Gods, it was freezing. I pulled my borrowed cloak around me as I made my way up to the waiting Tali.
‘Home,’ she said. ‘Regan won’t thank me for taking out a living, breathing girl and bringing back an icicle. Was that really one of the . . .’
‘The Good Folk,’ I said as we made our way back around the rocks and up toward Shadowfell. ‘Yes, an old friend of mine. Her kind are all around us here. But they don’t come out unless it suits them. I’ve always been able to see and hear them.’
Her dark eyes were full of wonder. For the first time, I thought, she recognised in me a strength equal to her own, despite our great differences. ‘Would they show themselves to me?’ she asked. ‘Could I learn to talk to them?’
‘Yes, if they wanted it, and if you were prepared to lay your weapons aside for long enough. Sage didn’t hide herself from you just now. And Flint saw her earlier, even though I was not here. Saw her and spoke to her.’ I hesitated.
‘What?’
‘That’s what we need to work on. Understanding. Cooperation. It won’t be easy. The Good Folk prefer not to mingle, even amongst themselves. In times of trouble, their answer is to hide away until the storm passes. But . . . if we’re to win, we’ll need to change that. I don’t know if it’s possible, Tali. But I believe we must try.’
‘So you’ll do it? You’ll help us?’
‘I don’t think I have any choice.’ How could I expect of Flint what I would not dare myself?
We walked on steadily. The silence between us was different now: the tension was gone from it. The mountain was quiet. Under the falling snow its rocks and crags and fissures lay in folds of grey and violet, mysterious and remote. Her ancient bones brought me to birth . . .
‘We can do it,’ I said. ‘We must believe that, or we can’t go on. We can win this, all of us together. All of Alban’s children.’
Juliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. She has worked as a music teacher, opera singer and tax assessor, but is now a full-time writer. Her historical fantasy novels for adult readers are published internationally and have won a number of awards. Shadowfell is Juliet’s third novel for young adult readers. Her first, Wildwood Dancing, won the 2006 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and her second, Cybele’s Secret, won the 2008 Sir Julius Vogel Award, given to the best young adult novel.
Juliet lives in a hundred-year-old cottage by the Swan River in Perth with three dogs. She loves history, folklore and travel.
www.julietmarillier.com
Also by Juliet Marillier
THE SEVENWATERS NOVELS
Daughter of the Forest
Son of the Shadows
Child of the Prophecy
Heir to Sevenwaters
Seer of Sevenwaters
Wolfskin
Foxmask
THE BRIDEI CHRONICLES
The Dark Mirror
Blade of Fortriu
The Well of Shades
Heart’s Blood
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Wildwood Dancing
Cybele’s Secret
First published 2012 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000
Copyright © Juliet Marillier 2012
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
This ebook may not include illustrations and/or photographs that may have been in the print edition.
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Marillier, Juliet.
Shadowfell / Juliet Marillier.
Adobe eReader format: 9781743348307
EPUB format: 9781743348314
Online format: 9781743348291
Series: Marillier, Juliet.
Shadowfell triology; bk. 1.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Typeset in 11.5/15 pt Minion by Post Pre-press Group, Queensland
Macmillan Digital Australia: www.macmillandigital.com.au
Visit www.panmacmillan.com.au to read more about all our books and to buy both print and ebooks online. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events.
Juliet Marillier
Daughter of the Forest
BOOK ONE OF THE SEVENWATERS TRILOGY
The seven of us are as the parts of one body. If we are torn asunder, it may seem as if there is no tomorrow for us. But like pools in the same stream, we must meet and part and meet again. We belong to the flow of the lake and to the deep beating heart of the forest.
Lord Colum of Sevenwaters is blessed with seven children: Liam, a natural leader; Diarmid with his passion for adventure; twins Cormack and Conor each with a different calling; rebellious Finbar grown old before his time by his gift of Sight; and the young compassionate Padriac.
But it is Sorcha, the seventh child and only daughter, too young to have known her mother, who alone is destined to defend her family and protect her land from the Britons and the clan known as Northwoods. For her father has been bewitched by Lady Oonagh and her brothers bound by a spell that only Sorcha can lift.
Exiled from Sevenwaters and cast out into the forest and beyond, Sorcha falls into the hands of the enemy. Now she is torn between the life she has always known and a love that only comes once.
‘I enjoyed it immensely . . . a fine new fantasy writer’
ANNE MCCAFFREY
‘. . . spellbinding . . . sheer storytelling magic . . . amongst the best of modern fantasy’
SOPHIE MASSON, THE COODE ST REVIEW OF SCIENCE FICTION
‘. . . a remarkable literary endeavour, a work of solid commitment and painstaking research’
PERTH SUNDAY TIMES
‘This saga will hold you entranced, with its forbidden romance and powerful adventure’
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY
‘This is one of the most beautiful, romantic, well-told fairy tale retellings that I’ve ever read’
NEXUS
Juliet Marillier
Son of the Shadows
BOOK TWO OF THE SEVENWATERS TRILOGY
I saw an old, old man, wandering the empty halls of Sevenwaters alone, his gnarled fingers grasping a staff of yew for support. He was mumbling to himself, They are all gone . . . no sons, no daughters . . . how can the forest be saved, if there are no children at Sevenwaters? And I saw that this crippled ancient was my brother Sean.
