Articles of Faith

Articles of Faith
David Wragg

edren Chel holds every oath of service sacred — except his own.His father’s sermons on the nobility of duty left him ill-prepared for the grind of service to his indolent step-uncle. Chel’s wretched oath has dragged him from home and family across a war-splintered kingdom; he craves an escape from this life.When foreign invaders heave into port, Chel finds opportunity in the chaos – a bargain with a stranded prince. Escort the prince to safety, and in return: release from his oath, a chance to go home. A solemn duty at last.But a bargain with a prince is never a simple thing, and greater forces are at play than Chel realises. Heavy wheels are turning. Assassins and mercenaries lurk in every shadow, many bearing smiles as sharp as their knives.As a kingdom’s dark conspiracy turns its gaze towards him, Chel must decide just how much he will sacrifice in duty’s name.Prepare to join the Black Hawk Company.

THE BLACK HAWKS

David Wragg

Copyright (#u88310898-828d-532a-b3d1-25236d487eca)

HarperVoyager

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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

Copyright © David Wragg 2019

Cover illustration © Richard Anderson

Cover design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

David Wragg asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008331412

Ebook Edition © August 2019 ISBN: 9780008331429

Version: 2019-09-02

Dedication (#u88310898-828d-532a-b3d1-25236d487eca)

For Sarah,

for everything

Contents

Cover (#u99b7fb37-15e2-53ec-8774-08db26b10c6c)

Title Page (#u07c1abd0-98cc-5c5b-a374-7ace88e46338)

Copyright

Dedication

Part I

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Part II

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Part III

Chapter Eighteen