Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Quartet of Queens Stories of Frost and Fire 4 1St Edition Kimbra Swain Online Ebook Texxtbook Full Chapter PDF
Quartet of Queens Stories of Frost and Fire 4 1St Edition Kimbra Swain Online Ebook Texxtbook Full Chapter PDF
Quartet of Queens Stories of Frost and Fire 4 1St Edition Kimbra Swain Online Ebook Texxtbook Full Chapter PDF
https://ebookmeta.com/product/triple-threat-stories-of-frost-and-
fire-3-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/second-sight-stories-of-frost-and-
fire-2-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/vampin-ain-t-easy-legend-of-the-
vampire-reject-1-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/get-your-vamp-on-legend-of-the-
vampire-reject-2-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
Glasswing The Oddities Emporium 0 5 1st Edition Kimbra
Swain
https://ebookmeta.com/product/glasswing-the-oddities-
emporium-0-5-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/shadow-athame-the-oddities-
emporium-1-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/flirtin-with-disaster-dog-river-
wolfpack-3-1st-edition-kimbra-swain/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/king-of-queens-king-
university-4-1st-edition-nikki-pennington/
https://ebookmeta.com/product/fairy-tales-of-a-trailer-park-
queen-box-set-1-fairy-tales-of-a-trailer-park-queen-1-3-1st-
edition-kimbra-swain/
QUARTET OF QUEENS
STORIES OF FROST AND FIRE, BOOK 4
KIMBRA SWAIN
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and
incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a
fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual
events is purely coincidental.
Kimbra Swain
Quartet of Queens, Book 4 of The Stories of Frost and Fire
Copyright March 2021
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and
Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is
prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Cast of Characters
Acknowledgments
About the Author
BOOKS BY KIMBRA SWAIN
CHANTILLY LACE
Urban Fantasy (New Adult)
FRIVOLOUS MAGIC
AMBITIOUS PRODIGY
VICIOUS SPELLS
DANGEROUS TRICK
PATH TO REDEMPTION
Urban Fantasy
ABOMINATION
INTUITION
REINCARNATION
TEMPTATION
GRACE
Nestor brought the girls home about an hour before everyone else
was to arrive. Miss Frist took them upstairs to get baths and get
ready for dinner while Nestor helped me in the kitchen.
Levi had set up the dining room table and the kids table, then
had disappeared. Who knew what he had up his sleeve, but I knew
he was up to something.
"How are things in the tree?" I asked, watching the young man
who was playing a handheld video game console on my couch.
Xavier had grown to what I'd expect a nine or ten-year-old
human boy to be. He had a head full of curly blonde locks and bright
green eyes. He was in that awkward stage between child and
teenager.
"I've never raised a kid, but we are figuring it out." Katherine
Frist had solidified herself as one half of my grandfather's we.
"He seems like any other kid his age."
"Yes, until he starts dictating the course of lives."
"I didn't think he had that kind of control," I said.
"He does with our guidance. But it's just the reincarnation
aspects. Not the day-to-day minutiae."
I grunted while stirring my spaghetti sauce.
The front door opened, and Winnie stepped through with
Raphael. I rushed over and hugged her. Her warmth wrapped
around me like a blanket. Memories of Dylan flooded through my
mind. He would always be with us through our children.
"Hey, Mom," she said quietly.
I leaned back to look at my adult daughter. Winnie had surpassed
all of my expectations. "It is good to see you."
She nodded toward Rafe. "I hope it's okay that I brought a
guest."
"Of course," I offered my hand to Rafe.
He turned it palm down, leaned into a deep bow, and placed his
lips on the top of my hand.
"Queen Gloriana. I am honored to be a guest in your home for
this occasion."
"You are welcome here anytime, Rafe," I said, raising my
eyebrows at Winnie who rolled her eyes. She pretended not to let
Rafe's chivalry affect her, but I knew my daughter. I also felt the
tension between them. Sexual tension. As the Queen of Winter, the
sexual things of the world were my forte. Winnie shook her head,
begging me not to comment. I grinned at her, and let it go. It was
Thanksgiving.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked.
"Nope. We have everything in order. Just fix yourself and Rafe
something to drink and have a seat. Everyone should be arriving
soon," I replied.
"Where are my sisters?" she asked.
"Upstairs getting a bath. They spent the night in the tree with
Nestor," I said, indicating the boy on the couch.
Winnie rushed past Xavier to hug Nestor who happily accepted
her in his arms. Rafe watched the exchange without emotion.
"Rafe, make yourself at home," I said.
"Thank you, your Majesty."
"Today I am not the queen. I'm just Grace."
"Then how should I address you?"
"Just Grace is fine."
His forehead wrinkled. Instead of responding, he stalked to the
boy on the couch and sat down to watch him play the video game.
Xavier looked up at him.
"Your kind do not visit me often."
"We tend to lead long, violence-free lives," Rafe responded.
Xavier shrugged. "Things change."
Rafe's forehead wrinkled again.
Before I could shut the door, a truck pulled up outside. Mark
climbed out of the driver's side. Tinley and Mark's sisters exited also.
He gave me a wave. I hoped there wouldn't be any awkwardness
between Winnie and Mark, but I hoped that we would all act like
adults today. Troy's squad car pulled up behind them. The family
retrieved multiple bowls from the trunk of Troy's car.
"You were just supposed to bring a salad!" I exclaimed.
"It's all salad," Troy replied with a grin.
"Fruit salad. Pasta salad. Garden salad. Ambrosia. Coleslaw.
Waldorf," Amanda said.
"Potato!" Cammie exclaimed.
"We skipped the tuna and chicken though," Maggie added.
Rosalie was the quiet one and she just smiled as she passed me
with a congealed salad of some sort.
"So glad you are here," I said, taking a bowl from Amanda's
stack.
"Thanks for having us," she replied.
"Betty called. Luther is in his bottle. She sends her regrets," Troy
said. I didn't have time to lament it before a ruckus erupted in the
house.
A chorus of squeals erupted as my twins rambled down the stairs
to greet their idols, the wolf triplets. The older girls embraced Shay
and Ash who danced around their legs in excitement. My girls loved
watching the wolves shift.
Callum and Sully were the next to arrive. They'd arrived by tree
in the back yard. Sully was learning to flex his fairy powers. I
hugged them both.