After years of happiness, darkness has fallen upon Ulster. Trouble is brewing and leaders are being called into strategic alliances to defend their land. Even those in the heart of the forest are not safe.
Of the three children at Sevenwaters, it is not golden-haired Niamh nor the young heir Sean, but Liadan, Sean’s twin, with her gift of Sight and her mother’s talent for healing, who seems to hold the key. Liadan’s road will be tortuous. She must journey into the shadowy world of the Painted Man and his warriors, and walk a fine line between right and wrong if she is to succeed.
But will Liadan risk the safety of her family to be a pawn in Ireland’s future?
‘full of the magic of the Celtic night . . . a wonderful, riveting story . . .’
BARBARA ERSKINE
‘confirmation of the author’s talent, storytelling magic and deep understanding of traditional culture. For those of you who have not yet ventured to Sevenwaters, don’t delay! This is a real treat of a novel, as was its predecessor’
SOPHIE MASSON
Juliet Marillier
Child of the Prophecy
BOOK THREE OF THE SE
VENWATERS TRILOGY
The outstanding conclusion to Juliet Marillier’s award-winning Son of the Shadows and her international bestseller, Daughter of the Forest.
A freezing terror ran through me. It was not just that I had done the unforgivable. It was something far worse. Had not I just proved my grandmother right? She had told me I bore the blood of a cursed line, a line of sorcerers and outcasts. It seemed I could not fight that; it would manifest itself as it chose. Were not my steps set inevitably towards darkness? I turned and fled in silence.
Raised in an isolated cove in Kerry, the young sorceress Fainne has been sent to live at Sevenwaters and burdened with a terrible task. She must use whatever powers she can to prevent the Fair Folk winning back the Islands, no matter what the cost. Even if it means denying herself the one she loves.
But can Fainne turn her back on the family for whom she has come to care? And, more importantly, can she bring herself to rid the world of the chosen one . . . the child of the prophecy?
‘A rich tapestry of love and loss, family loyalty and personal sacrifice . . . Marillier’s strong voice and rolling, lucid prose seem appropriate for a 10th century Irish tale, and her command of a fantasy story’s elements make this an excellent conclusion to a fine trilogy’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
‘a beautiful Celtic romance in the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley’
THAT’S LIFE
‘an utterly absorbing, satisfying end to the trilogy, and perhaps the best novel of the three’
THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
Juliet Marillier
Heir to Sevenwaters
The chieftains of Sevenwaters have long been custodians of a vast forest, said by some to be one of the last refuges of the unpredictable Fair Folk of ancient story. An uneasy peace has existed, that is until Lady Aisling of Sevenwaters finds herself expecting another child and then everything changes.
Clodagh fears for her mother as she is long past the safe age for childbearing. When Aisling gives birth, the responsibility of caring for the infant falls to Clodagh while her mother recovers.
Then the family’s joy turns to despair when an unspeakable horror falls upon Sevenwaters. Clodagh must confront the shadowy mystery of the silent forest and descend to the Otherworld to find out why the trust between the two realms has been broken so tragically.
Accompanied on her quest by a warrior of uncertain allegiance, Clodagh will have her courage tested to breaking point. The reward may be far greater than she ever dreamed . . .
Juliet Marillier
Seer of Sevenwaters
Sibeal has always known that she is destined for a spiritual life, and is committed to it with all her heart. The only thing left for her to do before she enters the nemetons is to spend the summer visiting her sisters, Muirrin and Clodagh, on the northern island of Inis Eala.
But Sibeal has barely set foot on the island before a freak storm out at sea sinks a ship before her eyes. In spite of frantic efforts, only three survivors are fished alive from the water, and one of them, a man Sibeal names Ardal, clings to life by the merest thread.
Life continues on the island, as it must, and Sibeal befriends Ardal as he begins to regain his health. But it becomes clear there is something unusual about the three shipwrecked strangers. Why won’t the beautiful Svala speak? And what is it that the gravely ill Ardal can’t remember – or won’t tell? When a visiting warrior is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, and an attempt is made on Ardal’s life, Sibeal finds herself a pawn in a deadly game. The truth will be far more astonishing than she could ever have believed – and the consequences for Sibeal unimaginable.
Juliet Marillier
Wolfskin
All Eyvind has ever wanted is to become one of the greatest Viking warriors – a Wolfskin. His friend Somerled, with whom he has sworn a blood oath of lifelong loyalty, secretly desires a very different path.
A world away, Nessa, niece of King Engus of the Folk, is learning the ways of the mysteries. Her people live in peace and harmony, until a voyage of discovery, led by Somerled’s much-respected brother, Ulf, brings a group of settlers to Nessa’s homeland. Though their arrival is friendly, Nessa feels a shadow has been cast over the Folk . . .
