The Torn Wing (37 page)
Authors: Kiki Hamilton
Tags: #Romance, #Fantasy, #Young Adult, #Historical
The crowd parted to allow the giant of a man to approach.
“Stop where you are,” Rieker said as the man moved to within fifteen meters of where Tiki sat. Rieker pulled two daggers from inside his sleeves. At his movement, the Macanna shifted as one to form a tight wall in front of Tiki, swords, spears and spiked mauls suddenly appearing.
“Your men can relax.” Bearach said in a deep, booming voice. “I’m not here to fight. I’ve brought a message for you, as well.” His beady eyes narrowed in a glare beneath bushy red eyebrows. “Donegal has a friend of yours.”
“And who might that be?” Larkin asked in an icy tone.
“A spy.” Bearach spit the word out like it was poison. “Hiding in the UnSeelie Court. I don’t know the name you might call him, but we know him as Sean ó’Broin—the Raven.”
Tiki sucked in her breath and dug her fingernails into her palms to stop herself from crying out. They had Dain.
“I know not of who you speak,” Larkin said in a scathing tone. “Perhaps he’s not really a spy but someone who’d like to defect to the bright light of the Summer Court?”
A buzz went through the crowd of faeries at Larkin’s insolence, waiting for Bearach’s reaction.
Tiki straightened and mimicked Larkin’s ice cold façade as she spoke to Bearach. “What does Donegal want in exchange for this prisoner?”
Bearach turned his gaze toward her and to Tiki’s surprise, the giant faerie bowed, his big body much more graceful than seemed possible. When he spoke, his words were tinged with respect. “The cry of
Cloch na Teamhrach
was heard throughout Faerie. A new queen is among us. Welcome.”
“TARR-UH,” the crowd cried in answer to his statement.
Tiki inclined her head. She felt like an actor in a life-or-death play. “The answer to my question?”
Bearach’s face was resolute. “There are no exchanges for spies. Only death. Donegal has marked him to be the Seven Year King.”
The crowd gasped and Tiki jerked toward Larkin for an explanation.
The faerie’s face was rigid with anger. She spoke in a low voice. “The UnSeelie Court must pay a tithe every seven years to the Seelies to remain a separate entity and avoid servitude to the Summer King or Queen.” Her eyes narrowed. “Usually, the sacrifice is a mortal. They are named the Seven Year King.”
“What is going on in here?” A night watchman stood in the doorway, surveying the room with a shocked expression.
In a blink, the entire room emptied, save for Tiki and Rieker.
“Wait a minute—where did everyone go?” The watchman said in a confused tone. He pointed to the far corner of the room. “There were people there. I saw them. Now—” he swung his arm wide— “everyone’s gone.”
“We’ve got to get out of here.” Rieker took Tiki’s arm and hurried toward the door. As they approached the guard Rieker spoke in a smooth, convincing tone. “I’m afraid we have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The guard’s gaze locked on Tiki.
“Cor, you’re as beautiful as a queen, miss.” He stared, mesmerized.
“Glamour,” Rieker said in a low voice as they ran for the door leading outside to the carriage.
With a flick of her wrist, Tiki assumed her familiar glamour, her thoughts not on the magic she could perform so effortlessly, but on the shocking bit of news she’d learned: Dain, as Sean, had been found out in the UnSeelie Court and was facing death.
The little man had been right tonight.
This was war.
T
hough THE TORN WING is a work of fiction, many parts of the story are based in reality. In addition to the note shared at the beginning of the book, you might find it interesting to know that the Coronation Chair, (also known as King Edward’s Chair) and the Stone of Scone or the Stone of Destiny (referred to as the Stone of Tara in the book) are real. Both chair and stone have been used to crown almost every English monarch since the coronation of Edward II in 1308. They were last used for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The chair is still on display in Westminster Abbey, though in 1996 the Stone was taken to Scotland and is now housed in Edinburgh Castle. Provision has been made to transport the Stone to Westminster Abbey when it is required there for future coronation ceremonies.
Legend holds that this stone was the coronation stone of the early
Dál Riata Gaels
, who brought the stone with them from Ireland when settling Scotland. The more historically supported story is that Fergus, the first King of the Scots in Scotland, brought the stone from Ireland to Argyll to be used in his coronation.
There are additional legends associated with the stone but most present a transport from Ireland and include a connection to the stone
Lia Fáil
, the coronation stone of the kings of Tara.
Thank you for reading THE TORN WING. Tiki’s story continues in book three, THE SEVEN YEAR KING.
Kiki Hamilton
April 9, 2012
I
am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to share Tiki’s story with interested readers. Special thanks goes to Peggy King Anderson, for her spot-on editing, thoughtful comments and wonderful encouragement.
Thanks also to Mark and Carly, and Doby and Gramps for always supporting my writing efforts and believing in me.
Thanks to the many, many fantastic bloggers, librarians, booksellers and readers who have offered their support in promoting this book and THE FAERIE RING. I couldn’t do this thing I love so much without you guys!
Finally, to the many wonderful readers who have written such sweet and heartfelt notes — your kindness means more to me than words can describe. Thank you!
K
iki Hamilton believes in faeries. And magic. Though she has a B.A. in business administration from Washington State University and has worked in a variety of management positions over the years, her first love is writing young adult stories. Kiki lives near Seattle, Washington, where it only rains part of the time. (A
large
part of the time…)
Visit Kiki’s website and blog at
www.kikihamilton.com
. For more information about Tiki and the faerie ring, visit
www.thefaeriering.com
.
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