The Wererat's Tale II: Ring of the Nonul

The Wererat’s Tale

Book II: Ring of the Nonul

By Shane Moore

The Wererat's Tale

Book II: Ring of Nonul

by Shane Moore

©2011 Shane Moore

All rights reserved

Cover art by Terry Naughton.

Cover design by Frank Fradella

Smashwords Edition 2012

ISBN 9781452479309

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of both the publisher and author.

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Also available in print

Praise for Shane Moore

Shane Moore’s remarkable ‘Abyss Walker’ novels have developed a devoted following, and for good reason. His immersive storytelling and unbridled creativity make for a winning series of page-turners.

–James Kerwin, writer/director

Moore uses his police background to paint the thoughts of villains so accurately you begin to relate with them! I found myself pitying the monster that was directly responsible for the murder of thousands!

–Police Writers.com

Being an illustrator I get the opportunity to read a lot of stories so I speak from experience when I say Shane Moore’s Abyss Walker series is the best! Shane’s writing style is easy to read, devoid of the froo-froo found in a lot of fantasy. The insight he gives to his characters’ personalities makes these books more of a study in human (and inhuman) nature than your run-of-the-mill sword and sorcery tale.

–Billy Tackett Award winning horror artist

From dark prophecy, to legions of undead, Shane Moore’s Abyss Walker series is taking the fantasy world by storm! With the detail talents of Goodkind and the story telling arc of Robert E Howard, Shane Moore has created a dark fantasy universe that will rival Tolkien. Grab some popcorn folks! The Abyss Walker universe is coming to a city near you!

–Michelle Weston, Author of A Prophecy Forgotten

One of the most thought out and in-depth series I have read.

–Terry Naughton, Disney

With his Abyss Walker series Shane Moore takes his place squarely in the tradition of fantasy writers the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien and Stephen R. Donaldson. With worlds as much as part of the story as the people who inhabit them, the series seems somehow real in spite of the fantastic happenings that fill the pages. Thick, full prose with characters who come alive on the page make the series a must read.

–Sean Taylor, Gene Simmons Dominatrix

This is definitely going to be the hottest fantasy series to date.

–Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca from Star Wars

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this novel to Pete Koch. The quality of his

character is as inspiring as it is humbling. May your soul always

prosper and your body remain as strong as the Nonul you portray

in this work. Thank you for being my friend.

Table of Contents

Praise for Shane Moore

Dedication

Burying the Past

A Pact for the Rats

A Ride to Remember

New Beginnings

She's Not Just Any Girl

A Girl and Her Horse

A Slaved Soul

Rat Holes

Flight of the Birdman

Heart of the Rat

Choosing a Side

Cats and Rats

Debts Made, Debts Paid

Glossary

About the Author

Other Abyss Walker Works

Other NBB Titles

1

Burying the Past

So, there were two of ‘em? Duke Dolan Blackhawk scratched his beard. His black hair ringed his square jaw.

My lord, this peasant says he knows where the rat woman went.

Zeke said she was dead and the guild carried her off. Blackhawk bit his bottom lip and surveyed the crowd. The barroom was smashed, the barkeep seemed injured, several patrons bled from various wounds and Glazric the half orc stood with his thick defiant arms crossed.

The peasant rubbed his hands together nervously. He smiled, revealing a mouth of yellow rotted teeth. For a gold crown, I’ll tell you all I saw.

Glazric snarled and pushed off the wall, but was quickly rebuffed by the barkeep.

Blackhawk ignored the thug. Tell me, peasant.

The man glanced about uneasily. Maybe he should ask for more? Cleary he would never be welcome here again. I saw everything. She turned into a rat and fought the hunters.

Blackhawk motioned for the peasant to sit. His personal guards patrolled the common room and began to usher people out. Despite Glazric’s complaints, the common room was cleared.

Dolan smiled warmly. I understand you feel like you are betraying your people. But, lawlessness betrays all of us.

The peasant nodded. Do you want to hear all of it?

Dolan nodded. Yes, but first let me get you some food. You’re hungry, aren’t you?

The peasant nodded excitedly. His mouth watered and he wiped a greasy gray lock of hair from his dirty face.

Fetch him something from the kitchen, Dolan ordered.

