The Dark Fable by Katherine Harbour

Author:Katherine Harbour
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781547613755
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Published: 2023-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Mother Night and Father Silence waited for La Fable Sombre in a splendid pavilion of gold and scarlet lit by hanging lamps of azure and topaz glass. Mother Night, in a sleeveless white gown, poured mint tea, while Father Silence studied each of them. Outside, the desert was a realm of midnight blue and star-strewn sable. In the distance, Evie could see bonfires and hear bass music as the other crews celebrated.

Ciaran had killed Lycan. It was the second time he’d killed. The thought haunted her.

Evie presented Mother Night with the Bestiarum Vocabulum as they sat on embroidered cushions around a Moroccan feast. The book hummed in Evie’s hands, as if alive, causing her unease. What had made it? It had belonged to an Elizabethan wizard, but Evie could sense it wasn’t from this world. Mother Night accepted the book as if it were a newborn, her perfectly manicured nails tracing the images on the embossed cover.

“Was there any opposition?” Father Silence asked with a hint of humor.

“Our tricks didn’t work very well,” Ciaran spoke amiably, before anyone could say anything. “But we managed the few thugs the Sirens hired. Jason Ra showed up.” He didn’t mention Fenrir.

Father Silence’s humor vanished. His pale eyes met Ciaran’s. Clearly, neither was afraid of the other. She wondered if Silence knew about Fenrir, if he suspected there was more to Lycan’s “disappearance.” Reynard wouldn’t be able to tell him, because Fenrir had come to Marseille without Silence and Night’s blessing.

A chill shot through her—how had Fenrir learned about their mission?

“Jason Ra.” Father Silence said, and it was a death sentence. Evie felt it in her bones, in the splintered way Silence spoke Jason’s name.

Silence flashed a smile and turned his formidable attention on Evie. “You brought the Bestiarum Vocabulum out of its hiding place. You’ve done extremely well, Evie. This lot”—he flicked a fond look at Ciaran, Dev, Mad, and Queenie, who were gently arguing over the spectacular food laid out before them—“they’re easy to please. But we don’t quite know you yet.” Father Silence sat with an arm on one bent knee. His white linen clothing gave him a deceptively saintly air.

He suddenly looked up. “Pardon me.” He rose and walked out to speak with one of the young guards.

“You want knowledge.” Mother Night spoke to Evie. She absently stroked Mad’s hair as Mad laid her head on one of her shoulders and bit into a pastry. A bracelet of obsidian beads glistened around Mother Night’s wrist.

“Yes,” Evie admitted. “I want to know about things more than I want to own them.”

Ciaran glanced at her, approving.

“Go to Father. He’ll answer any questions you may have.” Mother Night nodded to the desert outside of the tent, where Silence stood alone now, smoking a cigarette and gazing outward. “That is your reward for un travail bien fait. A job well done.”

Evie reluctantly separated herself from the others. As Queenie leaned toward Mother Night to say something, Ciaran reached out and clasped Evie by one wrist, whispered, “No personal questions.

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