The Bonemender by Holly Bennett

Author:Holly Bennett [Bennett, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2005-08-31T20:00:00+00:00

GABRIELLE WAS READY. It had been easy, in the end: She said no more to her father and simply prepared to go along. She had borrowed some clothes from Tristan so as to blend in better as the muster prepared to head out, but the king, busy with his own preparations, would pay little attention to the bonemenders trailing at the end of the procession along with the provisions and gear. There was a good chance she and her father would never cross paths during the entire journey.

Justine and the children were staying at Castle DesChênes, though they were prepared to retreat to the Island if need be. Gabrielle was glad. She had not felt right about leaving Solange to worry alone at home. Now at least Solange and Justine would have each other.

But Gabrielle still had an awkward conversation ahead of her. She had wavered for days about whether to tell her mother. Was it unfair to ask her to keep a secret from Jerome? What if her mother felt duty-bound to tell? Yet Gabrielle could not disappear without a word of explanation. And so, the morning before their departure, she asked Solange to walk with her to the back garden.

Sitting on the stone bench under the rose trellis, Gabrielle steeled herself to begin. But Solange did not wait for her careful speech.

“You are riding out with the army, aren’t you?”

Gabrielle was amazed. “How did you know?”

Solange gave her a small, sad smile. “I guess I really am your mother. I know you, Gabrielle. When have you ever allowed convention, or even your father’s authority, to govern your own conscience?”

Am I really that headstrong? Gabrielle wondered. She had always seen herself as a dutiful daughter. But when she believed her convictions really mattered, then yes, she was that headstrong.

“If you have such a compelling feeling that you must go, then I think you should,” Solange continued. “But by all that’s holy, be as careful as you can, Gabrielle. When I think of the danger ... “

The two women embraced.

“Does Tristan know?” asked Solange, wiping her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Good. You can keep watch on each other.”

“I didn’t know if I should tell you,” confessed Gabrielle. “I didn’t think I should ask you to keep a secret from Father.”

“And so you shouldn’t,” said Solange tartly. Then, grinning, “But you’d be surprised what I’ve kept from Jerome over the years.”

Gabrielle couldn’t help laughing through her tears. There was certainly more to her mother than met the eye.

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