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.I knew themblind and he d no light.I emerged downstairs and hid myself in the rootcellar.I stayed there for three days, until the moon was full and I knewthe Prince would return to the castle.It was midnight on the first night of the full moon when I emerged,bedraggled and still wearing the clothes I d worn when I ran from thePrince.Rian sat with his back against the cookshed, a skin of wine in hislap and a worried look upon his face.I began to cry the instant I sawhim.He pulled me into his arms and whispered in the low, calm voiceI d heard him use with panicked horses. Darling, where have you been?www.bettiesharpe.com 89Bettie SharpeI ve been so worried for you. He kissed my filthy cheeks and smoothedmy matted hair. Don t. I hated that he gave me tenderness when I deserved scorn. We mustn t see each other again.I didn t know it, but I m heartless.I vebetrayed you, Rian, and I cannot guarantee I won t do it again.He cupped my cheeks in his hands and looked into my eyes. I loveyou.You haven t betrayed me, you ve proved you love me, too.I shook my head, even as he tried to calm me.He didn tunderstand. No, Rian.Go find a woman you can trust.Go find someonewho has all her fingers and who won t frighten your horses.I ve givenaway too much of myself.Too much, but not enough.I pushed out of his arms and ran into the night.I did not runquickly, for my twisted foot makes me less than nimble, but I knew theback alleys from the years I d spent avoiding the Prince.Though Riantried to follow me, I soon lost him in the labyrinth of the city.I spent two weeks roaming the Dark Woods to the east of the city.One night I found a ring of pagan stones and made a bonfire there.Ispent long hours with my knife clasped in my hands trying to determinewhich part of me I could cut out that would allow me to resist the Princeand yet love Rian.But the traitorous and necessary parts were one in thesame, my heart.Near dawn the fire woke me with a message.I fed it dried leavesand small twigs until it built a scene in shades of flame.The front parlor90 www.bettiesharpe.comEmberof our house on the Avenida Delpalacio.Minette sat in her blue leatherchair.Sylvie and Dulcie sat side by side on the gold velvet settee.Allthree wore blank expressions, and I soon saw the reason.The Princestood in the room with them, his face a burning mask of determination. I wish your sister would stop running from me.No matter where Isearch, I cannot find her. You can t find a witch if she doesn t wish to be found, Dulciemurmured. No, but I can make her come to me.Swear you will bring her tome.Swear you ll bring her to me at the palace.The palace is protected bythe magic of the Old Ones.Her witch s spells will not work within itswalls.I will know her when I see her.I will make her stay and listen tome.My sisters tried to protest, but the Prince silenced them with awave of his hand. Promise you will bring her or take your own lives asforfeit for your failure.And make sure to tell her of the promise you vemade the instant you see her.Outside the city, in my circle of stones, I ground my teeth andhated him for using everything I loved against me.I d never beforeunderstood what drove other witches to sacrifice or renounce theirfamilies and friends, but I understood it now.Love made me weak, andworse, it exposed those I loved to unnecessary danger.www.bettiesharpe.com 91Bettie SharpeIf I had not loved Rian, I wouldn t have fled the city in shame andguilt at betraying him.If I had not loved my sisters, the Prince would nothave been able to use them to force my return.My sisters unwillingly repeated his words.I knew I had to go back.92 www.bettiesharpe.comEmber7.The ReturnDirty and bedraggled, I stumbled through the kitchen door atdawn.Dulcie was there, trying in vain to light a fire for her tea.I winkedat the stove, and fire sprang to life for me, as it always had.Dulcie made an inelegant noise of surprise, and whirled to stare atme. Is it really you, Ember? Are you returned? Yes. I must tell you I silenced Dulcie with a shake of my head. No need, I know.Youmust bring me to him. How did you ? Don t I always know? You mustn t worry on it, for he was clumsywhen he extracted the promise from you.He did not specify a time limit,which means you may comply whenever you wish, even if that day is adecade from now. Oh.I was worried. Dulcie sat down as I poured hot water over thetealeaves. I did not want to betray you again. You never betrayed me. I brought the teapot and our cups to thetable. The Prince s curse is strong.There is little anyone can do to resistit.www.bettiesharpe.com 93Bettie SharpeDulcie nodded, but her expression remained sad and drawn.She dshadows beneath her eyes, and a hint of gauntness to her usually roundand rosy cheeks.I worried for her. You look awful.Are you sick?Dulcie s eyes widened and her cheeks went red with anger. I don tknow why I missed you, Ember.You have no tact! I don t look so bad; Ijust haven t been sleeping well.Between the neighbor s stupid howlingdog and worrying about the Prince, I ve scarcely had a wink of sleep forthe past week.Though few would suspect such delicacy of a courtesan, Dulcie isa very light sleeper.I once heard a tale of a princess who slept on ahundred featherbeds but was kept awake by a single pebble caughtbeneath the bottom mattress.Her servants grew so annoyed by herconstant complaints that one night they pushed her from her mountainof mattresses, and she broke her neck and died.Dulcie had a similarinability to sleep, but a much sweeter disposition.We would have doneanything to help her.Sylvie, Minette and I went to great lengths to prevent disturbancesof Dulcie s fitful few hours of sleep each night [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]