‘Sir, she demands entry to see the Queen.’
Gyl swung around. ‘The Queen?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Do you know what the time is? Send the old twit on her way. She can make her request through the normal procedures in the morning. Don’t bother me with this.’
‘Sir, she looks half dead. I don’t think she can walk another step. She…er…she says, sir, that she is Queen Alyssa’s former guardian.’
‘Pigs bollocks! Someone will suffer for this,’ Gyl said, his night’s frustration spilling over. ‘Where is she?’
‘At the main gate, sir.’
‘Right,’ he said. He strode off, muttering. ‘If you want something done properly, do it yourself.’
At the main gate, he found a small, very frail-looking old woman. She seemed vaguely familiar but he dismissed the thought in his anger.
‘Now, look, madam. It is past the thirteen bells. Her majesty sleeps,’ he lied. ‘And we have no intention of waking up the Queen to speak with you. Do you understand?’
The old crone pointed a long, bony finger through the iron grille and croaked at him. ‘You are the one who does not understand, young man. Tell the Queen it is Sorrel. She will permit my entry at any time of the day or night.’
‘I will not do any such thing,’ Gyl said, furious with the night’s proceedings and people who seemed to think they could usurp his authority and do precisely what they wanted with palace security. ‘Go away and return tomorrow.’
She ignored him. ‘Is Saxon Fox here?’
‘Sax?’ That surprised him. ‘Look, who are you?’ he asked, realising too late she had already told him. He glanced around at the men, who looked everywhere but at their leader.
The old woman was gracious enough to say nothing more. Gyl considered his position; he felt he was handling this badly. In fact, he had handled the whole of the night badly.
‘Fetch the Kloek,’ he said to one of the men, wearily. ‘He is outside the Queen’s chambers.’ He turned back to the old woman. ‘If he vouches for you, you may enter.’
The children munched on the cheeses, nuts and fruit which were on the tray and talked quietly at one end of Alyssa’s long salon. They were both relieved that the dreaded meeting was behind them.
Lauryn was taken aback at how very young and beautiful her mother still was. Why she had imagined someone much older, she could not think. Her mother had not touched her yet, but Lauryn instinctively sensed she was frightened. Frightened of all the pent-up emotions. She needed to be seen as one who was in control. She was Queen of this realm, after all. And they had plenty of time to get to know one another. Lauryn was looking forward to it. For now, she was just pleased to see her parents talking to one another.
Tor and Alyssa sat in the window seat, the drapes drawn so they could speak in private.
Tor deliberately kept his hands wrapped around his goblet. He dared not put it down for fear that his empty hands would try to find hers. That was too dangerous. There was a painful barrier between them. It was called Lorys.
‘I feel I ought to congratulate you, Lyssa…on…on your brilliant marriage.’ Then he felt stupid for saying it.
Alyssa was aching inside at being so close to him yet unable to so much as touch him. When he called her Lyssa she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from crying all over again.
‘Don’t, Tor. I can’t begin to explain—’
‘Please…you don’t have to. Truly. You saw me die. I cannot imagine how you coped alone for as long as you did. Losing a child, losing me, losing all of us from the Heartwood…I hope he makes you happy,’ he said, trying to mean it as he looked directly at her, which was hard enough in itself.
‘Yes,’ was all she trusted herself to say, although she allowed herself the luxury of staring into those eyes she had loved for so long.
He broke the difficult moment; moved from what stood in the way of him holding her close again. ‘The children are magnificent, Lyssa. They are strong and brave. Both possess great powers—Gidyon especially. We have created two very special people, even if…’ He could not finish.
Alyssa rescued him; tried to sound bright. ‘They are wonderful. I feel badly that they have seen me in such a state. I hope I can get to know them more fully. I hope you will stay a while?’
‘They should stay, but I do not believe the King will welcome me with open arms.’
They let that subject rest. Alyssa had not even thought so far ahead as to consider how the King might react to all of this. She was finding it hard to come to terms with it herself. It felt so unreal.
‘Tell me about Gyl,’ Tor said.
‘I adopted him several years ago now. He was found outside the palace one morning, chained to the gates…a forlorn little thing, he was. Nyria took pity on him immediately.’ She saw him smile as he remembered how Nyria had always taken pity on all children. ‘She gave him to me to care for. He was young enough to still need a mother, and I was still hurting from my loss and needed rescuing. He was my saviour. He and Saxon, Sallementro, Nyria…and later, Lorys.’
‘He loves you very much.’
‘The King loves me deeply, Tor.’
‘No, I mean Gyl.’
‘Oh.’ She felt embarrassed. ‘Er…yes. Gyl and I are very close. He is distressed about me because I collapsed last week. I felt this strange shift in the Land’s force—’
Tor did take her hand now; he could no longer bear not to touch her. ‘I did too. All of us did: the children, Saxon, all those in the Heartwood.’
