Avan's Gift (Queen Avan, #1)

by Alice Ivinya

  I shivered and turned to the vast expanse, bare and steaming and stinking. The ground was baked and cracked, white and yellow crusts covering the surface, flaking away to reveal rust red or powdery brown beneath. Steam rose in patches and the ground was too hot to walk on, even with leather boots. A gust of wind shrouded me in steam, which danced in my white skirts, and for a few seconds I was alone with my vast task stretched before me.

  I knelt and laid a hand as close as I could to the start of the plains. The ground was warm and chalky, and the grass disintegrated beneath my touch. After a choking breath of rotten eggs, I added both hands for balance. The watchers became completely silent. I closed my eyes and tried to shut everyone out. The plains gave out no song at all. No thin notes for me to nurture and expand, no pinpricks of light in an endless dark. I bit my lip and let life and warmth flow from my fingers to be swallowed by the emotionless dark. It flowed out and dissipated and was gone. How could I have an impact on something so vast and deep?

  I was about to give up when I felt a faint stirring in the land. An ache. A hunger. It had tasted life and wanted more. I concentrated harder and fed and fed. I could feel my limbs sagging and my head bowing under the weight of the pull. I felt the life being sucked out of me and realised I might not be able to stop. My limbs started to weaken and my head swam. I gasped as the ache from my recently healed fractures returned in my arms and ribs.

  But tiny spots of life appeared and filled me with hope; tiny seeds blown by the wind, shrivelled by the heat, made new. I found them, expanded them, and made them produce life of their own. Then again, and again, over and over, more and more, each producing a starburst of life. I was swept up, my body forgotten, lost in the joy of all this life and light where before there had been nothing but emptiness. Everything became bright and singing and beautiful. And then it was gone. The song ended and I had nothing more to give.

  With an effort, I opened my eyes.

  I was no longer kneeling, but slumped on the floor, panting heavily and exhausted. Dust was smeared on my cheeks and lip paint. But I knew I was victorious. The land before me glittered, full of rich grass, bejewelled with flowers, bushes, trees. The soil was the richest black. The stench of rotten eggs was already fading from the air. I grinned. I had done the impossible.

  I collapsed into the dust and even breathing was an effort. A man appeared above me, silhouetted by the sun. He knelt down and I recognised the bald head of Palem. He placed a hand on my chest and warmth and strength flooded through me, as he grew paler and drawn. When he removed his hand, I had just enough strength to stand without swaying, and the ache from my fractures was gone. He bowed his head at me, regarding me as if he wanted to ask dozens of questions, then backed away, leaving me to stand alone.

  A roar cascaded over me from behind. I turned around and saw hundreds of people cheering. Some threw hats or shawls into the air. Some were weeping on their knees. The king’s mouth was wide open in shock. I dared a glance at Lord Jasper. He was smirking with his head tilted slightly to one side. His gaze made me uneasy. He’d known. Somehow he had known I could do this, and he’d been the one who had encouraged me to push myself. He whistled.

  A group of armed men rode down from the forests above, surrounding a few dozen people on foot. I recognised a few faces from my village, and in front of them all, Cedric was beaming in pride and my heart swelled at his happiness.

  The noise died down as Farthi rushed to inspect the new land, measuring the depth of the soil with marked sticks and Growers putting their hands to the ground to listen to the happiness of the plants. They shouted excitedly back to the king. Eltarians were murmuring to themselves and analysing me as if I were a new artefact. A few were writing in hide books. I staggered a few steps forward, awkward under all the scrutiny and wiped my face. Lady May dismounted and hurried to help me. I clung to her arm gratefully. It was so much easier to stand when I had someone to lean on. Lord Rupert moved his horse to stand nearby, and I squinted up at him in question. It was like everyone wished to declare that they owned me.

  King Joseph took a step towards the Tharans, and the crowds edged back to make space around him and the Black Lord. “You must be satisfied that the famine has ended in Marchwood and we will continue to provide you with the normal amount of crops for you and your animals. You have no use for our Growers, or our prince. Release them.”

  Jasper flourished a bow that was on the verge of mocking. “Of course, your Majesty, they will all be returned. But there is one problem.” He held up his finger.

  The king sighed. “Maybe we should discuss this in a more private setting, Lord Jasper? If we are to bargain, I don’t think we need half the world to witness.”

  The Black Lord shook his head. “Oh I like as many witnesses as possible to hear my deals with Farthi.” He said the last word as if we were vermin, and then grinned amicably. “Now, back to my problem.”

  I froze as he looked straight at me.

  He folded his arms and continued. “It’s true that we have never needed to grow crops in Tahara, and you have always supplied us and our animals well, and in return we have supplied you. However, our grasslands have all died in the drought. I want her.” He nodded his head to me and flashed a smile. “She’s to come back to Tahara and make the plains green again. I want her to maintain them throughout the drought.”

  Horror clawed its way up my body and squeezed my stomach, making me swallow down a wave of nausea. King Joseph pursed his lips at Lord Jasper, then at me, then at Cedric. He frowned at Lady May and Lord Rupert. I could see his brain working. It would mean peace with Tahara and also get rid of the pesky washerwoman who was entangling his son, as well as dividing the court. By the earth, he was going to agree. My horror turned to rage and the sting of betrayal. It was happening again. I was being abandoned again by those who were meant to protect me.

