The Shadow Isle by A.E. Rayne EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: A.E. Rayne
- Language: English
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Queen Amma Furyck rubbed her belly, waiting patiently as her servants
dressed her. She was barely pregnant, and there wasn’t much of a bump,
though she felt the strongest desire to hold her unborn child in her hands.
He would be so small, she knew, tiny, but after what had happened the last
three times, she wanted to keep him safe.
Tears came quickly, despite a desperate attempt to force them away. Her
two servants were pleasant enough girls, competent and helpful, though she
didn’t trust them not to gossip. Being the Queen of Brekka, she found
herself judging everyone in a way she never had before, always trying to
guess what they were thinking about her. Some eyed her with scorn they
thought they were masking with a smile, though Amma could read their
eyes, knowing that they thought little of her. They believed Axl deserved a
better queen – one who could deliver him a healthy heir – not the daughter
of a disgraced usurper who had suffered three heartbreaking miscarriages.
Her mother-in-law burst into the royal bedchamber with a beaming
smile. ‘Jael’s here!’ Seeing that Amma was still being dressed, Gisila
frowned, though noticing the pale cast of the queen’s gaunt face, she felt
some sympathy. Her eyes snapped to Amma’s belly, saying a silent prayer,
for Axl was in desperate need of an heir, and poor Amma had to give him
one soon. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you, my dear. I should have knocked. I
thought you would have been… further along. Though it is good to see you
out of bed.’
Amma smiled. ‘I sipped the tea Biddy made, though I still ended up
gripping the sick bowl. I wanted to get up, though. I can’t keep staying in
bed.’ Gisila’s smile was bright, though there was something in her eyes
beyond mere sympathy now. Amma saw doubt. Doubt that she would carry
this child to term.
A sudden flurry of busy noise rushed into the bedchamber, and Gisila
turned to see her black-haired granddaughter, Bo, toddle in with her older
brother, Sigmund, a flustered Biddy not far behind them.
‘I’m trying to steer them in the right direction,’ Biddy chuckled
apologetically as the children raced in, and then her voice became sterner.
‘If you want to see your mama and papa, then we have to leave the hall
behind! My ladies,’ she added with the bob of her curly grey head.
Amma shooed away her servants, deciding that she was dressed enough
to head to the harbour, and she knew for certain that her sister-in-law would
care little for any adornments. Bo turned towards her, reaching out a tiny
hand, and Amma’s heart swelled. She smiled warmly at the little girl, and
taking a deep breath, she let her niece lead her out of the chamber.
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