"How are you feeling?" I asked Callum who had barely taken a
break after his ordeal. He'd returned to Dog River with Sully who felt
the need to be near his brother. I understood, but I still worried
about my grown child.
"I'm fine, Mom. Plus, Sully is worse than a wet nurse."
"I hear you," Sully said as he sat down a crate filled with amber
bottles.
"And you love every minute," I said to Callum.
"Every single minute," he replied with a smile.
"What's this?" I asked, lifting one of the bottles out of the crate. I
twisted it around to see the label with a crescent moon and a wolf.
"It's from our first batch of the new Crescent Moon brewery,"
Sully proclaimed proudly.
Sully and Callum had taken over the old bar in Dog River and
with Tennyson's resources had rebuilt it with a full-blown craft
brewery. They'd told me about it, and Callum was excited to be a
part of it. One day I'd get a chance to see it.
Tennyson and Jenny arrived bearing garlic bread along with Nick
and his new girlfriend, Delaney. I liked her the moment I saw her.
She was giving Nick hell about something. I had to approve.
"Grace, this is Delaney Goodwin," Nick said, introducing her.
"Thank you for having me," Delaney said.
I put my arm around her shoulders. "Any woman that can keep
Dominic Meyer on his toes is my new best friend."
"Thanks, Grace," Nick grumbled. "Where is my brother?"
"He disappeared earlier. He's up to something," I replied.
"Of course he is," Nick said as he was greeted by Mark.
I watched as my extended family shared hugs and greetings. It
was so good to see them all. Bramble and Briar flew around the
room making sure everyone had everything they needed like good
little brownies. Granted, they were both wearing French maid outfits
and the tiniest thongs ever, but I didn't comment. I'd found that
asking about their outfits only opened my eyes to their creative sex
lives. Things I didn't need to know.
Killian appeared at my side. His skipping skills were creepy.
Without looking at him, I asked, "What have you been up to?"
"Helping a friend," he replied.
"What friend?" I asked.
"Kyrie," he whispered so that no one else could hear him.
"He's here?" I asked.
"Not here, here. He's at Hot Tin. I located his sister, Celestina,
and they are using the apartment at the bar for their own
Thanksgiving. He needed some familial grounding," Killian said.
"I hope he doesn't plan on a surprise visit," I mumbled.
"He won't. It was part of the terms of our agreement," Killian
replied, watching Winnie as she stood with a glass of red wine and
talked with Tinley and Delaney. They were smiling and giggling.
"Agreement?" I asked.
"Love you, Mom," Killian replied as he kissed me on the cheek. A
reminder that my children had their own lives and I didn't have to
meddle in all of it.
He joined the group giving hugs and handshakes. I closed my
eyes and reached out to Aydan who responded immediately.
"Hi, Mom."
"Miss you."
"I know. This is going to take some time. The original contracts
were drawn up by a legal moron. I'm going to be mired up in this."
I sighed. "You do your thing. I am so proud of you. He is too."
He knew who I meant. "That means a lot."
The connection cut off and I held in a sob. I'd hoped he would
make it back in time, but I had to face the reality that he wouldn't.
The doorbell rang, and I opened it to find a man wearing a
brown shirt and pants with a yellow logo which had the initials,
O.P.S. Otherworld Parcel Service. The O.P.S. didn't observe human
holidays.
"Package for Queen Gloriana," he stated. A piece of paper floated
next to him. I waved my hand, magically signing my name. Killian
reached out and took the package as I thanked the delivery man.
I shut the door and opened the card on the top of the box. An
elegant handwriting greeted me.
"Dearest Gloriana, I appreciate the offer to celebrate with you,
but my business demands that I spend the holiday in Las Vegas. I
send my love, Seamus."
Killian opened the box to reveal a tray filled with meats, cheeses,
crackers, condiments, and olives.
"Awesome," he said.
"You invited Seamus?" Winnie asked.
I pressed my lips together. "I invite him to everything. He always
declines."
Which was the truth. Which was why I didn't warn my daughter.
She narrowed her eyes at me, then they flicked to Rafe whose face
showed no emotion. The change in my daughter surprised me. Her
doubt, frustration, and fire faded. She returned to her conversation
with the other girls. It worried me. Opening my sight, I saw nothing
other than the bond between them which flowed to her finger where
the ring blocked the connection. He wasn’t influencing her overtly. It
was a situation that I deemed important to watch.
Looking up to the clock, I realized everyone was here except my
husband.
“You are late,” I scolded.
The front door burst open and everyone stopped talking.
“No, I’m not. I am, as always, right on time,” Levi proclaimed.
He stepped to the side, and I gasped. A strawberry blonde young
girl stepped into the room. Her bright green eyes lit up and she ran
to me with her arms held high. I scooped her up off the ground and
hugged her.
“Aunt Grace!” she exclaimed.
“Aubrey!” I replied, as my brother, Finley, and his wife, Riley
entered the house. We’d never convinced Riley to attend family
events. She always felt bad about what had happened between her
and Levi. It made her uncomfortable and I never pressed the issue.
Somehow, Levi had convinced them to come.
“Hello, Glory,” Finley said, hugging me.
“I’m so glad you are here,” I said, setting his daughter down. She
looked up to her father and placed her hand in his. I watched his fire
melt with her touch. Nothing had ever tempered my brother until he
had a little girl who worshipped the ground he walked on. I stepped
forward and embraced Riley. She stiffened. “Welcome.”
“Thank you for having me,” she said quietly. She’d proven herself
to us many years ago, but still bared the burdens of her bad choices.
I held no ill will toward her. Her punishment was her own.
Aubrey wandered over to hug her cousins as Finley made the
rounds.
“You have been and always will be welcome here. The past is
gone, Riley. Stop punishing yourself for it.”
“He said the same thing,” Riley said, eyeing my husband.
“Unfortunately, we often think alike. It means he’s getting harder
or I’m getting softer,” I grumbled. A smile spread across her face.
“I think it’s a little of both,” she replied, then joined Finley with
the others.
I hugged Levi and he whispered in my ear. “Surprise.”
“I don’t know how you did it but thank you.”
“I’m a miracle worker,” he replied with a chord on his tattoo.
“You didn’t make them, did you?” I asked.
