The Forsaken Throne (Kingfountain #6)(91)

Trynne was trying to breathe and finding it difficult because her heart was beating so fast. In the mirror, she saw Reya speaking to Mariette and wished that she could have a moment alone with her mother before being hurried away to the ceremony. After the wedding, Trynne would take her husband by the ley lines to Dundrennan, where they’d have a feast to celebrate the evening. But that was not all. Trynne also planned to take Fallon to Marq for a gondola ride, and together they’d visit the other places she’d longed to see. She caught her reflection smiling at the thought.

“It’s almost time,” Sinia said, patting her shoulder.

“You are going back to Brythonica tomorrow?” Trynne asked, turning her head and gazing up at her mother.

She nodded. “I’ve had another vision. The ships will be arriving soon. It’s been three months since the flood.”

Trynne nodded. The treasure ships were coming for refuge and safety.

“What was your vision?” Trynne asked her. Sometimes her mother told her about them. Sometimes she did not. One thing she’d learned about life was that there’d always be mysteries. She noticed the strange iron key dangling from her mother’s girdle, still sheathed in magic. No one could see it except for Trynne’s father and herself.

Her mother had said she would tell her later where she’d gotten it and what it meant, but the time had not yet come. The last month had been a whirlwind.

“I’ve seen the solution to the problem of the ships,” Sinia answered, stroking a finger through Trynne’s hair.

“What is it?”

Her mother smiled. “You’ll hear about it soon enough. All the world will hear of it when it happens.”

“Can you tell me?” Trynne asked eagerly, but she didn’t push further.

There was a gasp of surprise and a flurry of outrage as Fallon appeared through a secret Espion door and entered the room in his wedding finery.

“Iago Fallon!” Lady Evie thundered. “You aren’t supposed to see her yet!”

“Since I already did see her, does that mean the silly tradition no longer matters? This is a quiet wedding, not a state affair. There should be some leeway for rules to be broken here and there. Out, out—all of you. This is taking far too long. Give us a quiet moment ere the bedlam begins. Go on, Mother, you know I love you, and you and Genny outrank me, but do obey your son on his wedding day.

As a personal favor? All of you, go! I’d have a word with my bride-to-be and her mother.”

There were protests and more commotion, but Fallon had his way in the end, and soon the ladies were escorted away, all save Trynne and Sinia. The room was quiet and peaceful after the door closed behind the last lady. Trynne thought Fallon looked rather handsome in his wedding clothes, which were not ostentatious, but more in line with the solemn traditions of the North.

Fallon stood there, arms folded, gazing at Trynne with a look of admiration and appreciation. “Well now, my love. That gown suits you exquisitely. Exactly. Unequivocally. My sister has great taste.”

“It’s against tradition to see me before the ceremony,” she pointed out.

He laughed. “When have I ever been a servant to tradition?”

Then his smug look softened. “Actually, I figured you would want some time alone with your mother, and all the other hens were still fussing over you.” He shrugged. “My first wedding present to you.

Lady Sinia.” He bowed to her respectfully. “You have always been a second mother to me, ever since I was a boy growing up in Ploemeur. I hope it will not offend if I begin to address you by that title. You have another son, but I do hope to be considered one of yours.”

Sinia strode up to Fallon and embraced him, pulling down on his neck and kissing his forehead. “You’ve always been family to me,” she said, patting his cheek. “As I knew you would be long ago.

When I prepared on my wedding day.”

Fallon was abashed by her compliment and turned to escape out the secret door again.

Trynne called him back. “Fallon?”

He stood there, head cocked slightly, listening to her with quiet respect. He didn’t ask her what she wanted. He already knew.

“Thank you,” she said, feeling that the happiness in her heart at that moment was just a taste of what she could expect in the years to come.

He smiled at her. “Don’t keep me waiting long,” he said with an impish smile. “We’ve been waiting long enough.”





AUTHOR’S NOTE

One of the things that I’ve always admired about Jane Austen’s writing is her ability to flesh out believable characters, flaws and all, and especially caddish villains such as Wickham and Willoughby from Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. When I created Fallon’s character, I wanted to cast him in their mold, yet give him an ending that showed a person can change. Both Trynne and Fallon go on incredible character journeys during this series. I was rooting for him the whole time.

I also had an enormous amount of fun with this series blending in themes and crossing over into my other worlds. Astute readers will recognize the nods from both of the Muirwood series (Lia’s kitchen, Dochte Abbey, kystrels, etc.) to Whispers from Mirrowen (the Tay al-Ard, the Dryad trees, the Bhikhu) and even to my Landmoor series (Rucrius with his reflecting eyes was a Shae if you noticed that, and the Everoot that helped heal Trynne at the end). Blending different aspects of my worlds together in this series made it so fun and delighted my editor when I pitched the idea to him. I hope you’ve been delighted as well.