Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,125

heard they even draw straws to see who must bring his day’s meal. No one will know—certainly not for two weeks, and possibly longer.”

He looks to Sybella and smiles brightly. “If we were to place the poor bear inside, who would notice? Even if he were seen, there is a good chance everyone would just claim Benebic had finally turned into the beast he has always been.”

Sybella remains unconvinced. “This is a ludicrous plan. There are too many ways it can go wrong.”

Aeva, however, is stroking her chin, deep in thought. “I would have to speak with the bear first, to be certain he agreed.”

“I think you will find him amenable,” Father Effram says softly, then picks up the offering he’s prepared and heads for the wall to the left side of the altar. That is when I see the nine niches—this chapel is old enough to have included the worship of the Nine, once upon a time. “It is worth considering.” He sets the offering down and begins placing a small portion in each of the alcoves. When he has finished, he returns to stand before us. “There,” he says. “We have asked God and the Nine for their blessing on this endeavor. Surely they will answer our prayers.”

“Surely,” Lazare mutters.

“I don’t care what they answer, we are not using that bear,” Sybella mumbles.

 Chapter 68

The bear is surprisingly docile, no doubt because the Arduinnite has her hand firmly on the scruff of his neck. She speaks to him in soothing whispers as they amble across the causeway over the ditch that protects the west wing of the palace. Beside me, Sybella waits, tension humming through her body like musical notes through a harp string.

“Can’t they hurry?” she mutters.

“The patrol just passed. We have a few minutes before they’re within sight again.”

“At this rate, it will take them every one of those minutes.”

“I hope not,” I say, even as I glance around for a hiding place should her words prove true.

When the bear is finally across the causeway, with four minutes to spare, he rises on his hind legs and snuffles the stone arch. Up close, I can see that he is old, with bald patches in his coat. Aeva had told us he was tired. Tired of crowds and performing, being surrounded by loud people who wanted to poke and dare him, tired of not being able to curl up and hibernate in the winter, as was his nature.

He had, according to her, consented to this idea, welcoming the reprieve it would bring him. Beast’s dungeon cell, deep below the earth and dark, is as close as he can get to a cave, and he will take it gladly.

Or so he told Aeva.

Yannic is with them, ready to claim he is the bear’s owner should he be discovered. The bored queen had seen them through the window and asked for a private performance. It is a feeble excuse, especially in the dead of night, but if we need it, we will have bigger problems to worry about. Lazare brings up the rear, looking every bit as impatient as Sybella.

Once inside the palace, the bear lumbers toward the donjon as if he knows right where to go. “He smells the water from the fountain,” Aeva explains.

“He’d best forget the fountain and get out of sight,” Sybella hisses, “before the next patrol comes along.”

“Two minutes,” I whisper.

Aeva tugs the bear back in the direction of the servants’ chapel, where Father Effram and Poulet await. Our hiding place until the next passing of the sentries.

Father Effram has just closed the door when we hear the scrape of the patrol’s boots upon the stone. I let out a sigh of relief while Sybella glares at me.

Inside the wings of the palace proper, we do not need to worry about patrolling sentries so much as the random wandering courtier or servant. But we do not get to linger long. We must get ourselves and the bear across the inner courtyard that surrounds the central tower.

“You ready?” I ask as I tug the bodice of my gown a little lower, then bite my lips to make them look fuller and riper. Sybella does not look ready to flirt and distract, but far more as if she is preparing to ride into battle. I nudge her playfully. “We will only flirt long enough to drink a cup of wine with them, long enough that when they wake in the morning, they will not think of sleeping