“No, they made the decision. I might have removed a little of her
anxiety. Only by request,” he replied.
He and I walked hand in hand to the edge of the room filled with
our family. The void of Aydan darkened my mood, but I smiled
despite it.
“Family, we are so glad you have come…”
A knock on the door interrupted Levi’s speech. I turned to open
it. I found Malphas and Echo standing there with sad looks.
“Hey, come in. You are welcome to join us,” I said.
“Sorry, Grace, but we are here for Nick,” Malphas said.
Nick stood up from where he’d taken a seat next to Delaney.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“We’ve got movement along the edges of town. Plus, an influx of
refugees just a few hours ago.
There has been a massive attack on the Baton Rouge pack,”
Malphas said.
“Who attacked them?” I asked, knowing that Araxia and her
minions controlled the Baton Rouge area.
“We aren’t sure, but we need to act fast,” Malphas replied.
Delaney stood and took Nick’s hand. “I’m sorry, Grace.”
I waved my hand. “No, I understand.”
He shook Levi’s hand who assured him that we were here if he
needed us. Callum and Sully followed them. I knew they would.
Callum kissed me on the cheek.
“I love you, Mom. Save me some leftovers,” he said.
I patted him on the cheek. “Of course.”
Malphas and Echo left in a swarm of feathers as Nick, Delaney,
Sully, and Callum made their way to the nearest tree. I watched
them disappear and sadly closed the door.
Levi took my hand. He knew I wanted this to be a big family
thing. Before he could restart his speech, a cell phone rang. Troy,
Tennyson, Winnie, and Mark all dug into their pockets retrieving
phones. I saw my daughter’s face darken as she answered hers.
She muttered into it as she stepped into the kitchen. We waited
until she returned.
“Mayarim, Colton, and Ruby are on port duty. They just found a
shipload of trafficked fairies. We gotta go,” Winnie said. “I’m sorry,
Mom.”
Rafe stepped up next to her and she took his hand.
“It’s okay. Go ahead,” I said, holding back my disappointment.
“I love you,” she said as they slipped out the back door.
“It’s okay,” Levi whispered in my ear.
“I know,” I responded. I looked up to see Jenny sitting across the
room on Tennyson’s lap. She nodded at me. I had to suck it up for
the rest of my guests.
“Well, I was going to say how great it was to have most of my
family home, but I suppose our lives have been stretched all over
the world and Otherworld. Our impact on those places is significant
and good. I have to have confidence and pleasure in knowing my
children are doing good in the world,” Levi said.
Mark’s and Troy’s phones rang at the same time. I groaned. They
answered and, in a flurry, both grabbed their wives and headed
toward the door.
“The Santiago house is on fire,” Mark said as he ran out the door.
“Do you need us?” I asked.
Amanda and Troy rushed past. “No, no, we got it. Mind letting
the girls stay?” Troy asked.
“No, that’s fine,” I replied.
They were gone in an instant.
Xavier stood up abruptly. “Things are changing.” He walked
through the front wall of the house as if it didn’t exist.
“Well, shit,” Miss Frist exclaimed. She and Nestor stood up and
gave us hugs, expressed their apologies, and rushed to aid the little
god man.
I threw my arms up. “I should have known this wouldn’t work.”
“Oh, just quit. This isn’t about you,” Levi scolded. He was right,
but it didn’t make me feel any better.
“Anybody else have an emergency?” I asked.
Killian hid a smile behind his hand. Finley took Riley’s hand and
shook his head at me. Jenny leaned back on Tennyson.
“We aren’t really in the game anymore, so we are staying,” she
assured me.
“Why don’t we eat?” I suggested.
“I’m starving,” Tennyson exclaimed.
“It’s the human world. I’ve been hungry since I got back,” Levi
said.
They continued to talk as a cloud formed over me and my spirits
fell. But I moved through the motions. We had enough room for
everyone to sit at the dining room table now. Killian, Cammie, Rose,
and Maggie helped to wrangle Ash, Shay, and Aubrey. Finley and
Riley took their seats at the table as did Jenny and Tennyson. I
moved an empty chair up to the table and placed a black cloth over
it.
“What’s that Momma?” Shay asked. She was inquisitive like Levi.
“It’s a memorial to all those we have lost. A symbol that although
they are gone that they are a part of our day of Thanksgiving,” I
explained.
“Like Winnie and Aydan’s daddy,” Ash supplied.
“Yes, like Dylan,” I agreed.
“Who else?” Shay asked.
“We’ve lost a lot of friends and family along the way. Levi’s dad,
your grandfather, William,” I said.
“Your grandfather, Oberon,” Levi added.
“Thistle,” Briar said from her perch on the China cabinet.
“My mother,” Levi said.
“So, you see, these were important people to us. We will always
be thankful for them, and we will always remember them,” I
explained.
“I like it,” Shay said.
“It’s creepy,” Ash said.
Aubrey sat quietly taking it all in.
“Who is ready for food?” I asked.
Troy and Amanda returned after dark to pick up their daughters. The
Santiago home was a complete loss. Among the losses was the food
storage in the cellar. It wasn’t the whole of the crops that the Shady
Grove farmers had produced to feed the town, but it was a
significant loss.
Winnie called to inform me that they had rescued thirty fairies
who were now on their way to the processing center in Shady Grove
at the old grocery store. Killian had left with the news so that he
could help with the new arrivals. Mark usually oversaw all of that,
but his hands were full with the aftermath of the fire.
We hadn’t heard from Callum, but I knew it would be a while
before we heard from the situation in Dog River. I didn’t expect to
hear from Nestor either. I’d have to trek out to the tree to get any
information.
Jenny helped me clean up the kitchen and pack plates to send
over to the Maynard house where the wolves had gathered after the
fire. We had plenty of food left, and it made me happy to help.
With all of my power, I was still learning that there were things in
this world that I couldn’t control. I couldn’t stop tragedy. I couldn’t
rid the world of evil. I couldn’t save everyone. Those things kept me
grounded. Levi said it was those things that made us human even
though I’d never been human. I’d certainly embraced a human way
of life when I’d moved to Shady Grove. It had set me apart from the
other fairies in the Otherworld. Some saw it as a weakness, but I
saw it as diversity. A power they couldn’t fathom. A power that I
feared they would learn too soon if a war with the Wild really was in
our future.
