Kitabı oku: «Iron Fey», sayfa 22
Read on for a sneak peek of
THE IRON DAUGHTER
the thrilling second book in Julie Kagawa’s addictive
Iron Fey series!
CHAPTER ONE
The Winter Court
The Iron King stood before me, magnificent in his beauty, silver hair whipping about like an unruly waterfall. His long black coat billowed behind him, accenting the pale, angular face and translucent skin, the blue-green veins glowing beneath the surface. Lightning flickered in the depths of his jetblack eyes, and the steel tentacles running the length of his spine and shoulders coiled around him like a cloak of wings, glinting in the light. Like an avenging angel, he floated toward me, hand outstretched, a sad, tender smile on his lips.
I stepped forward to meet him as the iron cables wrapped gently around me, drawing me close. “Meghan Chase,” Machina murmured, running a hand through my hair. I shivered, keeping my hands at my sides as the tentacles caressed my skin. “You have come. What is it you want?”
I frowned. What did I want? What had I come for? “My brother,” I answered, remembering. “You kidnapped my brother, Ethan, to draw me here. I want him back.”
“No.” Machina shook his head, moving closer. “You did not come for your brother, Meghan Chase. Nor did you come for the Unseelie prince you claim to love. You came here for one thing only. Power.”
My head throbbed and I tried backing away, but the cables held me fast. “No,” I muttered, struggling against the iron net. “This … this is wrong. This isn’t how it went.”
“Show me, then.” Machina opened his arms wide. “How was it ‘supposed’ to go? What did you come here to do? Show me, Meghan Chase.”
“No!”
“Show me!”
Something throbbed in my hand: the beating pulse of the Witchwood arrow. With a yell, I raised my arm and drove the sharpened point through Machina’s chest, sinking the arrow into his heart. Machina staggered back, giving me a look of shocked horror. Only it wasn’t Machina anymore but a faery prince with midnight hair and bright silver eyes. Lean and dangerous, silhouetted all in black, his hand went to the sword at his belt before he realised it was too late. He swayed, fighting to stay on his feet, and I bit down a scream.
“Meghan,” Ash whispered, a thin line of red trickling from his mouth. His hands clutched at the arrow in his chest as he fell to his knees, pale gaze beseeching mine. “Why?” Shaking, I raised my hands and saw they were covered in glistening crimson, running rivulets down my arms, dripping to the ground. Below the slick coating, things wiggled beneath my skin, pushing up through the surface, like leeches in blood.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I should be terrified, appalled, majorly grossed out. I wasn’t. I felt powerful, powerful and strong, as if electricity surged beneath my skin, as if I could do anything I wanted and no one could stop me. I looked down at the Unseelie prince and sneered at the pathetic figure. Could I really have loved such a weakling once upon a time?
“Meghan.” Ash knelt there, the life fading from him bit by bit, even as he struggled to hold on. For a brief moment, I admired his stubborn tenacity, but it wouldn’t save him in the end. “What about your brother?” he pleaded. “And your family? They’re waiting for you to come home.” Iron cables unfurled from my back and shoulders, spreading around me like glittering wings. Gazing down at the Unseelie prince, helpless before me, I gave him a patient smile.
“I am home.”
The cables slashed down in a silver blur, slamming into the faery’s chest and staking him to the ground. Ash jerked, his mouth gaping silently, before his head lolled back and he shattered like crystal on concrete.
Surrounded by the glittering remains of the Unseelie prince, I threw back my head and laughed, and it turned into a ragged scream as I wrenched myself awake.
MY NAME IS Meghan Chase. I’ve been in the palace of the Winter fey for a while now.
How long exactly? I don’t know. Time doesn’t flow right in this place. While I’ve been stuck in the Nevernever, the outside world, the mortal world, has gone on without me. If I ever get out of here, if I ever make it home, I might find a hundred years have passed while I was gone, like Rip van Winkle, and all my family and friends are long dead. I try not to think of that too often, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder.
