Heidel (The Nine Princesses Novellas Book 3) by Valle Anita

Author:Valle, Anita [Valle, Anita]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Heidel’s heart flipped like a griddle cake. She wondered if she was meeting her first ‘dishonorable woman’ and felt equal helpings fascination and fear.

The woman was perhaps a few years older than they. She wore a red dress, slightly tattered, that bared her pale shoulders, a bright purple sash, and strings of wooden beads that hung from her neck and looped around her ankles. Her dark hair had grown long and unruly from lack of comb or scissors, and her feet were bare.

“You’ve come to seek my power,” the woman purred. “My name is Zarana. I can reveal your fates.”

Heidel recovered quickly. “Fortune teller,” she muttered from the corner of her mouth. To her great dismay, Coralina perked up with excitement. At least Squire had the good sense to growl.

“Thank you. I don’t think we need your... power,” said Heidel, trying hard not to dip her tongue in sarcasm. “We’re looking for Lumen fruit.”

“You must first hear your fortunes, Princesses of Runa,” said Zarana.

“See?” Coralina turned bedazzled eyes on Heidel. “She knows who we are!”

“Yes, Coco. The crowns on our heads had nothing to do with that.”

Zarana approached Coralina with slinking footsteps. “You,” she murmured. “You are in pain. You long for something beyond your grasp.”

Coralina nodded, purple eyes wide. She seemed in awe of the fortune teller.

“Come. I will ease your sorrow.” The woman raised an arm, gesturing to the small hut they had glimpsed in the forest before.

Coralina passed her horse’s reins to Heidel. “I won’t be long.”

“Coco!” Heidel hissed. “It’s a sham! There’s nothing she can tell you!”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Coralina raised her lips to Heidel’s ear. “I want to see what she says about Gord. And perhaps she’ll tell me where to find the Lumen fruit.”

Heidel hesitated. “Well... two minutes! Leave your purse and your crown and your jewelry with me. Keep the sword.”

While she waited, Heidel fed an apple to each of the horses and scraped their hooves clean. She refused to show how relieved she felt when Coralina returned.

Heidel tossed the reins back to her sister. “So what did the fortune tramp say?”

Coralina’s smile was peaceful. “She said I will find true love.”

Heidel made a disgusted sound. “Please don’t tell me how much you paid to hear that. What about the Lumen fruit?”

“Oh.” Coralina lead her horse forward. “Half a mile ahead – Thumbscrew Tavern. I’ve been there.”

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