King’s Wrath

by Fiona McIntosh

  Ravan smiled. “You are a goddess. You can do whatever you like.”

  Her laugh sounded like the tinkling of icicles and her breath on his face was like meadow flowers.

  “What now for this child?” he wondered.

  “She is Valisar—royal in every way. She must be permitted to grow and flourish in safety.”

  “Loethar—”

  “Must not know. It would upset the balance of things. He believes his daughter dead and buried with her mother at the convent, and though he will grieve he will also move on. For now Ciara is best kept from all. She survived her birth without my help. And I would be lying to you now if I didn’t admit that she possesses the Legacy.”

  He gave a sound of awe. “Anothor Genevieve.”

  “But right now this world doesn’t need another Genevieve or indeed another Valisar princess.”

  “Where will she go?”

  Cyrena reached a hand out and stroked the child’s angelic face. “So like her father,” she whispered. “She will go with you, Ravan.”

  “Me? I thought . . .”

  “I know. But I have use for you yet, my loyal servant.”

  “I am going to raise a child?”

  She nodded.

  “Where?”

  “Come down to the water’s edge with me.”

  “Corbel de Vis did this once.”

  “Yes.” She glided down toward the sea and he followed her, for he could not deny her.

  “May I ask you a question, goddess?” he said as they arrived at the frothy waters. His head was spinning with possibility. The sea lapped at his feet but didn’t wet her sinous body.

  “Please,” she said, gently.

  “Why are we doing this?”

  And now her smile was radiant. “Because one day, I don’t know when, we may just need the magic of the Valisars once again.”

  “And so an aegis has been born for Ciara.”

  Cyrena nodded. “It is the way of the magic.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Take this child,” she said, kissing the baby’s head tenderly, “and walk into the waters, to a magical place where the land and the water meet at full moon.”

  “She will not drown?” he asked anxiously.

  “Trust me, Ravan, as you have before. And trust yourself. Take good care of her.”

  And Ravan, a man that was once a raven, now made in the image of a king, trusted the goddess. He walked into the waters to meet a new destiny with his land’s most powerful sorceress squirming softly in his arms.

  He whispered her name as the water claimed them, and as a great magic began to pulse around him, he knew that he loved her.

  Glossary

  CHARACTERS THE VALISAR REALM

  Royalty

  King Cormoron: The first Valisar king.

  King Brennus the 8th: 8th king of the Valisars.

  King Darros the 7th: 7th Valisar king. Father of Brennus.

  Queen Iselda: Wife of Brennus. She is the daughter of a Romean prince from Romea in Galinsea. Comes from the line of King Falza.

  Prince Leonel (Leo): First-born son of Brennus and Iselda.

  Prince Piven: Adopted son of Brennus and Iselda.

  The De Vis Family

  Legate Regor De Vis: Right-hand of the king. Father to Gavriel and Corbel.

  Eril De Vis: Deceased wife of Legate De Vis.

  Gavriel (Gav) De Vis: First-born twin brother of Corbel. He is the champion of the Cohort.

  Corbel (Corb) De Vis: Twin brother of Gavriel.

  Other

  Cook Faisal: Male cook of the castle.

  Father Briar: The priest of Brighthelm.

  Freath: Queen Iselda’s aide and right-hand man.

  Genrie: Household servant.

  Greven: Lily’s father. Is a leper.

  Hana: Queen Iselda’s maid.

  Jynes: The castle librarian (steward).

  Lilyan (Lily): Daughter of Greven.

  Morkom: Prince Leo’s manservant.

  Physic Maser: The queen’s physic.

  Sarah Flarty: A girlfriend of Gavriel.

  Sesaro: Famous sculptor in Penraven.

  Tashi: Sesaro’s daughter.

  Tatie: Kitchen hand.

  Tilly: Palace servant.

  The Penraven Army

  Brek: A soldier.

  Commander Jobe: Penraven’s army commander.

  Captain Drate: Penraven’s army captain.

  Del Faren: An archer and traitor.

  From outside Penraven, but still in the Set

  Alys Kenric: A resident of Vorgaven.

  Claudeo: A famous Set painter.

  Corin: Daughter of Clovis.

  Danre: Second son of the Vorgaven Royals.

