The Quickening
Page 154
‘There’s a child, though, is that right?’
‘Yes. Cailech fathered the boy, but on Lothryn’s wife. Loth has always thought of Aydrech as his own and now he can rightfully raise him as his son.’
‘Will he be King?’
‘Yes, bastard children are recognised as heirs in the Razors.’
Valentyna nodded. ‘It must feel good to put everything back into balance again,’ she admitted. ‘I’m so happy for Elspyth too. She’s glowing. Did you ever think things could work out so right after everything felt so hideously wrong?’
Wyl turned her to him and kissed her softly, his lips lingering on hers so she could enjoy the tenderness and passion behind his affection. ‘I never thought I would win you. That time at Briavel was enough, if that was all I could have. Shar has blessed me.’
Valentyna pulled him closer still and whispered into his ear, his golden hair tickling her face. ‘Shar has blessed you with more than you think.’
He pulled away and looked at her quizzically.
‘Shar, but you can be thick for a King, Wyl Thirsk!’
‘What am I missing?’ he begged, laughing at her insult.
‘Marry me fast, my lord, for I am pregnant. It seems we shall have the first royal heir to both thrones by the close of next winter.’
She watched the light green eyes of the northern King — soon to be a southern King too — fill with tears. She carried on talking, knowing he was lost for words. ‘If he’s a boy we shall call him Wyl, and I’d better start remembering to call you Cailech all the time — do you mind?’
Finally Wyl found his voice. ‘And if we have a princess?’
‘Ylena, of course. What else but a name that signifies such courage and represents so much love in both our lives?’
‘Valentyna…’ Whatever else Wyl was going to say was choked by a soft sob of joy. He hugged her tight and showered her hair and her face with his kisses. ‘If I died right here and now I couldn’t be happ—’
‘Don’t! We’re both going to live until we’re so old we will need servants to help us on and off the privy because of our creaky bones.’
They laughed amongst their shared tears. ‘That’s right,’ he said. ‘We shall grow old and creaky together.’
‘Make Aremys bring you home to me quickly. I can only believe you are safe whilst I can see you, hold you,’ she said fervently. Wyl understood. He would have to be very careful with Cailech’s body until they were married and he was finally King of Morgravia.
Valentyna sighed, looking out across the landscape. ‘It’s beautiful here. I miss my woodlands but this is certainly a wonderful view. I feel like I can see all the way to Briavel.’
‘That was the point. This war tower was built so it offered a view in all directions, but especially towards Briavel.’
‘Well, we shall give this tower a new purpose. I shall dream something up by your return, King Cailech.’
He grinned, and as he did so a shadow fell across them. ‘What’s that?’ he said, shading his eyes against the sharp sunlight as he looked up.
‘I can’t imagine,’ Valentyna said, squinting into the sky. ‘An eagle?’
‘Not in these parts, and it’s too big anyway.’
Knave, who had been slumped drowsily close by, leapt to his feet and began to bark.
‘What is it, Knave?’ Wyl asked. He was rewarded with an answer from a voice he had never thought to hear again. Hello, Wyl.
Fynch! he sent back. Oh, Shar — is it really you?
Tell Valentyna. She can’t hear us — she’s not linked through the Thicket. And fret not, I’ve made myself invisible to all but you three.
‘What is it?’ Valentyna asked, baffled.
‘My love, you won’t believe it.’ Wyl did not think he could grin any wider or feel any happier than he did at this moment. ‘It’s Fynch! He’s alive.’
‘Where?’ Valentyna asked, amazed.
‘Up there,’ he said, pointing. What are you? he sent.
A dragon! He heard the boy laugh in his head and the sound was one of pure joy.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IT’S ALWAYS A SPECIAL FEELING to bring a huge story to an end. A lot of people have travelled this long and often traumatic journey with Wyl Thirsk and thank you to all the readers who’ve been so faithful to his cause. Here’s hoping this final book brings satisfaction — I have truly enjoyed hearing your thoughts and ideas, your despair and hopes for the characters. Enjoy closure!
