A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)(48)

“I’ll teach you,” Dee said, grinning shyly. “I’m no good, but I at least know how.”

“Oh, would you? I feel stupid just standing here.”

“See, it’s easy.” He took my hand in his and made a couple of paces forward and back. Unfortunately, he took too great a step and trod on my toe. “I’m sorry,” he said while I bit my lip and bobbed up and down to manage the pain. “I’m better when it’s not crowded.”

“I’m sure. So long as my slipper’s all right. Lilly will kill me otherwise.”

“Oh, she wouldn’t. She’s the kindest girl in the world. And the prettiest,” he murmured. So he liked Lilly, did he?

“Does she know you admire her?” My voice held a slight edge. Servant girls who caught a master’s eye could be pressured into things they did not want to do.



“Oh no.” Dee blushed. “I wouldn’t want to make her uncomfortable.” He was utterly sincere.

“You’re a true gentleman,” I said, slipping my arm through his. Dee smiled.

Cellini appeared out of the crowd and waved at me. Two boys stood beside him, one dark-haired and one fair. They whispered to each other and followed Cellini as he came over to us.

“Howel, you are beautiful this evening.” Cellini kissed my hand with a grand gesture. He swayed on his feet and smelled strongly of punch. A slow, contented smile stretched across his face. “Beautiful. Bella ragazza.” He muttered some more Italian, impossible to follow. I patted his arm, and Dee helped him stand. “These are my friends,” he said with a flip of the wrist. “Lovett”—the fair-haired one smiled—“and Hemphill.” The black-haired boy nodded as well. “Very fine fellows, these two. They’re Master Palehook’s Incumbents, but we mustn’t hold it against them.” He said this very slowly, waving a finger in Dee’s face as if he were making a point. “They always lose at cards. That’s so helpful.”

Lovett and Hemphill bowed to me.

“So you are the prophesied one, Miss Howel? Charmed to make your acquaintance,” Lovett said. He was a handsome young man, but there was something off about his smile.

“Thank you,” I said, hoping I sounded confident.

“Perhaps we’ll be inspired to fight in petticoats and bonnets from now on.” Hemphill laughed. “Won’t it surprise old R’hlem to see an army of sorcerers charging uphill in women’s clothing?”



“Perhaps it won’t shock him so much, then, to see a woman leading the charge,” I said.

“You’re going to lead us, Miss Howel?” Hemphill grinned. “That’s quite an ambition.”

“Well, not immediately, of course.” I took a small step away from them, pressing my back into the wall.

“Ah yes, take it one step at a time. How wise.” Lovett said. “How are you, Dee?” he asked, changing the topic. “Have you danced tonight? There’ve been no screams of pain from the ladies, so I’d assume you haven’t.” He laughed. I didn’t find it amusing.

Dee said nothing, though his face flushed.

“I’m grateful there’ve been no more attacks the last few nights,” Hemphill said. “It must all be down to you, Miss Howel. You walloped the old Shadow and Fog, they say. Some might think that display of strength unbecomingly masculine.”

“Some might consider what you did unnatural,” Lovett said, hastening to add, “but we don’t think that.”

Cellini looked drunkenly puzzled. “You boys aren’t being friendly.” He squinted at Dee. “Are they? I can’t tell; it’s all fuzzy.”

“They’re not being friendly,” Dee muttered. Cellini left our group and staggered away, back into the crowd.

“They also tell us,” Lovett said, stepping closer, “that you’ve brought an Unclean boy with you into the city. Is that true?”



I bristled. “Who’s told you that?”

“Master Palehook, of course. Everyone’s wanted to know all about you, and you’ve strangely kept so silent.”

“So kind of you to look after anything so damaged,” Hemphill said. “I imagine the sight of it turns the stomach.”

“See here,” Dee said, turning crimson, “why don’t you leave us in peace?” The two young men paid him no mind.

Yelling at these fools would do nothing for me. I tried to push my way past them, but they blocked my path.

“You’re lucky to be our chosen one, Miss Howel.” Lovett leaned close to whisper in my ear. “Otherwise, there’d be no power on earth that might persuade us to allow such a freak to live within the safety of our ward.”

I reached out my hand, perhaps to push him, perhaps to burn him, for at that moment I felt the flames nearly on my skin. Magnus prevented it by stepping in and grabbing the two boys by their shoulders. Cellini had brought him just in time. The cretins cowered before Magnus. However jovial his nature, he could be fierce when he wanted.

“Get out of here,” he said, his voice menacing and low. He released them, but they lingered for a moment.

“It’s got to be such a treat for you, Magnus,” Hemphill said, shrinking back. “We all know you like the ladies. Having her down the hall must make it so much easier. You don’t need to go prowling the streets looking for it.”