Vintrig's Throne: Isu Magan, #2

By Freya Pickard

Marriage and love weren't supposed to be part of Isu Magan's life.

 

"A good mix of realistic and fantastical elements, and a gripping, at first gritty storyline, the puzzles first presented in early chapters are resolved in the plot in a way that shows rather than merely tells!" Troy

 

As Isu falls deeper in love with Sama Conn, her Counsellor works in secret in the shadows, preparing to ruin her.

 

When Isu Magan finally takes the crown, it seems that all her dreams will at last come true.

 

But her Counsellor has other plans and Isu finds herself on trial with her life at stake; only the Law of Substitution can save her...

 

Vintrig's Throne concludes Isu Magan's tale in this climatic fantasy epic.

 

Warning: contains scenes of a sexual nature and some violence which some readers may find upsetting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Freya Pickard
• Release date: Nov 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540103727

Freya Pickard

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard, is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen. A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to leach the darkness from her soul. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing. She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). She enjoys Hatha Yoga, Bhangra and Yogalates and in her spare time creates water colours and pastel drawings of the worlds in her head.

Book preview

Prologue

Isu Magan's Song

Out of whiteness

Out of blankness

Came a colour

Red as blood.

Through the warmth

Through the dying

I learned to live

And learned to love.

Deep in my past

History was bound.

Bound with subtle spells and snow.

Sterile and cold

The future loomed

My only hope; a lie.

No longer barren is the earth

As the sun returns.

Snow has thawed

The sun is strong

Dark spells and lies

Are shattered.

Walls of ice

Have melted down

Leaving

Open pages in history.

Now there is fruit

And colour fills my life.

Out of whiteness

Out of blankness

Came a colour

Red as blood.

Through the warmth

Through the dying

I learned to live

And learned to love.

PART ONE

QUEEN ISU

Chapter One

pale gold light at dawn

above the grey wall of cloud;

sun struggles to rise

Pre-Dawn, 7th Erdanir, Royal Tower

MINAH WOKE IN HER NARROW bed in the light that precursors dawn. She wondered what had woken her and recalled vague dreams of her father's death. Pushing them aside, she snuggled into the coarse blankets, willing herself back to sleep.

The cold air had woken her mind and she could not return to her slumbers. Her thoughts drifted to Sama Conn and she wondered again how he was going to get rid of Jya and break the enchantments so that eternal winter would be forever banished from the Kingdom. Minah, herself, was still quite willing to stab Sergeant Aurik; his lecher's ways were too much to be endured. If she did not have the Princess' protection, she knew she would be at Aurik's mercy.

Minah was prepared. She had a very sharp dagger hidden beneath her mattress. It had never been used. She wanted to keep it that way until she was able to kill Aurik.

Pre-Dawn, 7th Erdanir, Helmgar's Quarters

HELMGAR COULD NOT SLEEP. His dreams were confused, fluctuating between nightmares where Jya devoured the inhabitants of Vintrig's Kingdom one by one and surreal visions of golden summer reigning eternally around the Castle.

Since he'd heard the revelations from the lips of Aurik and Jya a week ago, the Steward had said nothing to anyone. He harboured his new-found hope in his heart, but dared not say anything for fear of unleashing Jya's wrath.

In the gloom, he could see the clear stone hanging on its leather thong on the shelf above his bed. It was a strange talisman. He kept meaning to ask Sama how it really worked, but never seemed to find the opportunity.

He smiled to himself, recalling how the musician had been teaching the people of Vintrig's Kingdom to dance. Helmgar had enjoyed the last session, dancing with the Whore, who now called herself Saredan.

Pre-Dawn, 7th Erdanir, Kitchens

SPRAKLEAS HEARD THE sounds of regular breathing around him. It was still dark in the kitchens, though a sliver of light forced its way through a crack in the shutters on the outer wall. Rhythmic snoring and snorting filled the air. He wondered what had woken him.