‘It is Orlac, isn’t it? He has broken free?’
‘Yes. He summoned me.’
She gripped his hand hard. ‘You have seen him?’ She was alarmed.
‘We spoke. He intends to kill us all.’
‘Sweet mercy,’ she whispered. ‘What about the Trinity?’
‘I called the children back to Tallinor because I hoped they may shed some light on the dark secret. But I am no closer to knowing, Alyssa. I am afraid for them…and for you.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘This first,’ he said, reaching to touch her forehead.
She made a surprised sound as the gem fell away into his hand and she felt connected to her powers again for the first time in many years. He sliced open a link in her mind. It felt wonderful to have Tor back in her head again.
And this second, he said, putting his lips to hers. When she did not pull away he kissed her gently.
I needed to do that, to tell you that I have never stopped loving you. And, because I love you so much, I release you from all duty to me. You are in the most difficult of situations and I did not come here to complicate matters any more than I have to. I needed to warn you so that you might be protected whilst I decide on my next move.
She was about to reply when there was a knock. Saxon announced himself and said he had a surprise for them.
‘Not another one,’ Alyssa muttered, emerging from behind the drapes. ‘I am not sure my heart can take it. Come!’
The door was opened by Sallementro. Saxon’s arms were full with what looked like a huge bundle of rags.
The bundle moved and everyone stood in surprise.
‘Sorrel!’ Lauryn squealed.
Pandemonium broke out in the room.
35
Revelation
Saxon laid the old woman on one of the huge sofas. Her eyes were closed and her breathing came in difficult rasps.
Tor could see Sorrel was dying in front of them; each breath drained her life. Nevertheless, he asked the others, who had crowded around her, to give him some room. Saxon and Sallementro, feeling helpless, returned to their positions outside the door.
Tor laid his hands on her. He felt the Colours sparkle within and learned very quickly that she was not long for this Land. He looked at Alyssa and shook his head sadly. As he made to stand, the old woman gripped his hand. When he looked at her, it seemed that the beautiful smile which suddenly spread acro
ss her wizened face was just for him. She whispered something so low that only his superior hearing could decipher it.
‘The Trinity eludes you?’
He nodded.
‘It is close, child. Look to the forest. The Heartwood protects its own.’
Her eyes closed; it seemed she had passed on to her gods. Lauryn, despite her best efforts, began to cry and Gidyon offered her the comfort of his big arms once again. He shared her sorrow.
‘She still lives,’ Tor said, softly.
Sorrel confirmed this by opening her eyes once again. ‘Where is Alyssa?’
‘Here, Sorrel. I am right here,’ the Queen said, bending down beside Tor and taking the old woman’s other hand. That she had any tears left tonight seemed impossible and yet they flowed for this woman whom she loved.
‘Ah, my girl. So beautiful. Look at you,’ Sorrel said and even managed a dry chuckle. ‘Queen of Tallinor…who would have thought?’
Alyssa whispered to the old girl, ‘Sorrel, don’t tire yourself now. May I get the physic for you?’
‘No, child. The best physic Tallinor ever had has already seen that my life comes to its close now. I needed to see you one more time. I have returned to you what is yours, Alyssa. These children were stolen from you only for your safety and theirs. I hated leaving you, my girl, but I had to protect you and their precious, precious lives. Will you forgive me?’
Alyssa could not reply. Tor pulled her close and gave her the strength she needed to nod through her tears.
‘Don’t speak, Sorrel. Save yourself,’ she begged.
Sorrel coughed raggedly and then drew another rasping breath. Lauryn looked away. She could not bear the old woman’s suffering; felt guilt settling on her shoulders for leaving her for dead.
The old girl steadied herself and answered Alyssa. ‘But I must speak, my Queen. Time is short. I have struggled to get here because I have one more thing to do before my spirit goes. It is the most important of all my tasks.’
Sorrel closed her eyes to gather the very last of her strength. When she opened them, they were glassy, as though she was already moving on and away from them.
‘Tell us, Sorrel,’ Tor encouraged.
He motioned to Gidyon to move Lauryn away; he could see she was deeply upset by this scene.
Gidyon helped Lauryn outside of the chambers. They both needed some air and relief from the tension in the room. ‘Are we allowed outside?’ he asked the two men who waited there.
‘We shall come with you,’ Saxon replied, glad to have something practical to do.
Sallementro agreed heartily and the four of them made their way to another part of the tower where they could talk quietly on one of the balconies.
Back in the Queen’s chambers, Sorrel gripped Tor and Alyssa’s hands with newfound strength and pulled them towards her.
‘Hear me well,’ she croaked. ‘There is a third child. A son. Born after I sent you away, Tor. He was weak, almost dead. Darmud Coril granted me the boon I begged of him. He took the child; promised to keep him.’
She wheezed again, her strength waning. Her listeners were too stunned to speak; too numb to notice that her grip was loosening.
