Page 45

A PROMISE OF PEACE

WREN

T hey are gone but a few moments before Denian and Allford appear — two of the oldest members of the Council, with only Nathanial in between them to change the order.

They rarely are errand boys, sent to bring me to heel, so I’m unsure as to the meaning.

Neither is cruel, neither openly in opposition to the Father, but nothing is certain these days, so I sit, frozen, waiting, until they are in front of me.

“BoneKeeper?” It is Allford, tone mostly respectful, but there is an edge.

“Allford. Denian. What news?”

“You’re requested by the Council, Keeper.

” Ah. Denian is more transparent, gentle regret clear in his voice.

“The Father, and several members, wanted to give you another day to rest, but there is unease in the people that only you can quiet. Are you well enough to walk to the Council House? With assistance?”

“I am well enough by myself, Denian. Thank you, though, for the offer.”

Lorcan murmurs a quiet protest against my skin, but even he knows that walking into the Council House leaning on another would be like a lamb to slaughter .

“Then we must go, Keeper.”

Pausing, I turn to face my door, suddenly anxious. “I am not dressed for the day, Councilman. I have none of my bones but my crown. I need time.”

“I am truly sorry to say that you do not have any. If it’s any comfort, this will be quick, I think. It is a smaller group, as many are away with the Hunters. I’ll guide you there, BoneKeeper. I give my word that no harm will befall you.”

Taking my arm cautiously, only touching my sleeve really, Denian leads me forward, with Allford hovering on my other side, close enough that I can feel the pressure of air between us, but he does not brush against me.

The walk is…uncomfortable. Tahrik and Marrin were right; something insidious has happened in the days I’ve been asleep, something that has changed the cautious respect, the slight unease of the people into outright fear, their eyes widening in near terror as I’m paraded past them.

Too late I wonder if I look like I’m leading or being led, flanked on either side like a prisoner.

But we are there before I can change anything, walking up the steps and through the ominous doors yawning open like a mountain tunnel before us.

They bring me to one of the few rooms that doesn’t have bone, and a cold shiver runs down my naked spine.

This is purposeful. There are perhaps only three rooms that don’t have bone in the Council House, and none are used other than for storage or for incidentals.

Never for Council meetings, or matters of importance.

I am suddenly, viciously glad I have my crown and blade.

The room is windowless and dark, even mid-morning, and smells stale and unused in a cold, dustless sort of way.

In front of me, in a small circle, are some of the Council, but not all.

The Father, Rannoch, and two others. Denian and Allford join them quickly, leaving me to stand on my own. No Nickolas, no Raek.

“BoneKeeper. You are well?” The Father’s voice is flat, unemotional, giving no guidance.

I respond in kind. “I am recovered.”

All of the men in the room exchange long looks, knowing there is no bone other than my crown, perhaps thinking the bones on my head wouldn’t whisper their movements to me. Only Rannoch does not look away from my face, though I can’t rest on him long enough to gauge his emotions.

“Our group is small today. Several have been sent on the hunt, two were…not invited to this gathering.” Allford shifts in his seat, so slightly it is barely a movement, but it is enough to catch my breath in my throat. Secrets should not be whispered in this room.

“Father—” I interrupt him, trying to think of a way to caution him, but he raises a hand, and Rannoch shakes his head once, minutely.

Ice freezes my heart when I remember his comment from days, or weeks before.

Like your eyes. Time has lost all meaning.

Like your eyes. Who knows? Still. I stop, and wait.

“We are concerned, BoneKeeper. Those of us within these walls are worried for your safety.” He breathes in deeply, then continues.

“There is…suspicion. That someone poisoned your water.” The intake of breath in the room would empty the world of oxygen.

This is new knowledge to some. “After the Blood Tree, after the mountain and the Earth, when we came here to the Council House. Where it should be safe for you. Where that sanctity was violated.”

Allford shifts again, and this time another shifts with him.

Rannoch interjects, sounding like a stranger, and I have to fight to keep my hand from lifting to my mouth, remembering the bright moment of sweetness so sharp it cut something into me that is taking time to heal.

The stone faced man in front of me bears no resemblance to the one from the cistern wall, and I concentrate on controlling my breathing, wondering what games are being played, wondering if I have been a pawn on more boards than I can even imagine, and for what purposes.

“We think, BoneKeeper, that it would be best if you stay here for a time, until we can figure out what happened.”

“Here?” The word bursts from me unintentionally, almost on a laugh, and most of the men startle at the sound.

“ Here ? That is your answer to being poisoned within your walls? That I willingly return inside them again to what? Act as a mouse waiting for the trap to spring? For the cat’s claws? I don’t think so, Councilman.”

“You have a room here already, Keeper. It would be no hardship for a short period of time, only until we are able to figure out what has been happening.” Allford’s tone is meant to be soothing, but sounds like the winter winds sweeping off the summit of the mountain, cold and full of warning.

“I will never stay in that room again, Councilman.” There is no answering warning in my words. It is a bone promise. His lips twitch up before he can stop them, just a flicker of amusement that is more scary than anything else I have seen today.

“We cannot protect you outside these walls, Keeper. Who knows what could happen to you? If it is true that someone poisoned your water…we don’t have evidence that it was even inside these walls.

It is more likely that it happened earlier in the day, that it took time for the herbs to take effect.

Perhaps it even explains your response at the Blood Tree.

Your…unusual…accusations that followed.” Allford’s voice is thoughtful, and he is so focused on my response that he does not see the quick flick of eyes between Rannoch and the Father.

Ah. Ah. I am already acting as a mouse, whiskers trembling, without my knowledge.

