Page 74 (1/2)

Chapter One

NANTES, BRITTANY, 1489

I DID NOT ARRIVE AT the convent of Saint Mortain so By the time I was sent there, my death count numbered three, and I had had two lovers besides Even so, there were sos they were able to teach me: Sister Serafina, the art of poison; Sister Thomine, hoield a blade; and Sister Arnette, where best to strike with it, laying out all the vulnerable points on athe stars

If only they had taught ht htmare into which I’ve been thrust

I pause at the foot of the winding steps to see if I a the ainst the doorway—either one of thened to watchto tattle in the hopes of earning a few crumbs of favor

Caution prevails and I decide to use the south stairs, then double back through the lower hall to approach the north tower from that side I am very careful to step precisely where the maid has just washed, and I hear her mutter a curse under her breath Good Now I can be certain she has seen et if she is questioned

In the lower hall, there are few servants about Those who have not been driven out are busy with their duties or have gone to ground like wise, clever rats

When at last I reach the north wing of the palace, it is e my pace, I hurry toward the north tower, but I a behindat the base of the stairs

I bite back an oath of annoyance and glare down to see it is a child A young girl “What are you doing here?” I snap My nerves are already tightly strung, and this neorry does theood “Where is your mother?”

The girl looks up at ut Has no one thought to warn her how dangerous it is for a pretty child to wander these halls alone? I want to reach down and shake her—shake her mother—and shout at her that she is not safe, not on these steps, not in this castle I force myself to take a deep breath instead

“Mah and quivery

I glance to the stairs, where my first duty lies, but I cannot leave this child here “What is your name?”

“Odette,” she says, uncertain whether to be frightened of me or not

“Well, Odette, this is no place to play Have you no one to look after you?”

“My sister But when she is working, I am to hide like a little mouse ”

At least her sister is no fool “But this is not a good place to hide, is it? Look how easily I found you!”

For the first tiives me a shy sest sister, Louise, that I cannot breathe Thinking quickly, I take her hand and lead her back to the main hallway

Hurry, hurry, hurry nips athound

“See that door?” She nods, watching h that door, then down the stairs The chapel is there, and it is aplace ” And since d’Albret and his h “Who is your sister?”

“Tilde ”

“Very well I will tell Tilde where you are so she et you when her work is done ”

“Thank you,” Odette says, then skips off down the hall I long to escort her theretoo late for what I must do

I turn back around and take the stairs two at a ti has a new latch, stiff with disuse I lift it slowly to be certain it will not creak out an alarm

As I step into the cold winter sunshine, a bitter hips atit from the net that holds it in place All my caution has cost ht up here only to see those I love slaughtered

I hurry to the crenellated wall and look down into the field below A shts waits patiently while an even s ass Marshal Rieux I recognize the duchess iray palfrey She looks idoed to hold off a French invasion for this long is i betrayed by a full half of her councilors is close to a miracle

Behind her and to the right is Ismae, sister of my heart and, possibly, my blood, if what the nuns at the convent told us is true My pulse begins to race, but whether in joy that I a, I cannot tell

Keeping ather up all my fear and dread and hurl them at her, like stones in a catapult

She does not so lance in my direction

From deep in the bowels of the castle, off toward the east, comes a faint rumble as the portcullis is raised This tiaway a flock of ducks I hope—pray—that some bond still exists between us that will allow her to sense me

But her eyes remain fixed on the duchess in front of her, and I nearly scream in frustration Flee, my mind cries It is a trap Then, just as I fear I ain her attention, Is, then sweep my arms out once more

It works She looks away fro to the soldier next to her, and I grow limp with relief

The s orders and calling to one another Isain, this time to the west Good She has seen the second ar has not come too late

Once Marshal Rieux and his , they wheel their allop back to the city The duchess and her party move to fall into a new formation but have not yet left the field

Flee! The word beats frantically against h I stand on this isolated tower, so the cold, rough stone of the battleers