Far overhead streamed the banner of Simaerin: a unicorn racing across a blue field, while behind the fair creature stood a silver tree framed by two swords.
Magic and fae and humans, united.
Epilogue
Snow fell from the heavens as Gwyn stepped out onto his balcony, wrapped in a warm fur to fight the bitter chill. His breath curled against the midnight sky in wisps of white.
Something had woken him from a deep sleep.
Pulling his fur closer about his shoulders, he stared into the darkness and waited. Waited.
Gwynny, look. The voice, so much like Lawen’s, whispered on the wind.
He looked below. There.
Against the night, he noticed a figure in the snow-covered courtyard.
‘Gwynter, come.’
Gwyn obeyed the rush of Aluem’s voice at once, leaping from the balcony. The wind caught and lowered him to the ground, and he moved toward the grand fountain in the center of the courtyard.
Aluem stood waiting for him, horn glowing faintly. As Gwyn neared, he turned his head toward the figure he had seen before.
Alone in a swirl of snow, tangled tresses of hair whipping about in the wind, stood a long-lost friend.
Gwyn gasped. Five years. Five years had come and gone since Kive vanished at the battle for Crowwell.
“Kive!” He raced forward, afraid the figure would bolt and melt into the night. But Kive remained still and Gwyn caught him in an embrace. “Kive, my friend.”
“Hello, Shiny.”
Gwyn pulled back to peer into the Ilidreth’s face. He was the same, just the same.
But no. Gwyn looked closer and tears pricked his eyes—for Kive’s eyes had changed. The bloodred color was gone, replaced by a beautiful silver.
He was not wholly healed. Not yet. His clothes hung in tatters. His smile hung broken. But there was hope, for Kive was no longer bound to the Crow.
At long last the Swan King stood free.
The End
Appendix
For The Winter King
People
* * *
Adesta Gilhan [uh-DES-tuh gill-han] – A knight from Fraelin.
* * *
Afallon [ă-fall-on] – The god of Simaerin and Fraelin. Also referred to as Sweet Afallon or Blessed Afallon. According to church doctrine, he sacrificed himself to redeem all men.
* * *
Aleteer Hemonn [ăl-uh-teer HEM-awn] – Gwyn’s aide.
* * *
Aluem [ă-loo-em] – A unicorn who dwells in Ilid.
* * *
Arastet [air-uh-stet] – A unicorn who once dwelt in Ilid.
* * *
Arianwen ren Targeth [ah-ree-AWN-wenn ren tar-geth] – A lady of the Crow King’s court.
* * *
Bened Arnnor [ben-ed ar-norr] – A knight of Simaerin.
* * *
Bowrin [bow-rin] – An Ilidreth commander allied with the armed forces of the Crane King.
* * *
Brandivven [brăn-divv-VEN] – A captain stationed at Andonn Garrison in Simaerin.
* * *
Breye [bray] – A magistrate of Bayton.
* * *
Brioc Ffyr [bree-ock fīr] – A philosopher and printer in Charquae. He is part of the Winter King’s council.
* * *
Brisht [brish-t] – A soldier in the Winter Army.
* * *
Broven [bro-ven] – A general in service to the Crow King.
* * *
Cadogan ren Silverard [căd-oh-gen ren sil-ver-ard] – A general under the Crow King.
* * *
Celin’Laen clo Vae’nan [sel-LIN-lay-in klo vay-năn] – An Ilidreth High Lord. Also called Celin. [sel-LIN]
* * *
Chiaven [chee-ah-ven] – A dread lord 1,000 years before the present day. He slew Afallon within Keep Talbethé. Also see Afallon.
* * *
Cluv [cloo-v] – A colonel in the Winter Army.
* * *
Crane King, The – Ruler of Fraelin.
* * *
Crow King, The – Ruler of Simaerin.
* * *
Cygmund – A king of Crane Castle of Fraelin and brother of Queen Shalesta of Ilid. He lived over 300 years ago.
* * *
Delyth ren Cryven [dell-ith ren krī-ven] – The recently widowed wife of Charquae’s former governor.
* * *
Demréal [dem-ray-all] – A red dragon.
* * *
Dontri [don-tree] – A Fraeli duke quartered at Keep Montré.
* * *
Douva [doe-vuh] – A high priest of Afallon stationed in Londolin.
* * *
Drinald [drin-ald] – A knight in service to the Crow King.
* * *
Dura [durr-uh] – Rafer’s son and a runaway slave turned soldier in the Winter Army. Also see Rafer.
* * *
Fayett sae Marqwen [fay-ett say marr-kwen] – Crown Prince of Fraelin.
* * *
Fiend, The – A servant of the Crow King.
* * *
Freyder [fray-der] – Sovereign Prince of Hesh-Kasal.
* * *
Grene [grenn] – A general in the Winter Army.
