Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

WREN

Wren stared at the puddle of molten metal, hiding the rising horror inside her, and then dragged her gaze up to the grille which was now open again.

‘Well,' said the maiden. It wasn't the same woman this time. Wren recognised the familiar blue eyes of Sister Maryn, the maiden from the garden. ‘I suppose Elodie might have some questions to answer after all. I've been wondering how long it would take.'

The grille closed again and Wren stood there, feeling utterly wretched and defeated.

But this time the door opened and two maidens in white stood behind it.

‘Inside, both of you,' the gatekeeper snapped. ‘You'll be paying for that bell, your highness.'

Wren was so relieved, she didn't even argue about the title. Or the sarcastic way it was delivered.

‘With what?' she asked and the maiden gave a snort of laughter as she closed the door behind them. Carlotta stared, wide-eyed, and knotted her hands together in front of her neat apron. She was Wren's own age, perhaps selected to give her someone to confide in.

Right now, she was clearly terrified.

Wren took her hand and squeezed gently, which almost made her jump out of her skin.

‘My lady…I mean, your highness…I mean…'

‘Just Wren, Carlotta, please.'

Her eyes went even wider. ‘We shouldn't be in here, Wren,' she whispered, far too loudly. ‘I've heard the stories. Like the one about the three sisters. The maidens locked them away but they escaped into the wild. We don't have that kind of power. I mean… you might but…' She trailed off, horrified. As the maiden secured the door and turned away, Wren saw a smile quirk her lips. Oh she was loving every minute of this.

‘Well, we are. I won't tell if you don't.'

‘What did you do to the bell?'

Oh. That.

‘A very good question,' asked Sister Maryn. She dismissed the gatekeeper with murmured thanks and the sour woman returned to her task. ‘Wren melted it, Carlotta. With magic. Magic which she shouldn't really be able to use quite like that. Especially not in Pelias. The wards alone should stop it. Your princess is something of an anomaly. Follow me please. You may address me as Sister Maryn.'

A thousand excuses ran through Wren's mind, a thousand explanations that wouldn't even begin to explain what she did. Sister Maryn was right. She had melted the bell with magic. Because it irritated her.

Well, no, the maiden keeping the door had irritated her. But she wasn't about to go around melting people. At least she had that.

‘They will let us back out again, won't they, my lady?' the maid asked, more quietly this time. She didn't want to attract the attention of the maidens any more than she already had. They locked witches up here the same as they did in Ilanthus. Oh they called it service but Wren wasn't sure she saw much of a difference when it all came down to it.

That was also a very good question, Wren thought. ‘I think they'll have to.'

‘Or the Grandmaster will come and get us? Well, you. He'll come and get you, won't he? Don't leave me behind.'

Wren squeezed Carlotta's hand again. Would Roland come? Probably. Would the maidens let him in? No. Definitely not, if they didn't want to. One look at Maryn told her that.

Would that stop him?

Well, he wanted her on the throne. He'd made that clear. Why else had he brought her here? Why else had he agreed to make Elodie stand trial? It was ridiculous.

‘I'm sure he'd try,' she said as diplomatically as she could. ‘And I'm not leaving you behind. I promise. Just…' She stopped and turned to the maid. Carlotta had eyes the colour of caramel, and they gazed at Wren in desperation. Wren knew that feeling right now. ‘Please, Carlotta, don't tell anyone what happened to the bell? They won't understand. I can trust you, can't I?'

She hoped. There was every chance Carlotta would be straight back to Lynette to report everything the moment they left this place. Or someone else. Ylena perhaps. Sister Maryn appeared to be Ylena's creature already. Wren had no illusions that her every move was not being watched. But she had to try.

Carlotta frowned suddenly and then seemed to come to a decision. She nodded firmly. ‘You have my word. They wouldn't listen to me anyway, Wren.'

Wren shook her head. Oh someone would listen if Carlotta chose to speak. She didn't doubt that.

Sister Maryn had stopped at the gates of a small internal walled garden. She nodded her head inside. ‘Go on,' she said, her voice gentler than Wren would have thought possible.

Wren peered through the opening.

Elodie was kneeling in front of a bed of herbs, her hair plaited down her back, and her hands busy at work harvesting. It was so familiar a sight that Wren's heart gave a physical lurch inside her chest. She'd seen her like this a thousand times, although it had been in the forest and not in a tiny garden like this.

‘Elodie!' she cried out, unable to stop herself.

The next thing she knew she was running and then she was swept up in an embrace so strong she thought nothing could pull them apart.

Except so many things could. And would. But for now, she held on as tightly as she could.