The Winds of Khalakovo - Bradley P. Beaulieu [226]
“Look not to what might have been. This is a time of healing. A time of preparation. The Khalakovos are not dead.”
“I know that well.”
“Then act like it. Your brother needs you, and even in times like this, we must prepare. The Vostromas will not hold these islands forever, and when we return to the seat of our power, we will rise higher than we ever have before.”
Empty words, Nikandr thought—Mother might not live the two years the Vostromas had agreed to, much less the years beyond that it would take them to actually relinquish control of Khalakovo. But more than this, there was something within him that Nasim and the conflict with the Maharraht had awoken. The rift had closed—everyone agreed—but this was not the end of it. Someday, another rift would form, perhaps worse than this one, and they might not have Nasim to save them when it did. The rifts must be studied, and that was where Nikandr felt he must be.
There was nothing to do about it now—his family needed him, so he would stay—but some day, some day not far from now, he would leave to discover what he could.
The rook flapped its wings. “Tell me how you summoned the boy.”
“I’ve told you that three times already.”
“It is important,” the rook cawed. “Tell me again.”
And so Nikandr did.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Winds of Khalakovo was years in the making, and there are many people to thank. As I was thinking about who, exactly, should be included in this note, there was a strong urge to add as many people as I could—friends and family who supported me, fellow writers who critiqued not this book, but the earliest of my scribblings, instructors at the various workshops I’ve attended, writers who’ve influenced my work, and so on and so on—but it occurs to me that I have a few books in which to thank everyone, so for the time being I’m going to set aside this page for those who directly influenced this book.
There were several people that read very early versions of the novel—a handful of chapters only—and though I feel that I inflicted upon them something that wasn’t ready to read, their feedback helped to crystallize my thoughts, and for that I am grateful. Thank you Paul Genesse, Sarah Kelly, Kelly Swails, and Ian Tregillis for those quick but crucial reads.
The gang from Starry Heaven 2009 was of immense (immense!) help in taking this novel to the next level. Many exuberant thank yous go to Sarah Kelly (again), Rob Ziegler, Bill Shunn, GregVan Eekhout, Sandra McDonald, Sarah Prineas, Jon Hansen, and Gary Shockley. Very special shout outs go to Debbie Daughetee and Deb Coates for reading the entirety of Part I, and to Eugene Myers, bless his soul, for reading not only the first fifty pages at Starry Heaven, but the entire manuscript after I completed it later that year.
There are many people to thank at Night Shade Books. Thanks to Jeremy Lassen for taking a chance on this not-quite-traditional epic fantasy. Thanks to Ross Lockhart, my editor, who championed this story and combed the manuscript countless times, looking for the hobgoblins that plagued it. Thanks to Holliann Russell, who copy-edited Winds with a deft hand, indeed. Thanks to John Joseph Adams for working so hard to get the word out. To Adam Paquette, a standing ovation for a cover piece that seemed to spring straight from my own imagination. And thank you to the rest of the crew at Night Shade, who do some things I’m aware of but many more that I’m not. You all deserve a healthy round of applause (and more beer).
Thanks to my agent, Russell Galen, and the fine folks at Scovil, Galen, and Ghosh. Like publishers, agents do a million things that I’m never even aware of, all with my future in mind. Though I see but little, I know that I’m in good hands, now and in the future, and for this I thank you all.
The biggest thank you of all, saved for last, goes to my good friend and brother writer, Paul Genesse. Thank you, Paul, for reading and critiquing so many versions of the manuscript and for talking with me at length about the ins and outs of this story.