Twenna Shelstone

Chapter 15 Part 8 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Temmin shook his head to clear it of Gwynna's terror and rage. "I don't like to hear my name used by someone like Tennoc."

"How so?" said Teacher.

"To kill a child--an infant?"

Teacher leaned back against the mantel. "Politics is an ugly business. There is a very real fear in any regime change that someone with perhaps a better claim--someone like Ardunn--would become a rallying point against a ruler and must be eliminated early. Your uncles have no clear claim to the throne, but they have become such rallying points. Is it so strange that Tennoc would wish to secure his position? Especially as a bastard?"

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
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Chapter 10 Part 9 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Twenna fretted at the window overlooking Middlemont's grounds and the long, empty drive curving through the park. The royal family had returned from High Haven at Farr's Day, but here she was, still alone. Harsin hadn't come to see her once. Though notes and small presents arrived constantly, they all bore Mr Winmer's hand.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 8 Part 3 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

This section is NSFW.

A letter from Mr Winmer came, inquiring after Miss Shelstone's health. She answered she felt rather poorly but was recovering. A note in the King's own hand followed later the same day; might she improve enough to attend a private luncheon tomorrow at Foothill Lodge? Elbig dictated her reply: she would.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 8 Part 2 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Twenna began to feel rather green a week after Neya's Day, and now, halfway through Spring's Ending, she felt worse than ever. Certain scents became unbearable. She passed an overly fragrant person on the street as she made her way to Mistress Naister's for a fitting and almost fainted. Cooking smells, particularly fish, took her appetite completely; she progressed to nausea and outright vomiting in the mornings and sometimes during the day. She even begged off meeting Harsin, which finally made her father call for a Sister.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

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Chapter 8 Part 1 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Twenna didn't know which of her inexpert coquetries had worked--she'd done little more than pout--but Harsin returned to her bed not two days after the unfortunate incident at Neya's Day. He showered her with gifts: shot silk for a new dress; tortoise-shell haircombs from Pau'a; and a magnificent set of matching sapphire-and-diamond earrings, collar, ring and bracelets, "the color of your eyes, my dear. You are to keep them forever."

She was back in Elbig's good graces. "Our sponsor would like you to start dropping little hints in his favor, darling."

"Hints, Papa? What hints?"

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 6 Part 7 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Temmin usually missed having windows in his bedchamber, but this morning--whatever time it was--he was perfectly happy to wake up to nothing but low lamplight. His head was three sizes too big for his body, and his lips were crusted and dry. He flailed his arms in an attempt to get up and hit something warm and lumpy on the outer side of his alcove bed. A deep grunt issued from the lump's closest half: Mathanus. The other half said, "You just hit me in the nose, clumsy boy." Anda.

He was not surprised to find them in his bed--last night was the Spectacle, after all--but why couldn't he remember what happened? Anda and Mathanus at the same time? How could he not remember that? "What happened?" he croaked.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 6 Part 2 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

This section is NSFW.

They ran along the gardens' lit paths, until they came to the wide expanse of lawn between the formal gardens and the grove of trees stretching dark and wild toward the river. Lantern-bearers hurried behind the runners, waiting to stake out a path for the worshippers. Behind them, muscular Lovers loitered with sections of a portable dais; the King and Queen attended the Spectacle this year and would be given a proper viewing platform wherever the Lovers happened to fall.

Fall They finally did, on the lawn near the fringe of the forest, but first Neya and Nerr led them all a chase through the trees, whipping rhododendron branches back into Their followers' faces to Temmin's great irritation. When they assembled the guarding circle round the Gods, they were all breathing hard; Justinna Postulant had lost her vest, the flounce on Anda's best skirt had ripped clean off, and Mathanus's blond hair resembled a haystack more than ever.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 6 Part 1 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

The First Day of Spring's Beginning, 991 KY

Twenna Shelstone stepped down from her father's carriage into the throngs crowding the Lovers' Temple for the Neya's Day Spectacle. An orderly procession flowed from the Promenade to the Temple garden gates, where the Spectacle would be held. Postulants and servants bore hundreds of bright lanterns through the crowded gardens until every leaf seemed illuminated. Twenna fretted to be without even a footman to look after her, but she reassured herself. Harsin had said Winmer would find her there and protect her from unwanted advances.

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

Commenters: If you've read the original draft or the full book, please spoiler tag any future plot points. Otherwise, consider this a book club! Thanks!

Chapter 5 Part 10 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Embis Winmer was straightening papers on the desk he shared with his master when the King entered their office. "Ah, Winmer. Just when I need you. Might we get Miss Shelstone admitted to the Neya's Day Spectacle?"

"I don't know, Your Majesty," answered the secretary, correctly interpreting the question as a command. "There are several barriers to her guaranteed admittance, not least her unmarried state."

"I find it hard to believe there's anyone in the City who thinks she's a virgin because she's unmarried," chuckled Harsin.

Winmer gave a sliver of a smile. "Oh, most certainly not, sir. I believe she is well known. Perhaps the best known of your intimate friends ever."

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

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Chapter 2 Part 6 | Son in Sorrow | IHGK Book 2

Temmin plopped himself on the couch and blew out all his breath. The door opened and Barik came in. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"How much of that did you see?"

"Oh, all of it."

"Even after Esterill left? Urf. I know I shouldn't have said that to Mistress Esterill, but--"

Barik reached up and put his hands on Temmin's shoulders. "No, you did right. She does deserve better than marriage to Gyors Esterill--Gyors himself deserves better than to be forced into marriage when he cannot bear a woman's touch, but that is the way of things for eldest sons who wish to inherit. He won't be unkind to her, but he can't love her. We can."

Son in Sorrow will end its serialization July 15, 2013.
If you'd like to find out what happens sooner than that, or if you'd rather read in an easier-to-use format, buy the ebooks or paperbacks!

Please support my work. You can read it for free, but if you love it, make a purchase or a donation. Thanks for reading, from the bottom of my heart.

Commenters: If you've read the original draft or the full book, please spoiler tag any future plot points. Otherwise, consider this a book club! Thanks!

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An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom, The Drifting Isle Chronicles and Scryer's Gulch by Lynn Siprelle writing as MeiLin Miranda are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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