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Paula Volsky
The Luck of Relian Kru
This book is an Ace original edition, and has never been previously published.


THE LUCK OF RELIAN KRU
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Ace edition/June 1987




All rights reserved.
Copyright ┬й 1987 by Paula Volsky.
Cover art by James Warhola.
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part,
by mimeograph or any other means, without permission.
For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10.016.
ISBN. 0-441-83.816-2




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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To Aline Volsky, with love.
тАЮMy young gentleman was born under an unlucky star. ThatтАЩs a fact,тАЬ the lackey Trince announced. тАЮOr else heтАЩs the
victim of a curse. ItтАЩs one or tтАЩother, without a doubt. Poor Master Relian!тАЬ He took a swig of ale. His broad, shrewd
face bore an expression of regret.
тАЮA curse?тАЬ one of the young cookmaids echoed in flattering wonder. тАЮYour master is accursed? Really?тАЬ
тАЮItтАЩs true, sweetheart, every word. Master Relian must be the unluckiest man alive. FateтАЩs plaything, thatтАЩs what he
is.тАЬ
тАЮOh, whatтАЩs Fate done to him?тАЬ
тАЮNearly everything. But matтАЩs a long story. IтАЩm only a visitor here in Neraunce and I wouldnтАЩt want to impose on
me patience and hospitality of you good folk,тАЬ Trince replied with spurious modesty. He took another swallow of ale
and covertly studied his audience of fellow-servants. His inborn showmanтАЩs instinct assured him that they were
hooked, each and every one of them.
The servants sat around a wooden table in the kitchen of Gornilardo, the famous Dhreve of Neraunce. The warm,
low-ceilinged room was circular in shape тАУ a common feature of the regional architecture. The natives were wont to
inhabit round stone towers of dizzying altitude. It was claimed that these structures represented a visual embodiment
of the Neraunci quest for spiritual enlightenment. A more realistic explanation might have cited GornilardoтАЩs quest for
personal glory, but such excessive accuracy was customarily eschewed. The palace of the Dhreve consisted of no less
than fifteen towers of varied height joined by omate aerial walkways of extraordinary beauty and insubstantiality. At
the top of the Mauve/Garnet Tower was the suite of rooms occupied by the Divine Vhanaizha, GornilardoтАЩs current