Silky Two: Lord of Haven

Silky was my first published novel. Because of a disagreement with the publisher over the way in which the rest of the series should go, no further books were published. But I had written two more novels and had an idea for a fourth book in the series.

Very early this morning I pulled out book two and started a serious rewrite. So far, a bare 1000 words into it, I'm very pleased.

So here is the opening. All subject to change later, of course....


The north wall of the entry hall had a roaring fire, the flames dancing warm and inviting to someone who had traveled up to the palace in the chill winter morning. Silky, alone in the huge room, stood close to the flames, holding out his fingers and shaking snow from his still damp hair.

No flame could dispel the other chill, though, that he felt every time he glanced at the long line of portraits on the walls; generation after generation of Ithican sovereign, staring down at him with had to be distrust, if not outright distaste and disbelief.

He did not belong here, a former Tasani slave and now Lord of the Land. Silky knew it. He looked into the face of the late mad King Owen who had sent his pitiful fleet against Tasani and nearly drove his own country to ruin. Silky had no illusions of how long he would have survived as a Lord if that man's rule had continued. In fact, he wouldn't have expected to survive at all, let alone as a person of power.

"My Lord, the Queen will see you now."

Silky turned away from the portrait and gave the boy a nod of thanks, which seemed to surprise him. He had to be some Lord's son, come to do the service of page to the new and beloved Queen Maris. In the halls at Council, Silky had heard that most of the pages from King Owen's day had finally gone home -- but they had been more hostages than young men learning to serve at court. Some of their fathers had even said that at best they'd learned to be surly and distrustful under King Owen.

Those days had passed. A year ago almost to this day Queen Maris had been crowned in a ceremony Silky would never forget. He and Dalton had been singled out for her notice at the close of that ceremony. He still felt she might have gone too far, putting a Tasani born former slave ahead of the others -- but in all, he couldn't say it had done her any lasting harm.

As for himself... well, he'd had enemies enough before Maris became queen, and really having her favor hadn't hurt him much, either. So he straightened his tunic as the page led him to the solarium, a place where Maris often held informal court. Silky had found himself summoned here at least once a week and could have found his way easily enough. However, he pretended to formality, at least in front of the pages and servants.

He almost grinned as the boy opened the door and he could see the Queen on her couch, a wash of green leaves filling the room with the look of spring. Silky loved this place.

The page slipped in ahead, bowing formally as he made his announcement, his young voice a little unsteady. "Silkation Lord Haven, Your Highness."

Bowing, the page and slipped aside again. A wonder Maris didn't say anything about his undue formality, though perhaps she didn't want to embarrass him. Silky stepped forward, smiling --

Maris did not sit alone in the room. The formality suddenly made sense in view of the company, too: Lord Garson, Lord Aaron, and -- Gods help him -- Lord Idesel, who was Silky's worst enemy in council. In fact, he only had one other worse enemy in the world, and that was Idesel's own wife, Amity.

His smile faded; he couldn't help it. Only four days ago someone had made another attempt on his life. He didn't think much about the bandaged cut on his left arm but just now, looking at Garson and Idesel, it suddenly ached to distraction. He hadn't expected to find these two here, in this place that he had considered his own little refuge from the pettiness of the world.

However, even the presence of those two, as well as the always proper Lord Aaron, could not dampen his own politeness. He bowed to Queen Maris even as his mind took in the attendance of the others and began to wonder at the implications.

"I am honored to be called to your presence, Queen Maris," he said softly.

He lifted his head and waited just inside the door until she gave her permission to come closer. She looked vexed, and for a moment he wondered if he had annoyed her. There might have been some court protocol that he had not known, something he had done wrong --

It was petty of him to think that she would judge him that way, and he knew it. Besides, Lord Aaron gave him a small nod of greeting. The older Lord had seen him through a number of functions. However, Silky didn't know what this meeting might mean, and how he should behave. That sent his heart pounding with worry at the silence.

"Come in, Silky," Maris finally said, as though startled that that he hadn't yet stepped from the doorway. She even held out her hands in the usual welcome.