My room was cold. It was always cold. I was always cold. Not even the sapphire flames in the hearth were enough to drive out the incessant chill. The walls and ceiling were made of opaque, smoky ice; even the chandelier sparkled with a thousand icicles. Tonight, I wore sweatpants, gloves, a thick sweater and a wool hat, but it wasn’t enough. Outside my window, the underground city of the Winter fey sparkled with icy radiance. Dark forms leaped and fluttered in the shadows, of lashing claws, teeth and wings. I shivered and gazed up at the sky. The ceiling of the vast cavern was too far away to see through the darkness, but thousands of tiny lights, balls of faery fire or faeries themselves, twinkled like a blanket of stars.
There was a rap at my door.
I didn’t call out Come in. I’d learned not to do so in the past. This was the Unseelie Court, and inviting them into your room was a very, very bad idea. I couldn’t keep them out completely, but the fey follow rules above all else, and by order of their queen, I was not to be bothered unless I requested it. Letting them into my room could almost sound like such a request.
I crossed the floor, my breath streaming around me, and cracked open the door. A slinky black cat sat on the floor with its tail curled around itself, gazing up at me with unblinking yellow eyes. Before I could say anything, it hissed and darted through the crack like a streak of shadow.
“Hey!”
I spun around, but the cat was no longer a cat. Tiaothin the phouka stood there, grinning at me, canines glinting. Of course. It would be the phouka; they didn’t follow social rules. In fact, they seemed to take great pleasure in breaking them. Furred ears peeked out of her dreadlocked hair, twitching sporadically. She wore a gaudy jacket that sparkled with fake gems and studs, ripped jeans.
Court, the Unseelie fey actually preferred “mortal” clothing. Whether it was in direct defiance of the Seelie Court, or because they wanted to blend in more with humans, I wasn’t sure.
“What do you want?” I asked cautiously. Tiaothin had taken a keen interest in me when I was brought to Court, the insatiable curiosity of a phouka, I suppose. We’d talked a few times, but she wasn’t exactly what I’d call a friend. The way she stared at me, unblinking, like she was sizing me up for her next meal, always made me nervous.
The phouka hissed, running her tongue along her teeth. “You’re not ready,” she said in her sibilant voice, looking me over sceptically. “Hurry. Hurry and change. We should go, quickly.” I frowned. Tiaothin had always been difficult to understand, bouncing from one subject to the next so quickly it was hard to keep up. “Go where?” I asked, and she giggled.
“The queen,” Tiaothin purred, flicking her ears back and forth. “The queen has called for you.”
A chat with Julie Kagawa
What inspired you to write The Iron Fey series?
I’ve always loved faery tales, the old, creepy faery tales, where the fey were primal and wicked and dangerous. But when I first began writing a faery story, I got to thinking: what are the fey afraid of? In myth, the answer is iron, so what if there was a type of faery that was immune to iron, that had evolved with progress and technology? How would that affect the more traditional fey? And then I remembered we already have “creatures” lurking in machines: gremlins and bugs and worms and such, and from that thought the Iron Fey were born.
Who is your favourite character in the series?
I would have to say Ash, because I have a thing for dark, brooding bad boys who can wield pointy objects. But Grimalkin runs a very, very close second.
What is your favourite aspect of the faery world?
All the strange, beautiful, and fascinating creatures you can
meet in Faery. Be it a dragon or a kelpie or a talking cat, it’s never boring.
Is there one element from The Iron Fey universe that you would like to exist in the real world?
Trods, or faery paths between worlds, would be nice. It would make travel so much quicker.
Did you always want to be a writer?
Not always. I wanted to be a veterinarian for years and years, until high school, when I realised you actually had to be somewhat good at math and science to be a vet. And since numbers hate me, I figured making up stories and writing them down would be much easier. (Though I can tell you now, it’s not.)
Of the books you’ve written, which is your favourite?
The Iron King, the first book of The Iron Fey series, will always have a special place in my heart because it was the first to get published. But so far, I think The Iron Queen is my favourite book I’ve written.
Do you have a writing routine?
I’m one of those extremely lucky authors who gets to stay home and write, so I start in the morning and try for at least a thousand to twelve hundred words a day.
Favourite author of all time?
Oh goodness. There are too many; I can’t pick just one. I will say Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite authors, because his books are so inspiring. (And he has a sexy voice.)
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Harry Potter. And not just because of Rowling’s success; because I love the world and want to live there.