Shay and Ash sat in the floor playing with Rufus and the
brownies as we carried plates to Tennyson’s SUV. We wished them
well and waved good-bye.
Levi sat down on the front step of the house, pulling me down to
sit next to him.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Grace.”
“It sucks,” I muttered.
“It does.”
I waited for his sage words, but they didn’t come. He didn’t offer
any platitudes or anything to make me feel better. I leaned over and
he wrapped a strong arm around my waist. A surprising tear rolled
down my cheek as I thought of the chair draped in black. Among
those we had lost, I could add the innocence of my children. While
Shay and Ash were young, they were already learning about the
crazy difficulties of growing up in the Otherworld. Each one was
making a difference in the grand scheme. They were an extension of
our combined power. They made me proud. I supposed it was selfish
of me to want to keep them to myself. Our world needed them and
their influence.
And I knew that they would always return home. Our doors,
whether it was the white one behind me or the stone ones at Castle
Winter, would always be open to them and those they loved.
The full moon sat high in the sky with the occasional cloud
floating by. The sounds of our daughters laughing and playing
warmed my heart.
Then, just a flicker of light down the long drive caught my eye.
The muffled report of thunder that rumbled around me announcing
his arrival caused me to jump to my feet.
Ambling down the driveway, a tall young man with long sandy
brown hair and eyes flashing with bright blue lightning approached.
He wore an ankle-length robe of white fur and carried a staff with a
shining blue orb at the top. His smile brightened my heart.
“Aydan,” I gasped as I ran down the drive to meet him. The staff
disappeared as I reached him, throwing myself in his arms. He held
me close.
“Hey, Mom. Sorry, I’m late.”
The tears flowed freely. Levi hadn't moved from the porch,
allowing me to have this moment with my son.
“You aren’t late. You are right on time,” I said.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I’m happy to see you,” I replied.
He brushed my tears away. “Did something happen?” he asked.
“No. Yes. It doesn’t matter. I’m glad you are here.”
He hugged me again. “I hope there are leftovers.”
“I saved three plates,” I said.
“Three? Who else didn’t show?” he asked.
“Everyone showed, but everyone left before dinner, except
Tennyson and Jenny. The plates are for you and the Sawyer boys,” I
said.
“Ah, Cletus and Tater,” he said with a smile.
Levi walked up. “Welcome home, Aydan.”
Aydan’s relationship with Levi had always been tenuous, but to
my surprise, Aydan hugged Levi. I saw the shock on Levi’s face.
“Thank you,” Aydan said, stepping back from us. “The deal isn’t
done, but I found that I needed a moment to step away. Fairies can
be maddening.”
I chuckled because I knew the feeling. “Come inside,” I said.
We walked into the house and the girls squealed when they saw
Aydan. They ran to him and he scooped both of them up in a hug.
“How’s my favorite girls?” he asked.
“Good. Did you bring us anything?” Shay asked.
“Yeah, did you?” Ash echoed.
“Girls, he does not have to bring you something every time he
goes away,” I scolded them. Aydan had started the tradition of
bringing them something from his trips when he’d returned from a
mission with a magical snow globe made by the Perzy family in the
Otherworld. Many of the families had magical goods or specialties.
Aydan winked at me and pulled out two carvings from his pocket.
They were perfectly carved white snowflakes, and they sparkled with
cold Winter power.
“The Nilsson family are well-known sculptors. They put a little bit
of magic into all of their art. These snowflakes were made especially
for the Princesses of Winter,” he said, handing them off to the girls
whose wide eyes took in the lovely carvings.
“Thank you, Aydan!” Shay exclaimed, hugging him again. Ash
didn’t speak but took her turn at his neck.
“You are welcome,” Aydan replied with a smile.
I was happy to see him bond with the twins. Killian and Winnie
had a special bond. Ever since Callum had gone his own way, Aydan
had seemed a little lost. He found the sibling adoration he felt he’d
lost in the girls. Although he’d never lost Callum. However, when
Callum realized that his relationship with Aydan would always be
brotherly, he withdrew some from his brother. It was subtle, but
Aydan noticed. They really should have talked about it, but I stayed
out of it.
I sat down with Levi, and we watched Aydan play with the girls.
“This is good,” Levi said.
“It is enough,” I replied.
“I’m thankful for you, my Queen.”
I quirked a grin his way. “Do you want me to return that
sentiment?”
“If you did, I’d be shocked. I’d rather you be predictable.” I saw
the playfulness in his twinkling denim eyes.
“In that case, you can show me later exactly how thankful you
are.”
Aydan grunted amid a pile on by the girls. To them, it was just a
sound made by their efforts to climb him like a mountain, but I knew
he could hear us.
“I’d be happy to oblige,” Levi said.
At least that was something to look forward to. He squeezed my
hand, and I realized that I was thankful for all of my family. We had
been incredibly blessed. I held on to this moment of laughter and
happiness for the future was dark. I chose to sit in this light for now.
"Levi, your hair is brown."
He reached up and grabbed his locks. He looked at me, then
back at them. "What?"
I chuckled. "I love you."
"You can glamour it," he said pressing his lips together.
"I am the queen," I replied.
"You will pay for this."
"I'm counting on it."
My mother. Bless her. I loved her with all of my heart, but
sometimes, she made me want to scream. Things were just starting
to settle down, and she decided that we needed to all come together
for a royal family portrait. While this was all good, nothing in Winter
was simple. Everything was a production of the utmost, over the top
nonsense. Not really my style.
However, I complied, because non-compliance would be
detrimental to my health and well-being. So, I made Rafe come with
me. Might as well suffer together.
Raphael, who by all means was a family man, loved the idea and
was almost giddy.
When we arrived in Winter, we were greeted with the normal
array of hugs and greetings. I quickly retreated to my Winter
bedroom, and Raphael followed.
“Wynonna, what is wrong?” he asked.
“We shouldn’t be here. We spent so much time in the Wild. We
need to get back to business in Steelshore. The Sanhedrin have
been rounding up fairies faster than we can react. I don’t
understand why it’s suddenly a priority for Reyna and her crew,” I
explained. He knew why, but he wanted to talk it out. There were
things I loved about Rafe, but his way of passive-aggressively
pushing me into a conversation wasn’t one of them. Was it for the
best? Probably, but I liked to talk when I was ready. He was always
ready.
