Hidden Warrior
The second volume of a thrilling fantasy adventure trilogy filled with necromancy and bone-chilling magic from the bestselling US author of the Nightrunner series.The line of Skala's ruling queens was established in accordance with prophecy. But now King Erius reigns, and he is ruthless in his determination to rid of Skala of any threat to his grip on power.As the only living child of Erius's dead sister, Prince Tobin is second in line to the throne. But he is not what he seems. To protect him from the paranoid assassinations ordered by his uncle, Tobin's identity was disguised shortly after birth. But now, with the onset of puberty, Tobin has discovered his true self – she is the rightful heir to the throne.At court, Tobin and his loyal squire Ki form part of Crown Prince Korin's inner circle. Tobin is forced to live a lie, deceiving not only his potential enemies but also his closest friends. But soon the time will come when Skala will have need of her true Queen. And as plague ravages the land, ancient enemies threaten war and the wizards who have traditionally protected Skala are mercilessly persecuted, it seems that day may be drawing near. Tobin must be ready to reveal her true identity and serve her country, whatever the personal cost.
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HIDDEN WARRIOR
Book Two of the TamÃr Triad
Lynn Flewelling
Voyager An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
This edition published in 2003
Copyright © Lynn Flewelling 2003
The Author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007113101
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2016 ISBN: 9780007401604 Version: 2016-03-14
For my father
I. WINTER SOLSTICEâMourning Night and Festival of Sakor; observance of the longest night and celebration of the lengthening of days to come.
1. Sarisin: Calving
2. Dostin: Hedges and ditches seen to. Peas and beans sown for cattle food.
3. Klesin: Sowing of oats, wheat, barley (for malting), rye. Beginning of fishing season. Open water sailing resumes.
II. VERNAL EQUINOXâFestival of the Flowers in Mycena. Preparation for planting, celebration of fertility.
4. Lithion: Butter and cheese making (sheepâs milk pref.) Hemp and flax sown.
5. Nythin: Fallow ground ploughed.
6. Gorathin: Corn weeded. Sheep washed and sheared.
III. SUMMER SOLSTICE
7. Shemin: Beginning of the monthâhay mowing. End and into Lenthinâgrain harvest in full swing.
8. Lenthin: Grain harvest.
9. Rhythin: Harvest brought in. Fields plowed and planted with winter wheat or rye.
IV. HARVEST HOMEâfinish of harvest, time of thankfulness.
10. Erasin: Pigs turned out into the woods to forage for acorns and beechnuts.
11. Kemmin: More plowing for spring. Oxen and other meat animals slaughtered and cured. End of the fishing season. Storms make open water sailing dangerous.
12. Cinrin: Indoor work, including threshing.
I ran away from Ero a frightened boy and returned knowing that I was a girl in a borrowed skin.
Brotherâs skin.
After Lhel showed me the bits of bone inside my motherâs old cloth doll, and a glimpse of my true face, I wore my body like a mask. My true form stayed hidden beneath a thin veil of flesh.
What happened after that has never been clear in my mind. I remember reaching Lhelâs camp. I remember looking into her spring with Arkoniel and seeing that frightened girl looking back at us.
When I woke, feverish and aching, in my own room at the keep, I remembered only the tug of her silver needle in my skin and a few scattered fragments of a dream.
But I was glad still to have a boyâs shape. For a long time after I was grateful. Yet even then, when I was so young and unwilling to grasp the truth, I saw Brotherâs face looking back at me from my mirror. Only my eyes were my ownâand the wine-colored birthmark on my arm. By those I held the memory of the true face Lhel had shown me, reflected in the gently roiling surface of the springâthe face that I could not yet accept or reveal.
It was with this borrowed face that I would first greet the man whoâd unwittingly determined my fate and Brotherâs, Kiâs, even Arkonielâs, long before any of us were born.
Still caught at the edge of dark dreams, Tobin slowly became aware of the smell of beef broth and a soft, indistinct flow of voices nearby. They cut through the darkness like a beacon, drawing him awake. That was Nariâs voice. What was his nurse doing in Ero?
Tobin opened his eyes and saw with a mix of relief and confusion that he was in his old room at the keep. A brazier stood near the open window, casting a pattern of red light through its pierced brass lid. The little night lamp cast a brighter glow, making shadows dance around the rafters. The bed linens and his nightshirt smelled of lavender and fresh air. The door was closed, but he could still hear Nari talking quietly to someone outside.
