Honeycomb by Joanne M. Harris

Author:Joanne M. Harris
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press
Published: 2021-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

50 TRIAL OF THE LACEWING KING

As the Lacewing King made his escape across the floor of the ocean, he wondered who could have rescued him. He knew of only one person who commanded the spiders of the sea. But the Spider Queen was his enemy. Why would she want to save his life?

There was, of course, only one answer to this. Because she wanted to take it herself. And as the spiders carried him steadily towards the ship, the King began to understand that, far from being safe, he had simply exchanged one peril for another. But he showed no sign of fear. He was, after all, the Lacewing King.

Finally, the bubble of air reached the surface of the waves. The Lacewing King looked up and saw the ship of silk and starlight, with the Spider Queen looking down at him, and said:

“What a charming welcome.”

The Spider Queen’s thin lips twitched in satisfaction. She had made a special attempt to look as captivating as possible; her dress was of moths’-wing velvet, stitched all over with tiny pearls, and she was wearing a silken veil over her coronet of eyes.

“I’m so glad you think so,” she said. “In fact, I’ve brought someone to see you.” And with that, she indicated something that hung from the top of the crow’s nest. It was the Barefoot Princess, tightly bound in spider-silk, with only her face, feet, and hands showing from beneath the cocoon. Around her, the swarm of honeybees that had once adorned the King’s coat buzzed and scolded helplessly.

The Spider Queen saw her enemy flinch, and felt an exquisite pleasure.

“Your ward was so eager to find you,” she said. “Your ward—or is she something else? Your daughter? Maybe your granddaughter?”

The Lacewing King just looked at her with eyes as cold as starlight. And yet, he knew that the Spider Queen had finally found the way to his heart.

“I brought her here to find you,” said the Queen in her silky voice. “And of course, for you to watch as I feed on her delicious young flesh.” Shifting to her spider Aspect, mandibles clicking hungrily, she started towards the crow’s nest, moving deftly along the ropes, singing a little song under her breath.

“Long ago, and far away,

Far away and long ago—”

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