The Glass Maker's Daughter by V. Briceland

Author:V. Briceland
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: teen fiction, teen, Young Adult, science fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, teenager
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Published: 2011-08-25T21:00:00+00:00

21

—

For centuries it was thought that the citie-state of Cassafort

was poised to aim its speares at the Azure Islandes,

so firm was its hold on the northernmoste coast of the Azure Sea. Either their feare of our noble armies or their lacke of ambition, however, has kept them at bay.

—ANONYMOUS, A BRIEFE AND COMPLEAT

HISTORIE OF THE CASSAFORT CITIE

You’ve taken him down a few pegs. He’s been quiet all afternoon.” Mattio leaned his large frame close and nodded in Fredo’s direction. “But your cousin’s been acting like he’s the chief craftsman here, lately.”

Risa pretended to check over her father’s inventory notes, written in spiky italic. It had been just days since she’d last witnessed his hand dancing across the page. The last line ended in a scrawl; Ero had hastily aborted his record-keeping in the middle of a word. Had he abandoned his quill at the news of the king’s death? What was he doing now? Her sea-blue bowl sat on the old desk beside her. Look as she might in its reflective surface, his visage had not once appeared since she’d seen it in her chambers. She had intended to ask Mattio if he had ever seen her father work such an enchantment into glass, but she knew that his answer would be a surprised negative. So she asked instead, “How is Amo doing?”

“He’s a good and hard worker,” Mattio admitted. It was his highest praise, Risa knew. “Technically I’d say he’s better than Emil, and he’s not too high and mighty to get his hands dirty, the way your cousin sometimes can be.”

“Can he stay here?”

“Until your father gets home, that’s up to you,” said Mattio. “I wouldn’t mind an extra craftsman about the place in Ero’s absence.” Risa cast a smile in Milo’s direction. Sitting by the side of the desk on a stool, he was listening to every word they said—though for once he refrained from offering his own opinions. “But when your father is cazarro once more, the decision will be his. That reminds me,” he added, his face blank. He had followed the direction of Risa’s glance. “Let me show you something.” With one of his arms around her shoulder, Mattio began to escort Risa across the room toward the bins where they stored sheets of glass in an upright position. “We’ll be right back, lad. No need to worry,” he assured Milo. The guard relaxed slightly, though he still sat alertly on the stool.

“Is something wrong?” Risa asked.

“That’s what I mean to ask you.” Mattio gestured to a collection of clear glass sheets. “Pretend we’re talking about the inventory. Is everything all right with you and that boy?”

A hot flush began to creep into Risa’s face. “What do you mean, all right?”

“He seems a little more worried about you than a guard ought to be in the line of duty.” Mattio’s grumbly voice lowered so that no one would overhear. “Like he’s taking an interest in you, that’s what I mean.”

“He’s a friend,” Risa immediately rejoined.

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