The Cartographer's Daughter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Author:Kiran Millwood Hargrave [Hargrave, Kiran Millwood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2016-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

I hadn’t meant to say the last part out loud, but Pablo did not tease me. I felt his hand, warm and rough, slide into mine and squeeze gently.

“Come on,” he said. “We should get back.”

I picked up the satchel and boots, following him barefoot up the steep stone steps. The wind set about howling again. When we reached the top, there were lights and voices coming from one of the larger houses, and outside a fire burned, protected from the wind by the high wall. A lone figure sat there.

Pablo and I started toward the house, but as we neared the open door, the Governor’s voice growled from beside the fire.

“Come here, boy.”

I tensed. He had not looked up from the flames but was indicating a spot next to him. We started toward him, but he clicked his fingers at Pablo. “Not you.”

“You all right?” Pablo murmured.

“Hurry up,” barked Adori.

Shivering slightly, I walked over to him. Pablo paused in the doorway, then went inside.

“Been swimming?” Adori gripped my wrist, pulling me down before I could answer. “Sit.”

There was a long silence before he spoke again.

“So this is Carment.” He swigged from his hip flask. I could smell the honey brandy, thick and sweet. “Home of the Banished, some say. Did you know the girl? The dead one?”

“Her name was Cata,” I said, careful to keep my voice flat. “Yes. She was friends with my sister.”

“Your sister had an interesting assortment of friends,” remarked the Governor.

“She has, sir.” My hand gripped the satchel so tight my knuckles popped. I wished Pablo had not gone inside.

“Tell me, boy, do you enjoy your work?”

“Yes.”

“You are fortunate, then. My father was a governor too. Of a town in Afrik. I learned to fight, helping him to defend it. That is all being a governor is, really. Fighting. My father died trying to defend his power.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I killed him, after all.”

His words hit like a stone, and I tried not to flinch.

“But I got my punishment. I’m here, aren’t I?” He laughed hollowly and drank again from the flask. Now, I thought, I should ask him now.

“Why are you here, sir? For punishment?”

“For punishment. For redemption. Failed on that count. Yes. I was sent.”

Redemption? I didn’t know this word. I hesitated, then asked, “Sent by who?”

He was silent a long time, and I wished I were brave enough to look at his face to judge if I had gone too far.

“You have asked your question,” he said suddenly. “Now I have one for you. Why do you have my daughter’s locket around your neck?”

I reached up. The locket was sitting over the tunic in plain sight. I scrabbled about for an answer, heartbeat loud in my ears.

“Don’t bother lying,” said the Governor. His eyes were dull and dark as coals.

“She gave it to my sister,” I said finally.

The Governor nodded for me to continue. It took a few seconds to find where to start, and eventually I settled on Lupe sending Cata to look for dragon fruit.

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