New York Times bestselling author Peter V. Brett brings one of the most imaginative fantasy sagas of the twenty-first century to an epic close in the fifth and final volume of The Demon Cycle. For time out of mind, bloodthirsty demons have stalked the night, culling the human herd to scattered remnants dependent on half-forgotten magics to protect them. Then two heroes arose—men as close as brothers, yet divided by bitter betrayal.   Arlen Bales became known as the Warded Man, tattooed head to toe with powerful magic symbols that enable him to fight demons in hand-to-hand combat and emerge victorious. Ahmann Jardir, armed with magically warded weapons, called himself the Deliverer, a figure prophesied to unite humanity and lead them to triumph in Sharak Ka—the final war against demonkind.   But in their efforts to bring the war to the demons, Arlen and Jardir have set something in motion that may prove the end of everything they hold dear—a Swarm. Now the war is at hand and humanity cannot hope to win it unless Arlen and Jardir, with the help of Arlen's wife, Renna, can bend a captured demon prince to their will and force the devious creature to lead them to the Core, where the Mother of Demons breeds an inexhaustible army.   Trusting their closest confidants, Leesha, Inevera, Ragen, and Elissa, to rally the fractious people of the Free Cities and lead them against the Swarm, Arlen, Renna, and Jardir set out on a desperate quest into the darkest depths of evil—from which none of them expects to return alive.   Look for Peter V. Brett’s complete Demon Cycle: THE WARDED MAN • THE DESERT SPEAR • THE DAYLIGHT WAR • THE SKULL THRONE • THE CORE “Thoroughly addicting . . . a thrilling adventure that is, without question, [Brett’s] greatest achievement yet.” — Bookreporter   “Rewarding . . . Congratulations to Peter Brett on completing a fantastic series.” —SFFWorld Praise for the novels of Peter V. Brett   The Warded Man   “There is much to admire in Peter Brett’s writing, and his concept is brilliant. There’s action and suspense all the way.” —Terry Brooks   “[A] fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable dark fantasy.” — The Miami Herald   The Desert Spear   “Inspired, compelling, and totally addictive: the most significant and cinematic fantasy epic since The Lord of the Rings.” —Paul W. S. Anderson, director of Resident Evil: Afterlife   “Fans of epic fantasy in the tradition of Robert Jordan and George R. R. Martin will enjoy the arrival of a strong voice in multivolume epic fantasy.” — Library Journal   The Daylight War   “Highly entertaining, fast-paced, and action-packed.” —SF Site   “[Brett is] at the top of his game.” — Tordotcom   The Skull Throne   “Heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping . . . The crescendo is near perfect.” —Book Frivolity   “A page-turner, and quite possibly the best so far.” — Starburst Magazine Peter V. Brett is the internationally bestselling author of the Demon Cycle series, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies in twenty-five languages worldwide. The novels in the series are The Warded Man, The Desert Spear, The Daylight War, The Skull Throne, and The Core . He spends too much time on the Internet, but occasionally unplugs to practice kickboxing and dad fu. He lives in Manhattan. Chapter 1 Both 334 AR The cramping startled Leesha awake. Ten days on the road with an escort of five thousand Cutters had gotten her used to discomfort. She could only sleep on her side now, something the carriage bench was not designed for. She had taken to curling on the floor like Amanvah and Sikvah in their carriage full of pillows. Waves of pain washed over her as uterine muscles tightened and contracted, readying themselves for the task to come. Leesha wasn’t due for another thirteen weeks, but it was common for women to experience this. And every one of them panics the first time, Bruna used to say, thinking they’ll birth early. Even me, though I’d smacked dozens of squalling babes into the world before I grunted out one of my own. Leesha began breathing in a quick steady rhythm to calm herself and help endure the pain. Pain was nothing new these days. The skin of her stomach was blackened and bruised from powerful fetal blows. Several times during her pregnancy, Leesha had been forced to channel powerful ward magic. Each time, the baby reacted violently. Feedback from magic could grant inhuman strength and stamina. It made the old young again, and brought the young to primacy before their time. It heightened emotions and lessened control. Folk in the throes of magic could be violent. Dangerous. What might such power do to a child not fully formed? Not even at seven months, Leesha looked and felt full term. She anticipated an early delivery, even welcomed it, lest the child grow too large for natural birth. Or punch through my womb and crawl out on its own. Leesha breathed and breathed, but she did not calm, nor did the pain subside. All