They say Black Dow's killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbor, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they've brought a lot of sharpened metal with them.

THE HEROES

For glory, for victory, for staying alive.

Over the course of three days the King of the Union engages in a battle with Black Dow, the Protector of the North for control of the standing stones known as the Heroes, as blundering generals, inexperienced recruits, scheming rulers, murderous thugs, and weary veterans clash in brutal combat.

The second in Abercrombie's unpredictable noir fantasy, following the success of }The Blade Itself{, which sold over 11,000 copies in the first 2 months of its mass market paperback publication. The third volume, }Last Argument Of Kings{ is als