  “That wasn’t part of the deal!” shouted Cedric, still surrounded by the Tharans who had guarded the Growers in the trees. He tried to take a step forward, but a Tharan clamped his hand around his mouth and held him back.

  The king bristled at the public maltreatment of the crown prince, and his skin turned pale. Lord Jasper drummed his fingers on his arm, clearly enjoying the reaction. “Fine. You may take her to save your lands. But the others must be returned and a public apology made for your actions.”

  Jasper bowed again. “Of course, your majesty. We all know how much public apologies help matters.” His voice dripped venom. “Apparently they cover any wrong.”

  The king shifted his feet and grimaced. “Let’s not drag past matters into this, Lord Jasper. These events are unrelated and you will apologise this time.”

  The Tharan shrugged and his eyes locked mine with a feral gleam and a shiver ran up my spine to the nape of my neck.

  It took me a moment to understand the deal had been struck. “What? No! I’m not going to Tahara! I’m a Farthi.” I looked at the king. “Haven’t I just saved your country? The sulphur plains are gone. You can’t do this, you still need me.” My words ran together in panic.

  The Tharans let go of Cedric and he strode forward. “If Avan is going, I’m going too. I can help Grow and see that she is treated fairly.”

  “You will not!” snapped the king. He looked furious at his son. “You will stay here and help your people recover.”

  Cedric held out his hand. “This isn’t right, father, you know it isn’t.”

  The king’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “Don’t you dare question me in front of all these people. You know how important it is to have a united front.”

  Cedric licked his lips. “But...”

  “Stop making a fool of yourself, you’ve done enough damage already.” I watched the prince deflate under his father’s words. The king turned to Lord Jasper, who wore a delighted expression at the exchange. “Take her.”

  Cedric looked at me. His face was pale with shock and hopelessness. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed. “I’ll get you back. Tr
ust me.” Lady May let go of my hand, frowning and alternated her gaze between the two of us.

  “As entertaining as all these theatrics are, I think it’s time we left,” called Jasper. He held out his arm to me. “Come, come, my lady.”

  All eyes turned to me. I swallowed and stepped away from May, who stayed stiff and motionless. I looked around for a place to escape, but the crowds were thick, the Tharans were mounted and the new land I had Grown was a tangle of undergrowth. I stepped towards Jasper, one slow step at a time. I couldn’t hear anything above the thumping of my heart. Run, my mind insisted. But I couldn’t. They had all trapped me. I tried to keep my head high and eyes forward. I would be enslaved with dignity.

  Lord Jasper loomed closer and closer, inspecting me smugly. I couldn’t stop the warmth spreading over my cheeks and down my throat at his gaze. I knew my skin clashed with my hair when I blushed, and with all eyes upon me, I blushed even more. I lowered my eyes. I couldn’t pretend to be strong anymore. I clasped my hands to stop them from shaking.

  I looked back at the king. “I vow I will never Grow for you again.”

  King Joseph didn’t react but kept his face impassive. Lord Jasper reached out and took my arm. He was taller than I’d realised, my eyes were level with his collarbone, and his grip was firm and warm. I dared to look up into his face. His black, shoulder-length hair was pushed back and contrasted with his pale skin. His high cheekbones shadowed a jaw covered in more stubble than previously and his lips were twisted into a smirk.

  “Like what you see, sweetheart?” he purred, watching me study him.

  I folded my arms. “You’ve got mud on your nose,” I lied, and looked away dismissively.

  Jasper pushed me in closer. “Would you like to remove it for me?”

  “Now see here..” came Cedric’s voice from behind me, but it was cut off.

  I sneered at the Tharan. “I wouldn’t want to touch you with a stick,” I spat. I cocked my head. “I’d remove it with something sharp, though. Like a dagger, or maybe a mace.”

  The Black Lord chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist. He pulled me hard into his chest, then lifted me onto his horse. I gripped the saddle horn to stop myself from falling off the other side. My muscles sagged and the exhaustion was thick around me now. I noticed Jasper look over his shoulder to grin and wink at a helpless Cedric, before he mounted behind me. I looked at the prince’s face and his horror mirrored my own. I had worked so hard to bring him back, only to be stolen away.

  “I think I have done a very profitable trade,” the man whispered in my ear. I shrugged his face away from mine. A surge of anger rose up within me. I was so sick and tired of everyone else deciding what would happen with me. Somehow I would learn to fight this...

  Jasper spurred his horse into a gallop and we had barely moved down the road before I gave in to my exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep, slumped in the arms of my enemy.

  Acknowledgements

  Queen Avan has been a harder story to write than most and I have many people to thank. Thank you Mum for the idea and for reading each section at least twice! Thank you so much to my beta readers: Astrid V.J, Ben Lang, Julie Higham and Jen Kropf. And finally to my wonderful developmental editor, Claire Staley, who went above and beyond.

  Finally, thank you reader. I am so happy that you are coming on all these adventures with me.

  To be continued...

  Avan’s Curse

  PART TWO of Queen Avan will be available on amazon at the end of July.

  Avan’s Heart

  PART THREE of Queen Avan will be available on amazon in September.

  Queen Avan (The complete edition)

  The complete three parts will be available in one volume in booth ebook and paperback from amazon by the end of 2020

  Queen Avan is a stand-alone prequel to ‘The Flawed Princess’.

  Available now on amazon:

  https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/4ece9e5a-b81e-11e9-9ba7-3f8319817f47

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