The Mongoliad: Book Two Read online

Hans

  An orphan of Legnica, Hans is a member of the gang of street rats in Hünern. He befriends both Kim and Andreas, becoming the key conduit between the two sides of the conspiracy.

  Father Pius

  A devout Roman Catholic priest, Father Pius hopes to save souls in the wreckage of Hünern but finds himself embroiled in a feud between the Shield-Brethren and the Livonian Order.

  Dietrich von Grüningen

  The Heermeister of the Livonian Order, Dietrich von Grüningen seeks to restore his order’s maligned name. He has pledged his allegiance to Pope Gregory IX and the secret order that stands behind the Pope.

  Kristaps

  The First Sword of Fellin, Kristaps is a survivor of the battle of Schaulen, a black mark on the history of the Livonian Order.

  Zugaikotsu no Yama

  (“Zug”)

  Onghwe Khan’s grand champion in the Circus of Swords, Zugaikotsu no Yama is a Nipponese ronin. His name means “Mountain of Skulls,” and he allows people to call him “Zug.” He does not speak of his past or his real name.

  Kim Alcheon

  Kim Alcheon hails from Korea and is the last of an order known as the Flower Knights. Along with Zug, he was captured by the Mongols in Byeokrando and has been a gladiator in Onghwe Khan’s circus ever since.

  Acknowledgments

  ERIK BEAR

  Thanks to my family, to my friends, and to everyone who’s fought alongside me on this book both metaphorically and literally. Thanks to all the other writers, especially Mark, for working harder than any one person should. Thanks to my dad and my grandpa, for guiding me down the path of writing.

  GREG BEAR

  It’s been terrific working with all of these fine writers, clashing steel in the mornings under Neal’s guidance, then quaffing coffee and breakfasting out of pink boxes of muffins while plotting at a mad pace...watching Mark outline and organize chapters on our blackboard while Joe and Cooper paced and swung and flashed their blades, shooting ideas back and forth with Neal across our writers’ table, talking across the continent with Nicole (and wickedly offering her virtual muffins), collaborating with son Erik on both fight strategies and chapters...while we all ventured on foot and horse through untold carnage and across wide plains of rippling grass, straight into the fabulous territories of Harold Lamb, Talbot Mundy, and Robert E. Howard...Thanks to all for the amazing experience!

  NICOLE GALLAND

  Much gratitude to Mark, Neal, Greg, Cooper, Joe, and Erik for the lively trip we’ve all taken together—especially for keeping the Skype signal open over the miles, even with all those crickets. A special thank you to Liz Darhansoff. And a nod to everyone involved in the brief, ineffable existence of E. D. deBirmingham.

  JOSEPH BRASSEY

  To Neal Stephenson, who gave me my shot—I hope I’ve made you proud. To Mark Teppo, who beat my prose with a stick until it was pretty. To Greg, Erik, Cooper, Nicole, and everyone else at Subutai. To Tinker, who taught me to always add violence and put my feet on the path. To Ken and Rob at Fort Lewis, for opening my mind to new possibilities. To my lovely wife and my patient parents, who always supported me. To my little sister and every friend I’ve had along the way who believed this could happen. Dreams come true. This is for you.

  COOPER MOO

  Heartfelt thanks to my family for their support: my wife, Mary; our children, Keagan, Connor, and Haven; and my parents, Jan and Greg Moo. A debt of gratitude is owed every member of the writing team, particularly Neal for his leadership and Mark for his editorial guidance. I raise a bowl of airag to you all!

  NEAL STEPHENSON

  Thanks to Mark Teppo, the centripetal force.

  MARK TEPPO

  This project began when someone asked that eternal question that every storyteller loves to hear: “So what happened next?” I don’t think any of us imagined where the answer would take us, but I am exceptionally grateful to have had this creative team—Erik, Greg, Cooper, Nicole, Joseph, and Neal—during this journey. I’d also like to thank Karen Laur, Jason Norgaar, and Neal Von Flue for the character portraits they provided, as well as the entire Mongoliad.com community who ventured into the shiny future with us. Jeremy Bornstein and Lenny Raymond took care of us in that eternally unrecognized way that infrastructure people do; thank you, gentlemen. Fleetwood Robbins provided a keen editorial eye, offering a great perspective on the final arrangement of these words. Also, a nod to Emm, whose constant and unflagging support matters. So very much.

  Tinker Pierce, Gus Trim, and Guy Windsor provided a great deal of useful insight and instruction as to the Western martial arts. Additionally, Ellis Amdur and Aaron Fields offered fantastic commentary on all matters relating to the martial arts of thirteenth-century Japan. These five gentlemen are true scholars in their fields, and any creative license taken with the arts they study is entirely our own.

  About the Authors

  NEAL STEPHENSON IS primarily a fiction author and has received several awards for his works in speculative fiction. His more popular books include Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, Cryptonomicon, The Baroque Cycle, and Anathem.

  Greg Bear is the author of more than thirty books, spanning the thriller, science fiction, and fantasy genres, including Blood Music, Eon, The Forge of God, Darwin’s Radio, City at the End of Time, and Hull Zero Three. His books have won numerous international prizes, have been translated into more than twenty-two languages, and have sold millions of copies worldwide.

  Nicole Galland is the author of I, Iago, as well as The Fool’s Tale, Revenge of the Rose, and Crossed: A Tale of theFourth Crusade. An award-winning screenwriter, she is married to actor Billy Meleady and, unlike all her handsome and talented cowriters, spends no time at all hitting people with sticks in Seattle.

  Mark Teppo is a writer of contemporary fantasy and historical fiction. Part of the creative team at Subutai Corporation, he is the head writer for the Foreworld Saga—a secret history of the West. Teppo is also the author of the urban fantasies Heartland, Lightbreaker, and The Potemkin Mosaic. A bibliophile whose interests include historical martial arts and esoteric traditions, he lives in Washington State.

  Joseph Brassey lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two cats. He teaches medieval fighting techniques to members of the armed forces. The Mongoliad is his first published fiction.

  Erik Bear lives and writes in Seattle, Washington. He has written for a bestselling video game and is currently working on several comic book series.

  Cooper Moo spent five minutes in Mongolia in 1986 before he had to get back on the train—he never expected to be channeling Mongolian warriors. In 2007 Cooper fought a Chinese long-sword instructor on a Hong Kong rooftop—he never thought the experience would help him write battle scenes. In addition to being a member of the Mongoliad writing team, Cooper has written articles for various magazines. His autobiographical piece “Growing Up Black and White,” published in Seattle Weekly, was awarded Social Issues Reporting Article of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists. He lives in Issaquah, Washington, with his wife, three children, and numerous bladed weapons.