Quintana of Charyn

carried her away.’

‘Beatriss,’ Tesadora said firmly, ‘she swims better than any child we know.’

Lucian doubted greatly that Vestie was swept away by the stream. Lucian knew that teaching Vestie to swim was the first thing Trevanion had done for Lady Beatriss and the child she bore during the curse when they were reunited three years past. It had created a bond between the Captain and his former lover’s child. Today, they were a family and the union had been one of the most joyous occasions for Lumaterans.

Suddenly he saw a movement, heard the snap of a twig and the rustle of leaves and the strangest of giggles.

‘Vestie!’ he called out, racing towards the sound. Beatriss and Tesadora were with him, calling out her name. ‘Vestie!’

But there was nothing. They stood a moment to listen, hearing only the sound of a bird mocking. Then he saw the movement again and Lucian was running, leaping over half-fallen limbs, avoiding the tree shoots that caught at his ankle.

‘Vestie!’

‘Vestie!’

‘Vestie, my love!’

Lucian continued his pursuit until he heard the sound of heavy breath, rasping for air. But it was not the breathing of a child. He stopped, and held up a hand to Tesadora who appeared close behind.

‘Vestie, it’s Lucian! Are you hiding?’

Beatriss entered the clearing and Tesadora placed a finger to her lips.

‘I’ll not be angry,’ Lucian said. ‘I promise, Vestie darlin’.’

He knew she was close, but not alone, and that alarmed Lucian more than he cared to admit. He took a step closer, and there he saw them. Huddled in the hollow of a tree trunk. A girl with crazed eyes held a hand over Vestie’s mouth. A bloody dagger was clasped in her other hand.

He heard Beatriss’s cry behind him and he saw Vestie look up, startled to see them all. Startled, but not frightened. Beatriss rushed forward, but the strange girl snarled, and Lucian gripped Beatriss’s hand and dragged her gently behind him.

‘Please don’t hurt her,’ Beatriss begged the girl. ‘Please.’

Lucian moved towards the girl, a hand at the scabbard of his sword. He knew with certainty that he would slice this wretch’s hand clear off her body if she didn’t let go of Vestie at his command.

‘Vestie, step away from her,’ he ordered gently. Vestie stared at the sword and suddenly began to weep, confused. Was she waking from walking in her sleep? He moved closer and the most savage of sounds came from the girl, and she held the dagger out before her, waving it in Lucian’s face. He retrieved his sword from its scabbard slowly, not once losing eye contact with her.

‘Lucian, come back,’ Tesadora ordered. ‘You’re scaring them.’

But Lucian refused, and when he almost reached them, the savage girl clenched her teeth, dragging Vestie deeper into the hollow of the tree.

‘Lucian, please stop,’ Beatriss cried. ‘She’ll hurt her.’

Lucian shook his head, refusing to move away.

‘Do not let me have to explain to Trevanion why I put my sword down while someone held a dagger to his daughter.’

Tesadora walked before him. His hand caught her arm to pull her backwards, but she shrugged free.

‘I know what I’m doing,’ she said, her eyes fastened on the girl, who stared, almost transfixed. When Tesadora was only a step away from Vestie and the girl, Lucian heard a bloodcurdling snarl, but suddenly Tesadora’s hand snaked out and gripped the girl’s face.

‘Oh, you savage beauty,’ Tesadora said. ‘Where did you come from?’

Lucian wondered if Tesadora was bewitched. The girl stared, confused. Tesadora repeated the words in Charyn.

‘We won’t hurt her,’ Tesadora said, reaching out for Vestie.

Vestie gripped the girl’s hand that was pressed over her mouth and removed it. Lucian expected a scream, but instead Vestie leaned forward and whispered into the stranger’s ear.

The mad girl peered over Tesadora’s shoulder to where Beatriss stood with Lucian.

‘I just want to hear the little person speak again,’ the savage girl said coldly in Charyn. ‘I want to hear her voice.’

‘We need to take her home,’ Tesadora explained gently. ‘She’ll be safe. You must get back to your people in the valley.’

The girl shook her head emphatically.

‘Tell no one, Serker Eyes,’ she whispered. ‘Or else they’ll kill us all.’

Small crooked teeth showed through a snarl. Before anyone could speak another word, the girl scrambled to her feet and tore off. Lucian quickly gathered Vestie in his arms, his eyes meeting Tesadora’s.

‘What,’ he asked, ‘was that?’

Later, when Vestie was being bathed by Beatriss and the women, they found not a single mark on her body. She had recovered quickly from her ordeal.

‘Who was she, Vestie?’ Lady Beatriss asked as Yata wrapped the little girl up in a blanket while Lucian’s aunts fussed.

‘I don’t know. I think I walked and slept, Mama, and then I was in the woods crying and I saw her. It was as though I knew she’d be there. And I said, “Hello there. Hello there, I say.” And she looked so frightened. It was just like that time we first met the valley dwellers and they stared at us in such a fashion.’

‘They’re not used to seeing little girls,’ Yata said.

‘I spoke again and said, “My name is Vestie,” and she wept and wept and she spoke in that funny way the camp dwellers speak.’

Vestie turned to Tesadora. ‘I want to learn, Tesadora. I want to speak just like them. I only know one word. It means friend. I said it in her ear. “Sora. Sora. Sora.”’

Tesadora chuckled and gathered Vestie to her.

‘And who taught you this Charynite word for friend?’

‘Phaedra of Alonso did. She said it was the prettiest word in Charyn.’

And Lucian ached to hear those words.

Vestie looked up at Lady Beatriss. ‘That time we crossed the stream together with you, Mama. Remember? Phaedra said not to be afraid because the camp dwellers only wanted to be my friend. My sora. I want to learn more.’

‘I’ll teach you, Vestie,’ Jory said from the entrance of the room, anger lacing his voice. ‘So that when you see her again you can tell the witch we’ll tear her limb –’

‘Jory!’ Lucian warned, while Beatriss covered Vestie’s ears. Jory looked away, shamefaced.

‘Go out to the lads,’ Lucian ordered, shoving his young cousin forward. ‘And calm them down. There will be no repeat of raids into the valley.’

‘Not their side of the valley, Lucian,’ Jory said. ‘Ours. She wasn’t a valley dweller. You said so yourself.’

‘Go.’

Jory left, a stubborn set to his jaw.

‘We’ll get supper started,’ Yata said, following the aunts out of the room. Lucian bobbed down to Vestie’s height.

‘Can you remember anything else, Vestie?’ Lucian asked.

‘Every time I spoke, she’d weep and weep with joy.’

‘She liked your voice,’ Beatriss said quietly.

‘But whose blood was it?’ Lucian asked. ‘It was the first thing we saw and it frightened us all.’

Vestie laughed with glee. ‘She taught me to slaughter a hare.’

Vestie twisted her hands together as if breaking the neck of an animal and made the most gods-awful sound. ‘I’m going to show Father.’

‘Yes, Father will be overjoyed to hear all about this when he returns,’ Beatriss murmured, catching Lucian’s eye.