  Delly Bartel: Resident of Vorgaven.

  Elka: From Davarigon—a giantess.

  Jed Roxburgh: Wealthy land owner of Vorgaven.

  Leah: Wife of Clovis.

  Princess Arrania: A Dregon princess.

  Tomas Dole: A boy from Berch.

  The Vested

  Clovis: A master diviner from Vorgaven.

  Eyla: A female healer.

  Hedray: Talks to animals.

  Jervyn of Medhaven: Vested.

  Kes: A contortionist.

  Kirin Felt: Can pry.

  Perl: Reads the runes.

  Reuth Maegren: Has visions.

  Tolt: Dreams future events.

  Torren: Makes things grow.

  The Supernatural/Other

  Abbess: The head nun of the convent at Lo’s Teeth.

  Algin: Giant of Set myth.

  Aludane: A Steppes god.

  Cyrena: Goddess. The serpent denoted on the Penraven family crest.

  Deren: A baker from Green Herbery.

  Qirin (Qirin Vervine): Deaf, blind and mute seer. Also referred to as the “Mother” of the convent in Lo’s Teeth.

  Ravan: Also known as Vyk, the Raven.

  Roddy: A young boy, saved by and drawn to Piven.

  Sergius: A minion of Cyrena.

  Tod: One of Roddy’s friends in Green Herbery.

  Wikken Shorgan: The younger of only two wikken left alive in the Set. He can “smell” magic.

  The Highwaymen

  Jewd: Friend to Kilt Faris.

  Kilt Faris: Highwayman, renegade.

  Tern: One of Kilt’s men.

  Coder

  Dorv

  Outside the Sets

  Emperor Luc: Emperor of Galinsea.

  King Falza: Past king of Galinsea.

  Zar Azal: Ruler of Percheron.

  Loethar and his followers

  Barc: A young soldier.

  Belush: A Drevin soldier.

  Bleuth: A soldier.

  Brimen: A soldier at Woodingdene.

  Dara Negev: Loethar’s mother.

  Darly: A soldier.

  Farn: A Mear soldier.

  Fren: A page who spies for Valya.

  (Captain) Ison: A soldier.

  Jib: A soldier.

  Loethar: Tribal warlord.

  Roland: A servant in Dara Negev’s retinue.

  Ronder: A soldier at Woodingdene; close to Stracker.

  Shev: A soldier at Woodingdene.

  Steppes (Plains) People: From the Likurian Steppes. Known as Barbarians.

  (Lady) Valya of Droste: Loethar’s wofe.

  Vulpan: A Vested working for Loethar whose talent is “cataloguing” and tracking people by knowing the taste of their blood.

  Stracker: Loethar’s right-hand man and half-brother.

  Vash: A soldier.

  Vyk: Loethar’s raven.

  MAGIC

  Aegis: Possesses the ability to champion with magic. Is bound to a person by the power of trammeling.

  Binder or Binding: The person who binds himself to an Aegis.

  Blood Diviner: A reader of blood.

  Diviner: Gives impressions and foretells the future.

  Dribbling: A small push of prying magic.

  Prying: Enteri
ng another’s mind.

  Reading the Runes: Ability to foretell the future using stones.

  The Valisar Enchantment: Powerful magic of coercion peculiar to the Valisar line.

  Trammeling: Awakening an aegis’s power.

  Trickling: Low-level magic.

  HEALING PRODUCTS

  Willow sap, Comfrey balm (for pain)

  Clirren leaves (powerful infection fighter)

  Crushed peonies (for pain)

  Henbane (for pain)

  White lichen (used for dressing wounds)

  Dock leaves (soothes itching skin)

  Bermine: A painkiller

  THE DENOVA SET

  The seven realms are sovereign states, self-governed with a king as head.

  Barronel

  Cremond

  Dregon

  Gormand

  Medhaven

  Penraven

  Vorgaven

  The Hand: The continent that the Denova Set sits on.

  Cities/towns within the Set

  Berch: Close to Brighthelm. Home of the Dole family.

  Brighthelm: The city stronghold (castle) and capital of Penraven.

  Buckden Abbey: Religious place south of Brighthelm.

  Camlet

  Caralinga

  Davarigon

  Deloran Forest: The Great Forest.

