He cocked his head and wrinkled his brow. Would she ask him to spare her? “What option?”
“I offer my essence. With it stored in one of your gems, perhaps I can assist you even in death.”
He raised his eyebrows. Accepting her gift would enable him to draw upon it to perform any magical tasks he needed in the future, probably for years to come. “That’s kind o’you. I accept your sacrifice.”
“Thank you, my liege.” She lay down atop the chopping block with her knees bent over one side and folded her hands across her belly.
Gavin turned his sword so that its hilt was at chest level, blade pointing down. His eyes blurred with regret. She had to die for her crimes. It was the law. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“Don’t be,” she said, gazing up at him. “I’m at peace.” She closed her eyes.
With Daia’s fiery tendril fueling him, he began to pull her essence into the bloodstone in one of the snakes’ eyes, draining her. It flowed effortlessly, filling the gem with a soft glow. He drew the last of her essence as she exhaled her final breath.
Epilogue
Feanna gritted her teeth and screamed, hair plastered to her face with sweat. She dug her nails into Gavin’s hand, but he barely felt it.
“One more, my queen,” the midwife urged. “He’s almost here.”
Every muscle in Gavin’s body was tense, and he clenched his own abdominal muscles in sympathy. He wished he could share her pain, or at least reduce it, but she wasn’t actually injured. Still, his hold on her hand would enable him to begin healing her immediately in the event of the slightest rupture.
She panted and writhed, grabbing onto the back of one knee while she cried out in pain. “It hurts. It hurts.”
“I know, Majesty,” the midwife said, “but you’re almost done. One more big push. Wait for the contraction and then—”
“Aaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhh!” Feanna cried. She seemed to fold in half. She let go of Gavin’s hand and pushed down on her belly.
“Here he is. Here he is.” The midwife stood. Her hands were moving, but Gavin turned his head, unable to look at what she was doing. He’d never been squeamish when it came to people being torn to shreds by beyonders or having limbs cut off in battle, but this he couldn’t manage. This made his heart ache and his toes curl.
And then a tiny wail filled the room, the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. Gavin sucked in his breath. Feanna looked up at him, exhausted and exhilarated and her eyes filled with love.
The midwife whisked the baby to a nearby table where she and her two assistants washed him and swaddled him in the softest linens. She brought him to his mother, who held him lovingly.
“Heavens! He’s so beautiful, Gavin. He looks like his papa. What name have you chosen?”
The Kinshield men usually gave their first sons their own middle name, but the Beresfards, from whom he was descended, had chosen names differently. In naming his son, Gavin wanted to acknowledge his family history. “Samuar Dasurien Beresfard Kinshield.”
“Samuar. That’s perfect. Welcome to the world, Sam. I’m your mama, and that handsome buck is your papa.”
Gavin offered his small finger, and Sam wrapped his tiny hand around it. “Brought you something, little prince.” Gavin shook the rattle Cirang had crafted for him. “A gift from a...” He was about to say “friend” when he noticed an old Farthan proverb carved into the rattle’s surface. A promise made to a king shall transcend death.
He stared at the words, remembering his promise that had started a two-hundred-year journey.
“Here,” Feanna said, startling him out of his reverie. “Would you like to hold Samuar before I feed him?”
Gavin cradled his tiny son in his arms. Sam’s blue eyes gazed into Gavin’s. “At last we meet,” he whispered. He placed a gentle kiss on the baby’s soft forehead. It had been a long time since he felt love so deep that his heart threatened to melt. He looked into Sam’s face, memorizing every curve, every imperfect blemish. I’ll never let anyone hurt you, my little king. I swear it on my immortal soul.
He felt a gentle whiff like air on his face. He opened his hidden eye and was amazed by what he saw.
His son’s tiny blue-white haze was stroking his own.
An alien thought came to Gavin’s mind, not a word so much as a sentiment: trust.
The End.
Thank you for reading The Kinshield Saga. Subscribe to my newsletter to find out about upcoming books.
Just a little note from the author
Well, here we are at the end of the story. It’s been a journey of about twelve years for me—more if you count the very first draft of The Kinshield Legacy that I wrote back in 1993 and then put aside. It’s bittersweet. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing this story, watching it unfold in my mind as the words came out, but it’s also time to explore the other (many) stories that have been patiently waiting their turn to be told.
I hope you’ve found a few hours of enjoyment within these pages or pixels. Reading has been a life-long love for me, so I suspect we share this, at least, in common. Passion for writing grew out of my love of stories, and I knew when I was just a kid that I wanted to write novels like the ones that swept me away.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for reading. I truly appreciate your time and your willingness to take this journey with me. As an independent author, I don’t have a team of publicists and marketing specialists to spread the word about this book. I’m just a writer sitting at my keyboard searching for readers like you. If you enjoyed the story, please tell a friend! If you’re so inclined, a review or rating on the ebook site of your choice would also be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to contact me, visit my web site at www.kcmay.com or email me at k.c.may@live.com—I welcome your emailed comments! Sign up for my newsletter to get the latest scoop about upcoming books and special offers not made anywhere else. I'm also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KCMayBooks.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to express my most sincere appreciation to my brother, Kirk, for his honest feedback and his questions that never fail to open my eyes to problems or inspire an epiphany. A huge thanks also to India for her insightful and invaluable feedback during the revision phase of the book, and to Susan, my editor, who was kind enough to squeeze me into her busy schedule and show me even more ways to improve the telling of the story. Most of all, thanks to you, my readers, who took a chance on my debut novel and stuck with Gavin's story to the end. Your letters and comments on Facebook never fail to put a smile on my face and inspire me to keep writing.