It was Tor who recovered first. ‘Where is he, Sorrel? Where is our son?’
She spoke in the barest of whispers now. ‘I know not. Look to the Heartwood. His name is Rubyn.’
She sighed out her last breath, dying with a soft smile on her face.
‘Sorrel!’ Alyssa shrieked at the dead woman. ‘My son…my son.’
She felt the Green closing around her, welcoming her to its haven, pulling her into its depths where she could be safe. Where she could escape from all this heartache and grief.
And then Tor was with her, inside her head. He spoke softly, knowing he must gather her back gently. Don’t go, Alyssa. Do not run from this, I beg you.
Our child, Tor. Abandoned. Left to die in the forest. That was his body I saw!
She sank deeper into the Green.
Not dead. Alive. Cared for by the Heartwood. Kept safe by the god of the forests. Rubyn lives and we have to find him; we must find him. Oh, don’t you see, Alyssa, my love? Rubyn completes it.
She wanted to push him back, to stop him talking to her. Stop him trying to make her fight. She had taken too much battering and this was the final blow. The Green beckoned. She would flee to its peace.
The Trinity, Alyssa. Think! It is our children…three of them. They are the Trinity! Rubyn completes it. Not me, not you—them! We have to find him now, before it is too late.
Trinity…? she faltered; she could feel herself being pulled away from the Green.
Yes. Gidyon, Lauryn, Rubyn. He waited. Then he added, Your children need you, Alyssa.
She hesitated.
I need you, Alyssa, he added.
And somehow that was what she needed to hear. She turned from the Green and followed his trace; came back to where they sat in her room, holding hands with a dead woman. Except that Sorrel was no longer a woman. She was dust.
Tor looked at Alyssa, elation sparkling in his bright blue eyes. The Trinity is found.
She smiled back at him. We are found, she whispered, terrified of the import of her own words.
Outside, high in the trees, a falcon called triumphantly into the night.
Far away, the Heartwood heard its own and rejoiced.
Acknowledgments
Book Two means even more people to thank! Pip Klimentou remains committed to waking the household with her daily call, for which I am indebted to her. Friend Paul Meehan has created a terrific website—please visit soon. Sonya Caddy is warmly welcomed as draft reader, alongside the much appreciated Anne Maddox. Plenty of other people have been fantastically supportive—too many to list here, but I hope they know how much I appreciate their continuing enthusiasm—particularly Graham Richards, my lovely brother; Kim Bleeker, my ‘other brother’; and Lynne Schinella, whom I think truly believes in my magic and the importance of fairy dust!
My editor, Nicola O’Shea, is not only a joy to work with but is supremely talented at her craft—I am fortunate indeed. Thank you to all at HarperCollins, especially to Linda Funnell and Stephanie Smith for their support. I’m in some awe of the fact that Robin Hobb and Sara Douglass are associated with this trilogy and I will be forever grateful for their generous comments and encouragement.
Finally, to the wonderful and sometimes eccentric trinity I share my life with. May I voice once again my love and thanks to Will and Jack, who keep pulling me back from Tallinor into the reality of family life, but especially—and always—to Ian.
Fx.
About the Author
Fiona McIntosh was born and raised in England but spent her early childhood in West Africa. She studied in Brighton before embarking on a career in PR and marketing in London, but following a holiday to Sydney in 1980, she made Australia her home. She and her husband Ian now live in Adelaide with their twin sons where they publish a national magazine for the travel industry.
You can find more information about Fiona on her website: www.fionamcintosh.com Or email her direct: [email protected]
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.
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Praise for Fiona McIntosh
TRINITY
‘a rattling good adventure that fulfils all the requirements of fantasy’
Adelaide Advertiser
‘as good as Sara Douglass’
Good Reading
‘From the opening chapter to the very last work…has the reader savouring every scene, every character and every moment’
Altair Magazine
‘leaving the reader with a fantasy debut as good as Sara Douglass’s, if not better.’ Phillip Knowles, Good Reading
&n
bsp; THE QUICKENING
‘a bold new voice in high fantasy…I was enthralled from page one’
Lynn Flewelling
‘Fiona McIntosh is a seductress. I have not moved from the sofa for three days’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘delightful and fast-moving story’
Publishers Weekly
ALSO BY FIONA MCINTOSH
TRINITY
Betrayal
Revenge
Destiny
THE QUICKENING
Myrren’s Gift
Blood and Memory
Bridge of Souls
Copyright
Voyager
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, Australia
First published in Australia in 2002
This edition published 2010
by HarperCollinsPublishers Pty Limited
ABN 36 009 913 517
A member of the HarperCollinsPublishers (Australia) Pty Limited Group
www.harpercollins.com.au
Copyright © Fiona McIntosh 2002
The right of Fiona McIntosh to be identified as the moral rights author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000 (Cth).
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publishers.
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Revenge Page 44