase’s potential for magic. That she possessed a mind and will fully capable of wielding such power made her reluctance to take hold of it inexcusable.