Books by K.C. May
The Kinshield Legacy
A mysterious stone tablet with five magical gems has sat abandoned in a cave for two hundred years. The kingdom is in ruins, with only warrant knights to keep the peace. But then, the gems in the tablet, one by one, disappear.
Warrant knight Gavin Kinshield is a man of many secrets. He’s the one deciphering the runes in the tablet. Unless he can find a suitable replacement, he’ll be Thendylath’s next king. All he really wants is the letter written by his ancestor Ronor Kinshield, the last person to see King Arek alive... a letter he must earn by tracking down a common thief.
But when Gavin saves a woman’s life, what should have been a simple task draws him face-to-face with his nightmarish past... and the truth of King Arek’s demise.
“The Kinshield Legacy is a rousing good fantasy tale, with nice characterization and some ferocious action. These days I read primarily for business rather than pleasure, but I found myself eager to return to this novel.”
~ Piers Anthony, best-selling author of the Xanth novels
“From the very first page, The Kinshield Legacy grabs you by the throat and propels you into a world of magic, sorcery, jeweled-eyed gargoyles and a sisterhood of female warriors.”
~ Carol Davis Luce, Author of Night Passage
The Wayfarer King
Ritol, the most powerful beyonder from t
he realm of chaos, has been confined to the palace for over two hundred years, trapped by King Arek’s magic. As long as Ritol remains imprisoned in the realm of men, the beyonder invasion will never end, and innocents will continue to die.
Having newly claimed the right to rule Thendylath as king, Gavin Kinshield must protect his people by stopping the beyonder attacks. Along with the crown, Gavin received the magic of Wayfarer, giving him the ability to journey to all seven realms. To end the invasion, he must journey to the realm of chaos and summon Ritol. But can he escape before the demon kills him, devours his soul and takes his place as Wayfarer?
If wizard Brodas Ravenkind has his way, Gavin will never make it that far. Not only does Brodas want the throne for himself, he wants revenge for his cousin’s murder too. After all, he made a promise the first time Gavin crossed him…
“...a riveting fantasy adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
~Carol Davis Luce, author of Night Passage
“This book is sure to please fans of the first installment. I’ve said before that the enjoyment factor is worth a lot when it comes to the awarding of stars, and this story was immensely enjoyable. It shines, in part, because of its style that manages to be well-developed while maintaining a certain simplicity, which allows the reader to become fully engaged. The development of the fascinating world Gavin inhabits really pushed my enjoyment up a notch.”
~Grace Krispy on her blog Motherlode
Having banished the demon released from its prison by his defeated nemesis Ravenkind, Gavin Kinshield faces new challenges: a magical barrage by Ravenkind’s grieving mother and an age-old mystery whose time has come to be revealed.
A former member of an elite battlers’ guild, Cirang Deathsblade has a dark past. She sits in gaol, awaiting the new king’s sentence for her terrible crimes... but she’s not who he thinks she is.
In exchange for leniency, Cirang leads Gavin to a centuries-old, hidden journal that holds the secrets of ancient kings and a magical wellspring with its own dark past... and an even more terrible future.
“...an extremely strong continuation to an already fantastic series.”
~Scott @ Indie Book Blog
Kinshield’s Redemption
Dozens have been corrupted by tainted water from the Well of the Damned, including King Gavin Kinshield’s beloved wife. He’s desperate to reverse the water’s effects and restore Feanna to the kind and compassionate woman he married.
And what of his helpless heir growing in her toxic womb? To save his unborn son, Gavin must find a solution before the darkness that’s overtaken Feanna also stamps out the tiny spark within her.
Help seems to appear in the unlikely form of the Guardians, two ghostly figures tethered to the crystal that lies deep within the wellspring. Can Gavin trust them... or will their own agenda take the lives of his wife and son—and bring on the utter destruction of the seven realms?
“A magical conclusion to a series that has gone on my “must read again” list.”
~India Drummond, author of the Caledonia Fae series
The Venom of Vipers
A supervirus threatens to wipe out the human race. The only hope for the future is a cure hidden inside the human hybrid Ryder Stone. Created in a lab and brutalized, betrayed and hated by humans, Ryder yearns for freedom. On the outside, a group of human genetic purists want him dead.
When Katie Marsh, a brilliant young geneticist, discovers his secret, she must fight to protect Ryder, gain his trust, and convince him to save humanity before the purists destroy them all.
“...a compelling read that was able to sweep me away.”
~Grace Krispy on her blog Motherlode
“The Venom of Vipers is a fast paced read with an interesting kick, exciting characters, and a unique story. I really enjoyed the pace and the believability of a future time and place in our possible history. In addition to being a futuristic thriller with a bizarre twist, the book is a great read that will keep you turning the pages and following the characters.”
~Blog Critic
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Epilogue
Just a little note from the author
Books by K.C. May
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Epilogue
Just a little note from the author
Books by K.C. May
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