| Copyright © 2009,
Sue
Perkins Reviews For SKY CASTLES Book 3: EBONY AND IVORY by Sue Perkins “I quite enjoyed this book. Overall, a very relaxing read of what seems to be a pure fantasy genre. While nothing stands out as WOW, I would read more of this world and from this author. This is the third in a series but very readable as a standalone. However, I possibly would have been more pulled into the story if I’d read the first two. This book is very enjoyable but not stunning because a lot of the storyline was predictable.” 4 Tombstones, Bitten By Books Reviews Sample Chapter For SKY CASTLES
Book 3: EBONY AND IVORY by Sue Perkins
Ardon “Enough!” Robard slammed one hand into the other. “I am not an idiot. You are telling me my choice is between Milady of Pator and Milady of Cor? Is that correct?” “Yes, my lord Duke.” The advisor’s anxiety was etched on his face as he waited for Robard to decide. “Very well.” Robard headed for the door. “I will think on the matter and give you my answer tomorrow. Good day to you all.” The Duke left his estate office and walked briskly along the corridor to the dropchute, the harsh expression on his face dissuading anyone from approaching him. “Garden level,” he snapped as he entered the dropchute. In the peaceful walkways of the garden, he paced up and down for some time before walking to the edge of the grounds. He stopped by the force field which protected the castle from the rarefied heights of the blue sky and the long drop to the town of Ardville. Robard stared unseeingly at Daith, the delicate pink day moon, which followed the sun across the sky as the day came to an end. Thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to discover the best option for his future. He had to marry. Dukes of Hejmen, the reigning nobles of the sky castles, must produce legitimate heirs. He had remained single for longer than most of his peers, but the time had come to take a wife. His single status had not been by choice. Until now, he hadn’t met a woman he felt he could spend the rest of his life with. Love was more than he could hope for in his position, but he needed to feel comfortable with the woman he chose to make his Duchess. The lands of Ardon spread out below him, reaching as far as he could see. His inheritance had come to him at an early age, and he had grown up with the Duke’s responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders. Robard gazed at the vast areas of agricultural land which lapped at the edges of the town. Huge forests ran alongside the fields, providing the timber which was shipped all over Hejmen. The town of Ardville lay in the shadow of the floating Castle of Ardon. He knew the ordinary people thought the nobles lived a life of idle luxury in the sky castles. This might be true of some nobles, but Robard took his position seriously and did the best he could for those who relied on him to keep them safe. Problems abounded downside, but he was trying to improve the lives of the less fortunate. He forced his mind to return to the decision he had to make. Pator or Cor? He’d met both ladies
socially, but both ladies were many years younger than him and he didn’t
really know either of them. Milady of Pator had a reputation as a social
butterfly, which was cause for concern. From what he’d seen, he
didn’t think they really had much in common. Ardon was a farming
community, while Pator was a desert land. He wondered if she would be
able to cope with the difference. Milady of Pator had fiery red hair and sparkling eyes which complimented her curvaceous body and bubbling personality. But would it become wearing on a daily basis? Life would certainly be exciting with the exuberant Pator maiden, but the gossips insisted she was a terrible flirt. Would he be able to trust her if they married? Milady of Cor was nice. Nice body, nice blonde hair and nice eyes. Unexceptional, but nice. He would be comfortable with her and she would be a good mother to any children they produced. She was the type of woman he would be able to count on for support and help when he needed it. The crux of the matter was—excitement or comfort? He didn’t know either of the ladies well and certainly wasn’t in love with either of them. Whichever one he chose would be his mate for life, which is why he must make the right decision. The problem made his head ache. Daith disappeared below the horizon, and Robard headed for his chambers, his dilemma unresolved. Nightmares attacked his sleep, and he tossed and turned, entangling himself in the sheets. In his dreams, Milady of Pator visited him in his bedroom. She approached the bed, peeling the tight fitting dress from her body as she sashayed her way across the room. She wore nothing beneath and Robard’s body reacted instantly to her blatant sexuality. Climbing on the bed, she straddled his body, but a disturbance at the door caught her attention. A young, well muscled male stood framed in the doorway and she smiled at the newcomer. Without a further glance at Robard, she jumped from the bed, grabbed her dress, and ran towards the young man. Arm in arm they left the room. The dream continued with Robard looking at the door, hoping the fiery maiden would return, but instead he found Milady of Cor had entered and approached the bed. She looked down at Robard. With a shake of her head, she tidied the bedside table, before moving to straighten the blankets and make him comfortable. The dream clarified the decision he had to make. He woke the next morning knowing which Milady would become his wife. * * * * Tazia sat at the edge of the gardens looking at the clear blue sky and the distant horizon. The small tenders below her passed unseen as they darted between downside and the sky castle, taking goods and passengers up and down. Daydreams filled her mind, replacing the reality of her less than happy life. In her dreams her ideal man came to sweep her off her feet. Dark hair, golden skin, and strong athletic muscles strained the material of his tunic. His eyes sparkled with laughter, but darkened as he looked at her tenderly. His face loomed closer and she saw his lips part in a brilliant white smile before he placed a light kiss on her lips. She sighed. If only he were real. “Tazia! Stop daydreaming. Haven’t you got any work to do?” Dragged abruptly from her fantasy, Tazia jumped with surprise as she saw her father’s mistress hurrying towards her. Halla