Chasers of the Wind

Pehov pits a resourceful pair of experienced assassins against a winsome princess of evil in this sprightly if formulaic adventure fantasy, which is loosely linked to the Chronicles of Siala trilogy. The fall of the supposedly indestructible Gates of Six Towers leaves the Empire open to the hostile Kingdom of Nabator. Meanwhile, visitors to the placid village of Dog Green tell retired rogues Gray and Leyna, who have been in hiding for seven years, that Joch Threefingers knows they’re alive and has put out a bounty on them. Leyna’s special gift is of interest to the evil Tia, and apolitical Gray’s marriage to Leyna now links him to the fortunes of the Empire. A parallel strain of derring-do introduces heroic Ga-Nor and less intrepid Luk, who eventually wind up guarding Leyna in a battle against the dead. Pehov imports master thief Harold from the Siala series, but Harold’s philosophical asides don’t detract from the pleasure of an exciting story. (June)