Bone Crier's Moon (Bone Grace, #1)(79)

My muscles tense with the urge to run, but there’s no use in denying where I’ve been. “I had to.

I can’t bear to think of Ailesse down there. I’ve looked through so many tunnels and walked past so many bones—human bones.” I swallow and shake my head. “Maybe she isn’t down there. Bastien could have taken her into Dovré or sailed away on a ship with her and left Galle completely.”

Odiva holds my hand under the water. Blood swirls from my wound. “Three grace bones do not make you invincible, Sabine. You need to be careful.”

My defenses flare. Did she hear a word I said? Ailesse is the one she should be worried about.

“You’ve proven to be a good huntress over the past few weeks. The other Leurress should take note. The golden jackal still evades us.”

“No one’s found him?” My voice cracks, but I try my best to sound surprised.

“Not even his shadow.” Odiva’s eyes drift to the bubbling waterfall. “I was so certain Tyrus was ready for me to have him back.”

Back? I open my mouth to ask what she means, but then her eyes refocus and examine mine.

Can she see through me to my deceitful heart? Can she smell the jackal’s carcass where I buried him in this very hollow?

“Let us hope we find him before the new moon. I have told you what the Chained will do if they are loose for too long.”

I shiver under her heavy stare. The full moon is in three days, which means the new moon is a little over two weeks away. I have that long to decide if I should ignore the silver owl’s warnings and dig up the jackal to take another femur bone. Odiva would still have time to carve a new flute.

She pulls a slim hunting pack off her shoulder and removes a rolled strip of cloth, an item any good huntress carries in case of wounds. “I have tracked you here for a solemn purpose, Sabine.”

Misgiving spools inside me. “Oh?”

She takes my hand again, dips it once more in the water, and begins to wrap it. “It is about Ailesse.”

All my nerves stand at attention. “Did you find her?”

Odiva’s eyes fill with sorrow—too late for me to believe. “You need to prepare yourself. I know how much you care for my daughter.”

But how much do you ?

She sighs and looks down. “Ailesse is dead. I am sure of it this time.”

My hand tenses, but she doesn’t let it go.

“Tyrus gave me a sign.”

The god who won’t tell you where his jackal is?

“I trust him. The bond between a mother and a daughter carries a grace of its own. I’ve searched myself deeply, and my attachment to Ailesse is gone.”

Was there ever one to begin with?

Odiva finishes binding my hand. “I am sorry I had to be the one to tell you. I can see how shocking it is.”

“Yes.” My voice scratches on a whisper. Ailesse isn’t dead. I know it just like the first time Odiva spun this lie. If I look shocked, it’s because her heartlessness knows no end. Why is she so determined to abandon her daughter and the bone flute?

“I have grieved more than you know for Ailesse. Every Leurress in our famille has. But we must not fall into despair. The gods expect us to perform our duty, no matter our hardships. That is why they have intervened.”

What is she talking about? Perspiration trickles down the back of my neck as her grip subtly tightens.

She inhales a long breath through her nostrils and lifts her chin. “Tyrus has also given me another sign. He has chosen you to be my heir.”

I stare incredulously at her. “What?” I yank my hand away and scoot back. “No. Ailesse is your heir. She’s alive, Matrone. You can’t really believe—”

“You have to stop living in denial. You need to embrace your destiny.”

“My destiny?” A humorless laugh escapes me. “I never wanted to be a Ferrier. I didn’t even want these.” I tug at my grace bones.

“You are modest to a fault, Sabine. I see what you can become.” Her voice fills with urgency.

“You need to see it, too. Once you complete your rite of passage—”

“No.” I stand and cover my ears. She can’t say things like this to me. It isn’t just a betrayal to Ailesse; it’s preposterous. “Heirs are always daughters.”

“Unless there are none.” She swiftly rises.

I stumble backward from her. “No one in our famille will accept me.”

“I’ll tell them what I told you: Tyrus gave me a sign.”

“Then he’s mistaken!” I fight to breathe. “I’m not qualified. Every Leurress is more talented.

Everyone has better graces.” I was right—Odiva did want Ailesse to fail her rite of passage. She knew she’d be reckless, and she hoped she’d die without having to kill her directly. I just don’t understand why. Why does she want me instead?

“You have the bone of a black wolf, Sabine. That is nothing to be ashamed about. And when you become matrone, you can claim two more grace bones.”

My heart pounds out of my chest. I can’t listen to this. I have to get away from her. But she’s blocking my path out of the hollow. I turn and rush toward the other path. My feet splash through the stream. She catches my arm when I’m halfway across. I yank against her. “Let go!”