“So she would have been of Zerque faith?” he wondered aloud, and Gueryn nodded. “Go on,” Wyl encouraged, glad to be thinking about something other than the pain of his father’s death.
Gueryn sighed. “A long tale really, but essentially she hated the King, blamed her father for his avarice in marrying her off to what she considered an old man, and poisoned the young Celimus’s mind against his father.”
“She died quite young, though, didn’t she?”
The soldier nodded. “Yes, but it was the how that caused the ultimate rift between father and son. Your father was with the King when the hunting accident happened and could attest to the randomness of the event. Adana lost her life with an arrow through her throat.”
“The King’s?” Wyl asked, shifting in his saddle. “My father never said anything about this to me.”
“The arrow was fletched in the King’s very own colors. There was no doubt whose quiver it had come from.”
“How could it have happened?”
Gueryn shrugged. “Who knows? Fergys said the Queen was out riding where she should not have been and Magnus shot badly. Others whispered, of course, that his aim was perfect, as always.” He arched a single eyebrow. It spoke plenty.
“So Celimus has never forgiven his father?”
“You could say. Celimus worshiped Adana as much as his father despised her. But in losing his mother very early there’s something you and Celimus have in common and this might be helpful to you,” he offered. “The lad, I’m told, is already highly accomplished in the arts of soldiering too. He has no equal in the fighting ring amongst his peers. Sword or fists, on horseback or foot, he is genuinely talented.”
“Better than me?”
Gueryn grinned. “We’ll see. I know of no one of your tender years who is as skilled in combat—excluding myself at your age, of course.” He won a smile from the boy at this. “But, Wyl, a word of caution. It would not do to whip the backside of the young Prince. You may find it politic to play second fiddle to a king-in-waiting.”
Wyl’s gaze rested firmly on Gueryn. “I understand.”
“Good. Your sensibility in this will protect you.”
“Do I need protection?” Wyl asked, surprised.
Gueryn wished he could take back the warning. It was ill-timed but he was always honest with his charge. “I don’t know yet. You are being brought to Pearlis to learn your craft and follow in your father’s proud footsteps. You must consider the city your home now. You understand this? Argorn must rest in your mind as a country property you may return to from time to time. Home is Stoneheart now.” He watched the sorrow as those last words took a firm hold on the boy. It was said now. Had to be aired, best out in the open and accepted. “The other reason the King is keen to have you in the capital is, I suspect, because he is concerned at his son’s wayward manner.”
“Oh?”
“Celimus needs someone to temper his ways. The King has been told you possess a similar countenance to your father and I gather this pleases him greatly. He has hopes that you and his son will become as close friends as he and Fergys were.” Gueryn waited for Wyl to comment but the boy said nothing. “Anyway, friendship can never be forced, so let’s just keep an open mind and see how it all pans out. I shall be with you the whole time.”
Wyl bit his lip and nodded. “Let’s not tarry then, Gueryn.”
The soldier nodded in return and dug his heels into the side of his horse as the boy kicked into a gallop.
Praise
FIONA MCINTOSH
and
THE VALISAR TRILOGY
“McIntosh is an imaginative world-builder, writing fantasy that brims with complex characters, carefully laid intrigues and hair-raising violence. This series may be her best yet.”
The Age (Australia)
“First rate.”
Publishers Weekly
“If you are tired of plodding trilogies in which little seems to happen, [her] books are definitely for you.”
Robin Hobb
“Fiona McIntosh is a street-smart enchantress . . . [who] knows who her readers are and what they want: thrilling, fast-paced reads.”
Sydney Sun Herald (Australia)
“McIntosh is set . . . to assume the mantle of the late David Gemmell.”
Canberra Times (Australia)
“Fiona McIntosh keeps getting better and better.”
The Advertiser (Australia)
Excerpt from Odalisque
Fiona McIntosh’s internationally bestselling
THE PERCHERON SAGA
is
“First rate.”
Publishers Weekly
“[A]n exciting, magical tale of forbidden love, treachery, betrayal, and possession. Fast and furious. A great read.”
Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)
“Nothing short of astonishing. McIntosh weaves a captivating web.”
Bookreporter.com
“Riveting . . . An ages-old battle for hearts and souls.”
Adelaide Advertiser
“A tale of romance and sacrifice, mystery and magic that is redolent with lavish detail. Intriguing characters and an exotic setting make this series . . . a good choice.”
Library Journal
Excerpt from Myrren’s Gift
Fiona McIntosh’s internationally bestselling trilogy
THE QUICKENING
“Vibrant and engaging . . . An intricately plotted tale of love and politics, set against the backdrop of a rich fantasy realm with interesting magic, and peopled with characters whom the reader grows to care about. A fast-paced and enchanting page-turner.”
Kirkus Reviews (*Starred Review*)
“A just one more chapter sort of book. Don’t start reading Myrren’s Gift in the evening if you have to get up early the next morning.”
Robin Hobb
“[A] winner.”
Publishers Weekly
“Fiona McIntosh is a seductress. I have not moved from my sofa for three days, beguiled by her new fantasy novel, Myrren’s Gift.”
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
“Fiona McIntosh scores.”
The Guardian (London)
“[A] rich, satisfying confection of vivid detail, engrossing characters, and their dark doings. I was enthralled.”
Lynn Flewelling, author of The Hidden Warrior
By Fiona McIntosh
The Valisar Trilogy
ROYAL EXILE
TYRANT’S BLOOD
KING’S WRATH
The Percheron Saga
ODALISQUE
EMISSARY
GODDESS
The Quickening
MYRREN’S GIFT
BLOOD AND MEMORY
BRIDGE OF SOULS
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Fiona McIntosh
Excerpt from Odalisque copyright © 2005 by Fiona McIntosh;
excerpt from Myrren’s Gift copyright © 2003 by Fiona McIntosh
Map by Matt Whitney
ISBN 978-0-06-158270-7
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © 2010 ISBN: 9780062030559
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Aus
tralia) Pty. Ltd.
25 Ryde Road (PO Box 321)
Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1 Auckland,
New Zealand
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com
King’s Wrath Page 52