  Devden

  Dragonsback Mountains: They separate Penraven from Barronel.

  Droste: A realm not part of the Set.

  Francham

  Garun Cliffs: Where chalk is mined.

  Green Herbery

  Hell’s Gate

  Hurtle

  Lo’s Teeth: Mountain range in Droste.

  Merrivale: Where shipbuilding is renowned.

  Minton Woodlet

  Overdene

  Port Killen

  Rhum Caves: Caves found in the hills outside of Brighthelm.

  Skardlag: Where the famous Weaven timber comes from.

  Tooley

  Vegero Hills: In the realm of Barronel. Famed for the marble quarried in its hills.

  Woodingdene

  Places outside the Set

  Briavel

  Galinsea: A neighboring country.

  Lindaran: The great southern land mass.

  Likurian Steppes (or Steppes): Treeless plains. Home to Loethar and his tribes.

  Morgravia

  Percheron: A faraway country.

  Romea: Capital of Galinsea.

  Tallinor

  MONEY

  Throughout the Sets: Trents

  MEASUREMENTS

  Span: 1000 strides or 2000 double steps.

  Half-span: 500 strides or 1000 double steps.

  WORD GLOSSARY

  Academy of Learning: At Cremond. It is the seat of learning for all of the Denova Set.

  Anni: A year.

  Aspenberry: Used to distil Kern liquor.

  Asprey reeds: Used for support inside leather bladder balls.

  Blossomtide/Blossom: Spring

  Blow: Winter.

  Branstone: A very special silver colored stone with sparkling silver flecks.

  Chest: Coffin.

  Cloudberries: Forest berries.

  Cohort: A group of youngsters trained to be elite sword fighters.

  Crabnuts: Grow wild in the forests. They are a sweet nut, purplish in color.

  Dara: Word for “king’s mother” in Steppe language.

  Darrasha Bushes: Planted around the castle of Brighthelm.

  dinch: A hot beverage.

  Elleputian: A Davarigon mountain horse.

  Faeroe: A handcrafted sword that belonged to King Cormoron.

  Fan-tailed farla hen: A bright colored bird with a fan-tail.

  ferago: A mountain herb.

  flaxwood: A type of wood used for cooking.

  Freeze: Late winter.

  golasses vines: Grown in Penraven’s South, its dense dark wine favored by the barbarians.

  Harvest: Late autumn.

  Ingress: Secret passages within the Brighthelm castle.

  Kellet: A spicy fragrant herb that can be chewed.

  Kern: The local and notorious fiery liquor of Penraven’s North.

  Lackmarin: Place where the Stone of truth lies.

  Leaf-fall: Early autumn.

  Leaf of the Cherrel: Chewed as a breath freshener.

  leem: A mountain herb

  Lo: Set god.

  Lo’s Fury: An alcoholic beverage

  Oil of Miramel: Exotic essence.

  osh: Slabs of roasted meat cooked a particular way.

  peregum: A mountain herb.

  Roeberries: Wild berries growing in forests. They are blood red.

  Rough: A very strong alcoholic beverage.

  saramac fungus: A woodland toadstool used in healing.

  shakken: A wild Steppes animal.

  Shaman: Spiritual healer.

  Sheeca Shell: Found on the local beaches.

  Shubo: In Steppes language it means second.

  starren: A six-legged chameleon-like reptile.

  Stone of Truth: This truth stone is at Lackmarin. All Valisar Kings must take the oath at this stone.

  Strenic: A poisonous herb growing wild on the Steppes.

  Summertide: Summer.

  Tatua: Tattoos on the face, shoulders and arms.

  Thaw: Spring.

  The Masked: Magic users of the barbarian horde.

  The Vested: Magics users of the Set.

  Thaumaturges: Miracle weavers.

  Thaumaturgy: The study of the craft of miracle weaving.

  toka: A mountain herb.

  Weaven Timber: From Skardlag. It is scarce.

  Wikken: A tribal seer.

  Wych Elder Tree: Used for woodworking.

