Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,124

itself. And who knows what innate powers Father Effram possesses that he has yet to share with us. “Yannic? Would you come here?”

The little gnome grins and hops up from the pew, pleased to have a role to play. “Let’s try over by the wall. The shadows are thicker there,” I suggest.

Forcing myself to ignore all the others watching us, we retreat to the back of the chapel. “How would we do this with another person?” I murmur.

Sybella shrugs. “When you think of the shadows enveloping you, simply think of them bigger and wrap them around Yannic as well.”

It is so simple, and yet it also tests the bounds of the gift itself. For the longest time I thought it merely an exhortation by the convent to use the shadows, work with what material we had. But since I returned to Plessis and met Sybella, the shadows have felt like they offer more protection than simple opportunity.

“One, two, three—” Sybella says, then the entire room gasps, letting us know that it has worked. When we release the shadows, the little man—Yannic—shivers. “Are you all right?” Sybella asks him. He nods and rubs his arms, as if chilled.

The lone soldier in the room, Poulet, clears his throat. “But just to be safe, we should also find a guard’s uniform. That way if the magic fails, Beast won’t be fully exposed.”

Father Effram sets the Eucharist plate down. “I can take care of that.”

“Will a uniform be enough to get him past the tower guards? Or the city gate, for that matter?” Aeva asks.

“Likely not.”

“Would he have a better chance during daylight? When there are more people about?”

“If he were a normal person, yes,” Sybella mutters. “But he stands out too much.”

“Not to mention the rumors that have already circulated about him turning into an actual beast of some sort.” Father Effram does not look at Sybella and me, but he might as well have.

I turn to Lazare. “What if we had someone at the gate? Someone who would let us pass?”

“Who?” Sybella demands.

“I’ll tell you later,” I murmur.

“That’s all well and good,” Lazare says. “Until the guards check on the prisoner the next day and see he’s not there. Then the search is on.”

The small chapel falls silent as we think. The only sound is the click of Father Effram’s rosary beads as he runs them through his fingers.

Sybella says, “If I were to remain here for a few days after he is gone, it would prevent them from assuming we plotted together.”

“You’re not playing sacrificial lamb,” Aeva says. “Beast would have all our heads.”

Sybella scowls at her. “I wasn’t planning on it.” Although I suspect she would do exactly that if it came to it.

“With the rumors floating around,” I murmur, “I think General Cassel is the only one who would venture down there to check on Beast. It would be ideal if he could be called away for a time. At least until the court left for Amboise.”

“And who has the authority to order such a convenient thing?” Lazare asks.

“Not the queen, surely,” Sybella murmurs.

I weigh the risks. “I might know someone,” I say slowly.

Lazare studies me more carefully. “You have been a busy little thing here at court, haven’t you?” His sharp humor reminds me of my aunt Fabienne. You could not help but smile, even as it cut you.

“Who?” Sybella asks, soft enough for my ears only.

“Do you trust me?” I murmur.

To her credit, her hesitation is so small as to be nearly invisible. She nods. “Then I will tell you, later.”

“But even if Cassel is gone,” Lazare points out, “the guards feed Beast once a day. Surely they’ll notice.”

“Not if we put someone else in there,” Father Effram says.

“Who would go without a fight? Or wouldn’t scream for help once we shut them in there?” Poulet asks, mildly appalled.

“Someone who couldn’t talk.”

All eyes turn to Yannic.

“Don’t even think of sacrificing Yannic,” Sybella tells Father Effram.

“Of course not. I was thinking of the bear.”

The long moment of silence that follows this announcement reassures me that I am not the only one who is uncertain I’ve heard correctly. “What bear?” Poulet asks.

“The one in the courtyard,” I murmur.

“That’s absurd,” Sybella says.

Lazare is a bit more respectful, but then it’s not his lover who is imprisoned. “How do you see that working, Father?”

“We’ve already established that the guards are afraid of Beast, it is difficult to see into his cell, and his roars of fury have kept everyone away. I’ve