Sinner's Isle by Angela Montoya

Author:Angela Montoya [Montoya, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

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Sinner’s Isle held a comely hamlet. Squat buildings of stone lined a little square, soft yellow light glowing from their windows. It didn’t smell of garbage and shit like the other towns he’d been in when they’d come to port. There were no rats or rabid dogs running about. All was quiet, save the hum of instruments and laughter coming from the cantina at the end of the path.

The doors creaked as Mariano shoved them open. The smell of sweaty bodies, smoke, and ale filled his lungs. The room was packed. Some were dressed in the rough muslin of servants’ robes. Others were Doña Lucía’s guests, still donning the pale garments and golden flakes from the ballroom festivities; apparently, their transformations hadn’t been just some palace illusion. A handful of palace guards were there, dressed in their silver tunics. A single padre sat slumped over in a darkened corner. A few musicians plucked at their instruments near a small stage. And there were sailors milling about, donning the red-and-black uniforms of the armada. Mariano turned his shoulder so they couldn’t catch a view of his face. Though, he supposed, it was still painted up like the other revelers.

A barmaid swept in front of Mariano. Her face was covered, as the servants of the isle seemed to be. Her exposed skin was sun-bleached, with more freckles than looked possible. Two frothing mugs of ale sweated in her hands.

“Can I get you something, amor?” she asked.

“Sí.” Mariano snatched a jug from her and guzzled it down. He was parched, but more than that, he needed something to take the edge off.

“That wasn’t meant for you,” she said with a laugh.

He grinned, wiping the foam from his upper lip. “No? And here I thought you’d come to greet me.”

She giggled. “In that case, you may have this one as well.” She handed the other mug to Mariano.

“Thank you, señorita.”

“I’m called Fernanda.”

His chest constricted suddenly. He didn’t even know the thief’s name. Hadn’t even thought to ask. He shoved the strange, gnawing sensation down. She didn’t exactly ask for his either. She was too busy stealing his most valued possession and blackmailing him with it.

“That’s beautiful,” he said.

“Named after my mamá’s favorite horse, I was.”

Mariano choked on his ale. “Must be some horse.”

“Oh, she was, señor. That filly had the finest set of teeth in the kingdom. It’s my gifting—I can break anything with these things.” She lifted her veil and flashed a bright, sturdy smile.

“Are all women on the isle Majestics, then?”

“Ah, sí. But only the prized pieces stay up in the palace. The rest of us either serve them, the guards, or the isle at large. It’s not so bad. We’re left alone, for the most part. Some even have families. Though, the priests aren’t so happy about that.” She gave a wink and dropped her face covering.

A group of men cheered, tearing Mariano’s attention from Fernanda to a dark corner of the cantina. They were huddled over a table, elbowing each other and shouting profanities to their companions.

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