The Fall of the Fair Isle by Rowena Cory Daniells

Author:Rowena Cory Daniells
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9781781083024
Publisher: Solaris
Published: 2015-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

WHEN IMOSHEN WOKE late the next morning the bed was empty, although the scent of their passion still clung to her skin. Every movement was an effort as she forced her trembling body to perform the simple act of dressing.

She had searched her mind but there was no memory of Reothe’s presence, no memory of her time in death’s shadow other than what felt like fevered nightmares. Tulkhan had told her how Reothe had risked the wrath of the Parakletos to save her. She was beholden to him and she hated it.

‘T’Imoshen,’ Merkah cried. ‘You are up and dressed. Why didn’t you send for me?’

‘Where is the General?’

‘He left word that you were to go to him once you were ready.’

Imoshen nodded. Her arms hurt so much she could not lift them above her head. She asked Merkah to do her hair and sat before the mirror.

As the maid set about her task she gossiped. ‘It was such a surprise when the General told us you had recovered. The Beatific could not believe it. She was sure the baby would be dead –’

Imoshen gasped.

Merkah’s startled eyes met Imoshen’s in the mirror.

‘I suppose it is common knowledge, or it will be soon.’ Imoshen’s hand closed over her belly. She feared that the fragile life had been extinguished while she lay unconscious.

Stiffly she came to her feet. ‘Where is General Tulkhan?’

Before Merkah could reply a grey mist enveloped Imoshen’s vision. She felt her legs buckle and, when she could think clearly again, found herself sitting on the floor.

‘Stay here, I will bring a healer,’ the girl urged.

‘Nonsense. I’m fine.’ But Imoshen came to her feet slowly and waited a moment to be sure. She didn’t have time for physical weakness. ‘Now, where is the General?’

Merkah hesitated. ‘I will go with you.’

‘Very well.’

As they walked through the palace galleries, Imoshen noted there were very few servants, and the few she did see slipped away quickly. ‘Where is everyone?’

‘In the woods, viewing the beautiful stone lovers. Half the city has been through the palace grounds today. The queue runs right out the gate.’ Merkah paused by a window. ‘You can see it from here.’

Imoshen peered over her maid’s shoulder. A dark line of people snaked across the white snow.

They walked on in silence. Until this moment Imoshen had not really believed Tulkhan. But it appeared she had indeed turned the dead lovers to stone. Not only had she failed Cariah, she had unwittingly revealed gifts that would make True-people fear her.

‘Here we are.’ The maid scratched on a door tang. At the sound of Tulkhan’s deep voice Imoshen’s face grew hot with the memory of their urgent lovemaking.

She lifted her chin and walked in. The General stood behind a large table covered with maps. Wine bottles, goblets and several ink wells held the curling edges flat.

Merkah shut the door as she withdrew.

The planes of Tulkhan’s face were tight with tension and he raised cold eyes to her.

Imoshen did not understand why he had distanced himself from her yet again.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.