Several guards began to rummage through the kitchen behind the bar. Pots and pans clamored in the distance.

Please, continue your story, good citizen.

Well, the little bitch came in just after dark. She was wearing a dark cloak.

What did it look like?

The peasant glanced to the kitchen eagerly. Well, it was like most other black cloaks. Cept’in I noticed it had a tiny red spider in the small of her back. Like a symbol or something.

Two guards emerged from the kitchen. One held a small green bottle of wine. It had a large O on the label marking it as Ossimer wine. The other carried a fresh cut of beef that was recently roasted on spick.

Dolan whistled. I had no idea that our little innkeeper could afford such luxuries.

Shall we keep the bottle for you, your greatness? There were some casks of ale as well.

Dolan shook his head. No, pop the top in the wine. I’ll have some bread and cheese."

The guards nodded and served the wine before returning to the kitchen.

Please, continue.

The peasant went on between choked mouthfuls of beef. So, she came in just after dark. The elf was waiting for her. She brought some of her hunters with her. Four I think.

The Duke motioned the lifeless forms of Ulsta and Ulma. The blood draining from their bodies was still pooling under them. So where did the other elf come from?

The peasant spit bits of meat from his mouth as he spoke. She musta’ already been in here. I didn’t notice.

Dolan frowned. He was getting tired of subjecting himself to this worthless scum of a man. So did they recognize Kellacun when she came in?

Who?

Dolan slammed his fist down on the table. The rat bitch, you halfwit!

The peasant jumped, visibly shaken. He chewed slower and seemed to be more aware of his surroundings. Um, yea. She ordered a drink and barely took a sip when the elves called her out.

Dolan clamed himself and leaned back in his chair. Okay, so who killed the hunters?

The peasant gulped down the wine, not bothering to stop chewing his mouthful as he did. She did.

Dolan frowned. I mean, who helped her.

No one. Well, not a first.

What do you mean?

The peasant drug his rotten teeth across the thick chunk of beef. Juices dripped from his mouth and landed on his jerkin and the hard wooden table. Well, he said as he chewed and oversized mouthful of beef. She started fighting them all. Turned into that rat beast, she did. When it looked like the hunters were going to get the best of her, the bouncer and a patron intervened.

Dolan pinched his nose. The stench of this peasant made him want to vomit. So who helped her kill the elves?

No one, she fought them by herself. It was quite a sight.

By herself?! Dolan rubbed his chin while the peasant recanted the battle. The Duke ignored the details and was clearly more unimpressed than the fool before him. If Kellacun was able to kill one of the Al’Kalidian by herself, that would mean she was a dangerous foe—but to kill two at once? Dolan stood and angrily kicked over his chair.

The peasant jumped and stopped chewing briefly. Sorry, my lord. Perhaps my retelling was too fantastic?

Dolan shook his head. No, your information was fine, peasant.

The man smiled a rotten toothed grin and took another bite of beef. I thought Grascon was going to kill her. He had her dead to rights.

Dolan sat in quickly. What?

Yea, he had her dead to rights. I don’t know what they said, but he took his men and left her. She was pretty wounded and would have been an easy kill.

Dolan moiled over this new information. Grascon was Pavicious’ man. If Grascon didn’t kill her, that meant Pavicious was either paying her, or recognized that she was a tool he could use in their bargaining. This fat man of Dee’s was proving to be a worthy adversary.

Pay him his money. Dolan turned to the man. Take a bath and but don’t buy any new clothes or jewelry. You’ll just make yourself a target. If you can find the location of Pavicious’ guild hall, I will pay you one hundred gold crowns. The Duke leaned in. In fact, if anyone reports to me the location of this guild hall, I will pay him one hundred gold crowns and pay you one hundred as well.

The peasant swallowed. You mean that if I tell all of the street men that if they report to you where Pavicious holes up, you’ll pay them one hundred gold and pay me one hundred as well?

Dolan nodded. Take your time and finish your meal. But, I want you hard at work on this by the rise of tonight’s moon.

The peasant nodded, still in shock as the Duke walked from the common room.

Dolan walked into the calm spring evening of Central City. He snatched his gloves from his manservant and climbed inside the carriage.

"Get moving. I need to meet with this fat rogue