The Riven Wyrde Saga boxed set

by Graham Austin-King

  “True.” Gavin stood and made his way to the window. “Hesk is home, snow and all.” He looked back at her. “What do you think the Keepers will do? With the trade offer I mean?”

  She sucked on her bottom lip for a moment. “I don't know. It would change everything, if we had something to trade. The reavings, the whole make-up of who we are would shift. I can't see them doing it though. If we trade our reavers then how long would it take before the Anlish were making their own?”

  “I don't think that was the idea,” Gavin said. “I got the impression it was more that the Anlish would pay for cargo space on our vessels.”

  Ylsriss shrugged. “I suppose. I don't really care so long as it gets Klöss's head out of the noose.” She'd tried to sound relaxed. She failed.

  Gavin went to her, crouching down and taking her hands. “You can't think they blame him for the sealord? For everything?”

  “Who else is there to blame?” She gave a sad smile. “Klöss puts on a brave face but he's never been that great at hiding things.”

  “Klöss will be fine,” Gavin told her. “He's already told me they're focusing on the sealord. This whole war has been a disaster from the beginning. The Chamber will need to place blame somewhere and the best place to put it is with a man who can't argue. The sealord sponsored this effort from the start.”

  Ylsriss stood, turning away from him quickly. “This tea is closer to being just warm water than anything else.” She sniffed, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. “You want another?”

  Gavin shook his head and watched as she busied herself at the stove. “You're right though, you know that?” she told him over one shoulder. “They'll spend a month talking but it will work itself out. I…” she broke off as she fumbled the cup and it fell to the ground shattering on the unforgiving floor, splashing the hot liquid everywhere. “Shit!”

  Gavin was out of his seat and rushing to her as she stepped back from the mess. “Are you okay?”

  “I'm a clumsy fool is what I am,” Ylsriss muttered as she fetched a cloth from the sink.

  “Well that much is obvious,” Gavin said with a grin. “But are you hurt?”

  She shot him a black look from where she was crouching over the mess but her smile wouldn't be held back. “I'm fine. Just a bit wet and stupid. I haven't been this clumsy since…” she broke off.

  He helped her pick up the pieces of the clay cup and sat back as he watched her make another, stepping awkwardly over the wet floor. The butter dish was set back on the counter, away from the edge but as her foot slipped it was the first thing her flailing hand caught. It shattered as easily as the mug had, sending butter and shards of pottery flying.

  “Ylsriss!” Gavin cried as she landed heavily.

  She looked up at him, and then back to the butter and the tears began. Flowing hot and fierce with the shock and joy that fuelled them. “I was wrong, Gavin. Maybe it doesn't need to be a faerie tale.”

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  And so here it is, the end. In the last few months I've wondered if this book would ever happen. To be honest, it came very close to not happening, and so I owe a massive debt of thanks to a long list of people. This book, in fact this series, wouldn't have happened without the support of my family and my amazing wife. I also need to thank Claire “The Smurf” Frank and Clare Davidson for stepping in at the last second to help with edits and formatting. A big thanks to Steve Drew for my endless blacksmithing questions, and endless gratitude goes out to Tim Marqitz for his amazing work editing and helping to produce this final draft. Finally the biggest thanks goes to everyone who has read and enjoyed my books and taken the time to leave a review or who got in touch to tell me.

  It's been fun everyone, I hope you enjoyed the journey.

  Graham Austin-King

  About The Author

  Graham began writing with children’s books for his own kids. Fantasy is the genre he has always read himself though, and this is why he started The Riven Wyrde Saga, a fantasy series beginning with “Fae - The Wild Hunt”.

  Visit his blog at http://grahamak.blogspot.co.uk where you can sign up for e-mail updates and be the first to hear about new releases.

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  Graham can be contacted at GrahamAustin-King@Hotmail.co.uk or through his website: http://www.GrahamAustin-King.com