“It’s one night. This portrait is important to your mother. She has
all of you together for the first time in a very long time. Callum is
safe and home. You aren’t trekking around the Wild with some
feathered character.” I shoved him lightly. “And your sisters are
growing so fast. She wants to capture this. One day, the same thing
will be important to you.”
There was a light knock on the door, and I could feel the cold
breeze that followed.
“Come in, Mom,” I said.
Rafe walked to the door and gave her a regal bow. “Good
heavens, Rafe, that is not necessary.” He stood and she wrapped her
arms around him. He hesitated, but then returned the hug.
“Wynonna. I know you are already ready to leave, but I am thankful
that you are here. We will have the portrait done in no time. Then
dinner. After that, you can go.” She sounded sad, and I felt bad
about my attitude.
“I’m happy to be here, Mom. I’m sorry if I made you think
otherwise,” I said.
She smiled and brushed my half blonde, half purple hair out of
my face. “Blonde or brown for the portrait. I don’t care which.”
“Mother!” I huffed.
“Oh, you missed all of those terrible teen years, and I swear this
hair is your expression of it,” she said with a grin.
“I like it,” Rafe said.
“It’s not that I don’t. It’s just that I worry that my child still hasn’t
found herself,” Mom said. She’d struck the truth like a hammer on a
gong. “There is no rush, but I want you to know that whoever you
decide to be, I will always love you.”
“Ugh. Enough with the gushy stuff,” I said, teasing her.
“I picked out a couple of dresses for you. They are hanging in
your closet,” she said.
I didn’t protest. I knew the requirements of the Winter Queen. It
was her way or the highway.
“I’ll check them out. Rafe can pick,” I said.
“I actually have full confidence that he will choose wisely. Now, I
have to go round your brothers up and make sure they have all their
tunics and well, everything,” she said. She hurried out of the room. I
heard a familiar bark, and Rufus waddled into the room.
“Rufus!” I exclaimed. The dachshund ran over to me and jumped
on my leg. I reached down and picked up the squirmy dog and
accepted his kisses. “How are ya, boy?”
I sat him down on the bed, and he sniffed Rafe cautiously. Rafe
held out his hand, and Rufus gave it a tentative lick. I suppose he
decided that Rafe was okay, because he crawled up in his lap and
accepted a generous amount of scratches.
“Why don’t you show me the dresses?” Rafe suggested.
“You are enjoying this too much,” I replied.
“Maybe.”
I opened the closet door to find three obnoxious dresses hanging
there. Each were in a different shade of blue. I supposed we were
going for a theme.
One was a pale blue with tiny crystals covering the top, then
spread out as they reached the hem. Another was a deep sapphire
with an iridescent shimmer. Finally, the last one was almost grey
with delicate lace flowers and random gems to give it sparkle.
“I like this one,” I said, touching the first with the light blue
rhinestones.
“No, the grey,” Rafe said.
I knew he would pick that one. It was the feminine touch of the
lace. If I had to guess, it would be the one my mother would pick for
me as well.
“This one would look great,” I said, holding the blue in front of
me.
“They all will look great on you, but I prefer the grey,” he said
flatly. Rufus had nuzzled a spot in Rafe’s lap. “Try it on.”
“Please,” I prompted.
“You know I don’t mean it as an order,” he countered.
“I know, but you could make some effort to learn how to speak
politely,” I suggested.
“I’m doing better.” He was correct about that, but still, he had
moments when I wanted to laugh because of his awkwardness.
I reluctantly took the grey dress into the bathroom and quickly
put it on. I stared at myself in the mirror, switching my hair from
blonde to brown. I decided on something in between. When I
stepped out of the bathroom, poor Rufus got dumped in the floor
because Rafe jumped to his feet.
“What? Is it okay?” I asked. I had actually liked it more than I
thought I would.
“It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful,” he said.
His truthfulness still caught me off guard, and my cheeks
warmed. “Thank you.” I turned to look at myself in the mirror. He
stood behind me with a cheesy grin. “You were right. Is that what
you want to hear?”
“I already know. There is no need to state it,” he said. He walked
up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. “You look like a
queen.”
“I don’t want a royal life.”
“Sometimes our desires change. Right now, you don’t want a
royal life, but that doesn’t take away the fact that your parents are
the King and Queen of this realm. How you relate to that is your
choice,” he said. In other words, I was royal and there wasn’t a
damn thing I could do about it.
I took my necklace with my compass and Rafe’s feather and
stuffed it into the front of the dress. He raised his eyebrows. He’d
given me that feather, and it meant a lot to me, but I didn’t even
think about it when I stuck it between my breasts. Chaste little bird
boy thought about it. It was all over his guilty face. Yet, in true Rafe
fashion, he did not comment.
Mother had shoes picked out as well. I slipped into the matching
pair and whirled out of the room into the hallway which was buzzing
with activity. More than one pixie flew past me while other servants
rushed back and forth. I made my way to the main room with the
tree where I found Killian, who was dressed and ready. He looked so
grown-up. I caught a sob, then rushed to hug him.
“You look amazing,” I said to him.
“You do, too,” he said with a wide grin.
Killian fit the brooding fairy prince aesthetic perfectly. His dark
blue tunic was lined with silver brocade. He wore a black belt which
accentuated the muscles that had started to form. The slender pants
came to a point above black boots. His denim eyes sparkled with
mischief, but his solemn face gave mixed signals. I’d heard through
Bramble’s gossip that the young fairy women in Winter were afraid
of him. Reports from Shady Grove were that many were interested,
but he hadn’t shown any preference.
“You enjoy driving the ladies crazy. Don’t you?” I teased.
“Winnie,” he grunted. Even his voice was deeper.
“What? I hear stories,” I continued.
He didn’t even blush. “There are no stories. I am like my father.
There will be one. When I meet her, I will know,” he said.
“Well, I have to approve,” I said.
“Actually, you don’t, but I understand the sentiment,” he said.
“Hello, Rafe.”
“Hello, Killian,” Rafe responded. The men - my brother was a
man – shook hands.
“I don’t know how you put up with her,” Killian joked.
“It is a burden,” Rafe replied deadpan. Killian finally smiled.
