Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

Author:Brian Ruckley [Ruckley, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fantasy, Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Epic
ISBN: 9780316068062
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2013-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

'It is close.'

'Hmph. It never ends, does it? Your precious Huanin live for the chance to wade around in one another's blood. How do you come to be in the middle of it? What about that miserable old chiefling who kept you under his roof?'

'Ah, Yvane,' sighed Inurian. 'Please.'

He bowed his head, shorn of all strength. His visitor's image shimmered as if touched by a breeze, though the air was still.

'Are you a prisoner, then?' she asked.

'Yes. Yvane, if I do not come out of this alive, Highfast should know of Aeglyss. Perhaps even Dyrkyrnon: I think he may have lived there for a time. He said they cast him out. If he continues down the path he's following, it might take Highfast or Dyrkyrnon to rein him in.'

There was no reply for a time, then: 'They long for these bloodlettings. Gyre, Haig, Lannis, all of them.

From the crib they dream of vengeance for some crime or other committed in the distant past. Father kills father, and so child must kill child. It never ends. Leave them to their cruel games. Nobody will thank na'kyrim for interfering.'

'Aeglyss has already interfered,' said Inurian, gazing at the floor. 'The Gyre Bloods might think he is their puppet, but I doubt they understand what they're dealing with.'

When Yvane did not reply, Inurian looked up, thinking for a moment that she had left him. The outline of her form was still there, a fragment of cloud glowing palely from within.

'I would... regret it if you died,' she said quietly.

'As would I.'

'Perhaps I should see for myself,' she said. The pale figure began in that moment to fade.

'No,' hissed Inurian, reaching out an arm. 'You'll only alarm him. He's dangerous. Yvane!'

But she was gone, and he was alone again.

He sat without moving for a long time. Then he unpicked the lace from one of his boots, and drew it out.

Closing his eyes, he began to knot it. One small, tight knot after another along its length, pausing over each to savour its shape beneath his fingertips. Outside, dawn was breaking.

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