(Fyne Witches, #2) The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

Author:Linda Winstead Jones [Jones, Linda Winstead]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

10

LIANE ESCORTED RYONA to a guest suite on Level Three. There were moments when she did not completely trust Mahri, even though the girl seemed loyal enough. Her years in this palace had taught her not to trust anyone completely, and that had not changed. She would likely always feel more at home on Level Three, where pleasure was more meaningful than politics, and love never entered the equation.

Ferghus was as loyal as anyone else around her, more loyal than most, and together they would keep Ryona’s rescue and whereabouts a secret for as long as possible. Until Liane was sure that Ryona and her child were strong enough to travel, she couldn’t allow them to leave. And until she knew why the girl had been thrown into Level Thirteen, she couldn’t allow anyone to know that she’d been rescued.

Ryona perched on the edge of a fine blue and green striped chair in this small guest suite that was reserved for visiting dignitaries intent on sampling the emperor’s greatest delights. Liane had taken care not to be seen by the crone who had wrongly informed her that Ryona had gone home months ago. The old woman might’ve been told by someone else that Ryona had gone home, in order to cover up the girl’s disappearance, but that wasn’t a chance Liane cared to take. Only two concubines, women Liane could trust because she had once been in their shoes, knew this room was now occupied. They would keep her secret, because they knew they’d pay a high price if they did not.

The young mother shook. She sat, trembling and watching Liane with open suspicion, as if she expected a knife to appear at any moment to end her suffering. The luxurious surroundings only made the girl’s skin seem dirtier, her eyes wilder, her dress more ragged. Ferghus was discretely fetching food, while the women who knew Ryona was here were getting clean clothing for mother and child, along with warm water and soap for both. It would take a while to accomplish such things in true secrecy.

“Why were you down there?” Liane asked.

Ryona’s head snapped to the side, and she stared out the window, squinting against the sun. “You know,” she whispered.

“I don’t,” she said gently.

“You know everything that goes on here, so you must . . . This is a trick,” the girl said beneath her breath. “He said it was a trick. You’ll make me think I’m rescued and then you’ll put me back down there with the demons and the monsters, and the screaming and the death. Or else you’ll make me lie with him again.” She shuddered. “Bastard. I’d rather go back down there. I’d rather face a demon than let that horrible man touch me again.” She lifted her head and looked Liane in the eye. “Just don’t make Dorie go back.”

“Dorie is your daughter’s name?” Liane asked.

“It’s short for Dorantha.”

Liane made an effort to remain calm, to keep her voice low and even so she wouldn’t frighten Ryona.

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