One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns #2)(7)

“Disloyal,” says another as they back away and turn down the street toward their homes.

“You shouldn’t have done that, Jules,” Joseph says when they are alone.

“Don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. No one’s going to touch you as long as I’m around. No one’s going to so much as look at you wrong.”

“And here you were worried that you and Camden would seem weak with your matching limps. I think they give you a wider berth even than before.”

“They must sense that we’re more ill-tempered now,” Jules says wryly.

Joseph steps close and tucks a lock of wavy brown hair behind her ear. He kisses her softly.

“You don’t seem so ill-tempered to me.”





ROLANTH





“Are the preparations made?” Mirabella asks.

“Your guards and the decoy carriage will be ready tonight,” replies High Priestess Luca. “Though the people would have you wait until morning for a proper send-off.”

Queen Mirabella’s heart thumps. She is seated on one of Luca’s small sofas, elbow-deep in striped silk pillows, and looks for all the world to be a queen at ease. But she has been waiting for this night ever since Arsinoe betrayed her by sending the bear across the Quickening stages.

The door of Luca’s chamber opens, and Elizabeth enters. She closes the door quickly behind her to shut out the ruckus from the rest of the temple. There is no peace to be found in Rolanth Temple anymore, except for the quiet space of Luca’s personal rooms. Everywhere else is busy from sunrise to after dark. The apse bustles with visitors lighting candles for their elemental queen or leaving offerings of scented water dyed to a bright blue or dark black. The priestesses are constantly occupied with sorting the gifts and crates of supplies arriving in the city daily: all they will need to lavishly entertain the coming suitors.

Luca tells the queen that they are sorting the supplies. But everyone knows that since Katharine has returned, they are checking each parcel for poison.

“Elizabeth,” Luca says. “What kept you? The tea is nearly cold.”

“Forgive me, High Priestess. I wanted to bring some honey from the apiary.” She sets a small clear jar on Luca’s table, half-filled with fresh honey still leaking from a piece of comb. Luca dips a spoon into the jar and sweetens their cups as Elizabeth brushes dirt from her initiate robes and takes a seat. Her cheeks are rosy from hurrying, and a fine glow of sweat sits on her deeply tanned forehead.

“You smell like the garden and hot summer air,” Mirabella says. “What is that in your pocket?”

Elizabeth reaches into the skirt of her robes and pulls out a small spade fitted with a leather cup and bracelet.

“I had it made in the central district. It affixes directly to my stump.” She holds her arm up so Mirabella can see the scarred end of her left wrist where the priestesses cut her hand off as punishment for aiding Mirabella’s escape from the city. “I can buckle it one-handed, and it makes tending the vegetables much easier.”

“That is wonderful,” Mirabella says, but her eyes linger on the scars.

Luca sets their teacups before them.

“So,” Elizabeth says. “We are leaving in the morning, then?” She sips her tea and studies the High Priestess over the rim of her cup. “Don’t be worried, High Priestess. Bree and I will keep her safe until we find Queen Arsinoe in her woods.”

Mirabella tenses.

“I do not need to be kept safe. I need to find my sister and to do my duty by her. And I would not wait for morning, Luca. I would leave tonight.”

Luca takes a sip of tea, using the cup to hide her smile.

“For so long I waited for you to find the heart to kill your sisters,” she says. “And now I worry that you are too rash.”

“I am not rash. I am ready. Arsinoe sent her bear for me, and it killed our people and our priestesses. It cannot go unanswered.”

“But the Ascension Year has barely begun. We could make opportunities for you. Just as the Arrons are sure to arrange for Katharine.”

Mirabella’s mouth tightens. Luca practically raised her. Mirabella knows the tone in her voice, and she knows when she is being tested.

“I will not waver in this,” she says. “And this Ascension will be over far sooner than any anticipated.”

“Well then.” Luca nods. “Take my mare at least.”

“Crackle?” Elizabeth asks.

“I know she is not as fine as the white horses of the temple,” Luca says, “nor as beautiful as the black horses who will draw your decoy carriage to Indrid Down, but she is tough and fast and has been my trusted mount for many years.”

“Tough and fast,” Mirabella muses. “You think I will need to run.”

“No,” Luca replies softly. “But I must still try to protect you where I can.” She reaches across the table to lay her hand atop the queen’s, when a shriek cuts through the walls of the chamber. All three quickly stand.

“What was that?” Elizabeth asks.

“Stay here,” Luca orders, but Mirabella and Elizabeth follow her, down the stairs and through the door to the long east hall and the upper storerooms.

“The main storeroom!” Elizabeth points.