Read Online The Immortal Realm by Frewin Jones - Free Book Online Page B

voice deep and severe. “If you have not understood yet, then understand now: The child’s death was not of natural cause. If your Mortal father did not cause it, then some great evil attacks this land. And for all his sorceries and subtleties, the King of Lyonesse did not have the power to extinguish without trace the life of a Faerie child.”
    Tania gazed up at him in growing alarm. “You mean it could be something worse than the Sorcerer King?”
    The King nodded, gazing out over the palace and the deep woodland that lay beyond the curl of the river. He spread his arms as if to embrace the soft, heathered hills that rose to the northern horizon.
    â€œI am Faerie,” he intoned, his voice so deep that Tania felt it like thunder in her belly. “As thrives the land, so I thrive. I am tied to this land mind, body, and soul. Every death pierces me—and the death of Gyvan has thrust a thorn into my heart.”
    As she watched her Faerie father, Tania finally realized the dreadful truth. She had been hoping that her Mortal father had not caused the child’s death, but for the people of Faerie, an imported Mortal disease was better by far than the alternative: that some evil power had reached into their land and squeezed cold fingers around Gyvan’s small body.
    The King started, as if some sudden sound hadshocked him. “There is fear and dread in Leiderdale,” he said, peering into the west. “Come, we must return!”
    Tania reached for his hand and was swept up in racing lightning.
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    Earl Valentyne lay on a low cot, his head propped on a pillow, his face gray. Eden sat at his side, holding one bony hand in hers, looking at him with anxious, frightened eyes.
    Lord Brython put his hand under the earl’s head, lifting him so that his lips came to the rim of a small wooden bowl held by Hopie.
    â€œDrink, my lord,” Eden urged.
    The earl sipped and coughed. Eden wiped sweat from his forehead.
    Tania stood at the end of the bed. Oberon was behind Eden, leaning forward, looking down at the earl with anxious eyes.
    â€œWhen was Earl Valentyne taken sick?” the King asked.
    â€œIt happened only moments after the horse of air took you,” Rathina said, standing at Tania’s side. “He stumbled and would have fallen if Eden had not been to hand.”
    â€œHe has a high fever,” said Hopie. “This tincture of yarrow and elderflower will bring out the sweat, and I have added echinacea, chamomile, and goldenseal to give him strength.” She glanced up at Tania. “These are physics I use to fight the fevers that come withbroken limbs, but I do not know how effective they may be against…against this plague that you have brought on us.”
    Tania stared at her. Was even Hopie blaming her for this?
    â€œHist, now, Hopie,” said Titania. “Do not strike out blindly in your grief and helplessness. This is not your sister’s fault.”
    â€œNo, I spoke in anger,” Hopie said, looking at Tania with hooded eyes. “This thing is not of your doing—and yet as we speak three more infants sicken.”
    â€œOh, god… no …” Tania groaned. “Not more.”
    She felt Rathina’s arm around her waist. “Brave heart, my love,” her sister murmured in her ear.
    â€œAre they dying?” Tania asked.
    â€œMy potions tether them to this world for the moment,” said Hopie. “But I know not how long my herbs and simples will suffice.”
    â€œWe must prevent the disease from spreading further,” said Titania. She turned to the King. “None must be allowed to leave here, my lord,” she said. She frowned. “And yet this is no place for the sick. We came prepared for a day of festivities, not to feed and house hundreds while this fever takes its course.”
    â€œWe should return to the palace,” Sancha said. “In the library there are many lore books;