The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness

Author:Deborah Harkness [Harkness, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2024-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

—

That night, I lay in Matthew’s arms, my legs twined through his, as I told him about my visit to the Crossroads and Meg’s likely strategy.

“It may be for the best that Meg will be trying to deflect, rather than attack, me. I’m not good at defense,” I confessed.

Matthew chuckled. “No, ma lionne, you are not. You have too much courage.”

“Grandpa Tally was the same,” I said, hoping that Matthew would tell me more about my grandfather, Ysabeau, and World War II.

“Hmm,” Matthew said, his finger inscribing lazy circles around the scars on my back.

We both bore the traces of our past battles: mine with Satu Järvinen, Matthew’s with hundreds of foes during centuries of conflict. They were a constant reminder that courage, like miracles, often left a mark.

“What are you thinking?” I propped myself up on his shoulder.

“That you need one of Baldwin’s battle plans,” Matthew replied. Baldwin was the family’s master strategist and had been responsible for most de Clermont victories on and off the field.

“I’d rather have one of yours,” I said, not wanting my brother-in-law to know about my upcoming ordeal.

“Mine wouldn’t suit you,” Matthew said. “I prefer to wait until my enemy reveals their weakness.”

“Teach me how.” I tried to tickle Matthew into agreement.

He barely moved.

“Pleeease.” Maybe wheedling would work.

Matthew yawned.

I touched my teeth to his shoulder. A little nip usually got his attention.

Nothing.

“Damn you, Matthew, I’m just asking for some help!” I said, frustrated.

I found myself on my back, arms pinned to my sides, and Matthew on top of me.

“Being thwarted is your weakness,” Matthew purred. “Impatience, too. You want what you want, when you want it. It’s your Achilles’ heel.”

“Meg’s entire purpose is to thwart me.” I groaned. “I’m never going to find my way at the Crossroads.”

“Would that be so terrible?” Matthew searched my face for clues.

“I want to succeed,” I said, knowing it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “I’m afraid that if I don’t, I’ll hunger for what might have been.”

Matthew listened, his face grave. “You’ve tasted forbidden fruit, eaten from the Tree of Good and Evil. You won’t be satisfied without it.”

“Not evil.” I pushed against his chest with all my might. “Higher magic is not evil.”

Matthew rolled so that I was on top, straddling his hips with my legs. My eyes sparked in warning, and the ends of my hair were aflame.

“What are you afraid of, Matthew?” I demanded.

“That if you do succeed, I won’t like who you become.” Matthew’s fathomless eyes met mine.

I slid away, not wanting Matthew’s truth, though I had demanded it of him—a truth hidden deep in Shadow, where it could damage all that we’d shared and built together.

How could I face Meg, now that I knew Matthew’s fear? The arrowhead the goddess gave Philippe was warm on my skin, a reminder that she was not done with me, and my courage returned, carried on a wave of anger.

“You are a wolf, but I am a lion,” I said, my voice fierce. “I will not be tamed.

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