Should he report to Sama today? No, that wasn't necessary until tomorrow. So, today he would clean, carry and chop as Greda commanded him.

The old man shifted slightly on his pallet, being careful not to disturb Erik asleep nearby. The young man had a fiery temper if woken suddenly. He wondered again what Sama's mission was here in Vintrig's Castle. Always before, the singer's plans were clear cut and easily achievable. This time, Sprakleas had a feeling that things weren't quite turning out as Sama wanted them too.

He closed his eyes and tried to sleep once more.

Pre-Dawn, 7th Erdanir, Jya's Tower

JYA DID NOT SLEEP. He had no need. He did many things during the dark hours. Much of the magic that he worked responded best without the sunlight to weaken his enchantments. But even the spirits of the dead remained silent and would not or could not tell him what he wanted to hear.

And this last, long night, he had not achieved much. He had not called his servants to him to account for the people's attitudes and opinions. He had not summoned Sergeant Aurik as sometimes was his wont. He had sat in his curiously carved chair, staring at nothing, pondering.

He was so close to achieving his goal that to see it slipping away from him was more than he could bear. He was not prone to fits of rage and anger. Such things were a waste of energy and time. Instead he calculated and planned.

His main concern was still to uncover the secret of Vintrig's Throne. All his efforts to thaw the ice that still encased the peak had failed. Even his dark goddess was unable to help. He had thought that with the change in the weather patterns brought about by that rat, Sama, the ice might have started melting. But the mysterious Throne still remained beyond his reach. He could not believe that no one knew the secret.

However, there were other things that could be done and his secondary aim was near to completion. True, Sama had threatened his plans, but events appeared to be once more working in Jya's favour.

Just before dawn, he picked up his pen, dipped it in the dark ink and wrote on a fresh piece of smooth parchment on the desk before him.

Isu – consuming fermented drink. Minah – possible adultery, breaking the law that does not allow strangers into the Royal Tower.

His thin lips stretched in an approximation of a smile. Isu could not know that the red wine that had mysteriously appeared at the feast given in welcome of Sama was fermented. How could she? She had only ever drunk snowmelt or herbs steeped in water. She was not allowed to touch the traditional UrNak and wine was not considered by Jya to be a useful product. However, Sama's strange powers may have provided Jya with a way to deny the crown to Isu. The question was, would it be useful to confront her with it on her Coronation Day, or leave it until a later date?

Minah was Chanter's daughter. It was inevitable she would rebel against the laws of the Kingdom.

He thought that both errors would be useful to him in some way at some point. He would command his servants and Aurik to keep a closer watch on both women. If he gave them enough rope, they might well hang themselves, which would help his plans tremendously.

The thin lips stretched again and the coldness in his study deepened.

Chapter Two

solitary cloud

glows pink in colourless sky

reflects hidden sun

First Watch, 7th Erdanir, Library

PRINCESS ISU SAT IN the Library, staring at the tome open before her. The page was decorated with coloured inks and graceful patterns in the margins but she saw none of them. The carefully scribed words were nonsense to her as she strove to read and make sense of the Coronation Laws. Her head felt tight above her eyes and she realised she was frowning again. Looking up she gazed at the shelves of books behind the empty chair across the table from her.

Thoughts whirled through her head and images flashed across her vision. Struggling to control her thoughts she found herself gripping the edge of the table. Forcing herself to relax, she took a deep breath in and focused on the prominent thought that would not go away.

Since their meeting on the Inner Wall a week ago, Isu had met Sama Conn, the travelling musician, every single day. At first she had thought it was chance; anyone could have been walking through the Main Courtyard one afternoon. But the following day she had been walking with Minah between Judgement and Throne Peak and Sama had met them there. The snow was still melting from the mountainsides but Judgement and Throne Peak were as ice and snow-clad as they had ever been. She kept meaning to ask Jya about this phenomenon but never seemed to remember when she was with him. Two days in a row Sama had met her on the Inner Wall when she was out taking the air. The day before yesterday, she had met with her Steward, who had asked her to inspect one of the storehouses where he had some exceptionally fine cheese and delicacies stored for her coronation. Who should turn up outside as she left? Sama, of course. And yesterday she had been present in the Main Courtyard watching the soldiers drilling; Jya had told her it gave the men heart for their job if she turned up to see them once a month, and who should be there also but Sama.

