Page 112 of The Bride of Lycaster
Ganora’s statue had a hard brow and a firm mouth with her hands held in tight fists at her sides. The people of the Beast’s Pass were much more generous with her offerings than with Fraleigh’s. The terrifying statue had dried apples, loaves of bread, and even small scraps of meat piled up at her feet. Even with most of the giants defeated, the villagers did not take any chances angering the fabled queen ofthe mountain.
I turned from the statue of Fraleigh and stepped in front of Ganora. I looked up at her hair and eyes painted a chalky white. Father would have scolded me for what I was about to do, not only because Ganora worship was pure villager foolishness, but also because she was responsible for the slaughter of the boys. She created her giants and sent them after our people. She mixed innocent blood with snow and destroyed the Northern provinces underher fists.
But as I tore the bread into ten pieces and recited every name I had heard as I dropped piece by piece at her feet, I did not honor Ganora—I honored the fallen. If the Queen of the Giants could hear me, then she would take the offering as a reminder of each young lifeshe stole.
I created a pile of bread until I had one flat loaf left in my hands. I tore the loaf in half and mychest shuddered.
“For Erik,” I whispered. “For Endre.”
I laid the halves of the loaf next to each other on top of the pile of offerings, sideby side.
My breath hitched. My lungs burned. I had not said their names inseven years.
The corners of my eyes stung and just as I thought a tear would escape for the first time since I was a child, two heavy fingers laid onmy shoulder.
“I never took you as a Ganora worshiper,” Riyan said as he kneltbehind me.
I glanced up at him and furrowed my brow. “The offering is not for her, it is for them.” I gestured back to the rest of the village. “If piles of offerings make them feel safer, then why not? Besides, I could not think of a better way to honor the fallen boys than to do something to prevent any more of them from becoming prey tothe giants.”
Riyan let out a breath and rubbed my shoulder with his thumb. “You could see it that way, but you will never catch me on my knees offering that monster anything. Well, except maybe my bootup her—”
“Sir Bloodstone!”
Riyan and I turned around. Olga held her frail mother in her arms but looked upat Riyan.
“Before you go, you have to make a wish!” Olga gestured with her blonde head toward a well near the Fraleigh statue. The stone well was also decorated with chains of pink andwhite flowers.
Riyan shot me a half-smile. Might as well indulge in thevillage foolishness.
Riyan stood up and walked over to the well. Children danced around him as he knelt beside the ring of stone. Riyan glanced down into the water and looked back at me. With soft eyes, he wrapped his massive hands around the stone and lowered his head into the well. His low whispers echoed off the stone and then he pulled himself out. He stood up and gestured to the well.My turn.
I took his place, pressed my hands on top of the rough stone, and looked down into the dark well. I blinked at my reflection in the still water. I had not wished in a well since I was a child, and even though my logical mind knew it was all peasant bullshit, my heart fluttered with excitement. I stood on my toes and leaned as far into the well as I could, making sure only the water could hearmy whispers.
“I wish to stay with Riyan.” The whisper tingled my lips asI spoke.
I smiled at my reflection and pulled myself out of the well. I did not dare look back as I walked away, but out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn the waterglowed white.
The villagers all cheered and waved to Riyan as he stood near the gate with his new hide tunic folded up over his arm. I raised my arms and Riyan picked me up by my middle and held me against hischest again.
He held a bunch of fat elskaberries in his right palm—a snack for the journey. Riyan took a step toward the open gate into the wilderness, but he stopped andlooked back.
Riyan stepped over to the Fraleigh statue. He leaned down and tipped his right hand, rolling the juicy berries into Fraleigh’swooden palm.
“For Hilda Brina Bloodstone.” He let out a breath from his nose as his throat muscles tightened. I leaned into his chest and listened to his heartbeat slow to a low thump. I could almost taste the sadness heheld back.
“You can let it out, Riyan,” I whispered so only he could hear. “As soon as we cross the gates, you can honor her the way you want to. Where no one elsecan see.”
“I don’t have enough liquor for that.” Riyan set his eyes north and walked back to the gate. The villagers all cheered and said their farewells as Riyan faced the open gate with me inhis arm.
With one step, we entered the magical wilderness. I was ready to see monsters, the Queen of the Giants herself, or even the legendary man trapped on the mountain, butnothing appeared.
“So what did you wish for?” Riyan asked as he walked up themountain path.
“You know I cannot tell!” I laughed. “If I tell, then the wish will notcome true.”
“Here you are again, surprising me with your faith inpeasant bullshit.”
I poked him in the chest. “Do not mistake desperation forfaith, Riyan.”
