Page 128 of The Bone Season

‘Warden has been training me so Nashira can absorb my gift at its best,’ I said. ‘He’s the one who decides when I’m ready.’

Julian grimaced. ‘So if you want to live longer, you need to get him to … like you?’

‘Fat chance of that happening.’

Still, Warden didn’t seem to hate me quite as much as he once had. By burningOn the Merits, he had severed my link to the underworld, protecting my privacy. He wanted us to trust each other.

‘I’ll find you something for your wrist,’ Liss said. ‘Jules, could I have a few minutes with Paige?’

‘Of course.’ Julian stood. ‘Jos wanted to go looking for berries, anyway.’

‘You might find raspberries in the old physic garden opposite Magdalen. It’s not usually guarded, but it is overgrown.’ Liss passed her clippers to him. ‘Make sure you don’t go near the glasshouse. Duckett grows his aster there, and he’ll not be happy if you tamper with it.’

I lifted an eyebrow. ‘Do the Rephs know about it?’

‘Aye, I think so. They mostly tolerate Duckett.’

‘Noted,’ Julian said.

He left the shack. Liss went into her stocks of herbs.

‘Still no willow bark, but I did find some comfrey,’ she said. ‘They call it knitbone.’

Liss set about making a poultice. With care, she soaked the leaves in boiling water, then cut and mashed them as much as she could, slathered the pulp on my swollen wrist, and wrapped it in strips of cloth.

‘Leave that on for the rest of tonight.’ She touched my elbow. ‘How are you feeling about the Bicentenary?’

‘I still haven’t found a way out of here,’ I said. ‘My only hope is to fight.’

Liss looked me in the eyes.

‘You said you’ve never heard your cards read,’ she said. ‘Would you like to see your future?’

‘Now?’

‘Aye.’ She paused. ‘Have you ever had any sort of reading?’

‘No,’ I admitted.

I had been tempted once or twice, but I had never been convinced that glimpsing the future was a good idea. Even though I had met cartomancers before, I had only ever used cards – unclaimed ones – for games of tarock and tarocchi.

‘Go on,’ I said.

Liss took her deck from its box and placed it between us. This was her favoured numen, one she had used exclusively for years. I could feel the strength of the bond.

‘Give me your hand,’ she said.

I held out my good one. Liss grasped it. An expression of intense concentration took over her face as her fingers dipped into the deck. One by one, she removed seven cards and placed them face down on the floor.

‘I use the ellipse spread,’ she said. ‘While your aura is in contact with mine, I choose seven cards and interpret them. Not all broadsiders will give you the same interpretation of a card, so don’t be too nervous.’ She released my hand. ‘The first one tells us something about your past. I might get a glimpse of your memories.’

‘Youseememories?’

‘Just sometimes.’ Liss allowed herself a faint smile. ‘Not all of us get visions, but some do. EvenOn the Meritsacknowledged it.’

She turned over the first card.

‘Five of Cups,’ she said, closing her eyes. ‘You lost something when you were very small. There’s a man with auburn hair. It’s his cups that are spilled.’

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