The Last Survivors (Book 6): The Last Conquest Read online

  Contents

  TITLE PAGE

  CREDITS

  PREFACE

  THE LAST SURVIVORS - BOOKS 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 RECAP

  Chapter 1 - William

  Chapter 2 - Oliver

  Chapter 3 - William

  Chapter 4 - Bray

  Chapter 5 - Oliver

  Chapter 6 - William

  Chapter 7 - Bray

  Chapter 8 - Oliver

  Chapter 9 - William

  Chapter 10 - William

  Chapter 11 - Bray

  Chapter 12 - Oliver

  Chapter 13 - William

  Chapter 14 - William

  Chapter 15 - Bray

  Chapter 16 - Fitz

  Chapter 17 - Oliver

  Chapter 18 - William

  Chapter 19 - Oliver

  Chapter 20 - Oliver

  Chapter 21 - William

  Chapter 22 - Winthrop

  Chapter 23 - Oliver

  Chapter 24 - William

  Chapter 25 - Oliver

  Chapter 26 - Bray

  Chapter 27 - Bray

  Chapter 28 - William

  Chapter 29 - Oliver

  Chapter 30 - Fitz

  Chapter 31 - Oliver

  Chapter 32 - Fitz

  Chapter 33 - Bray

  Chapter 34 - Fitz

  Chapter 35 - Bray

  Chapter 36 - William

  Chapter 37 - Jingo

  Chapter 38 - Fitz

  Chapter 39 - Jingo

  Chapter 40 - William

  Chapter 41 - Demon

  Chapter 42 - Bray

  Chapter 43 - Fitz

  Chapter 44 - Bray

  Chapter 45 - Bray

  Chapter 46 - Fitz

  Chapter 47 - Fitz

  Chapter 48 - Bray

  Chapter 49 - Fitz

  Chapter 50 - Fitz

  Chapter 51 - Bray

  Chapter 52 - Fitz

  Chapter 53 - Fitz

  Chapter 54 - Fitz

  Chapter 55 - Bray

  Chapter 56 - Oliver

  Chapter 57 - Fitz

  Chapter 58 - Fitz

  Chapter 59 - Fitz

  Chapter 60 - Bray

  Chapter 61 - Fitz

  Chapter 62 - William

  Chapter 63 - Bray

  Chapter 64 - Fitzgerald

  Chapter 65 - William

  Chapter 66 - William

  Chapter 67 - William

  Chapter 68 - William

  Chapter 69 - Winthrop

  Chapter 70 - William

  Chapter 71 - William

  Chapter 72 - Oliver

  Chapter 73 - Fitz

  Chapter 74 - Fitz

  Chapter 75 - Oliver

  Chapter 76 - Winthrop

  Chapter 77 - Fitz

  Chapter 78 - Bray

  Chapter 79 - Jingo

  Chapter 80 - Winthrop

  Chapter 81 - Fitz

  Chapter 82 - Fitz

  Chapter 83 - Fitz

  Chapter 84 - Jingo

  Chapter 85 - Fitz

  Chapter 86 - William

  Chapter 87 - Bray

  Chapter 88 - Winthrop

  Chapter 89 - Fitz

  Chapter 90 - Melora

  Chapter 91 - Bray

  Chapter 92 - William

  Chapter 93 - Bray

  Chapter 94 - William

  Chapter 95 - Bray

  Chapter 96 - Fitz

  Chapter 97 - Oliver

  Chapter 98 - Fitz

  Chapter 99 - Fitz

  Chapter 100 - William

  Chapter 101 - Bray

  Chapter 102 - Oliver

  Chapter 103 - Bray

  Chapter 104 - Fitz

  Chapter 105 - Beck

  Chapter 106 - Fitz

  Chapter 107 - Ivory

  Chapter 108 - Fitz

  Chapter 109 - Oliver

  Chapter 110 - Bray

  Final Words

  The Ruins Chapter 1 - Bray

  Email & Facebook

  Other Things To Read

  Copyright Info

  The Last Conquest

  A Dystopian Society in a Post-Apocalyptic World

  Book 6 of The Last Survivors Series

  By

  Bobby Adair & T.W. Piperbrook

  Find us at

  T.W. Piperbrook

  www.twpiperbrook.com

  www.facebook.com/twpiperbrook

  Bobby Adair

  http://www.bobbyadair.com

  http://www.facebook.com/BobbyAdairAuthor

  ©2016 Ancient City Publishing

  Cover Design and Layout

  Alex Saskalidis, a.k.a. 187designz

  Editing & Proofreading

  Cathy Moeschet & Kat Kramer-Adair

  Technical Consultant

  John Cummings

  Preface

  Welcome to the end.

