“Code?” Sage glanced excitedly at the book on the desk.
Trepidation crawled up Willow’s spine like a spider.
“It has a hidden code,” Brother Nicolas clarified.
“A hidden code?” Raven echoed.
Sage inched closer. “Can you decipher it?”
“It will take time.” Brother Nicolas nodded slowly. “But I can decipher it.”
“Can you teach me?”
“Sage!” Raven objected.
Willow’s mouth dropped at Sage’s question.
“We don’t have that much time,” Raven insisted.
“I would love to teach you,” Brother Nicolas said enthusiastically. “It gets lonely down here. I would enjoy the company.”
“Sage,” Raven said between clenched teeth, “Can I talk to you?”
Willow watched them walk into a far corner. She knew what Raven was going to say. They had to go back and meet their father; they didn’t have time for Sage to remain and decipher some old hidden code. Sage would insist on staying. Another argument. Willow looked back at Brother Nicolas. “Why did you warn us about the book?”
Brother Nicolas pointed to a symbol on the first page. “This is a warning.” He shrugged. “But to what, I don’t know yet.”
“Who made the warning? What kind of book is it?”
A grin stretched across his wrinkled lips. “Those kinds of questions can only get you into trouble, child. You should return this book to whomever gave it to you.”
Willow grimaced. She felt guilty now, having taken it from Christian. Was that why the bounty hunters were after him? “To give it back would be an insult.”
“Hmmm.” He rubbed his weathered chin. “Then we have no other recourse but to decipher its message.”
Raven and Sage walked back to them. Raven’s jaw was clenched tight, and Willow knew Sage had refused to leave. It was what Sage had always wanted. To read.
“Sage is staying,” Raven announced. “To help Brother Nicolas.”
“Father won’t mind,” Sage said. “Brother Nicolas is a friend.”
Willow knew that was a lie. Father would be upset, very upset that Sage had defied his order.
“Willow and I will wait for Father’s return at Sybil’s farm,” Raven continued. “We’ll bring him back here.”
“Bring him back?” Brother Nicolas echoed in confusion. “There’s no need to bring him back. He is already here!”
Willow followed Raven, trailing a monk down the stone hallway to meet their father. Their steps echoed quietly. Soft voices could be heard from open doorways.
Sage had stayed with Brother Nicolas.
Raven’s shoulders were stiff, and her fists clenched in fury. It was enough that they were going to face their father, but with Raven angry, too, Willow felt she had no one on her side. And maybe she didn’t. Thiswasher fault.
What excuse could she invent for them to be at the chateau when their father had given them a direct order to go to Sybil’s farm? A smile wouldn’t do it. Not this time. She knew he would be enraged she had convinced her sisters to accompany her and endangered their lives. Then, he would demand to know where the book had come from.
She scowled and shook her head slightly, staring at the floor. It would get her into more trouble with her father if she lied. She would have to tell him she had seen Christian. Maybe he would be glad. After all, Christian was a friend. At least Christian wasn’t here to reveal she had stolen it.
Dread settled heavily in her stomach like a rock. She couldn’t allow her sisters to take the blame for something she had done. She would have to tell them the truth eventually. About Christian, about the book. Why had she taken it anyway? But deep down, she knew the answer. She had swiped it hoping Christian would come looking for it. Hoping she would get to see him again. But that was crazy! He was long gone by now, probably happy to be rid of the book. And her.
