This Scepter'd Isle
Mercedes Lackey and
Roberta Gellis
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2004 by Mercedes Lackey & Roberta Gellis
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
ISBN: 0-7434-7156-3
Cover art by Larry Dixon
First printing, February 2004
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lackey, Mercedes.
This scepter'd isle / by Mercedes Lackey & Roberta Gellis.
p. cm.
"A Baen Books Original"--T.p. verso.
ISBN 0-7434-7156-3 (HC)
1. Great Britain--Kings and rulers--Succession--Fiction. 2. Elizabeth I, Queen of
England, 1533-1603--Fiction. 3. Avalon (Legendary place)--Fiction. 4. Prophecies--
Fiction. 5. Queens--Fiction. I. Gellis, Roberta. II. Title.
PS3562.A246T48 2004
813'.54--dc22
2003022161
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Production by Windhaven Press, Auburn, NH
Printed in the United States of America
BAEN BOOKS by MERCEDES LACKEY
BARDIC VOICES
The Lark & the Wren
The Robin & the Kestrel
The Eagle & the Nightingales
The Free Bards (omnibus)
Four & Twenty Blackbirds
Bardic Choices: A Cast of Corbies
(with Josepha Sherman)
The Fire Rose
Fiddler Fair
Werehunter
The Ship Who Searched
(with Anne McCaffrey)
Wing Commander:Freedom Flight
(with Ellen Guon)
Lammas Night
(ed. by Josepha Sherman)
The Shadow of the Lion
(with Eric Flint & Dave Freer)
This Rough Magic
(with Eric Flint & Dave Freer)
URBAN FANTASIES
Bedlam's Bard
(omnibus with Ellen Guon)
Beyond World's End
(with Rosemary Edghill)
Spirits White as Lightning
(with Rosemary Edghill)
Mad Maudlin
(with Rosemary Edghill)
The SERRAted Edge:
Chrome Circle
(with Larry Dixon)
The Chrome Borne
The Otherworld
(omnibus with Mark Shepherd
& Holly Lisle)
THE BARD'S TALE NOVELS
Castle of Deception
(with Josepha Sherman)
Fortress of Frost & Fire
(with Ru Emerson)
Prison of Souls
(with Mark Shepherd)
BAEN BOOKS by ROBERTA GELLIS
Bull God
Thrice Bound
CHARACTER LIST
The Sidhe (Shee)
Child of Dannae (Dan'-nay)
—applied to all Sidhe; deathly insult to say one of the Sidhe does not deserve the name
High King Oberon (O'-ber-on)/Queen Titania (Ty-tane'-ee-a)
—rulers of all Elves
King Huon (Hugh'-on)/Queen Melusine (Mel'-u-seen)
—rulers of French elves
Hen Ne(Hen-knee)
—man-chicken in Fur Hold
Eigg Oh (Egg Oh)
—head on legs with arms; Humpty Dumpty blurred face in Fur Hold
Kitsune (Kit-su'-ne) Matka (Mat'-kah) Toimisto (Toy-mist'-toe)
—fox-headed man in Fur Hold
Seleighe (see-ly) Sidhe, or Bright Court Elves
Denoriel (Den-o'-ree-el) Siencyn (Sen'-sin) Macreth (Mac-reth') Silverhair (Silver-hair)
—known as Lord Denno Siencyn Adorjan (A-dor'-jan) in the mortal world; Christopher Atwood, name used when he was disguised as wine merchant
Aleneil (A-len'-ee-il) Arwyddion (Ar-with'-ee-on) Ysfael (Iz'-fay-el) Silverhair
—FarSeer, extraordinarily gentle for a Sidhe; Mistress Alana (A-lan'-a) in the mortal world
Kefni (Kef'-nee) Deulwyn (Deul'-in) Siarl (See'-arl) Silverhair
—father of two sets of twins; he was killed trying to rescue Pasgen and Rhoslyn.