* * *
Gwynter ren Wintervale [gwin-tur ren win-tur-vayl] – The Winter King, he is the rightful ruler of Simaerin through his mother’s line. Formerly of Mount Vinwen. Also called Gwyn [gwin] or Gwynny [gwin-ee].
* * *
Haratin [hawr-uh-tin] – A general in the Winter Army.
* * *
Hemm – Father of Nox. A baker in Charquae.
* * *
Henris [hen-riss] – A member of the Winter Council at Charquae.
* * *
Huwin [hew-inn] – A knight of the Crow King.
* * *
Kive ave’ar Edelin [kīv ah-vay-air eh-dell-in] – An Ilidreth now fallen. He views people as animals, and eats those he sees as rats. Also see Fallen under Terms & Phrases.
* * *
Kovien ave’al Edelin [ko-vee-in ah-vay-all eh-dell-in] – A prince of Ilid in former days, now revealed to be the Crow King.
* * *
Lawen ren Terare [law-wen ren tur-RAIR] – Lord of Mount Vinwen in Simaerin, elder half-brother to Gwynter.
* * *
Leelin [lee-lin] – A general in the Winter Army.
* * *
Liliaé [lil-ee-ay] – A Wintervale princess of Londolin 300 years ago.
* * *
Mershen [mer-shen] – A general and doctor in the Winter Army.
* * *
Nathaera ren Lotelon [nuh-thay-ruh ren lot-TAY-lawn] – A young noblewoman of Simaerin, and Gwyn’s dear friend.
* * *
Nox – A citizen of Charquae and formerly a baker’s son. He is part of the Winter Army.
* * *
Parsha [pär-shuh] – A green and blue dragon.
* * *
Penden ren Targeth [pen-den ren tar-geth] – Father of Lady Arianwen ren Targeth.
* * *
Rafer [ray-fer] – A runaway slave, now a soldier in the Winter Army. Father of Dura.
* * *
Remien [rem-ee-ehn] – A member of the Winter Council.
* * *
Rindermarr Lorric [rin-der-marr lor-rik] – A priest of Afallon in Simaerin.
* * *
Rohkye [row-kī] – Gwynter’s aide.
* * *
Roth ave’al Edelin [raw-th ah-vay-all eh-dell-in] – High King of Ilid in former times. He is now deceased.
* * *
Shalesta [shuh-LESS-tuh] – A princess of Fraelin in former days, and queen of Ilid before its collapse. She was the wife of Roth.
* * *
Succunder [suk-KUHN-der] – A magistrate of Bayton.
* * *
Thiavos [thee-uh-voss] – The Devil according to the doctrine of Afallon’s church.
* * *
Towwen Brym [tau-wen brim] – A printer in Charquae and ass
ociate of Brioc Ffyr. He is a member of the Winter King’s council.
* * *
Towwen Stone [tau-wen stone] – A childhood friend of Gwynter from Vinwen Province. He is a member of the Winter King’s council.
* * *
Traycen ren Lotelon [TRAY-sen ren lot-TAY-lawn] – A member of the Order of Corvus under the Crow King. Father of Nathaera.
* * *
Tull [tool] – A magistrate of Bayton.
* * *
Windsur ren Cloven [wind-sir ren klo-vin] – A knight of Simaerin and formerly betrothed to Nathaera ren Lotelon.
* * *
Places
* * *
Andonn [ăn-don] – A southern garrison in Simaerin.
* * *
Bayton [bay-tunn] – A port city in Simaerin.
* * *
Charquae [char-kway] – A trade city near Mount Vinwen in Simaerin. It now houses the Winter Council.
* * *
Crane Castle – The castle of the Crane King in Fraelin.
* * *
Crow Castle – The castle of the Crow King in Simaerin.
* * *
Crowwell [cro-well] – The capital city of Simaerin situated on the southern coast of the kingdom.
* * *
Delesar [DELL-uh-sarr] – A river running near Trayton & Phinion.
* * *
Dilian [dill-ee-awn] – A town on the east road to Crowwell.
* * *
Dorshen Heights [dor-shun] – Northern cliffs above Bayton.
* * *
Fraelin [fray-lin] – A kingdom to the northeast of Simaerin constantly at war with its southwestern neighbor. The Crane King reigns over these lands. Its people are called the Fraeli [fray-lee].
* * *
Glashon [glă-shun] – Home province of Sir Bened Arnnor.
* * *
Gond – A city in southern Simaerin.
* * *
Hesh-Kasal [hesh kuh-SALL] – Eastern country whose paid mercenaries (Heshi) have allied with the Crow King against Gwyn’s forces.
* * *
Ilid [ill-id] – The wooded northwestern kingdom of the fae-like Ilidreth [ill-id-reth], it has fallen into ruin and its fae are becoming wild and violent. Also see Shaeswéath under Terms and Phrases.
