The Crimson Legion

Book excerpt: With Tyr’s most vile enemy dead, a new tyrannical ruler takes his place in this second Prism Pentad novel set in the post-apocalyptic world of Dark Sun After a millennium of sorrow, the city of Tyr has cast off the yoke of the brutal sorcerer-king Kalak. The new ruler, Tithian of Mericies, has liberated the slaves—and plunged the city into chaos. In a cruel twist of fate, Tyr’s triumph may very well become its death knell. Only Rikus, the man-dwarf gladiator who sparked the rebellion against Kalak, can save Tyr from its new enemy: the invading armies of Urik, a neighboring city that seeks to conquer Tyr and its Iron Mines. With a ragtag militia of nobles, templars, and former slaves, Rikus must stand against Urik’s forces and their evil leader. But strength of arm does not necessarily make a good general—as Rikus will learn before the conflict is over.