Survival Guide to the Nevernever
Disclaimer This guide is intended to give intrepid travellers into the realm of the fey a minimal chance at surviving the creatures and denizens that dwell within. Please note, the author of this guide is in no way responsible for lost or damaged souls, ensnarement, or accidental or intentional death. Entering the realms of fey can, and likely will, be hazardous to your health and is not recommended. You have been warned.
Preparations
One can never prepare adequately for entry into the Nevernever. There are, however, a few rules that one can follow to help increase the chances of surviving.
What Should I Wear?
Dressing for the Nevernever means blending utility with comfort. If you have questions about whether or not an item is appropriate, ask yourself the following: if running for my life, would this slow me down? And: if caught while running for my life, would this protect me? If the answer to the first question is yes, and the second question is no, then the item is inappropriate. Here are a few suggested items to wear to help you make it out of the Nevernever alive:
A light pack (either a backpack or large satchel) can be helpful for storing other necessary items. Make sure to avoid large, bulky or heavy packs, as they will slow you down when (not if) you need to run for your life.
Comfortable clothing that covers the arms and legs (the Briars have thorns, after all). Make sure to wear muted colours, as bright or flashy colours will attract the fey. Layers are also strongly recommended, as the temperature can swing quite drastically from one part of the Nevernever to the next.
A protective charm may reduce the chances of being eaten. Cold iron blessed by the druids during a new moon works best, but if that is not available a twist of St John’s Wort, a four-leaf clover or a rabbit’s foot might help. If you have none of the above, wearing your clothing inside out may work in a pinch.
A high-quality pair of cross-trainers or running shoes. Remember, buying the shoes is not enough. A strong cardio programme is highly recommended before crossing into the Nevernever.
What Should I Pack?
It is a common mistake to take a large number of gadgetry (cameras, cell phones, portable computers, etc …) into the Nevernever. The second problem with these devices is that they will not work well (if at all) in Faery. The first and larger problem is that any fey you chance across will not take kindly to the presence of so much mortal technology, which, in turn, could lead to a situation where the running shoes mentioned above are needed. Better to stick with a few simple items:
Food. Any type of small, high-caloric, portable food items will suffice. Energy bars, candy bars, trail mix, dehydrated foods, etc … will extend the amount of time you can spend in the Nevernever. (Note: Extending the amount of time spent in the Nevernever is not recommended.) It is recommended that you do not eat anything you find or are offered while in the Nevernever. Side effects of faery food include but are not limited to: mood swings, inebriation, memory loss, shape-changing, obsession, coma, inability to leave the Nevernever and death.
A weapon of steel or cold iron. Modern steel (e.g. a knife, sword or other implement of death) is serviceable in this regard, but cold iron (e.g. a spike from a wrought-iron fence, a length of pig iron, etc.) is preferable as it has a more direct impact on the fey. Before entering Faery, an intense training programme with your chosen weapon is strongly encouraged. Several years of training should be enough to adequately protect yourself from the weakest fey. If you wish to protect yourself from the strongest fey, you will need several mortal lifetimes.
Gifts for the fey. If you encounter creatures of the Nevernever, many can be won over by offering gifts, free of obligation. Suggested items include jars of honey, bags of candy, bronze weapons and young children. Please check with the laws of your home country before procuring any of these items.
Water. While most of the water in the Nevernever is drinkable without direct side effects, it is also the home of many aquatic fey of the nastier variety and may result in numerous indirect side effects: nausea, vomiting, sudden blood loss, inexplicable need to flee and death.
Entering the Nevernever
This guide will not lay out explicit directions on how to enter the Nevernever. The publishers consulted with their legal teams and determined that the associated liability of such an act was, as one attorney put it, “Certain to lead to financial ruin for this company, reprisals from the Summer and Winter Courts and, quite possibly, the end of the world as we know it.” Suffice it to say, one enters Faery through trods, paths between the mortal realm and the realm of the fey. Finding those trods is, per Legal, up to you.
The Geography of the Nevernever
The Nevernever is a diverse and wild realm populated by strange creatures and ancient powers. The land itself is said to have a consciousness and a sometimes malicious will. When travelling through the Nevernever, there are three primary realms with which one may have to contend.