Seren (Ser'-en) Teifi (Tee'-fee) Tynewedd (Tin'-weth) Silverhair
—Denoriel and Aleniel's mother; she did not want to live after her lifemate died and faded away when her children became "adult"
Eirianell (Ay-ree'-a-nell)
—Aleneil's eldest teacher, wears Atlantean dress
Rhonwen (Ron'-wen)
—Aleneil's middle teacher, wears Greek dress
Morwen (More'-wen)
—teacher who wears Tudor dress
Ieuan Hywyn (Ee-u'-an He'-en)
—student of mortal history
Mwynwen (Main'-wen)
—Denoriel's current lady friend; she is a dark elf (not in character, but dark skinned, dark eyed, with blue-black hair)
Ceindrych (Seen'-de-rich)
—old, powerful healer
Treowth (Tree'-ow-th)
—a Magus Major who had wanted Denoriel as apprentice. Superb skills and perceptions
Gilfaethwy (Gill-faith'-wee)
—a Magus Major who specializes in Gates
Miralys (Mir-al'-is)
—Denoriel's elvensteed; various colors
Ystwyth (Ist'-with)
—Aleneil's elvensteed; in the mortal world she is palomino
Lady Aeron (Air'-on)
—FitzRoy's elvensteed, silver-blue, silver mane
Unseleighe (Un-see-ly) Sidhe, or Dark Court Elves
Rhoslyn (Ros'-lin) Teleri (Tell-ee'-ry) Dagfael (Dag'-file) Silverhair
—FarSeer in the Unseleighe court, creator of the not-horses and all kinds of constructs; in the service of Maria de Salinas (Catherine's maid of honor) she is Mistress Rosamund Scot
Pasgen (Pass'-gen) Peblig (Peb'-leg) Rodrig (Rod'-rig) Silverhair
—a mirror image of Denoriel; in the mortal world a human mage, Fagildo Otstargi. In service as advisor to Wolsey he is Sir Peter Kemp
Llanelli (Lah-nell'-ee) Ffridd (Frith) Gwynneth (Gin'-neth) Arian (Ar'-ee-on)
—the mother of Rhoslyn and Pasgen; she followed her twins into Unseleighe territory when they were kidnaped and after their father was killed trying to rescue them, she remained with the Unseleighe. She is utterly devoted but also possessive
Prince Vidal (Vee'-dahl) Dhu (Dew)
—current ruler of the Unseleighe Domain, Caer (Care) Mordwyn (More'-dwin). Thoroughly vicious
Aurilia (Awe-rill'-ee-a) nic Morrigan (More'-rig-an)
—Vidal's lover and supporter
Torgen (Tor'-gen)
—Pasgen's not-horse (clawed paws instead of hooves, tearing fangs, red eyes)
Talog (Ta'-log)
—Rhoslyn's not-horse
The Humans
English
Henry FitzRoy
—born 1519; earl of Nottingham, duke of Somerset, duke of Richmond; an extremely nice young man, not too clever (and he knows it); he does not want to be king.
Kip Ladbroke
—FitzRoy's groom, devoted and paid off too by Denoriel; first Denoriel's servant
Shandy Dunstan
—FitzRoy's s
ervant, like Ladbroke he first served Denoriel
Reeve Tolliver
—boy from workhouse, now subgroom under Ladbroke
Dickson
—one of FitzRoy's guards
Gerrit
—one of FitzRoy's guards
Nyle
—one of FitzRoy's guards
Shaylor
—one of FitzRoy's guards
Commissioners at Sheriff Hutton:
Henry Howard, duke of Norfolk (not in residence)
Sir Edward Seymour (also FitzRoy's Master of Horse)
Sir John Forrester
Sir William Fenwicke
Lord Henry Percy
Thomas Cromwell
—Wolsey's aide who takes over from Wolsey after his fall
Richard Croke
—FitzRoy's tutor
John Palsgrave
—FitzRoy's tutor
King Henry VIII
Princess Mary
—born 1516; innocent of malice toward Elizabeth in Book 1; she hates Anne
Margaret Pole
—countess of Salisbury, devoted to Mary
Anne Boleyn
—Born 1507; Henry VIII's second queen. Anne is highly Talented, but she is terrified of it, very sensitive to being called a witch; thus her Talent is totally untrained and makes her emotionally unstable and very vulnerable to mental influence.