had been with the Duke for the past ten years, and during that time, she’d made Tazia’s life a misery. In front of her lover, the woman was sweet and kind, but away from him, Halla treated Tazia like a lowly drudge. “Come on, girl. Your father wants to see you.” Girl! She’s only a few years older than me. As she had many times before, Tazia bit her lip to stop an angry retort from escaping. Meekly, she followed Halla through the castle corridors to the Grand Hall. Passing a mirror, she glanced at her reflection to make sure she looked tidy enough for an audience with her father. She tucked away a few stray wisps of hair which had escaped and twitched her skirts to straighten them. The dress complimented her trim figure and Tazia felt ready to present herself. The Hall looked empty when she entered and she hesitated. Halla smiled smugly, and Tazia realised the woman was privy to the reason for her father’s summons. The Duke’s mistress dug Tazia in the back, making her stumble forward. At the same moment, the side door opened. “Really, Tazia, I would have thought you could behave with more decorum at your age.” The Duke shook his head despairingly. “Come forward, child, and sit with me.” The decorations reflected the Duke’s tastes. Stuffed animal heads hung from the walls and tanned skins covered the floors. Tazia, who hated to hurt any creature, could only be thankful the hunting had been done on estates belonging to other dukes. Leather chairs were scattered around the room, the most comfortable ones grouped around the fire in the centre of the Hall. The Duke headed for this area and waved her to a seat opposite his own. Halla followed, and Tazia assumed the woman wanted to place herself beside him. From this position, she would be able to see Tazia’s face and watch her reaction to the news. The Duke held up a hand to stop his mistress before she could lower herself into the seat. “I wish to talk to Tazia alone, please, Halla. If you wouldn’t mind.” Irritation flashed across Halla’s face, but she quickly straightened her features. With a sweet smile in the Duke’s direction, she left the Hall, shutting the door noisily behind her. “Now, my dear.” Despite the fond words, her father looked stern and forbidding. Her heart plummeted. What tales had Halla been telling now? “I want you to pay careful attention to what I have to say.” “Yes, father.” She kept her voice low. “It is time you were thinking of marriage.” Tazia blinked with surprise, but quickly resumed her dutiful expression as her father continued. “You are old enough now to take your place in the world, and Halla assures me you have adequate training to manage the domestic side of castle life.” Tazia nearly laughed at the words ‘adequate training’. Halla’s idea of training her to be in charge of a sky castle had been to make her do all the unpleasant tasks instead of the servants. “You have to know how things should be done before you can give orders,” her father’s mistress had stated, but Tazia knew it was another way for Halla to humiliate her. True, she now had an extremely good knowledge of handling the castle and staff, but at times Tazia had felt like crying when her hands were red and raw from scrubbing floors. “Are you listening to me, Tazia?” She jumped as her father’s voice broke into her thoughts and she realised her mind had wandered. “Yes, father,” she said quietly. “Duke Robard of Ardon has asked for your hand in marriage. I have told him I must discover your wishes on the matter. How do you feel about Robard?” Tazia didn’t answer at once. She’d seen Robard of Ardon at some of the social events she’d attended. He seemed nice, but public faces weren’t always the same as private ones. The Tazia who quietly moved around her father’s castle was a different person to the woman who attended the social events on the various estates of Hejmen. Robard. Tazia felt an attraction for him as she would any handsome man, but she didn’t actually know him. “I don’t expect you to make up your mind immediately,” her father said. “You may think on it overnight, and we will discuss it tomorrow. I have told the Duke of Ardon I will give him an answer the day after tomorrow.” “Thank you, Father. May I be excused?” Her father nodded. Tazia stood and curtsied then headed for the door. Halla had been listening outside. With a swirl of her skirts and a smug smile, she brushed past as Tazia exited the Hall. Reaching her room, Tazia sat on the bed to think over Robard’s offer. Why me? she thought. There must be a lot of other women who would be more suitable. He’s some years older than I am. Surely he’d prefer someone nearer his own age? She frowned. Robard had inherited the Dukedom before he’d reached twenty, and his quiet, restrained ways made him seem much older than her brother Jefor. She counted the difference in years on her fingers. Eight years! Is he really only eight years older than me? Her bedroom door flew open and she turned, knowing only one person would enter her room in such a rude manner. Halla confronted her, hands on hips, dark eyes sparkling with excitement. “You’ll accept, of course.” “Pardon?” “Duke Robard’s offer. You’ll accept.” “I haven’t decided yet.” A small frown puckered the skin between Tazia’s eyebrows. Why does she want me to accept? To get rid of me so she can have father to herself? “I wasn’t asking if you’d accept,” Halla retorted. Her expression and dusky skin darkened as her temper rose. “I’m telling you to accept or you will stay here forever. I’ll make sure no one else will ask for you if you turn Robard down.” The woman gave a nasty smile. “And I’m sure I can make your life even more unpleasant than it is now.” Halla didn’t wait to hear Tazia’s reply. She turned on her heel and marched from the room, leaving the door wide open. Tazia sighed and walked over to close it, but as she pushed it, a strong brown hand pushed the other way. “She will, you know.” “Jefor! When did you get here?” Tazia flung her arms around her brother. She hadn’t seen him for such a long time. He disliked Halla as much as she did and made sure his duties took him as far away from the castle as possible. “I brought the offer from Robard, but thought I’d better stay out of the way until father had spoken to you.” He looked closely at his sister. “Halla means what she says. She wants you out of the way so she can have father to herself.” “I know.” Tazia sighed.
