Fiona Mcintosh - Tyrants Blood: Book 2 of the Valisar Trilogy

Hello, Reg, she said as she approached. What an old-fashioned

The man had been staring out of the window, watching

Two men were breaking their fast at an inn in

On the other side of the realm, in a sparsely

Oblivious to Pivens pain, Greven strode into Minton Woodlet, a

Piven waited for Greven. He had filled the small sack

Freath slowed the horse to a gentle walk. It had

Greven dug his staff into the ground and hauled himself

Freath looked expectantly at Kirin. Well?

Kirin had fallen into conversation with a woman traveling with

It was nearing morning and theyd begun traveling after midnight.

Theyd arrived at a town called Woodingdene. It was a

By mid-morning Piven had made it back to the sheltered

Kirin woke in a strange room. He opened his eyes

Greven stared dully at the bloodied stump that his arm

Faris hadnt spoken to him for hours. He didnt need

Loethar undid his shirt, a sheen of sweat glistening on

Hurtle was a flourishing village, just on the very tip

Loethar had banished everyone from the chapel, including Father Briar,

Kirin stole a glance at Lily, glad that he could,

In broad daylight Sergius could make out the terrain, could

The two figures approached the convent on foot, leading their

Kilt Faris was rounding the same bend in the road

Empress Valya had organized for Dara Negev to be brought

Kirin and Lily had traveled all day, pausing only to

Greven and Piven were approaching Berch. Theyd walked solidly most

Loethar had watched his mothers body burn. It had taken

Gavriel sat beside the stream and stared at the silent

Greven could taste the salt on his lips. The coast

Leo and Jewd were on opposite sides of the road.

Loethar galloped up and leaped off his horse as soon

Arriving at the entry to Francham, Loethar allowed Vulpans horse

and thats all I know, Sergius concluded. I have no

Once theyd retrieved their belongings they abandoned the horses; they

They were moving slowly, tracking northwesterly, climbing all the time.

Kirin was subdued and Lily felt incredibly awkward. Long before

Roddy could hear the gulls again. The pressure of the

They made far better time than theyd hoped. The sun

Gavriel sat with his back to Loethar, his emotions torn

Leo and Jewd squatted by Kilt as he retched into

Ravan finally stretched. It is time, he said.

Corbel had been feeling uneasy all day. In the moments

Hello, Reg, she said as she approached. What an old-fashioned name Reginald was for someone his age; it didnt suit him at all.

I thought youd come, he said, not looking up.

She loved his voice and his economy with words. Reg had always been able to comfort her even when he was silent, which was most of the time. Can I sit with you?

She knew he smiled but he wouldnt face her. Her question did not require an answer, nor would he waste the breath to give her one. How are you? she said, sighing as she lowered herself next to him.

Same as yesterday.

Grouchy, then.

Not for you.

Ill take you in any mood, Reg, you know that.

He looked around at her and after the unhappy morning shed just had, which included watching a patient die, she felt instantly comforted and secure to see his sad, gentle face, buried beneath his straggly beard and the grime of his working day. She had long suspected that Reg liked to hide behind his longish, nutbrown hair, his hat, even that wretched beard, but try as he might, he could never hide his eyes. Intelligencefar more than he let onlurked within those gray-green eyes that noticed everything and yet invited few people into his life, for he kept them mostly lowered when others were around. Now they looked at her; vaguely amused but above all knowledgeable. He had secrets, but then he was a secretive sorteverything about Reg was a mystery. The nurses cringed whenever she mentioned him, variously describing him as rude, deranged or creepy. He was none of those things. Not to her, anyway.

A death? he asked as she was staring at him.

How could he know her that well? It was infuriating sometimes. The tide of emotion shed kept at bay rose but she wouldnt cry. Couldnt cry. If her training had taught her anything it had taught her to hold part of herself back from patients, or risk being swallowed by misery. But there was more to not showing her sorrow. In her quietest of moments she worried that she was a cold person; someone who let few past her guard. The truth was, she didnt particularly want to share her life with anyone. Reg didnt count, of course. He was a stranger shed befriended so many years ago she couldnt remember her time in the hospital when he was not roaming the botanical gardens, ever near, always available to give her a few minutes, always able to say the right thingseven when he wasnt actually speaking. Something was missing in her for surethe lonely gene, perhapsthe one that triggered normal people to go in search of others and make friends. She obviously didnt possess that gene. It was as if she were a misfit, walking around a world of people she didnt feel she was a part of. She looked like everyone, talked like everyone, even to some degree acted like them. But there was a hole somewherea divide she couldnt bridge between herself and everyone else. Reg was her curious lifeline, for he too was a misfit and seemed to understand even though they never discussed such intimacies.

And so she went through the motions of lifealways hadeven with her parents. For many years shed thought this was simply because she was adopted. It bothered her to the point where shed even taken some therapy for it but she knew in her heart that this was not a learned responsesomething she had reacted to on discovering her adoption. No, this was deep. It was in the blueprint that had made her who she was. And its particular presence in her DNA or what ever it was, meant she didnt feel fully connected to anyone except Reg, the hospital groundsman.

Yes, she answered, finally able to accept that Jim Watkins was no longer of this life.

He said nothing.

Mmm, she confirmed but it came out as a soft groan, hugging herself as another pang of guilt reached through her body and twisted in her gut. She was answering a question he hadnt asked and yet they both knew the question existed, hanging between them.

She began to explain, even though he hadnt requested any further information. I try not to choose, Reg. I have to be careful.

Save all.

I cant. Im different enough already; can you imagine what the media would do if it cottoned on to this?

He shrugged.

She gave a mocking half-smile. Proper journalists are just the tip of the iceberg. The gutter press and popular magazines, the hacks and mischief makers and those awful revelation shows that masquerade as current affairs , she said, mugging at him, they would just slurp this up.

He shook his head now, slightly amused, mostly baffled.

Theyd never leave me alone, Reg.

Youre looking thin.

Thats a joke coming from you.

I could eat a horse and it wouldnt show.

Youre lying. I know you so much better than you think. Were thin, Reg, because were both hollow. Neither of us are filled with anything except a strange misery. I recognized it in you the moment I met youthe moment you walked into my life and tripped me.