Lady Lee
—sister of Thomas Wyatt, Anne's only friend; Aleneil, called Mistress Alana, is her friend/companion.
George Boleyn (later Viscount Rochford)
—Anne's brother, provides Denoriel's access to court. George Boleyn's friends known to Denoriel; favorites of the king:
Henry Norris
Thomas Wyatt
—Denoriel likes him; he is intelligent and sensitive, a good poet; however Denoriel thinks he is hot-headed and impractical
Francis Weston
William Brereton
Francis Bryan
Henry Howard
—duke of Norfolk, FitzRoy's warden; deputy to FitzRoy when he was lieutenant of the Northern March: Under him were Henry Percy, duke of Northumberland; Thomas Fiennes, Lord Dacre (he had gout, his brother Christopher Fiennes was his deputy—kind of stupid, Denoriel runs rings around him)
Henry Howard (later earl of Surrey)
—son of the duke of Norfolk; childhood playmate of FitzRoy when they both lived under the care of the duke of Norfolk
Mary Howard
—also a childhood playmate of FitzRoy; he married her when he was fifteen or sixteen, she a year or so younger; she outlived him by many years
Princess Elizabeth
—born 7 September 1533; in Book 1 a toddler of two or so; adorable, precocious, the object of Henry FitzRoy's devotion
Lady Margaret Bryan
—Elizabeth's governess, truly fond of the child but unconscious of otherworldly influences
Blanche Parry
—nursery maid (changes diapers and such). Was nursery maid to Anne, known as a witch, called in when strange things began to happen in the nursery. A strong witch but fearful of being burnt hides talent; she recognizes the intrusion of Rhoslyn into the nursery
Christopher Atwood
—Denoriel in disguise
Catherine of Aragon
—Henry VIII's first wife, Mary's mother
Francisco Felipiz
—one of Catherine's Spanish servants
Maria de Salinas
—favorite Maid of Honor to Catherine
Spanish
Inigo de Mendoza
—imperial ambassador
Paco and Nacho
—the two armsmen who tried to drown FitzRoy
Eustace Chapuys
—Spanish ambassador, Emperor Charles's man
Basilio Carlomagno
—servant
Enrique Porfirio
Martin Perez
—a human mage; servant of Charles V; violent partisan of Catherine
PLACES
Seleighe (See-ly) Domain
—Bright Court Elves
Unseleighe (Un-see-ly) Domain
—Dark Court Elves, ruled by Vidal Dhu
Caer (Care) Mordwyn (More'-dwin)
—the Domain of Vidal Dhu
Elfhame (Elf'-hame) Logres (Low'-gres)
—home for Denoriel
Elfhame Avalon (Av'-a-lon)
—"capital" of Elfhames; Oberon and Titania's palace; various training centers, including one for Farseers
Academicia (A-cad-a-me'-see-a)
—training place and workplace for the Bright Court mages
Elfhame Csetate (Ses-ta'-te)-Boli
—the elfhame under Hungary
Elfhame Melusine (Mel'-u-seen)
—the main French division of Underhill
Llachar (Lah-har) Lle (Lay) ("radiant place" in Welsh)
—palace in Elfhame Logres
Gateways
—a neutral domain which has unnumbered Gates; it is a dangerous place to remain in because its wild magic alters anything in it; dangerous even to enter because its Gates don't go where they should
Wormegay (Worm-gay) Hold
—this is like a really bad shanty-town slum; drains power from anyone in it; the stronger the power the worse the drain.
Fur Hold
—a delightful place inhabited by human/animal mixtures and almost unimaginable beings (like Eigg Oh); the sky is painted blue; white clouds are painted on it; the sun looks like a sunflower with a face painted on it, the petals wave and sometimes the eyes wink. However the hold is not totally benign; unpleasant things can happen to visitors
CHAPTER 1
With red-eyed hounds wailing and horns sounding "the death," the Wild Hunt poured into the forecourt of Caer Mordwyn, the palace of Vidal Dhu. Rhoslyn Teleri Dagfael Silverhair reined in her black steed, feeling his flanks heaving beneath her legs, his muscles trembling with weariness. Automatically a sidelong glance measured the physical condition of her twin, Pasgen Peblig Rodrig Silverhair, and his mount, but his not-horse was no less tired than hers. It had been a long Hunt; their quarry had been a canny creature who had doubled and redoubled his track, trying to escape them. They hadn't expected that; it wasn't as if he was anything special, just a mere mortal boy out on the wrong moor on the wrong night.