“I like him,” Killian said to me.
“I like him too,” I replied. “But just a little.” Rafe grunted.
My feelings for Rafe were real. I realized that after my “date”
with Dominick. I just didn’t know where that put us. He was devoted
and steady. My choices had always been the wild wolf who
vehemently protected me or the silly, yet fierce son of the stars.
Rafe broke that mold. I hadn’t decided if that was a good thing or
not. One thing was for sure, he was a part of my life now, and I
couldn’t imagine it without him.
“Are you excited about the ceremony?” Killian asked.
“What ceremony?” I asked.
Killian cocked his head to the side. “Oops.”
“Spill it, little brother,” I warned.
“After the portrait, you will become a Queen of Winter,” he said.
“Aw, hell. Why does she do these things?” I groaned.
“Because she is our mother, and she lives to torture us?” Killian
asked.
“It feels like it sometimes,” I responded.
“Looks like that royalty thing just caught up with you,” Rafe said.
“No comments from the gallery. Thank you,” I said, waving him
off. He laughed at me, then took a seat beside the tree.
“He’s perfect for you,” Killian said.
“Would you stop it? I’m not trying to get married and have
babies. I have a job to do. I need to be doing it, but Mother has us
here. Have you decided what your job is in all of this?” I asked.
Day by day the bigger picture was that we had found the perfect
slots as the children of the Queen of Winter. The growing threat in
the Wild. The unknown of the void. We each had our place, except
Killian.
“When I know, I’ll know,” he said confidently. “For now, I help
where I can.”
Killian had more power than any of us. He was the perfect vessel
to carry such responsibility. Stoic, steady, and completely aware. As
much as I hated to admit it, he was more mature than I was. That,
in itself, was a challenge. It was time for me to buckle down, stop
chasing pirates, and do what I went to Steelshore to do.
Right after the family portrait and a ceremony I wasn’t supposed
to know about.
The hustle and bustle froze when the King of Winter stormed into
the main room of the royal quarters. My dad, the second one, had
transformed into something that looked like it belonged in a Tolkien
novel. His long white hair flowed around him along with a cloud of
snow. His dark blue eyes reflected a stormy sea. He wore the colors
of Winter with a billowing cape. Upon his head, he wore the battle
crown he preferred over all his royal headgear. Levi Rearden was
angry, and the whole room stopped breathing for a moment.
“Dad?” I said quietly. Rafe had rushed up beside me, wings
flared. Killian clinched his fists and looked like he was about to
throttle someone.
Several men followed Levi into the door.
“I told you. I want it done. No more excuses. You get me the
names I need, and I will deal with the rest,” Levi snarled at the men.
“But, your majesty, we haven’t been able to track them down
with the information you’ve given us,” one of them protested.
“Get Finley. He knows,” Levi returned. “Don’t come back to me
until you have them. Do you understand?”
The men bowed and scurried out of the room. Levi’s eyes turned
to us, and the storm ceased. His countenance softened, the snow
particles dissipated, but the long, white hair remained. Before our
Thanksgiving meal, Mother had warned me that Winter had made
some changes that Levi didn’t particularly like, but I thought he wore
it well. Except the anger.
“What is wrong?” Killian asked.
Levi smiled. “It’s fine. I’m just trying to get some information
about something that happened in the past. The secrets of Winter
infuriate me. Hello, Princess.” He wrapped me up in a hug that felt
warmer than he looked.
“The hair is, uh, striking,” I said.
He groaned. “I can almost glamour it, but I might have to just
accept the fact that I am at Winter’s mercy.”
“Are you sure Mom isn’t doing it?” I asked.
“Oh, your mother, she can glamour it for me, but she won’t,” he
said.
I laughed. “Sounds like Mom.”
“It is royal and dignified,” Rafe commented.
Levi offered his hand to Rafe, and they shook. “Thank you, Rafe.
But sometimes, I miss that trailer in Shady Grove. Things were much
less complicated then.”
“They really weren’t. You just didn’t know of the complications.
Ignorance is bliss,” I said.
He cocked his head to the side. “When did you become so wise?”
“Yesterday,” I replied with a smile.
He hugged me again. “I think it’s been a lot longer than that. You
look beautiful.”
“Yes, well, Mom picked out the dresses,” I replied.
“Of course, she did!” Levi knew as well as I did who was in
charge and the hell that would be paid if she didn’t get her way. “Are
the others here?”
“I haven’t seen anyone except Killian,” I answered.
“Callum is here. Sully is helping him get ready,” Killian supplied.
“Get ready? Is that what they call it these days?” I teased. Rafe
grunted. “Oh, stop.” He grunted again.
“No, seriously. Sully had the pixies going in and out of that room
with all sorts of accessories and make-up. I don’t even want to
know,” Killian explained.
Sully always had a flair for style, and Callum was just Callum. I
was excited to see what he’d done to my brother.
“Can you reach Aydan?” Killian asked me.
“Yeah, give me a minute,” I replied. I kept my mental accesses
closed. The ring I wore blocked the connection that I had with Rafe.
But my entire family could be in my head at once, and I had
strengthened my mental magic enough to keep them all out. I’d built
in emergency contingencies, but the random banter prevented me
from losing my mind. “Aydan, are you in Winter?” I waited for a
response. Nothing. “You know Mom has this portrait thing today.”
When using telepathy to speak, sometimes you get an echo
back. That usually meant that your message wasn’t received. Killian
had confirmed that’s what happens to him when he tries to speak to
me with my wall up. However, Aydan was receiving me. He just
wasn’t responding.
“No?” Levi asked.
“He’s there. Just not responding,” I said.
“I will let your mother know,” Levi said, making his way toward
their end of the royal wing.
“Dad, just give him a few minutes. Okay?” I asked. Aydan often
felt isolated from us. Callum really was the adopted one. I’d grown
up with Mom so it was a more natural fit for me, even though I was
adopted.
“If you say so, but if she asks…”
“I know.”
He waved and left us in the room. I looked at Rafe. “What was
up with the whole feather thing?” I asked, waving my arms out to
my side like wings. He had already hidden his wings, but they had
appeared for a moment when my father charged into the room.
“Protective instinct,” he said simply.
“You were going to protect me from my dad?” I asked, lifting an
eyebrow. Killian snickered.
