Silver's Edge. Anne Kelleher

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      Praise for

      ANNE KELLEHER

      “I found it one of those books which keeps one’s eyes glued to the page…an outstanding piece of work.”

      —Andre Norton on Daughter of Prophecy

      “…displays vivid imagination.”

      —Publishers Weekly

      “…engaging and powerful.”

      —Voya on The Misbegotten King

      “Fascinating—a most ingenious blend of science fiction and fantasy.”

      —New York Times bestselling author Marion Zimmer Bradley on Daughter of Prophecy

      SILVER’S EDGE

      ANNE KELLEHER

      This book is dedicated, with love,

       to my son Jamie, my intrepid little adventurer—

       may you always believe that tall buildings

       are made to be leaped with a single bound.

      Glossary of People and Places

      Faerie—the sidhe word for their own world. It includes the Wastelands

      The Shadowlands—the sidhe word for the mortal world

      The Wastelands—that part of Faerie to which the goblins have been banished

      Lyonesse—legendary lost land that is said to have lain to the east of Faerie

      Brynhyvar—the country that, in the mortal world, overlaps with Faerie

      The Otherworld—the mortal name for Faerie

      TirNa’lugh—the lands of light; the shining lands—mortal name for Faerie; becoming archaic

      The Summerlands—place where mortals go at death

      Humbria—mortal country across the Murhevnian Sea to the east of Brynhyvar

      Lacquilea—mortal country lying to the south of Brynhyvar

      Killcairn—Nessa’s village

      Killcrag—neighboring village to the south

      Killcarrick—lake and the keep

      Alemandine—Queen of sidhe

      Xerruw—Goblin King

      Vinaver—Alemandine’s younger twin sister and the rightful Queen

      Artimour—Alemandine’s half-mortal half brother

      Gloriana—mother of Vinaver, Alemandine and Artimour

      Timias—Gloriana’s chief councilor and the unacknowledged father of Alemandine and Vinaver

      Eponea—Mistress of the Queen’s Horses

      Delphinea—Eponea’s daughter

      Finuviel—Vinaver’s son by the god Herne; rightful King of Faerie

      Hudibras—Alemandine’s consort

      Gorlias, Philomemnon, Berillian—councilors to the Queen

      Petri—Delphinea’s servant gremlin

      Khouri—leader of the gremlin revolt and plot to steal the Caul

      Nessa—nineteen-year-old daughter of Dougal, the blacksmith of Killcairn

      Dougal—Nessa’s father; Essa’s husband; stolen into Faerie by Vinaver

      Griffin—Dougal’s eighteen-year-old apprentice

      Donnor, Duke of Gar—overlord of Killcairn and surrounding country; uncle of the mad King and leader of the rebellion against him

      Cadwyr, Duke of Allovale—Donnor’s nephew and heir

      Cecily of Mochmorna—Donnor’s wife; heiress to the throne of Brynhyvar

      Kian of Garn—Donnor’s First Knight

      Hoell—mad King of Brynhyvar

      Merle—Queen of Brynhyvar; princess of Humbria

      Renvahr, Duke of Longborth—brother of Queen Merle; elected Protector of the Realm of Brynhyvar

      Granny Wren—wicce woman of Killcairn

      Granny Molly—wicce woman of Killcrag

      Engus—blacksmith of Killcarrick

      Uwen—Kian’s second in command

      The Hag—immortal who dwells in the rocks and caves below Faerie; the moonstone globe was stolen from her when the Caul was forged

      Herne—immortal who dwells within the Faerie forests, from which he rides out on Samhain night, leading the Wild Hunt across the worlds

      Great Mother—mortal name for the Hag

      The Horned One—mortal name for Herne

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Nothing I have ever written has not owed a great deal to the people who have to put up with me while I write. Thanks go to my agent, Jennifer Jackson, who lit a candle just as the lights were going out; to Patrice Fitzgerald, Olivia Lawrence, Robert Becerra and Laura Sebastian-Coleman, who gave me feedback and wonderful suggestions; to Anne Sheridan, who proofread the final draft—any mistakes are mine; to Laura at The Purple Rose and Bobbi at Maggie Dailey’s for providing tea and source material; to Loreena McKennitt, Julee Glaub and Bruce Springsteen, whose music made me see the OtherWorld; to GTimeJoe, who kept my head in the clouds; to the folks in the CT Over 40 chat room on AOL for being so unflaggingly supportive even when I was at my most cranky; to the wonderful members of the FMC for cheerleading; to my darling daughters, Kate, Meg and Libby, who bore the brunt of dishes, laundry and trash; and finally, to Donny. You made it all possible.

      Contents

      PROLOGUE

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter 14

      Chapter 15

      Chapter 16

      EPILOGUE

      An Interview with Anne Kelleher

      PROLOGUE

      Then

      Down dusty roads the child fled, heart drumming in her thin chest like the gallop of a thousand horses, chased from sleep by hulking hordes of goblins who grabbed at her with gleaming teeth and outstretched claws. She startled awake, the echoes of her dream screams dying in her ears, crying aloud at the sight of the banked grate, where the coals glowed like red eyes in the dark room. A cold wind was howling in the trees, and the window rattled in its frame. A gusty draft stirred the curtains just as something crashed onto the roof above her head. She cried again, louder now, and yanked her thick woolen blanket higher, the rest of her small body stiffening with dread, the whole house, it seemed, shuddering under the impact.

      “Nessie? You all right?” Her father’s broad face loomed out of the shadows of the doorway, his white nightshirt luminous in the gray light. He came closer, feet bare, the black hair on his chest curling out