He'd been a gypsy, though—perhaps that had had something to do with his cleverness.
Not clever enough, not by half. He'd finally gone to ground in a place he probably thought was safe, a churchyard—but elves weren't demons, no matter how many times mortals confused them, and the holy symbols that mortals held powerful were of no use against them.
Cold iron now—if the fellow had remembered to keep even a single horseshoe nail about him, they might have cornered him, but they'd never have been able to touch him. The fool—going out at night, on the moors, without cold iron (and why hadn't he had a knife, at least?), a hawthorn sprig, or any sort of true protection against the Unseleighe Sidhe.
Perhaps he hadn't been a real gypsy then; a real gypsy wouldn't have been so foolish. A real gypsy would have had a cross made of horseshoe nails about his throat, and perhaps even a horseshoe in his pocket to boot. After all, a horseshoe was proof against mortal as well as Sidhe, when wielded in a fist.
The horses milled, the red-eyed hounds swarming about among their clattering hooves, the courtyard a seething sea of chaos and noise. Then Vidal Dhu, unmistakable in his ebon armor, rode his sweating horse halfway up the staircase, paused there, raised his hand, and a silence fell over all of them. Even the hounds cringed, and slunk away to cower beneath the hand of their houndmaster.
"Disperse," their leader said, the single word echoing against the obsidian walls that surrounded the court.
And, of course, they did.
The houndmaster left first, his charges surging about him in waves, but silently now, silently, for Vidal Dhu had made it plain that he was wearied of the noise. To their kennels t
hey would go, to lick the mortal blood from their paws and dream of another such hunt.
The lesser members of Vidal's court left next, riding out, not through the Gate to the mortal world which was now dead and dormant until Vidal called it to life again, but through the ordinary courtyard gate into the Underhill realm in which Vidal Dhu held sole sway. The greater lords and ladies, those who dwelt here in Caer Mordwyn at the pleasure of their lord and master, dismounted as servants came to take their steeds. With the creak of leather or the soft susurration of silk, they slipped up the stairs to the Great Hall, and from thence, to their quarters.
Now only Vidal Dhu, Rhoslyn, and her twin brother Pasgen remained, still mounted, in the courtyard.
Vidal slowly removed the antlered helm he always wore when leading the Wild Hunt, a fearsome thing of blackened silver with a pair of antlers worthy of an Irish elk, and a grim, grated visor that permitted nothing of Vidal's face to show.
A servant appeared at Vidal's stirrup; literally. Such things were commonplace Underhill, depending on the strength of the mage, of course. Vidal handed the helm to the creature, which was black-skinned and looked rather like an elongated newt in Vidal's black-and-silver livery. With a jingle of harness and a creak of leather, the Unseleighe prince dismounted, and stalked down the staircase and across the courtyard to the twins.
He took Rhoslyn's hand in his, and bestowed a kiss on the back of it. Even through her leather gloves, his lips were icy.
"I believe that the FarSeers require your presence, and that of your brother, my child," he said, his voice a velvet purr over a blade of adamant.
Pasgen and Rhoslyn exchanged a look, and both dismounted. Rhoslyn had no idea how the Prince of Caer Mordwyn knew that his FarSeers wanted her and her brother—certainly no words had been exchanged between him and his servant. It was, perhaps, a measure of both his power and his control over everything within the bounds of his domain.
They were dressed alike, Rhoslyn and Pasgen, in tight black leather breeches, thigh-high boots, and black silk shirts with billowing sleeves. Wide, waist-cinching black leather belts held their weapons, matching daggers and rapiers. They differed only in their headgear; Rhoslyn wore a flat cap over her silver-blond hair, while Pasgen, as long-haired and fair as his sister, went bare-headed.