“Absolutely not. But his fury felt like danger. I wasn’t preparing to
fight him, but to fight whatever he was fighting. Once he entered
the room, it was clear that the battle was more figurative than
literal,” Rafe explained.
I looked at Killian who shrugged.
“Okay then. I’m going to try Aydan again,” I said. I closed my
eyes and pictured my brother with his sandy brown hair and deep-
set eyes. The perfect blending of Gloriana and Dylan Riggs. “Aydan.”
“Just a moment,” he replied.
“Well, he answered and told me to wait,” I said with a laugh. “I
swear this family is filled with constant drama.”
Bramble flew up to me and hovered in my face.
“Hello, Wynonna,” he said, giving me a bow.
“Hello, Bramble,” I replied.
“Your mother is summoning all of you to the throne room,” he
said.
“Okie dokie,” I replied.
Killian accompanied Rafe and me to the throne room. Sully and
Callum caught up to us. Callum looked very dapper in his black tunic
with silver lining. His pants and boots matched Killian’s. His hair had
been styled. Normally, he let it flop about, but Sully’s work revealed
that Callum deserved his own model page on social media. He was
fit and had the face for it. Sully beamed. Either because Callum
looked great or because he’d done it. Or perhaps both.
“Stop touching it,” he scolded Callum.
“I can’t believe I let you do this to me,” Callum grumbled.
I giggled. “You look great.”
“Thanks. I do, but it feels weird,” he replied.
A pair of harpies opened the doors of the throne room, allowing
us to enter. My two little sisters ran in circles around the pair of
thrones which sat on the far end of the grand hall. The two blonde
haired beauties stopped when they saw us, then ran toward me with
squeals and arms open. I scooped up Ashlyn and Shaylyn passed me
to latch onto Callum.
“Hello sister,” Ash said, patting my cheek.
“Hello to you, too. You look very pretty in your white dress,” I
said. She had crystal snowflakes scattered in her curled hair. Shaylyn
wore her hair straight and pulled back with a snowflake embellished
comb.
“Mommy said we are going to have our picture made,” she said.
“Yes, we are. The whole family,” I replied, while nudging Aydan
with my mind. He nudged back but didn’t respond in words.
Mom and Levi entered from a side room. “Where is Aydan?” she
asked with her eyes on me.
“I don’t know?” I said with a shrug.
Levi placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
Her countenance softened. She wore a long pale blue gown with
iridescent jewels all over it. To my surprise, it was very matronly,
except for the long slit which climbed above her knee.
“Forgive me. I’m stressed,” she apologized.
“What’s stressing you?” Callum asked. He hugged her and kissed
her cheek.
“Word from inside the Wild has dried up. We know nothing. All of
our contacts have gone silent. I fear that they are making their
move, and we are sorely unprepared to face them,” she said.
“We are not unprepared,” Levi corrected. “However, we don’t
have the information we would like to have.”
“Do I need to go back?” I asked.
“No!” Levi and Mother said simultaneously.
“Rafe will go with me. We can find out whatever you need to
know,” I offered. I knew my desire to go back to Steelshore, but if
there was a bigger threat, I would stand by my family.
“It’s true. We will go. I will protect her, not that she needs my
protection,” Rafe said.
“No. Our contacts there have been murdered. I will not send you
into that realm again. I’ve called a friend who is looking into it,”
Mother explained.
“What friend?” I asked.
“Why don’t we do this picture? Spinella, please fetch the
photographer,” Mother called out to the harpy guard at the back of
the room. She bowed, then hustled out of the room.
“Photographer? I thought this was going to be a painting.”
Perhaps I had been wrong.
Mother laughed. “If you think I can get those two girls to sit long
enough for a painting, then you have severely overestimated my
power. The photographer will take several shots, then the artist will
use the photos to paint the portrait. I expect it will be done by next
week.”
“Why is this important?” I asked. I’d wondered why she’d made a
big deal about it.
She put her hand in Levi’s. “I realized at Thanksgiving that our
lives are rapidly changing. You face danger every day in the name of
our cause. One day, you may never come home.” She shocked
herself by saying it out loud.
“We love you. We want you to be honored as part of this family.
This portrait will hang in this hall for generations. An example of
what we did differently. A symbol of who we are and what we
believe. We are capturing the moment while we still can,” Levi said,
filling in where Mother left off.
“Wow, does he give speeches like that all the time?” Sully asked.
Callum elbowed him. “Oof!”
“Yes! He does!” I exclaimed. “It’s annoying, but it is the truth.”
The back doors of the room opened, and a photographer ambled
in with the harpy guard.
“Mr. Egerton, welcome to Winter,” Mother said.
He bowed to the King and Queen. “I am honored that you
requested my services.”
“Where do you normally work?” I asked, guessing that a
photographer didn’t have a lot of business in the Otherworld.
“I have a studio in Birmingham. When I learned about Shady
Grove, I went to check it out. I have no desire to live here in the
Otherworld, but I am a grateful and willing servant of the Queen,” he
said.
“Very interesting,” Killian said.
“How so?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he replied with a smile. A devious smile, which meant
that I should let it go, and he’d tell me later.
“Shall we start?” Mr. Egerton asked.
“Aydan!” Mother shouted, startling us all.
My brother materialized at the back of the room in his long white
fur robe, gnarled wood staff, bright blue eyes, and a mop of dusty
blond hair. His grin stretched across his face.
“Mom, I promised to be here. No need for shouting,” he said,
approaching her. She offered her cheek to him, and he kissed it. Levi
patted him on the back, and Aydan laughed. “I have news for you.”
Levi’s eyes brightened. “Really?”
“Yes, we will talk later,” Aydan replied.
“Great! Let’s get set,” Mom said, ignoring them. However, my
interest piqued. I filed it for later.
My younger sisters mauled Aydan with kisses and hugs. He
devoured them and returned them amply. He laughed and played
with them so easily. It made me happy to see him bond so deeply
with them.
He approached me, giving me a hug. He whispered in my ear, “I
have news for you. It isn’t good, and you need to get back to
Steelshore as soon as this is done.”
“Mom has some ceremony to do after this,” I whispered back.
“Yes, the Queen thing. Do that, and then we go back to
Steelshore,” he said.
“We?”
