Knife (Not Just Another Fairy Tale Book 1) by R.J. Anderson

Author:R.J. Anderson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Published: 2015-07-21T05:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Knife stared down at the wriggling, red-faced baby. “What?” she said. Then the full meaning of the Queen’s words sank in, and panic swarmed through her. “I can’t!”

The Oakenfolk’s whispers turned into gasps. “Refuse the Queen?”

“Treason,” said Mallow in a satisfied voice, and Knife rounded on her. “You! If you had something to do with this, I swear I’ll—”

“Silence!” snapped the Queen. She stalked back to the head of the chamber, then turned to glare at Knife. “You will accept this task,” she said, “for it is sacred, and cannot be refused. But do not think that I am relieving you of your position as Queen’s Hunter. That duty will also remain yours – unless you prove unable to fulfill it.”

Knife knew she ought to be relieved: even a little freedom was better than none. But it would be impossible to hunt while carrying Linden. Trying to keep her voice steady, she said, “Your Majesty, may I speak with you in private?”

“You may,” said Amaryllis. She turned to the crowd. “You are dismissed.”

Muttering, the Oakenfolk filed out, while Knife whipped one of the moleskins off the table and bundled the shrilling baby up in it. “I don’t understand,” she said to Amaryllis when the room was empty. “Why this? Why me?”

“Because,” said the Queen coolly, “it has become clear to me that your present responsibilities are not enough to occupy you. And since you appear to have an interest in helpless things . . .” She turned to leave.

“But I can’t,” protested Knife. “How can I hunt and look after a child at the same time? And you need me to hunt even more than you need . . . this.” She looked down at Linden, who had stopped crying and begun sucking noisily on her shoulder.

“You have always proved yourself resourceful at getting what you want, Knife,” said Amaryllis. “If you wish to continue as my Hunter, I am sure that you will find a way. And if you find yourself with no time for any of your other interests, then you have only your own folly to blame.” And with that she swept out.

Knife closed her eyes, feeling sick. So that was the answer: she had been found out, and the Queen was punishing her for it. What was she going to do?

Numbly she pulled another moleskin off the table and wrapped it around her new foster daughter. Then, with dragging feet, she left the Hatching Room and began the long climb up the Spiral Stair.

Knife groaned and pulled the pillow over her head as Linden woke for the third time that night, her sleepy whimpers rising rapidly into a full-throated scream. The first time Linden had been wet, and after Knife had changed her it took a small eternity of bouncing and rocking to get her back to sleep. The next she had been thirsty, and spent a long time sucking at her bottle while Knife stared bleary-eyed into the darkness. Knife had only just got her

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