“That’s Father talking.” Sage lifted her chin and ran a hand over the black leather of the book tenderly. “I want to know what it says. And I’m going to le Bezu whether you come or not.”
Willow gaped in disbelief.
Raven’s mouth dropped in shock for a moment, and then she snapped it shut. Her lips thinned, and her eyes narrowed. “I’ll tell Father.”
“I don’t care. I’m going.” Sage brushed past Raven and marched toward the stables. “You do what you have to.”
Raven stared, stunned. Sage had never defied father’s order before. Their father had told them to head to Sybil’s farm and help with the harvest until he returned. Her fists tightened as her shock slowly gave way to anger. Father would not be pleased. She worked hard to follow her father’s rules, to follow his orders, to please him. And now, Sage was going to defy him. Yet, Raven knew her father would be even angrier if she let Sage go the chateau alone. He always told them to stay together, that there was safety in numbers.
Willow stood for a long moment, staring at Raven. Then, she hurried after Sage.
Raven cursed quietly. She couldn’t let them go without her. The Chateau le Bezu was half a day’s ride. Those two could get hurt if they went alone. And she would be responsible. She closed her eyes in frustration. She didn’t want them harmed. It was her job to protect them, to make sure they didn’t do something reckless. With a sigh of resignation, she followed them into the stables. “This is not a good idea.”
Each woman moved to the stall where their horse was stabled.
Willow’s voice floated to Raven over the side of the stall. “When has anything worthwhile been a good idea?”
Raven shook her head. She didn’t think this was worthwhile. Father was going to be furious when he found out.
They had been riding for most of the night. Raven knew Sage must be excited to have a book read to her because it was the one thing she was passionate about. Reading. Books. Knowledge. Raven rolled her eyes. The only knowledge they needed was how to be better with a weapon to defend themselves and their family. She clenched her fists over the reins. A book. What a waste of time. All one needed was a sword. Raven followed Sage down the road, keeping her doubts and complaints to herself.
Thunder was breathing hard, and Raven knew her horse was becoming tired. It was a long trip for him. “We should rest,” Raven called.
Reluctantly, Sage agreed. She led them to the side of the road, where a hill rose to their right, and flat land stretched to their left.
Raven scanned the area. It was a suitable spot to stop. No hiding place for brigands or robbers.
They dismounted, and all the women immediately saw to the needs of their horses. Raven checked her steed’s reins and bridles. When she was finished, she patted his neck and bent over to stretch out her sore leg and back muscles. It was a long trip for her, too. It was a long trip for all of them.
Willow stretched her back, twisting it from side to side before heading off the road, where she sat down in a grassy area. She reached into her armor and pulled the black book out. They kept valuable items with them, not in saddle bags. It was safer that way in case they were robbed.
Raven wondered what made this book so valuable, especially to Willow. She had never shown this much interest in a book before. There was something suspicious about it.
Sage joined Willow, sitting beside her. Her shoulder bumped Willow’s playfully. “Trying to read it?” she teased.
“I think I’ll leave that to Brother Nicolas. Or you,” Willow replied. “You’ve always wanted to read.”
Raven shook her head in disapproval.
Sage sighed. “I wish someone would teach me.”
Willow nodded and continued to turn the pages.
“Does it have pictures?” Raven asked, joining them. She glanced down over Willow’s shoulder at the parchment pages of the book. The moonlight illuminated the foreign symbols. It would take valuable time to learn to read them. Time better spent working on skills they could use. She crossed her arms.
“No,” Sage answered. “That’s why we’re taking it to Brother Nicolas. He can read it.”
“What do you expect to find?”
Sage shrugged.
“The secret to the universe?” Raven mocked. “The fountain of youth?”
Sage rose quickly, annoyed. “You know, it’s not always about gold and riches. What if it tells you a secret fighting method? A forgotten way to fight and win.”
“What would I do with that? I already know how to fight.”
“You can always be better,” Sage snapped and stalked to her horse.