  You've reached the final book of THE LAST SURVIVORS, the longest in the series by a quite a bit, and the culmination of 400,000 words, two years worth of work, and a group of characters that Bobby and I have grown fonder of than we anticipated. Thanks SO much for sticking with us through the journey. The fans of this series have been awesome and incredibly patient with us.

  I want to thank Bobby for the friendship, the support, and the faith during this project. We took a risk in the beginning, and I'm so happy we did.

  For those who want more THE LAST SURVIVORS, I'll be doing a series called THE RUINS, set in the same world and with some of the same characters, taking place immediately after the events in THE LAST SURVIVORS. For more info on that, you can read a sample chapter at the end of the book.

  But for now…THE LAST CONQUEST.

  Tenbrook and General Blackthorn are dead, but the battle for Brighton isn't over. Winthrop's army is on the move. Jingo and his gang have come across a new discovery. What will be the fate of Brighton? And who will survive?

  I won't hold you up any more. Without further ado, here's THE LAST CONQUEST.

  -Tyler (T.W.) Piperbrook & Bobby Adair

  September 2016

  The Last Survivors – Book 1 Recap

  Three hundred years after the fall of society, the last fragments of civilization are clinging to life, living in the ruins of the ancient cities in nearly-medieval conditions. Technology has been reduced to legend, monsters roam the forests, and fear reigns supreme. But that is just the beginning.

  The wind-borne spores are spreading, disfiguring men and twisting their minds, turning them into creatures that threaten to destroy the townships. Among the townsfolk—the political and the religious—dissension is spreading.

  Ella Barrow has discovered that her son is infected with the spore and has spirited him out of Brighton before he can be burned on the pyre. General Blackthorn's soldiers are in pursuit. She has fallen into the company of an unscrupulous Warden named Bray, who for the moment is helping her and her son on the journey.

  Minister Beck and his scholars have discovered that through poor management of town resources a famine is inevitable, but Beck is frustrated by his inability to convince the other ministers to do something about it.

  Father Winthrop comes to the realization that a council of three ministers led by a brutal General Blackthorn is a form of government that has outlived its ability to rule. His desire to lead a rebellion is growing. He doesn't understand that his pompous, selfish ways have lost the loyalty of his novices Franklin and Oliver, who are unlikely to follow his lead.

  Ivory—the son of a man named Muldoon who was taken to the pyre at the last Cleansing—has traveled to the Ancient City where he has met his teacher, an e
nigmatic man infected by the spore.

  The Last Escape – Book 2 Recap

  After the massacre in Davenport, Ella, Bray, and William flee into the forest to escape pursuing soldiers while at the same time trying to find Melora, Ella's daughter who might still be alive. William starts to exhibit aberrant behavior due to the spore growing in his body. After a violent encounter with soldiers, Ella, Bray, and William find a disheveled, frightened Melora, clinging to the body of her dead friend.

  Ivory learns that his father Muldoon was burned on the pyre on Cleansing Day. Beck, having discovered books on Ivory's person, offers to take Ivory into the Academy as a Scholar if Ivory provides him with more books. Beck believes Ivory has found them in the Ancient City. Confused and disturbed by his father's death, Ivory flees back to the Ancient City to talk to Jingo. He is pursued by the Warden Jeremiah, who Beck has sent after him.

  Franklin struggles under Father Winthrop's growing cruelty while he develops a relationship with a girl from The House of Barren Women named Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald later gets caught stealing a priceless relic from Father Winthrop's personal collection, and Franklin steps in to save her from the pyre.

  Blackthorn grooms Tenbrook to take his place as the leader of Brighton. Meanwhile, Blackthorn prepares the army to march to the Ancient City for a battle that seems destined to be the death of them all.

  Beck and Evan begin to plot to overthrow the government, or to escape west and start anew with a group of educated settlers. They recruit Oliver as a messenger boy, sending him on several errands. All goes well until Oliver is stopped by a few guards who eventually report back to Father Winthrop. Fed up with Oliver's antics, Winthrop threatens Oliver's life.