  Acknowledgments

  Many of you have come to know my curious style of writing to no plan and I must admit to setting out on each new novel’s journey with no story in mind, a lot of optimism but also a feeling of terror. This novel rounds off a dozen adult fantasy novels, so while I assure myself not to panic—because I’ve done it before and my strange writing approach seems to work for me—there is always anxiety that it may not work this time! And this fear has never been greater than it was for Wrath because I had absolutely no idea where this tale was headed and as it unfolded I was regularly surprised by events, and especially at who ultimately became the villain. It was great fun to write, discovering all the twists and turns of the story, and I do hope you enjoy it.

  Much of the energy for this final volume came from readers around the world—urging me to hurry and give them book three. Thank you all for your loyalty and your incredible interest in the series. My thanks to the HarperCollins team, especially the often unheralded sales force who work so hard at the coalface, but special thanks to my editor on this series, Kate Nintzel in the U.S.; to her colleague Emma Coode in Britain who, together with her team, gave us the fabulous artwork for the covers; and, of course, to Stephanie Smith in Australia for her wonderful support, supervisory commitment to this and all my series, and her constant nurturing.

  I cannot end my thanks without a nod to the fantasy booksellers of the world. I am getting to meet so many of you now through my travels and you are so similar, no matter which country you hail from. You are generous, committed to the genre, great readers and your brilliant handselling is often not factored into the success of fantasy globally.

  As always, I’m grateful to my loving family and friends for their encouragement and to Pip Klimentou, Marianne D’Arrigo, Sonya Caddy, Margo Burns, Michelle King, Willa Michelmore and Angela Bonnin for the Friday lattes, as well as to Mandy Macky, Judy Downs, Steve Hubbard, Phil Reed and Tony Berry.

  Thanks Will and Jack, for understanding why I need quiet time . . . oh, and by the way, the recycling has to go out, the dishwasher needs emptying and your rooms need tidying! xx

  Ian—always last but never least. Love and thanks. Fx

  Excerpt from Odalisque

 
The prisoners, chained together, shuffled awkwardly into the main square of the slave market of Percheron; six men, all strangers and all captives of a trader called Varanz, who had a reputation for securing the more intriguing product for sale. And this group on offer was no exception, although most onlookers’ attention was helplessly drawn to the tall man whose searing, pale-eyed stare, at odds with his long dark hair, seemed to challenge anyone brave enough to lock gazes with him.

  Varanz knew it too; knew this one was special, and he sensed a good price coming for the handsome foreigner well worth the effort it had cost six of his henchmen first to bring the man down and then to rope him securely. It puzzled him why the man had been traveling across the desert, of all places—that in itself a perilous journey—but also moving alone, which meant almost certain trouble, particularly from slavers renowned in the region.

  But Varanz had a policy of not inquiring into the background of his captives; perhaps to ease his conscience he didn’t want to know anything about them, save what was obvious to his own eye. And this one, who refused to name himself, or indeed mutter much more than curses, was clearly in good health. That was enough for the merchant.

  Trading for this cluster of slaves opened at the sound of the gong. The Master of the Market called the milling crowd of buyers to order: “Brothers, we have here Varanz Set Number Eight.” His voice droned on, extolling the virtues of each on offer, but already the majority of potential buyers were in the thrall of the angry-eyed man, clearly the pick of the bunch and the only one of the six who held his head defiantly high. Sensing a lively auction, the Master of the Market decided to state more than the obvious healthy appearance, strong structure, and good teeth. “He was found emerging from the golden sands of our desert alone, not even a camel for company. Brothers, I’d hazard this one will make a fine bodyguard. If he’s canny enough to travel our wasteland and remain as well as he looks, then I imagine he has excellent survival skills.”

  “Can he fight?” one buyer called out.

  Varanz arched an eyebrow and looked toward the slave, wondering whether he’d finally get something out of the man. His instincts were right.

  “I can fight,” the man replied. “In fact,” he challenged, “I demand to fight for my freedom.”

  A fresh murmuring rippled through the crowd. An oddity in Percheron’s slave market was its ancient and somewhat quaint rule that a slave who was captured as a free person had one chance to buy his freedom—with a fight to the death. The Crown covered the cost of his loss, either way, to the trader. It was one of the market’s oldest customs, set up by a Zar many centuries earlier who understood that such a contest from time to time would provide entertainment for the otherwise tedious business of trading in human cargo.