Hunter's Moon Read Online Free Page B

something isn’t right, that something is out of place, that something is making you feel uneasy, though you have no idea what it is or why it’s making you feel that way. That’s how I felt, right at that moment – as though I should not be going to the palace. That something badwas waiting for me there, and that I should turn around and go home.
    I’d had moments like that a few times when I was a child. Once, when walking in long grass at my grandfather’s country house, the shiver had gone up my spine and I’d stepped back. Looking down, I’d seen that I had only just avoided stepping on a snake. Another time, I’d had the same feeling and backed off an old wooden bridge – just before it had collapsed. Yet another time was when I’d jumped off my beloved pony Bruna, just before a horsefly bite had sent her careering around the field. There had been other, less dramatic moments. My old nurse used to say it was my gypsy ancestor Tamara coming out in me, that I had a kind of ‘sight’ that preserved me from danger. But I found that as childhood faded, so did the so-called ‘sight’. I could not recall the last time I’d had this experience. Certainly not in the four years since I’d turned thirteen.
    I hesitated, looking at Belladonna. I opened my mouth to speak – then I shut it again, for what was I going to say? That I wanted to turn back? What reason would I give for not going? And really, I didn’t want to turn back. I wanted to go to the ball. I convinced myself that it was just nerves and an overactive imagination, like my foolish thoughts last night about tempting fate. Belladonna would scoff at the very notion of ‘sight’ and ‘tempting fate’ – polite society doesn’t believe in such nonsense as second sight, witches, shapeshifters and other such things.
    Still, I’ve come to realise that there’s a strange gap between what people say they believe and what they really do believe. People in Noricia are very superstitious,and everyone knows these creatures do exist. And Aurisola, where Belladonna comes from, has a reputation for magic.
    Aurisola. Why had my father gone there so suddenly?
    â€˜Belladonna, do you know why Father had to go to Aurisola?’ I asked.
    My stepmother looked at me in surprise. ‘Why do you ask?’
    â€˜It’s just that there is only one small Ladies’ Fair shop there and I know he doesn’t like travelling long distances. Usually he’d just get his manager to look after things –’
    â€˜This wasn’t usual,’ said Belladonna, interrupting me. ‘It was urgent business that only he could attend to.’
    â€˜But –’
    â€˜If he’d seen fit for you to know what it was, then you would,’ she said. ‘You have to respect your father’s decisions, Bianca.’
    I could feel my cheeks flaming. ‘Oh, I do, but –’
    â€˜Enough!’ she snapped, her voice harsh. ‘Here we are about to appear before the ruler of the land and all you can think of are things that are none of your business! I’m disappointed in you, Bianca.’
    I could feel my face go from red to pale. I stammered, ‘I’m … I’m sorry. I didn’t mean … I didn’t think …’
    â€˜No. That’s true enough,’ said Belladonna, ruefully shaking her head. ‘But you must think before you speak, my darling, and keep a guard on your tongue, for you do not know who might be listening.’
    Belladonna can be a bit too suspicious of people sometimes. Father says it comes from her having grown up in Aurisola, which as well as having a reputation for magic isalso known as a city of intrigues and informers. Everyone there treads very carefully.
    I nearly responded to Belladonna’s comment that in this case it was only her listening, not unfriendly strangers, but I controlled myself in