“But is that a good enough reason to marry a stranger?” “I don’t know, Jefor. I’m not sure I can marry someone I don’t know.” “You’re not waiting for
a knight in shining armour, are you?” Jefor shook his head “But why me, Jefor? Why has he chosen me?” Tazia could hear the whine in her voice, but couldn’t help herself. She felt so confused. Why had Robard considered her suitable for the position of Duchess of Ardon? “Think about it, Taz.” Jefor resorted to the affectionate nickname he’d used when they were children. “Who else is there? Only one other female is of suitable age, so Robard’s choice was a bit restricted. He must produce an heir soon and to do that he has to marry. No doubt he feels you and he would suit one another very well.” “But why, Jefor? He’s older than me and I have no idea how to be a Duchess.” “Taz, it doesn’t matter. If Caishel of Lan can successfully be a Duchess after growing up on the streets, you should be able to do it easily. What other options do you have? Stay here and let Halla use you as a slave? I don’t think she’s realised it yet, but if you accept Robard’s offer, Halla will have to curtsy when she sees you. If she sees you. You know father doesn’t take her with him when he visits other castles. He believes a mistress should not be taken into polite society. You’ll never see her again unless you return home for a visit, and if you do, she’ll have to do what you say for a change.” The knowledge tempted Tazia. Could I really get away from that nasty harridan? But what if I’m going from bad to worse? “I’ll think about it,” she told her brother. “I have to give father his answer in the morning.” “Just make sure you weigh up everything, so that you decide on the best option for you. Never mind what father or Halla want. It’s your life we’re talking about.” Jefor left, closing the door quietly behind him. After he’d gone Tazia locked herself in her bedroom and got ready for bed. Lying quietly behind the bed curtains, she tried to do as Jefor suggested and weigh up the arguments for and against marrying Robard. I’d be my own mistress. I’d get away from Halla and she wouldn’t be able to make my life a misery anymore. I suppose eventually Robard and I would have children. I’d love to have my own children. Someone to love who would return my feelings unconditionally. The last thought surprised her. She’d never really thought about children before, but now realised she longed for the same relationship she’d enjoyed with her own mother. But I would have to marry a man who’s a virtual stranger. Jefor says he would be faithful, but why would he be true to a woman he’s only married to produce an heir? I’d be living in a castle full of strangers. But I guess that’s no different than the position I’m in now. Halla had been allowed free rein with the servants and domestic side of the castle. Within its domain she acted as a wife, but the Duke allowed her rule to go no further. To the rest of the world the family consisted only of father, son, and daughter. Over the years since she’d arrived at the castle, Halla had replaced nearly all the servants loyal to Tazia’s mother. The new ones answered only to the Duke’s mistress. Tazia had retreated more and more into herself until she felt isolated. Only with Jefor could she feel comfortable, but he was often away. The infrequent balls and hunts at other sky castles provided her only escape from the lonely life at home. Consequently she made sure she enjoyed herself when attending these events. Living in Ardon Castle wouldn’t be any different than here, she decided, but I would be in charge there with no vindictive woman to answer to at every turn. Now she’d thought things through she knew the answer she’d give her father, and she settled down to sleep. Tazia rose early the next day and hurried through her morning routine, eager to advise her father of her decision. Her early rising worked against her. The Duke had gone downside to a meeting and wasn’t in the estate office. Leaving a message that she wished to see him, Tazia went out to the gardens. The castle gardens were neat and tidy, but Tazia didn’t consider them beautiful. Her favourite spot was on the far side. She loved standing close to the edge, looking at the countryside and town below. Growing up in a sky castle had many advantages, the superb view being one of them. The force field meant she could go to the limit of the grounds and get an uninterrupted view. This morning, a heat haze distorted the ground below, but even that looked lovely to Tazia. A page summoned her to the estate office and she hurried to meet her father and tell him of her decision before she changed her mind. Tazia knew she’d made the right choice, but fear of the unknown could make her doubt herself. “Good morning, Tazia,” her father greeted her from his seat behind the huge desk. “Have you made up your mind about marrying Robard?” “Yes, father.” Tazia had not been invited to sit, so she remained standing on the other side of the desk, hands clasped in front of her. “Well? Come on, girl. Out with it. Will you accept Robard?” “Yes, Father. I have decided to accept Duke Robard’s offer and become the Duchess of Ardon.” |