Page 48 of The BoneKeeper's Daughter

“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 isno 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?Thatis your answer to being poisoned within your walls? That I willingly returninside 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 istruethat 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 theCouncil? 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 you 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.”

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