Each time I set out to thank people for their support I realise there are new names who must be added to the list. On this occasion let me offer my sincere gratitude to Gary Havelberg, Sonya Caddy, Pip Klimentou and newcomer, Judy Downs, for their draft reading efforts, research and enthusiasm for the tale. Thanks to the gang at the Heartwood Bulletin Board and to the members of the ever-growing ‘FAB’ fantasy club, from whom I learn so much about what readers want. Trent, you’re a legend for all the help with computers and website gobbledygook.
Robin Hobb… quietly in the background, always full of encouragement, ever inspirational through her own work — thank you for being so supportive and for choosing this story to accompany you on your signings around the world this year.
This series is about to go international — at the time of this book going to print it’s scheduled for the US and UK in early 2005, which is exciting. And for that success I owe much to the booksellers of Australia for their enthusiasm for The Quickening series and to my agent, Chris Lotts in New York. Thank you all.
HarperCollins I hope you know how much I love being one of your authors — thank you to Nicola O’Shea, my editor; to Stephanie Smith, Robyn Fritchley, Linda Funnell, Sean Cotcher with his wonder team around the country, and Samantha Rich for their nurturing and generous attitude in all our dealings.
Family and friends, thank you — you are never taken for granted. And finally love and gratitude to my husband Ian and sons Will and Jack who make it so easy for me to have fun in worlds beyond our own but always lure me back.
Fx
PRAISE FOR FIONA MCINTOSH TRINITY
BETRAYAL
‘a rattling good adventure that fulfils all the requirements of fantasy’
Adelaide Advertiser
‘leaves the reader anxiously waiting to know more… Strong and interesting characters and a story which keeps the reader guessing, Betrayal is an enjoyable and fast-paced read, full of magic and destruction – who could ask for more?’
Northern Argus
REVENGE
‘as good as Sara Douglass’ Good Reading ‘an exciting and inventive battle between the gods of good and evil’
Adelaide Advertiser
DESTINY
‘Slick, hard and dark fantasy at its blistering best… Destiny ends the Trinity series… with a punch in the guts and a slap in the face. [The] story line is crisp and crackling with explosive power.’
Altair
THE QUICKENING
MYRREN’S GIFT
‘a wonderful new perspective for fantasy readers … excellent’
Australian Bookseller & Publisher
‘Fiona McIntosh is a seductress. I have not moved from the sofa for three days…’
Sydney Morning Herald
BLOOD AND MEMORY
‘Because I read a lot of fantasy books and books in general, I am seldom taken by surprise by a plot turn. When I read Myrren’s Gift, I thought I could predict where this tale was going. Blood and Memory proved me wrong. Fiona McIntosh’s books move quickly and unpredictably; if you are tired of plodding trilogies in which little seems to happen, these books are definitely for you.’
Robin Hobb, author of The Farseer Trilogy
About the Author
FIONA MCINTOSH was born and raised in Sussex in the UK, but spent her early childhood commuting with her family between England and Ghana in West Africa where her father worked. She left a PR career in London to travel and found herself in Australia where she fell in love with th
e country, its people and one person in particular. She has since roamed the world working for her own travel publishing company, which she runs with her husband. Fiona lives with her young family in Adelaide.
You can find out more information about
Fiona or chat to her on her bulletin board via
her website: www.fionamcintosh.com
Email: fiona@fionamcintosh.com
For information about Fiona McIntosh and her
books, plus all the latest science fiction news, visit
‘Voyager Online’: www.voyageronline.com.au — the
website for lovers of science fiction and fantasy.
OTHER BOOKS BY FIONA MCINTOSH
TRINITY
Betrayal
Revenge
Destiny
THE QUICKENING
Myrren’s Gift
Blood and Memory
Copyright
HarperCollinsPublishers
Myrren’s Gift first published in 2003
Blood and Memory first published in 2004
Bridge of Souls first published in 2004
This combined edition first published in Australia in 2014
By HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Limited
ABN 36 009 913 517
harpercollins.com.au
Copyright © Fiona McIntosh 2014
The right of Fiona McIntosh to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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