The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (41 page)

She gave a delicate shrug. “It’s quite simple, really. But if you don’t, then it’s time for Clara to return to Faerie with me.” Larkin lifted her palms. “It’s up to you. Which do you choose: a child or a kingdom?”

Author’s Note

T
hough THE SEVEN YEAR KING is a work of fiction, you might find it interesting to know that
The Luck of Edenhall
is real and on display in the Victoria & Albert Museum in Kensington to this day.

An actual drinking vessel dating back to at least the 14
^th
century, the Luck was owned by the Musgrave family of Edenhall for centuries, its association with faeries known even then. In 1791, Sir William Musgrave wrote in the Gentleman’s Magazine,
‘a party of Fairies were drinking and making merry round a well near the Hall, called St Cuthbert’s well; but being interrupted by the intrusion of some curious people, they were frightened, and made a hasty retreat, and left the cup in question: one of the last screaming out,

“If this cup should break or fall

Farewell the Luck of Edenhall!”

In 1926 the luck was given to the V&A Museum, which to this day, references the Luck’s historical link to faeries. For more information, check the online listing at the VAM here:
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-luck-of-edenhall-history-and-myths/
.

Additionally,
the Isle of Man
is well known for its association with faeries and otherworldly creatures. There is not one, but two faerie bridges acknowledged on the island in present times.

Prince Arthur
was indeed born on May 1
^st
, which is Beltane, an important holiday in the faerie world.

Across Europe and especially in Britain,
the Wild Hunt
is an ancient folk myth that has been reported and recorded by mortals for many centuries.

The
Rollright Stones
are a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age
megalithic monuments
located near to the village of
Long Compton
on the borders of
Oxfordshire
and
Warwickshire
in the
English Midlands
. Of the legends associated with the stones is one that says they were a king and his knights frozen in time by a vengeful witch.

Thank you for reading THE SEVEN YEAR KING. Tiki’s story continues in book four, THE FAERIE QUEEN, available from Fair Wind Books in 2014.

Kiki Hamilton

March 1st, 2013

Acknowledgements

T
hanks to Carly Hamilton, for her sharp eye and innate knowledge of story structure. Her comments were invaluable and I look forward to the day when her own books will be on the shelf. Also thanks to early readers Amy Fellner Dominy, Jean Martin and Paula McLaughlin for their insightful comments and continued support.

Thanks to the many, many fantastic bloggers, librarians, booksellers and readers who have offered their support in promoting this book and THE FAERIE RING series as a whole. I couldn’t do this thing I love so much without you guys! Thank you!

Finally, to the many wonderful readers who have written such sweet and heartfelt notes—your kindness means more to me than words can describe. Thank you!

About the Author

K
iki Hamilton is the author of THE FAERIE RING fantasy series and the YA contemporary novel, THE LAST DANCE. She believes in magic and the idea of hidden worlds co-existing with our own. Kiki lives near Seattle, though she dreams of living in London one day.

Visit Kiki’s website and blog at
www.kikihamilton.com
. For more information about Tiki and the faerie ring, visit
www.thefaeriering.com
.