He nodded, then greeted Callum and Sully warmly.
Levi removed one of the thrones with Killian’s help. He took his
place at the right of the throne that remained. Killian stood by his
side.
“Winnie, you stand in front of Killian and Levi,” Mom instructed.
“Then, Aydan, you and Callum stand on the left side. Girls.” The two
boisterous children stopped in their tracks. Mom voice. Scary stuff.
“Girls. Stand in front of your brothers.” She scooted them over to
Aydan and Callum. She looked at us and shook her head. “No, this
isn’t right. Winnie, you stand with Aydan and the girls. Callum, you
stand with Levi and Killian.” We switched places, because there was
no need to contradict her. “Yes, that’s perfect. Mr. Edgerton, we are
ready.” She sat down on the throne. She reached up with her right
hand and took Levi’s. A crown appeared on her head. It wasn’t the
magical unicorn crown we’d come to expect of her, but a mix of
snowflakes and antlers. It was a perfect match to Levi’s battle
crown.
“Hold still,” the photographer ordered and began snapping away.
Aydan grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the family after
the photographer finished.
“What is it?” I asked.
“They are coming,” he said.
“Vague. Slightly foreboding, but I need more information,” I said,
raising an eyebrow at him.
We moved further away from our family. They all noticed, but the
only one that paid attention was Rafe who followed my every move.
I waved my hand at him, and he only lowered his chin. I stuck my
tongue out at him, and I saw the light flicker in his eyes, but he
continued his stare.
“Is he like that all the time?” Aydan asked.
“Like what?” I asked.
“Intense?”
I chuckled. “Actually, yes, and I’ve grown rather fond of it.”
“And him,” Aydan offered.
“Yes. But that isn’t what you were talking about,” I said, moving
him back to his dire warning that we had time to take a break to
discuss Rafe.
“You fought a woman on a boat not too long ago. She had some
minions,” he said.
“Yes, an octobitch with her tentacled guards.” I wiggled my
fingers.
“There are more of them. They are coming out of the deeps.
There are doors into the Otherworld in the trenches of the ocean. I
spoke to a group of sailors who saw a legion of squid-like men
swimming under the water. They were headed for Steelshore. I don’t
know why, but I’m going back with you when you go,” he said.
“Does anyone else know about this?” I asked.
He pressed his lips together. “I was with Seamus before I came
here, which is why I couldn’t talk. I felt like he needed to know. He
has the resources to start searching for answers. Maybe he will have
some when we get back,” he said.
I hadn’t spoken to Seamus at length in a while. I felt bad about
that, but he had ways of muddying my emotions. Our time in
Neverland and Wonderland left me with questions. Ones that he
wasn’t inclined to answer. Another wall had formed between us, and
I wondered if he only felt the need to be close to me when I needed
his help.
“He will find information. He’s been very helpful,” I said.
Aydan cocked his head to the side. “I read that frustration,
Winnie. Are you on the outs with our vampirate friend?”
“I don’t know what I am with Seamus. He’s perplexing,” I said
with a sigh.
Mother cleared her throat, and we turned our attention to her.
“As there seems to be pressing matters, we will skip dinner and
move forward with the crowning,” she announced.
“Crowning?” I asked.
“Shh! Come here,” she said, waving us toward her.
She took me by the shoulders and guided me to a spot in the
center of the room directly in front of her throne. She then moved
Aydan about two feet to my left. She took Callum and placed him
two feet to my right. Then, Killian without prompting moved two feet
behind me. He snickered at me as he passed.
Sully helped Levi move his throne back, then he and Rafe took
seats in what should have been a crowd of fairies. Only the room
was empty. Well, it was until my mother clapped her hands together
twice.
The doors opened and the Winter nobles piled into the room,
quickly taking seats.
Mother stood before the room while Levi sat down behind her.
Once everyone was seated and silent, she began to speak.
Her voice changed from the light, Southern twang I was
accustomed to hearing to a thick, formal speech with the slightest
Irish accent.
“Welcome, Nobles of Winter. I present my children for crowning.
I claim each as my heir and they shall become the Kings and Queens
of Winter. Per tradition, when a child has reached adulthood, the
monarch shall grant them lands that they will rule in Winter.”
She stepped to Callum first. He was the oldest. Bramble and Briar
flew up to Mom carrying a pillow with a small crown embellished
with sapphires. It was decidedly masculine.
Callum whispered to her. “If you mess up my hair, you have to
deal with my boyfriend.”
Mother grinned at him and picked up the crown.
“Kneel.” Callum dropped to one knee. Mother held the crown
over his head. “In the southern lands that border Summer, there is a
valley filled with blue crocus called Indigo Valley. This land now
belongs to my son Callum Bryant. He will be the king of this land
and rule it accordingly.” She placed the crown on his head, then gave
him a hand to stand. He kissed her cheek.
“Thank you, Mother. I’m honored,” he said.
She moved to me. Bramble and Briar appeared with a golden
circlet lined with amethyst that formed flames along its sides.
“Kneel.” I lowered to my knee. “In the west, along the Wild
lands, there is a mountain. Its slopes are covered with dark stone
formed by a past age of fire called Obsidian Peaks. This land now
belongs to my daughter, Wynonna Riggs. She will be the queen of
this land and rule it accordingly.” She placed the circlet on my head,
and suddenly, I felt its weight. The small thing pressed down on my
head. I realized the responsibility that it represented, but that
representation had manifested in a real burden on my head.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
Ott fekszik egy ember, kinek sem méltósága, sem tanultsága,
sem erénye, sem elmeéle, semmi sem volt; ki rosz példaadásával
egy nagy társaságot tett még roszabbá; ki ifjuságában, férfikorában,
vénségében egyaránt közönséges, minden emelkedettség nélküli,
az érzékiségbe merült volt – s ime, előáll Portens uram – később
lord Portens püspök ő méltósága – s azt mondja, hogy a föld nem
volt elég jó, hogy őt birhassa és hogy csak az ég igazi hazája!
Derék! éljen Portens uram! És ez a pap, ki második György
emlékére e könyeket sirta: harmadik György palástja szegélyét
vitte10). Azt már aztán nem tudom, hogy vajon a nép bámulja-e még
költészetét vagy prédikáczióit?
III.
HARMADIK GYÖRGY.