Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) - Kendare Blake Page 0,99
festival bonfires. She does not know how old it is, but the handle is well-worn and comfortable. It might have come from any number of temples before finding its way to Innisfuil. Perhaps it came from a naturalist place and was used primarily for cutting wheat. But no matter where its origin, there is little doubt it has tasted blood.
She turns the knife back and forth. As High Priestess, it has been years since she has carried one.
“You will have to lead them tomorrow,” Luca says. “In the silence after Mirabella’s fire dance ends. Before I am to speak. Go over the top of the Arrons and get to Katharine. Do not take long. I want you to be at the fore when we take Arsinoe.”
“Yes. I will be there. The Milone girl with the mountain cat is the only one likely to give me any trouble. I will take the cat first, if it tries to stop us.”
Luca thumbs the blade of the knife and does not realize it has cut through the pad of her finger until blood wells over the edges of her skin.
“They must all be this sharp,” she says. “So it is fast and they do not even feel it.”
THE MILONE ENCAMPMENT
The Milone feast is the most popular feast of the festival, and not only because of the roasted meat of Jules’s fine stag. Almost despite herself, Arsinoe made an impression at the Disembarking. People crowd the grounds around the table and tents to get a closer look at her and her black painted mask. She was nothing like the other queens, standing on those cliffs. Now, they wonder if there is more to her than meets the eye. If there is something that they missed.
“There’s the last one,” Joseph says through a mouthful of stew. He gestures with his head into the milling bodies, and Arsinoe sees a suitor, the one with golden-blond hair, staring at her from across the tables. She allows herself a grin, and a glance toward Billy, who watches protectively from nearby.
“That makes all of them,” says Luke.
Arsinoe had not expected to see any. So much attention is strange.
“If I knew how these mainlanders enjoyed indifference, I wouldn’t have worried so much,” she says, and looks at Billy again. “I wish Junior didn’t have to stay away. Someone go and fetch him. Let the temple wag their tongues.”
Jules laughs. “Look who is drunk on triumph,” she says. “No, Arsinoe. You have broken more than enough rules already.” She touches Joseph. “Joseph and I will go and keep him company.”
“Before he starts a fight with one of the other suitors in your name,” Joseph says, and grins.
Before they go, Jules nudges Arsinoe’s shoulder. The night grows late. It will not be long before the fires burn lower and she will leave for the woods after the great brown bear.
Arsinoe looks Jules a long time in the eyes. Brave girl. Her gift is so strong, but a great brown bear may be stronger.
“I wish I didn’t need you,” Arsinoe says. “Or I wish I could go with you.”
“I will be careful,” says Jules. “Don’t worry.”
Billy is sullen when Jules and Joseph join him on the edge of the feast. He stands with arms crossed, watching the other suitor with open hostility.
“We brought you some of Ellis’s stew,” Joseph says, and shoves a bowl into his hands. “Since you haven’t ventured close enough to get any for yourself.”
“I didn’t know how close I was allowed to get,” Billy says. “And after the way we were found, I thought it best to keep some distance.”
“But you didn’t think it was a bad idea to bow only to her? Your father is going to have your head.”
“Believe me, I know. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He sips the stew.
“It was a help to her,” says Jules. “Look at all these people. What you did had a hand in this. And what you did before. Trying to take her away.”
Billy lowers his head. “I’m sorry about that. Not telling you. I had to do it, knowing what these priestesses have planned. And here she is, back here, anyway. Damn it all.”
“It’ll be all right. We have our own plan.”
“What is it?” Billy asks, and Jules whispers it into his ear. His face brightens at once. “Joseph always said you were a glorious thing. And that dress. You are ravishing in that dress.”