An Unexpected Audience
From Pulp Literature Issue 47, read an excerpt of Part 3 of ‘Their Grandfather’s Chair’ by JM Landels below. Here is where we last left sisters Branwen and Irdina…
Previously: Sisters Branwen and Irdina have been sent across the Clearwater Sea on a mission to soften their grandfather’s heart and loosen the Mageguard web that entangles his throne. No sooner do they set foot in Rheran than they become separated when a cadre of Mageguard mistakenly arrests Branwen. Her letter of introduction exonerates her, but earns her an unasked-for escort directly to the Bastion without Irdina. Irdina is hidden from the Mageguard by the envoy sent to meet the sisters, Glaignen, and by the Leisanmira seer Nourd. While Irdina follows Glaignen through the hidden passageways of Rheran to the Bastion, Branwen is already there, awaiting an audience with her grandfather, the Prince High.
Their Grandfather’s Chair
Part 3
by JM Landels
Back in the wagon, Nourd was asleep. Glaignen closed the sliding door of her bed most of the way to shelter her from the candles he lit. He no longer had her brass bowl, but he didn’t need it to scry the person he knew would be waiting.
He poured a measure of water into a wooden mazer, set it between two candles on the vardo’s small table, and blew on the water. The ripples danced in the candlelight and he hummed, catching the resonance till the face he envisioned began to form in the patterns.
“Irdaign,” he whispered, conscious of Nourd’s fitful snoring.
“Glaignen.” Irdaign’s voice warbled with the moving water.
He didn’t reply, waiting for the woman’s image to finish cohering. She was equally patient. He could see from the bundles of dried plants hanging behind her that she was in her workshop, probably looking into her silver bowl and waiting for him.
She broke the pause first, her voice clear now, as if she sat in the van with him. “Are they safe at the Bastion?”
“Yes … well. I took Irdina there by way of the spring. Branwen was escorted up the high street by Mageguard.”
Irdaign swore. “Was Irdina wearing half a puzzle ring?”
“Under her glove, yes. I only saw it when she stripped down to douse herself in the spring.” He lifted a placating hand at Irdaign’s sudden glare. “I didn’t watch, I swear. I just handed over her clothes afterwards.”
“So Irdina has that much protection. And we must assume Branwen is safe, or Irdina’s half of the ring would have alerted her.”
“That’s a powerful bit of magic you put on a girl’s finger.”
Irdaign nodded. “They are powerful girls, though they don’t know it yet. And, like the rings, together they are nearly unstoppable.”
“As long as the Mageguard don’t confiscate those rings. I think, but I’m not sure, that Branwen’s been marked by them. They were scouring the streets when the Kolmond Lassie berthed, which is why I couldn’t meet the girls on the dock. But I watched from Nourd’s protection. I think they arrested her first, then released her. But she went with them to the Bastion. I saw Kolluk’khan touch Branwen on the chin.”
Irdaign swore again, quietly this time. “I’m going to have to hope she’s smart enough to realize it and to act accordingly. As long as they can reach the Prince, I’m certain he’ll allow no harm to come to his granddaughters.”
Glaignen hoped that as well. Irdaign’s face looked nowhere near as certain as her words.
“It’s a large task you’ve given a pair of fourteen-year-olds,” he said, his voice gentle.
“They’re the only ones who could do it,” she replied, a weight in her voice. “No diplomat wields more power in his heart than does a grandchild.”
Find the full story in Pulp Literature Issue 47, Summer 2025
Enjoying ‘Their Grandfather’s Chair’?
For more high fantasy, family drama, and political intrigue set in the lands of the Ilmar, check out the spellbinding Allaigna’s Song trilogy from JM Landels at Pulp Literature Press.
Find all three books in the series here!
JM Landels is the author of the bestselling Allaigna’s Song trilogy as well as the spy novel The Shepherdess, serialized in issues of this magazine. This story, featuring Allaigna’s sisters Branwen and Irdina, takes place during the events of Allaigna’s Song: Chorale.
When she’s not writing, editing, or drawing, you can find Jen teaching people to swing swords and ride horses at Academie Cavallo in Langley, BC. You can find @jmlandels on most social media platforms, or at jmlandels.stiffbunnies.com.
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