“You are essential to this village, BoneKeeper. It is our duty to guard you, in any way we are able. Surely you can’t argue with that. ”

“BoneKeeper.” This from Denian, next to Allford, voice low and smooth, pleading.

“It isn’t safe for you. None of us want to say it, but you have been…

erratic…these past weeks. It makes the people nervous.

” Holding up his hands, he shakes his head.

“I’m sure you have your reasons. I am certain.

I would never think to question you. But you have not been yourself.

Threatening to take away visitation from the Council ?

Your actions against the Blood Tree? You visiting the school, scaring the children — yes, yes, we know about that.

Hollis came to us, concerned about threats you made.

You need rest. Perhaps…perhaps the bones are pressing you too much.

Perhaps you just need space, like this one, free of them, to relax.

Don’t make a decision now, of course. We’re offering you this room, empty of bone, for yo u to recover.

You’ll be able to lock it from the inside.

And ,” his tone lightens, as though we’re sharing a joke, “we’ll outfit it with furniture, of course.

Not just these simple chairs. Something lovely and soft.

..pretty! It will be a place of solitude for you. ”

He is musical, lulling me with dream words, though how he would ever guess at them I don’t know.

A place where bones didn’t press against me at all hours of the day?

Where voices weren’t whispering even in the quietest moments, commanding and demanding, or just calling for attention?

Just…just a room, where I would be just Wren, and no one else?

But there are things he doesn’t know, how far the bones can call to me, how loud they can scream when ignored, and the sweetest temptations are always the blooms of the first rain after the storm.

I know better than to eat those crops, no matter how shriveled my stomach is, how hollow my bones are showing under my skin.

“What an interesting offer,” I reply quietly, noting the flash of victory in his eyes, the questions in Rannoch’s and the Father’s. “What a very interesting offer.”

Allford is quick to strike, like a snake, fangs already bared.

“Try it for a few minutes, if nothing else BoneKeeper. Certainly you’ll need to return home to get your things, if you approve.

But just try it. I will hold your crown for you — carefully, of course.

You have no other bone on you?” He runs his eyes over me, checking, but my Guiding Knife is inside my shirt against my skin, where I never wear it, so its place on my belt is empty, and Lorcan is clearly gone from my neck and back.

“You are curiously empty of your normal outfit today.” He fights to keep suspicion from his voice. “No necklace even.”

I shrug, trying to appear careless. “You rushed me here. I didn’t have time to dress properly. You were there. You know Denian had to lead me.”

His answering smile crawls on my skin like beetles.

“We’ll leave you in peace for a few moments then, BoneKeeper, to see how you feel.

There is no pressure. No rush. Just see how it is for you.

I’ll just—” His hands are already reaching out, fingers flexing, towards my head, and I have to steel myself not to recoil .

“Rannoch will return you to your home when you are ready. He will sit outside to give you peace, and to watch the entry. Allford — he will take the crown, though thank you for your offer.” The Father’s tone books no argument.

Allford forcibly drops his hands and tries to smooth the frustration from his face. “Are you sure, Father? I am happy to help in any way.”

“I am sure.”

There is a long, long pause, before Rannoch steps forward, palms up in front of him in supplication, not demand. “I’ll take good care of it, BoneKeeper. You have my word.”

“Thank the Gods for that,” I reply flatly. His word is as easy to trust right now as the blooms from the spring rains, pretty and poisonous. Bending my head forward, reluctance clear in my movement, I wait.

“You don’t want to pass it to me, Keeper?” He is hesitant.

“If you want my crown, you will have to take it from my head, Councilman.”

After a beat or two, he slowly and carefully grabs the band of my crown where the bones are tight and sharp, and tugs lightly. It does not move.

“I don’t…it’s not coming off. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Looking up, I meet his eyes, though to anyone watching it would just look like I was adjusting. He and I share my secret though, and I take petty delight in the discomfort on his face.

“Don’t you?” There is no answer. “It doesn’t like to be off my skin. You’ll have to force it to let go.”

His brows knit together in concern and confusion, but he pulls, then pulls harder, until the edges begin to release, bone fingertips scraping along my temples and yanking at my hair, reopening shallow cuts from the previous week.

The bones groan, half in protest, half in lapping greed, taking tiny droplets of scarlet with them, drinking them up.

Rannoch shivers in front of me, almost as though he can feel their anger at being forced from me.

“I’ll keep it safe, BoneKeeper. ”

Shrugging, I turn away, dismissing him. “You’ll do what you will with it, Councilman. Clearly I have no say here at the moment.”

Silas clears his throat, distracting the considering eyes of the rest of the Council. “We’ll leave her to it. Perhaps you’ll walk with me, give me your input regarding her room. Brothers?” It is too tempting an offer, I can tell, and all but Rannoch follow him out.

Everything is silent between us.

“BoneKeeper—” It’s barely a whisper of sound, but not one I’m interested in hearing, no matter how gentle, how apologetic. He and the Father have put me on a hook without my knowledge, wriggling and writhing, luring the biting fish from the brackish ponds where they hide beneath dark rocks.

“I’ll be out shortly, Councilman. I have no intention of staying here, no matter how lovely and soft you make it.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.”

“You expect much more of me than I realized, Councilor.” Despite my best effort, bitterness is thick on my tongue, stinging my taste buds like ginger root.

He sighs. “I…Enjoy the peace while it lasts, Keeper.”

Shaking my head, a dark snort of sour laughter shatters from my throat, startling him. He waits for an explanation for a breath, maybe two, before realizing none is coming, and silently leaves the room.