Tracing the Shadow by Sarah Ash

Author:Sarah Ash
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Magic, Apprentices, Fantasy fiction, Orphans, Fiction, Fantasy, General, Alchemists, Epic
ISBN: 9780553805192
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 2008-01-29T20:12:03+00:00

Gauzia stormed off through the cloisters; Celestine ran after her, the sound of their fast-pattering feet echoing around the moonlit courtyard.

“What’s wrong, Gauzia? Everything went well. Aren’t you pleased?”

“It makes me so angry.” She spoke at last and her voice was choked with emotion. “To see those daughters of privileged families simpering around Queen Aliénor in their fancy clothes.” She clenched her fists at her sides. “Why did we have to be born helpless women?”

“Helpless?”

Gauzia spun around on her heel. “What life is there for us, Celestine? We have no dowries, so we can never hope to marry. We have no money, no status, nothing.”

“But we have our voices. We could make our careers from singing.”

“Oh, wake up, Celestine.” Gauzia took hold of her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Try leaving Saint Azilia’s and making your way on your own. Just try! How long would you last in the real world? A woman alone is easy prey. We’ve been sheltered here. Protected from the realities of life on the streets.” She let go of Celestine. “It’s different for men. Why can my brothers go into the army, the navy, the priesthood—and all that’s left to me is to be shut away in this dreary convent?”

Celestine hung her head. She had no answer.

“Don’t you have a dream? Do you really want to stay here forever?”

A little spark caught fire in Celestine as if she understood what Gauzia was saying for the first time.

Forever.

“N—no,” she said dazedly. “There are things…things I have to do…”

The sharp clatter of hooves on the cobbles startled them both. Two horsemen rode into the convent courtyard; the first dismounted as the girls stared, carelessly flinging his reins into the hands of the second. A couple of shaggy hounds loped in behind them, pink tongues lolling out of their mouths as they panted.

“Good-day, little sisters,” he called cheerfully, “can you take me to my brother? I thought I’d pay him a surprise visit.”

“Your b—brother?” Gauzia was staring unashamedly. Celestine was tongue-tied. With his piercing eyes of dark blue, curling dark hair, and entrancing smile, she had never seen such a good-looking young man before.

“We’ve been hunting, haven’t we, Locronan?” The newcomer turned to his companion, who grinned and nodded. “Bagged a fine brace of partridge out on the moors.”

“Prince Aubrey?” Recovering, Gauzia dipped a swift curtsy and smiled boldly up at him. “Please follow me.”

“Wait, your highness,” cried his companion. “Your mother—”

“Will be delighted to see us!” called the prince, laughing as he strode after Gauzia.

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