The signs are small at first; trouble aboard a ship, whispered grievances, a deadly sickness. Then a brutal murder occurs and the tentative peace is shattered. Now Eyvind begins to feel the ties of his boyhood oath, and realises what sort of future Somerled had in mind for himself all those years ago . . .
‘A potent mix of fine story-telling, rich imagination and meticulous research’
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S WEEKLY
‘A must-read . . . Escape and enjoy this terrific journey’
WOMAN’S DAY
‘I couldn’t read this fast enough’
GOOD READING
Juliet Marillier
Foxmask
Seeking to uncover the truth about his father, Thorvald makes a perilous journey north to the forbidding Lost Isles. With him travel his childhood friend Sam and an unwelcome stowaway, Creidhe.
On the isles the weary travellers find the Long Knife people, ruled by a cruel tyrant. Suspicious and frightened, the islanders will not explain why Creidhe must cover her golden hair, or why there are so few children amongst them . . .
When a baby is born, Creidhe discovers the horrific truth of the curse the vengeful Unspoken tribe has placed on the Long Knife people – and the only solution. But there are deeper secrets in this battle for survival, secrets that Thorvald, Sam and Creidhe discover when it may be too late . . .
‘Foxmask and Wolfskin are examples of just how wide the appeal of fantasy novels can be. An artful blend of history and mythology, with a hint of magic’
AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER
‘To say what happens . . . would be to deny readers the excitement of the story’s resolution. There is tragedy here together with the risk and power of sacrificial love’
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
‘[Marillier] disdains the Galahadian-type hero and creates characters rich in emotion and heart that have a life of their own’
HOBART MERCURY
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM PAN MACMILLAN
Juliet Marillier
The Dark Mirror
When the child Bridei is sent to the kingdom of Fortriu to be raised by Broichan, a powerful druid, he knows only that he must be studious and obedient. Bridei applies himself to learning, unaware that a secret council of elders, including Broichan, has long been working on plans for the future of their divided homeland, and that Bridei himself is central to their strategy.
When a baby girl is left on the doorstep one winter’s night, Bridei thanks the gods for sending him a companion to share his lonely existence in the remote household. But Tuala’s arrival spells a perilous complication to Broichan’s master plan. As Bridei moves ever closer to his grand destiny, and as Tuala grows from fey child to beguiling young woman, powerful forces turn against the secret council; enemies will stop at nothing to foil the druid’s plan, even if they must endanger Bridei’s life.
Juliet Marillier
Blade of Fortriu
King Bridei is preparing for the long-awaited war to drive the Gaelic invaders out of the west. He sends Ana, a hostage of Fortriu since childhood, north to make a strategic marriage which will strengthen his chances of victory. Ana is escorted by a man she despises, the enigmatic Faolan, Bridei’s assassin and spy. Their expedition is ill-fated, and their destination of Briar Wood, stronghold of the chieftain Alpin, proves to be a place of dark secrets. Ana is drawn towards a mysterious prisoner, while Faolan must walk a delicate path between loyalty and betrayal.
Bridei’s forces march into battle. To those left behind, the omens become clear: the king is heading towards certain death. There is only one messenger who can reach him in time, but to use him will endanger Ana’s chance of happiness . . .
Juliet Marillier
The Well of Shades r />
Sent home to Ireland on a secret mission for King Bridei of Fortriu, Faolan, the king’s chief assassin, finds himself confronting the demons of his family’s dark past. Once he has tracked down the powerful Christian cleric who may be a threat to the stability of Bridei’s pagan kingdom, Faolan returns from his mission having become responsible for a child, a dog and Eile, a troubled, volatile young woman with a deeply disturbing past.
At Bridei’s court in White Hill, unsettling news from the neighbouring kingdom of Circinn prompts the king to call his chieftains to council. But after the disappearance of Bridei’s closest adviser and the tragic death of a young maid, the threat posed by the encroaching influence of Christianity appears to be the least of the dangers at hand . . .
Juliet Marillier
Heart’s Blood
Fleeing from the nightmare of her past, young scribe Caitrin arrives, bruised and alone, in the remote settlement of Whistling Tor. Desperate for work and shelter, she ignores the villagers’ warnings of an accursed chieftain, malevolent whispering in the night, and a hill swarming with eerie manifestations, and seeks refuge in the crumbling fortification atop the Tor.
In the unconventional household of volatile Lord Anluan, Caitrin attempts to regain control of her life. But all is not as it seems in this place of shadows and memories. What do Anluan’s skewed features and volatile temper hide? Do the ancient manuscripts in his library hold salvation or a curse? Who are the men and women of the Host? And what is the dark force, an entity that will do anything to keep her from uncovering the truth?
Juliet Marillier
Wildwood Dancing
Jena, along with her five sisters and constant companion, the frog she calls Gogu, lives in a crumbling castle on the fringe of a wildwood in Transylvania. Theirs has always been a privileged if somewhat restricted life, however, the girls share a fantastic secret, which they have kept hidden even from their family for twelve long years.