The more Isu thought about it, the more she was beginning to think that someone was telling Sama where she would be each day. She was certain it wasn’t Jya. Jya appeared to hate Sama, though for what reason she could not fathom. Sama didn’t seem too impressed with Jya and appeared to be baiting him every time they met. In her lessons with Jya she was reluctant to broach the subject of the singer for fear she should blush and reveal her feelings. Jya had become colder and harsher since the arrival of the Sama Conn's troupe. Never approachable, he had turned to ice and the most innocent question turned his pale face bleak.

No one else knew her daily movements except Minah. She remembered how Minah had not been surprised to see Sama on the Inner Wall a week ago. Since then her maid had always shown surprise at the singer’s appearance. Isu had a nagging suspicion that Minah was telling Trom what the princess was doing each day and the drummer was passing the information on to Sama. Why?

Isu discovered she was frowning again and irritably smoothed her aching forehead with her hands. Why would Minah betray her like this? What hold had Trom and Sama got over her? And why did Sama have to keep pestering her? She shook her head. It wasn’t exactly pestering, but he always turned up when she least expected it and usually when she had been daydreaming about him. She found his attentions fascinating. He had been careful not to offer her his arm since their first meeting on the Inner Wall. More people had been around when they met during the week and she had noticed that Sama was nothing but a model guest in her presence. There were no searching glances, no challenging looks, just laughter and polite conversation. She missed his touch, missed the looks, though there was always something unspoken in his blue eyes that made her knees weak and her cheeks blush.

Isu turned her attention to the Coronation Laws once again, smoothing her well-worn fox-fur skirts and immediately thought of the Journal. She hadn’t been able to read much in the last week. The only times she had to herself were when Minah was out on errands. For some reason, her maid’s errands all seemed to be done very quickly these days. She half wondered if Minah didn’t get Trom to run her errands for her.

What she had read in the un-named Scriber's Journal was disturbing and fascinating. Sama had been correct when he had told her that most other lands had four seasons. The Scriber had recorded such turning seasons in the ten years leading up to Jya’s appearance in Vintrig’s Kingdom. True, the winters were severe, but they had a short spring, a hot summer and a short autumn. The Scriber had mentioned something called the Tundra. In the summer months (she couldn’t understand how summer could be months long, instead of one day) groups of people from the Castle and Village went to the Tundra and harvested seeds and plants and caught animals she had never heard of. What were lizards and butterflies and finches?

The fact that Sama was right annoyed her even as it deepened her respect for him. Isu could not cope with so many contradictory feelings all at once. She was fascinated by Sama but despised his lowly status. Enchanted by his voice and music, she disliked his profession. Bewitched by his face, she reminded herself that she was to be Queen. She longed to touch him but felt frightened of his touch. Wondering what kissing him would be like, she suffered feelings of suffocation, remembering Blodig. Terrified at Jya’s reaction should she reveal the nature of her feelings for Sama, she daydreamed about possibilities. She yearned to be mortal even as she rose above her feelings by reminding herself that the gods had blessed her and that she was immortal. In order to retain the blessing of the gods she had to remain a virgin and could never marry. Then into her thoughts whispered the new doubts – was she really immortal? She only had Jya's word on the matter.