  The Last Humanity - Book 3 Recap

  Father Winthrop forces Franklin to beat Oliver. Franklin reluctantly complies. Initially angry with Franklin, Fitzgerald comes to the realization that Winthrop is evil, and she and Franklin devise a plan to ensure Winthrop goes out with Blackthorn's army.

  The plan succeeds, but not without its unexpected outcomes. Franklin becomes the new appointed Bishop, but only after burning Father Nelson in a decision forced on him by Blackthorn. Fitzgerald is brutally attacked by Tenbrook, who agrees to trade political favors in exchange for sexual favors.

  Beck and Evan continue their plot to overthrow the Brighton government. Beck is to abscond after the army leaves. Evan is to manage the recruit of insurgents, led by Tommy and Timmy Dunlow. Just before the army leaves, Tommy Dunlow reveals the plan to Tenbrook and gives up Scholar Evan's name. As the newly appointed General of Brighton, Tenbrook swears to uncover the plot and punish all involved.

  Ivory escapes the warden Jeremiah and reunites with Jingo in the Ancient City. Ivory tells Jingo about Muldoon's (Ivory's father's) death, and also that Beck has offered to make him a Scholar. Afterward, Jingo gifts Ivory a compound bow and takes him into the Ancient City to reveal a secret. They evade Jeremiah, who finds them, but they escape in Jingo's secret—a sailboat.

  Melora bonds with her new family—Ella and William—and Bray, as they travel away from Davenport. William is acting more strangely as he succumbs to the spore. They decide to head to the Ancient City to seek refuge. Bray splits off and heads to Coventry to get supplies. While in Coventry, he realizes he's developed feelings for Ella. He rejoins the group and they reach the Ancient City.

  Tired of being abused in Brighton, Oliver decides to flee into the wild. He secures knives, coin, and chainmail to assist in his journey. At the last moment, he decides to go out with the army, with the goal of murdering Father Winthrop.

  The Last Command - Book 4 Recap

  Oliver heads out with Blackthorn's army, intent on killing Father Winthrop. Winthrop's incoherent babbling is mistaken as god-speak. Over the course of several days, an army of several thousand gathers behind Winthrop and begins killing demons in his name. Winthrop becomes convinced he is a god. His followers brand themselves with the bloodied handprints of the demons and threaten Blackthorn's leadership. Blackthorn leads several bloody battles against the demons while trying to distill the growing threat from Winthrop.

  Ivory and Jingo sail away from the Ancient City on Jingo's boat. During the trip, Jingo tells Ivory about the death of his wife and daughter several hundred years earlier at the hands of the infected. Before returning, Ivory and Jingo notice smoke near the Ancient City. Ivory insists they should seek out the source, but Jingo dissuades Ivory with a cryptic warning.

  Franklin and Fitzgerald come to terms with the burning of Father Nelson. Fitzgerald's anger flares when she finds out Franklin has let Oliver go out with the army, but Franklin convinces her that Oliver's success in killing Winthrop might ensure his permanence as Bishop.

  While trying to sneak a night's rest at the army's camp, Oliver unwittingly runs into Beck, gaining an unlikely ally.

  A fall from a horse accelerates Blackthorn's already-failing health. On the eve of the army's final battle, Blackthorn admits his plan to kill the nineteen thousand to Beck. Beck is reluctant to lead the doomed army. As the battle grows fierce, Oliver disguises himself as one of Winthrop's followers and makes an attempt on Winthrop's life, but is unable to follow through with it due to his guilt. Before Beck can rally with the remaining captains, Winthrop, believing Blackthorn is the devil, sneaks into Blackthorn's tent and murders him with his own sword. The remnants of the fractured army engage in a bitter battle while demons continue to attack. Beck and Oliver escape in the fray by jumping in a river.

  In an attempt to uncover the plot against him, Tenbrook gathers the names of the two hundred insurgents. He calls in Evan, the purported leader, and pretends to recruit him. A nervous Evan talks with the Dunlows. The Dunlows wait for word from Tenbrook, who cuts off communication with them. Fearing for their lives, the Dunlows to go to Tenbrook, where he reveals he's been torturing their family. Evan, convinced that Oliver is the rat and certain he is about to die, goes to Franklin and Fitzgerald in a last-ditch attempt for help.

