Heart of the Moors_An Original Maleficent_Mistress of Evil Novel by Holly Black

Author:Holly Black [Black, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult
Goodreads: 45454619
Publisher: Disney Press
Published: 2019-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

The day of the festival dawned early. Aurora awoke, kicking off her blankets. She flung open her windows, letting in a rush of sweet air that carried the scents of blooming flowers and baking bread.

None of it made her feel any better.

Every time she thought of Phillip, she had a curious sensation in her chest, as though she were wearing a too-tight corset. And it seemed she couldn’t put thoughts of him aside.

The night before, she’d found herself gazing down at the fountain at the edge of the royal gardens, hoping that she would see Phillip waiting for her there. If he had been, she would have gone down and tried to explain—although she wasn’t sure exactly what she would have said.

Marjory came in, smiling. “Are you eager for the festival to begin?”

“Yes,” Aurora said, trying to focus on that. “Today the humans and the faeries will dance together and eat together. Surely they will see that we’re not so different.”

Aurora thought of what Nanny Stoat had told her: We want enough food in our bellies to be strong, enough warmth in the winter to be hale, and enough leisure to have joy.

But the thought of food and leisure and joy made her mind wander to the monstrous banquet of the night before. Phillip had been such a good guest that everyone had liked him. And she’d been so happy.

Until the end.

Being in love had nearly destroyed Maleficent. Denying love had destroyed King Stefan. And King Stefan’s inability to love Queen Leila had probably ruined her life, too.

Love was terrifying in its power.

Love was just plain terrifying.

Marjory smiled at her, looking a little skeptical. “I hope so, Your Majesty.”

For a moment, Aurora couldn’t recall what they’d been talking about. Then she remembered. Humans and faeries, getting along.

“They will,” she insisted. “They must.” She had to get something right.

For now, Aurora insisted on wearing a simple dress of gray wool that buttoned all the way from her neck to the floor, with pocket slits that showed the red lining.

“I will come back and put on my prettiest gown for the festival, but there’s so much still to do,” Aurora said, pulling it on.

“My lady, no one expects you to get dirty,” Marjory replied.

“But I mean to help out any way I can,” Aurora said, “and there’s no telling what that might entail. I promise to return.”

“See that you do,” Marjory chided. “Wouldn’t you be a shock to your people, dressed as you are.”

Moments later, Aurora was down the stairs and in the kitchens. Despite her head cook’s assurances that she wasn’t needed, she helped take pies out of the oven, climbed a ladder outside to stir enormous vats of soup, and even turned a spit to help cook a mess of fresh-caught fish. Feeding the whole village was an undertaking, and the kitchens were a buzzing hive of activity.

After a breakfast of a bowl of cream, which she shared with a castle cat, Aurora hastened out to the gardens, where servants were setting up long tables and benches for the hundreds of people expected to come.

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