Queen Ferris: Book Two of the Stoneways Trilogy - Hardcover

S. C. Butler lives in Brooklyn, New York.

S. C. Butler lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Chapter 1

I’m sorry, Mother.”

His heart thumping, Reiffen watched Giserre’s mouth open in wonder as the Tear dissolved around them. The silence of bookshelves replaced the rumble of the gorge.

“Where is this place?” she asked.

“Ussene.”

Fear crept into the lines around her eyes. When Reiffen had taken her hand moments ago on the cold, wet stone of the Tear, Ussene was the last place Giserre had expected to find herself. She took a deep breath, her face hardening, and the wrinkle of dread was gone.

“The Three have brought you back?” she asked.

“I have brought us back.”

“You!”

“Yes, Mother.”

“The magic was yours?”

“No. Usseis laid the spell on me.” Reiffen left off rubbing his itchy knuckle to show where the last joint of his left little finger had been reattached. The iron thimble that had capped it before was gone, though another remained on his right hand. “See? The body heals itself across any distance. The magic brought me back.”

“And you knew this all along?” Giserre’s anger rose. “You told us you had no idea what those things on your fingers were for.”

“Their purpose only just came to me, Mother.”

“And you used them to come here, to Ussene? After you had just been rescued? Have you lost your mind?”

“It was my only choice, Mother.”

“Only choice? It was most certainly not! You could have remained in Valing. How could you possibly choose to return to the place from which Redburr and your friends just saved you?” Giserre drew herself up to her full height. Her robe rustled; the white of her nightgown flickered at her throat. “I refuse to believe you. This is some trick of the Three. My son would not be such a fool.”

Reiffen’s heart lifted. Perhaps he was under the Wizards’ control. If that were true, then none of the responsibility was his. But this didn’t feel like the other times he had been held captive by Usseis’s will. His mind felt free; his heart remained open.

“It would have been worse had I stayed,” he said.

“It would not.”

“They changed me, Mother. Nothing is the same.”

“I would have helped you fight them. We could have removed those . . . things.” Giserre’s mouth pursed with distaste as she gestured toward the remaining thimble. “Redburr would have cut them off quickly enough.”

“Yes. And everyone would have been watching all the time for some sign I was doing the Three’s bidding.”

“That is not true! You were among friends. You should have trusted us. If your father were alive—”

“If my father were alive he would understand!” Reiffen’s eyes blazed with conviction. “He died fighting them, and I will do the same if I have to. But the Wizards are not in Valing, Mother, they are here. Valing is done. I will not hide from them, or anyone else, any longer.”

Mother and son stared angrily at one another. Never before had Reiffen spoken so roughly to her. He had not been the best behaved of children, but he had not quarreled openly with her either. He wanted to rush into her arms and beg forgiveness for speaking so harshly, but he knew he had to be strong. Always had his mother taught him that kings bore their hurts alone.

“Then why bring me?” she demanded bitterly. “Did Usseis order you to do that?”

“No.” Reiffen closed the small gold casket that lay on the nearest reading table, hiding the thin streak of blood that marked the bottom.

“Then why?”

“Yes, Reiffen,” asked a voice from the door. “Why did you bring your mother?”

Mother and son turned. Fornoch towered over them in his gray robes, his black eyes piercing the soft light. Whether he had entered normally, too silent for them to notice, or magically, Reiffen couldn’t tell.

The Wizard inclined his head in the least deferential of bows. “My lady. Allow me to welcome you to Ussene.”

Giserre moved closer to her son, her anger forgotten in the face of a common enemy. “Yours is no welcome,” she replied.

“On the contrary, milady, mine is more welcome than either of my brothers’. Ossdonc, I know, would relish another wife. And Usseis has uses for everyone.”

Reiffen pushed forward. “You might as well kill me, if you hurt her.”

Fornoch smiled. “As long as she remains out of my brothers’ way, she is unlikely to receive injury.”

“Staying out of their way will be my pleasure,” answered Giserre. “I have no wish to remain.”

“It was not I who brought you, milady. Nor my brothers. But, if he who did bring you so prefers, I will send you back.”

Reiffen started. “You would do that?” With sudden selflessness he turned back to Giserre. He had made the decision to bring her so quickly: what if he had been wrong? “Mother. You’re right. I should never have brought you.”

“You should never have come yourself. Will you return if I do?”

Reiffen met his mother’s stare. His eagerness faded. “No. I have made my choice.”

“Then I must stay as well. I will not leave you here alone, no matter what I think of your decision.”

“I will offer no second chance,” said Fornoch.

“I will ask none,” replied the lady.

“Very well. I have prepared a suite of rooms for the two of you. Reiffen, you will find the arrangements much more satisfactory than on your previous stay, now that you have come to us freely.”

The Gray Wizard led them out of the Library into the passage beyond. Thick candles lit the gloomy way, smoke blackening the walls and high ceiling. The dust raised by their passing settled behind them like dreary fog. A short walk brought them to a heavy wooden door that had not been in that particular hall the last time Reiffen had been in Ussene. He saw at once it had been fashioned like the doors in Valing Manor. Stout and dark, and seemingly stained with long years of use, the portal swung open easily at the Wizard’s touch.

They found themselves in an ordinary sitting room. Dwarven lamps shone on the walls, brightening the sofas and chairs. Fornoch gestured toward two more doors in the far wall.

“Sleeping chambers lie beyond. I regret only one has a window. Certain elements of this place are not particularly suitable for change. I presume, milady, you will prefer the windowed room.”

The Wizard waited for her answer, but Giserre ignored him. Nor did she sit upon either of the pillowed couches beside the hearth, nor on the cushioned chairs. Fine tapestries covered the walls, the cloth glinting with thread of blumet, silver, and gold. A sewing basket topped a low table beside one of the couches, a hoop of fine linen near at hand.

“As you wish.” Fornoch folded his giant hands into his robe’s hanging sleeves. “You will have any length of time in which to acquaint yourself with your new surroundings. There is much to learn.”

A slight...