  Melora, Ella, William, and Bray settle down in the Ancient City. Bray's attempts to get closer to Ella are unsuccessful. William begins sneaking out at night and consorting with demons. Melora discovers his secret and confronts him, but William makes excuses. After catching him a second time, Melora follows him into the Ancient City and loses him in the streets. She is surrounded by demons, but a strange man named Ivory rescues her.

  After losing track of Ivory and Jingo in the boat, Jeremiah discovers a secret cache of books and decides to take them back to Brighton and sell them. Before he can enact his plan, he discovers William wandering in the streets. He corners and threatens a scared William, but William kills him when he commands a group of demons to attack.

  Franklin's first sermon goes surprising well, but his celebration is cut short by the arrival of Evan, who informs him of the plot against Tenbrook. Franklin, Fitzgerald, and Evan are shocked when Tenbrook calls a sudden meeting with the entire town. In front of all of Brighton, Tenbrook burns the leaders of the revolt, as well as a shocked Evan.

  Franklin and Fitzgerald come to the terrifying realization that they are next.

  The Last Refuge - Book 5 Recap

  After Tenbrook burns Scholar Evan and the insurgents, Franklin and Fitzgerald fear they are next. Rather than waging a violent attack they won't win, they decide to continue building The People's trust through sermons. Fitz begins recruiting women in Brighton, while Franklin prepares a new interpretation of The Word.

  Melora bonds with the Ivory, the strange man who rescued her from the demons in the Ancient City. Fascinated by his knowledge and the ancient compound bow, she brings him back to the ruined museum and introduces him to Ella, William, and Bray. Tensions arise as the group decides whether they can trust Ivory. Bray and Ella share a kiss on the steps of the old building, but William discovers them and confides in Melora. They vow to keep an eye on Bray.

  Later, Ivory accidentally spots the lump on William's neck. Bray and Ella confront him, leading to a fac
eoff that ends when Ivory convinces them he isn't a threat. To prove his sincerity, he offers to help William by taking him to a smart demon man named Jingo. On the way to meet Jingo in the tower, the group sees a large army amassing in the streets, killing demons. They flee to the rooftop, where they stumble upon Jingo. Unable to believe Jingo is a smart demon, Bray attempts to kill him, but accidentally kills Ella. Ella's death puts Melora in a rage against Bray, and sends William further into his madness. Bray flees. Melora, William, Ivory, and Jingo escape to the streets to avoid the wild army. They decide to escape in Jingo's boat, but lose William in the process as he joins a group of demons. William orders his demons to attack Melora, Jingo, and Ivory as his mind deteriorates. The others sail away in Jingo's boat, leaving William behind.

  Pained at his mistake of killing Ella, Bray returns to bury her. He vows to follow William and try to keep him safe, or at least away from the demons, to try and make amends for it.

  Winthrop's army swarms the Ancient City, killing as many demons as they can find. In order to solve the hunger problem, Winthrop decides to have his army feast on the corpses.

  After the battle on the hill, Oliver and Beck journey away and to the ocean. They encounter Ivory, Melora, and Jingo, who have been shipwrecked in a storm. Together, they travel onwards, with a tentative destination of Brighton. Jingo tells the group about the fall of the Ancient world, the origin of the spore, and his fading hope for Brighton.

  Tenbrook thwarts the efforts of Franklin and Fitzgerald by putting a guideline in place that discourages the residents from attending the sermons. In a countermove, Franklin takes his sermons to the farmer's fields, but Tenbrook finds out and kills the parishioners. Franklin and Fitz take the sermon to the marketplace, theorizing that Tenbrook won't be able to kill everyone in attendance. The sermon is successful.

  Later, Tenbrook invites Franklin to his house, where he reveals a secret: Tenbrook has had relations with Fitzgerald. The news creates an enormous rift between Franklin and Fitzgerald. Fitz begins isolating herself with some of the Strong Women—women who were widowed by the burnings, or by Blackthorn's war—Franklin isolates himself in the Sanctuary pews and begins fasting. After a heated standoff in which Fitz condemns the treatment of women by those in Brighton, Fitz and Franklin make amends and organize an enormous sermon in the Sanctuary. Their aim is to gather The People, with the eventual goal of standing up to Tenbrook.