* * *
Keep Arch – A fortress near the northern Simaerin-Ilid border.
* * *
Keep Canad [kuh-NOD] – Northern fort of Simaerin.
* * *
Keep Hathoss [hă-thoss] – A fortress on the east road to Crowwell.
* * *
Keep Montré [mon-TRAY] – Northern fort of Simaerin.
* * *
Keep Talbethé [tăl-buh-thay] – Where the Order of Corvus makes its home, it is considered unholy but significant as the place where the god Afallon was executed.
* * *
Kellion [kell-ee-awn] – A city in southern Simaerin.
* * *
Kender [ken-der] – The location of a lost campaign of General Haratin.
* * *
Lemlin [lem-linn] – A southern province near Crowwell. Most of the Crow Army’s supplies come from its granaries.
* * *
Londolin [LAWN-doh-linn] - The abandoned former capital of Simaerin from the age of the Wintervale Kings.
* * *
Misoril [miss-or-ill] – A far western province of Simaerin.
* * *
Mount Vinwen [vin-wen] – The agricultural estate where House ren Terare resides within Vinwen Province.
* * *
Phinion [finn-ee-awn] – A village near the bridge spanning the Delesar river near Trayton
* * *
Quee’avv Cathedral [kwee-aw-v] – A prominent cathedral within Crowwell.
* * *
Simaerin [sih-MAY-rin] – The southern kingdom ruled by the Crow King. Its people are called the Simaeri [sih-MAY-ree].
* * *
Suffon [suff-AWN] – The location of a lost campaign of General Haratin.
* * *
Swan Castle – The human term for Shaeswéath, the legendary castle belonging to the Ilidreth.
* * *
Trayton [tray-tunn] – A hamlet east of the Delesar, where Heshi forces make camp.
* * *
True Wood – The human term for the fae kingdom of Ilid.
* * *
Vaymeer Ocean [vay-meer] – Also called the Vaymeer Sea, it is the southern ocean in Simaerin. Crowwell and Londolin sit upon its shores.
* * *
Yastport [yăst-port] – A prosperous port city in direct trade with Crowwell. Windsur ren Cloven’s home.
* * *
Terms & Phrases
Chesevwé [chess-eh-vway] – The Crystal Way; a path leading to Swan Castle.
* * *
Corvus, Order of [kor-vuhs] – An order of mages under the Crow King.
* * *
Cygnus, Order of [sig-nus] – An order of mages under the Winter King.
* * *
Fallen – A term used to describe the state of the Ilidreth when their souls darken due to the blight that has overcome their people and kingdom. A fallen Ilidreth loses his or her sense of reality and usually becomes violent until they fade into nothing.
* * *
Feast of Afallon (also called Afallon’s Feast) – A celebration for the birth of Afallon. The eve of Afallon’s feast is also celebrated. Also see Afallon under People.
* * *
Shaeswéath [shay-SWAY-auth] – Swan Castle and its enormous grounds within the fae kingdom of Ilid. Also see Ilid under Places.
* * *
Sui [swee] – Fraeli tongue for “yes.”
* * *
Weave – The source of magic, both of fae and of human mages.
* * *
Winter Army – The army that is risen to oppose the Crow King. It is led by Gwynter, rightful king of Simaerin.
* * *
Winter Camp – The transient headquarters of the Winter Army as it slowly heads south toward Crowwell.
* * *
Winter Council – Stationed in Charquae, this force is lead by Brioc Ffyr, Towwen Brym, and Towwen Stone. Also see Charquae under Places.
Acknowledgments
American Revolutionary War enthusiasts will undoubtedly have noted the battles and events borrowed from actual historic incidents of that era, but they will also recognize the many deviations from said events—and I hope they will forgive me for taking creative license often. Yes, the crossing of the Delesar is certainly inspired by, and largely replicated from, the famous crossing of the Delaware during Christmas of 1776. Other events are less obvious because they aren’t as well known. Others still are pure fiction. Even so, I hope those with a love of the American Revolution have enjoyed my fantastical tipping of the hat to those wondrous, even miraculous, moments that altered history forever. I ardently acknowledge—and express my deep gratitude for—the people and sacrifices that inspired the shaping of this book.
I also want to acknowledge my family, in particular my parents, Duane and Deborah—for letting me spend so much of my free time growing up to cultivate my writing, and to dream about one day becoming an author. They never discouraged me, and that means everything to this appreciative daughter.
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my beta readers and ARC readers for both The Crow King and The Winter King, without whom I wouldn’t have braved publishing this dear duology. In particular, I wish to thank Laura Barton, CJ Farley, Mandi Oyster, Heidi Wadsworth, and Tawnee Wadsworth—for your tireless efforts and enduring support of this duology. My characters and I are deeply touched by your affection for the Wintervale series.
The Complete Duology Page 56