Arcadia, the Summer/Seelie Court. Thick forests, ancient hills, and flowering grassland dominate Arcadia, home of the Summer fey. Newcomers to the land of the Summer King might falsely believe that Seelie territory is not as dangerous as the rest of the Nevernever, but do not be deceived. Arcadia is sunny and beautiful year round, but it is not safe. Satyrs, dryads and trolls roam the forests of Arcadia, and the lakes teem with mermaids and nixies. The Seelie Court rests beneath an enormous faery mound, where King Oberon and Queen Titania rule without opposition.
Tir Na Nog, the Winter/Unseelie Court. The territory of Mab, the Winter Queen, is as hostile and icy as the fey that dwell there. Snow covers everything, never melting away, and the frozen woods, fields, streams and lakes all rest beneath several inches of ice. All sorts of vicious creatures call the Winter Court home: from goblins and redcaps to bogeymen and ogres. The Winter palace lies beneath an enormous cavern, home of the terrible Winter Queen. Few mortals who set eyes on the Unseelie Court and Mab ever live to tell of it.
The Wyldwood. The dark, tangled forest called the wyldwood is the largest territory in the Nevernever, completely encircling both courts and extending into the Deep Wyld. It is neutral territory; neither Summer nor Winter hold sway here, and the wyldwood denizens owe allegiance to no one. The wood is vast and endless, and the creatures that roam here come from every corner of the imagination. Not only does this make the wyldwood one of the most dangerous places in the Nevernever, but one of the most mysterious as well.
There are rumours of a fourth realm within the Nevernever, that some have dubbed the Iron Court. Currently, there is no information on this so-called court, and it is likely nothing more than rumour.
Encountering Denizens of the Nevernever
If you are wise, you will do as little as possible to draw the attention of the fey. Sometimes, even if you are a quiet observer, the fey will find you. If this occurs, there are a few steps you can follow that may allow you to escape with your free will and, if you are lucky, your life.
Always be polite. Discourtesy is a deep insult to the fey and will not be well received, no matter how cool you think it will make you look.
Do not be deceived by the politeness of the fey. Fey are almost always polite. This does not mean they will not happily remove your head. They will, however, be grateful for the entertainment you provide. Or, if you are very unlucky, the sustenance.
There is no such thing as a free lunch. In the Nevernever, there is no free. Accept no gifts, no matter how sure you are that there are no strings attached. There are always enough strings attached to tie you up in a pretty bow and deliver you to someone who will be grateful for the sustenance.
Give gifts freely. The fey will either think you are a masterful manipulator and respect you more, or be completely befuddled by the notion of a gift with no obligations.
Never, ever, under any circumstances, enter into a contract with the fey. It always ends badly and often fatally. In the rare cases where it does not end badly, it is because it does not end. You will be bound for eternity.
If you have to run, zig and zag. Many faeries carry bows.
If you chance upon a big, grey cat, you probably owe him a favour. Even if you do not remember the favour, do it anyway. In the long run, you will do it, but it will be far less painful if you do it up front.
How Do I Leave Faerie?
The best answer to this question is, quickly. Spending a lot of time within the realms of the Nevernever can lead to many strange effects. A few minutes in Faery may be years in the mortal realm, or the reverse may be true. If you leave by a different trod than you entered, even one only a few feet away, you may find yourself on the other side of the world, or at the bottom of the ocean. Here are a few things to remember when attempting to leave the Nevernever:
Always keep track of how to return to the trod from which you entered.
Never, ever ask for directions or a way out. Most fey will help you, but they will charge a steep price, most commonly your tongue, as they do not want you to share this information. Note: If they ever catch on to texting, they may start asking for thumbs as well.
If you cannot find your way back to your original trod, purchase a way out by using the gifts mentioned earlier in this guide. If you enter into this type of bargain, make sure to phrase things appropriately. “I’m lost and can’t get home,” is sure to lead to trouble. Try something different, like “I’ll pay two jars of honey to a fey who will take me to the mortal realm, alive and whole, with my mind and soul intact, neither physically nor mentally harmed, to be placed on solid ground at an altitude and in an environment that can readily sustain human life, no farther than a mile from a human settlement, at a time not more than thirty minutes from now.” Even then, be careful.
