Between Burning Worlds (System Divine #2) - Jessica Brody Page 0,155

to wonder if she would ever find out the truth about Lisole Villette.

“But it sounds like these women who raised you were almost like mothers to you, right?”

Alouette could feel the grief rolling back toward her. But this time, it felt less like a catastrophic wave and more like a gentle swell lapping at the sides of a bateau. Maybe she had been right. Maybe she would never be still again. Maybe those swells would always be there, rocking her, guiding her, sometimes choppy, sometimes calm, but always reminding her that the ground beneath her feet will never be as solid as she wants it to be.

“Yes,” Alouette said softly. “They were the only mother figures I had.” She reached into her pocket once more and squeezed her fingers around the beads.

“And pretty feisty mothers, if you ask me,” Gabriel said, nudging her with his shoulder. “I mean, my maman never taught me how to fight like that.”

Alouette chuckled softly. “It’s kind of funny. I was so mad at them for not telling me their secrets. Their truth. But it turns out, all along, they were actually giving me everything I needed to know. Wisdom, knowledge, history, philosophy, even the strength and focus and skills to fight.” She paused, staring up at the dark sky. “I think,” she went on softly, almost to herself. “I think they were preparing me for something.”

“For what?” Gabriel asked.

She ran her fingers along the surface of the beads, remembering Principale Francine’s words to her that last night in the Refuge.

“You are more useful than you realize.”

Alouette sighed. “I’m not quite sure yet.”

Another quiet lull fell between them before Gabriel said, “Well, you’ll definitely have to teach me that Tranquil whatever stuff someday. Looks like it would be a useful skill for a criminal mastermind to have.”

Alouette turned and raised an eyebrow. “How about now?”

“What? Here?” He glanced skeptically around the darkened garden.

“Why not?”

He wiped the surprise from his face and leapt to his feet. “Okay. Sure. Yes. Let’s … fight.” He kicked off his boots and darted out onto the grass, looking so much like the little boy who lingered hazily in her memories.

Alouette pulled her hand from her pocket, drawing out her long string of devotion beads. The metal tag swung back and forth, its surface glinting in the light of four Albion moons. She caught it in her hand and stared down at the engraving that had once brought her so much pride and then so much heartache.

LITTLE LARK.

She thought about the secret Vangarde network the Ministère had found. A tiny, invisible thread, connecting these beads to all the others. Her only link to the sisters—their Refuge, their books, their wisdom and knowledge—now severed and dead.

“We were always going to tell you, Little Lark. We’ve just been waiting.… Waiting for you to be ready.”

Alouette ran her fingertips over the engraving, feeling all the memories that were wrapped up in those ten little letters.

Sister Jacqui scribbling on her chalkboard.

Sister Laurel tending to her herbs.

Sister Denise tinkering at her work bench.

Sister Muriel darning the tunics.

Principale Francine meticulously arranging and maintaining the Chronicles.

The women who had raised her. The women who had protected the First World knowledge. The women who had tried to save the world.

Alouette lifted the beads above her head and carefully strung them around her neck. A shiver passed through her as the weight settled on her shoulders. It was familiar and yet brand new at the same time.

The Vangarde may have been gone, but she was still here.

“You coming?” Gabriel asked, and Alouette peered into the darkness to see him bouncing lightly on his toes. His fists were raised in front of his face like he was going to block a punch.

Alouette chuckled softly and joined him on the grass. “First rule,” she said, her expression turning as hard and steely as Principale Francine’s. “You master your mind, your breath, and the meditation first. Then you can use the sequences to fight.”

She grabbed on to his wrists and eased his arms down to his sides. “Close your eyes and take a long breath in.”

Gabriel shot her a wary look. “Is this a trick? Is this when you punch me in the face? Because I’m not sure I can take another punch in the face.”

“I promise not to punch you in the face.”

Gabriel scrutinized her for a long moment before finally closing his eyes and drawing in a breath.

“Now a long breath out,” Alouette instructed. “Good. Do that again. And this time