A Blackbird In Darkness (Book 2) (58 page)
Read A Blackbird In Darkness (Book 2) Online
Authors: Freda Warrington
‘I suppose I am a fairly typical example of my race, sir,’ she replied with a smile.
‘What’s this, a sense of humour?’
‘If you prefer your servants humourless, your Grace, I will oblige at once,’ she answered, looking unwaveringly at him as if she were his equal. She was dark-haired and fair-skinned; not pretty, but something more than that. Her large eyes gathered light, and her smiling mouth and rounded figure radiated a very feminine charisma. He felt idly fascinated by her, as though he needed some distraction from the grave matters that occupied him. He thought again of the power that he had stirred, and felt a wave of exhilaration. Ambition. Gorethria’s rebirth.
Carried along by it, his mood suddenly light, he asked impulsively, ‘How would you like to be servant to the Emperor, Kharan?’
‘Your Grace?’ She was puzzled.
‘Oh, I don’t mean that child, Orhdrek,’ he said quietly, grinning. ‘I want you to stay with me. Well?’
He saw that the implication was not lost on her. It had been a reckless thing to say; the girl might have been a spy – but he doubted it. She lacked the haunted, insomniac look.
She stood very still beside his chair. He looked round to observe her expression, and their eyes met, hers as brown as ripe chestnuts, his ruby-brilliant. With a deliberate, graceful movement she leaned across him and slid the silver dish of fruit onto the agate table. He was enthralled by her, and she seemed to know it.
‘Actually, your Grace,’ she replied with guileless honesty, ‘I would much rather not be a servant at all.’
***
A Blackbird in Amber and A Blackbird in Twilight: available on Kindle from August 2015
For further information and to buy in print or audio:
THE COURT OF THE MIDNIGHT KING
A Dream of Richard III
King Richard III: a shadowy, charismatic figure of eternal fascination. The Court of the Midnight King mixes alternative history with the fantastical to create a wonderful, epic tapestry of love, war and treachery. In this novel, the author goes searching for Richard – not in the ruins of a Leicester friary, but deep in the human psyche.
“Superb fusion of dazzling alternative history and smouldering romance... Tell all the romance fans and the fantasy fans you know about it.” – Justina Robson
“Beautifully written – but not for the cynical!” – Anne Lyle
“One of my very favourite historical fantasy novels, this is a lushly written alternate version of Richard III’s history, with magic and romance and a rich sense of period. Gorgeously written, a wonderful book to sink into.” – Stephanie Burgis
For further information and to buy The Court of the Midnight King in Kindle, print or audio:
“The Blood Wine books are addictive, thrilling reads that are impossible to put down and they definitely deserve more attention” – Worldhopping.net
“Not merely one of the finest fantasy novels of recent years, but one of the finest ever. Should not be missed.” – Brian Stableford
“A cross between Anne Rice and more edgy modern paranormal romances, only with Freda Warrington’s incredible voice… This author truly has a gift for storytelling.” – Not Your Ordinary Book Banter
“It’ll remind you of how good, thrilling and romantic vampire novels can be. It has everything you could ever hope for from an entertaining vampire novel: horror, suspense, romance, passion, plot twists, supernatural elements and captivating storytelling.” – Rising Shadow
“Freda Warrington’s prose is simply stunning, sumptuous, graceful and seductive.” – Starburst
“The writing is gorgeous, by turns haunting, lucid, and all-round beautiful… eminently readable, absorbing, and all-round brilliant, a lovely piece of work.” – Alex Bardy, British Fantasy Society
For further information and to buy in Kindle, print or audio:
Chapter One. The Quest of the Serpent
Chapter Five. ‘I was alive here.’
Chapter Six. The Domain of the Silver Staff
Chapter Seven. The Past and the Future
Chapter Eight. Children of the Worm
Chapter Nine. At the Staff’s Mercy
Chapter Eleven. The Mathematician
Chapter Thirteen. The Last Witness of the Serpent
Chapter Fifteen. ‘They must open their eyes.’
Chapter Seventeen. The Far Side of the Blue Plane
Sample of Book Three: A Blackbird in Amber