Igniting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #2) - Robin LaFevers Page 0,207

that he must ask Maraud for Annith’s hand in marriage, since he is her sole surviving male relative. Tell him you’ll put in a good word for him.”

Beast scrubs his hand over his face. “This is all too strange for me to wrap my turnip-sized brain around.”

Ismae steers her horse closer to ours. “Has anyone thought to tell Annith of her father’s death?” she asks. “Or that we are bringing her brother to her?” She does not think to lower her voice.

“No. Some things are better relayed in person.”

“Wait.” Maraud looks around our small traveling party. “Who is Annith’s brother?”

I give Gen an accusing look. “You didn’t tell him.”

“I didn’t know!” Gen protests. “Well, barely knew, and certainly not enough to explain it to him. Besides, we did have quite a lot we were dealing with at the time.”

“Tell me what?” Maraud’s voice is guarded.

Gen draws closer to him. “That you are not the only Crunard left. You have a half sister.”

His face grows pale with emotion before he looks away.

“She was the former abbess’s daughter,” Gen explains softly.

“A handmaiden of Death? But my moth—”

“No. Your father’s daughter,” I explain. “Although neither your father nor your sister knew of it until recently.”

Since poor Maraud looks as if he has taken a pike to the head, Gen leads him away from the rest of us. He will want to process without an audience.

“Do you realize,” Father Effram says, “just how many lost and broken pieces have been put back together because of Genevieve?”

“She has done a masterful job of fixing her mistake,” I agree.

“No. I mean that if she had not made that mistake, most of this would not have happened. Maraud would still be languishing in his oubliette, you would still be locked in a custody battle with your brother, the Nine would not be openly accepted at the French court, and war would even now be raging over our land.”

“She did not stop the war,” I point out.

“No, but if she hadn’t known Maraud, freed him, we would have been caught unaware and likely lost.”

And while it is true that he might have gotten free anyway, it is hard to see how he would have ended up in a position that helped turn everything to our favor. It is miraculous how the many pieces came together, making the sum of them stronger.

“So perhaps it was never a mistake,” Father Effram continues. “But a necessary step on a long, arduous path that none of the rest of us could see.”

“Except you,” I mutter.

“Not me, but perhaps Saint Salonius had some idea.”

The road curves just then, bringing the westernmost shore into view. A half dozen figures are gathered on the beach, with three black-sailed galleys bobbing in the ocean behind them. I had forgotten the convent even had such large boats.

“You can relax,” I tell Beast. “Balthazaar is not among them.”

“I’m not nervous,” he mutters.

As we draw closer, I see that the figure in the middle has a long blond braid resting over her shoulder. “Annith!”

Behind me, I hear a little sniff of disdain—Charlotte.

“Do you have something you wish to say?” Aeva asks her.

“No. It just seems like a big fuss over seeing each other again. That is all.”

“Are you not excited to see Louise?”

When Charlotte does not answer, Aeva continues, “And have you prepared your apology to Annith and the others for abusing their hospitality and running away?”

Leaving Charlotte to Aeva for the moment, I put my heels to my horse and race Ismae to the shore. I reach them first and leap from my mount to run to Annith, who is already moving toward me. I throw my arms around her and savor the feel of her close against my chest.

“I am sorry,” she whispers into my ear. “I am so sorry we let Charlotte slip out of our sight. Sorry there was no way to contact you.”

I hug her harder, letting her know I do not hold her responsible. “All is well now. And she has learned much and made some decisions. She wishes to stay here, if she may.”

“But of course!”

Before I have a chance to ask how she is faring, Ismae arrives and pulls Annith from me for her own hug. As I watch, I realize that Annith has put on weight—no. “You are with child!”

Annith’s cheeks pinken. “Yes. Ridiculous, is it not?”

“When?” I ask.

“We’re not sure,” Annith says. “I suppose we will know when it arrives.” There is something in her face, the way she