Isu focused on the writing at the top of the page but her thoughts span away immediately. There had been a different scent in her day room over the last couple of weeks. A kind of leather and earth scent, a male scent. She wondered if Minah was bringing Trom into the Royal Tower? Surely not! Minah knew the rules. But something was going on. Something was happening behind her back. So what if Minah was bringing the drummer into the Tower? Minah would not do anything she shouldn’t. But why would she allow him into the princess’ suite of rooms? Her maid had never really shown much interest in men before. She got on well with them all, except Aurik and the Barrack Row North soldiers, but that was nothing unusual. The only people who got on with them were Jya and his two servants. Minah did not flirt or encourage men, but Isu had seen her at supper smiling at Trom. And what would happen if Minah decided to marry Trom? Would she leave the princess? Or would Trom settle here in Vintrig’s Kingdom?

The princess rested her elbows on the table and clasped her head between her hands. Once again she looked at the first line of text and her thoughts swung back to Minah. On the last rest day, her maid had joined the villagers and servants in the marketplace where the ground was now free from snow and ice. Minah had been full of the dances Sama had taught them and showed Isu some of the steps. Her maid’s cheeks had been rosy and her eyes sparkled. Isu suspected that at least a couple of the dances had been with Trom, but didn’t say anything. She wished she could go and learn the dancing; it looked so simple and graceful, yet strong too. But it would not be the thing for the future Queen to do. One did not mix with the commoners, one held oneself apart from them; that’s what Jya had taught her. She sighed.

A strand of thinking had entered her thoughts that had never been there before. It could be that Jya was wrong. Automatically her training rose up to defend her Counsellor. Jya is the Saviour of Vintrig’s Kingdom. Without him we would all have perished. What he does is for the sake of the Kingdom. What he does is for the good of all. He uses words of Truth that are Power and by that he rules. But Sama had mentioned something about Jya's warping. She struggled to remember through the grey fog that seemed to be descending on her brain. It was something to do with the Whore, but he had been looking at her as he said it.

Head pounding, Isu rose to her feet and closed the tome with a thud. Replacing the books on the shelf behind her she slowly made her way to the door. Jya would not notice she had gone early. He had only made two appearances at her lessons in the past seven days. His excuse was always the same; he was worried about the predicted storm and was still seeking a way to divert it. She walked slowly down the steps and through the damp corridor to the Royal Tower. It was strange. All accounts told her that Jya had no difficultly in overcoming the sender of the Great Blizzard. Surely this new storm could not be greater than that. She didn’t really believe there was a storm coming; the weather was the finest she had ever known it.

As she climbed the steps to her suite in the Royal Tower, she heard voices. There was Minah’s giggle and the booming sound of Trom’s laughter. Her mind became very clear and she paused outside the door, listening.

I spoke to Sama, about what you'd said about Jya. That was Trom's deep voice.

Jya? Minah's voice was laced with contempt.

Sama doesn't think he can actually mind-read; Sama knows about things like that. He says you have to have power and a powerful object in order to actually know someone's thoughts.

Well, people have disappeared just for looking at him in the wrong way...

Isu shivered.

Sama reckons that Jya is adept at feeling the negativity of someone's thoughts; if someone is angry or resentful at him. He could then find them because of the bad aura around them and take them in for questioning. But I didn't come here to talk about him... What do you want to talk about?

What is Pentlauf like?

It’s just a large village. It’s not really a town, but they like to think it is. They have a blacksmith whose son is as surly as Death!

Minah giggled.

And they have a Sheriff who’s a pompous ass and a priest who struggles to make people believe what he tells them.

What about the girls?

They’re attractive enough, replied the drummer. Those that serve behind the bar at the Duck and Pond are a bit saucy but the landlord, Witchazel, always keeps them in order!

The Duck and Pond! Minah laughed. What’s that?

An alehouse. Trom sounded amused. I’ve noticed you don’t have them here. Elsewhere you have at least one alehouse in a village, maybe two or three in a large town.

An alehouse?

"It’s a large room, not as big as your Great Hall. At one side there’s a long high table we call a bar and behind it stand the landlord and the serving wenches and for a price