Page 79 of Twin Crowns

“Just like that.”

The waves rippled around them as Shen swam her back to shore, the water cresting just beneath his chin. By the time they staggered on to the sand, sopping wet from head to toe, a crowd of witches had gathered on the shoreline.

Thea ran to them, scooping Rose into her bosom as if she were a small child. “Oh, Rose. I’m so glad you’re safe.” She rubbed her back in circles, and Rose felt her lungs relax, the lingering ache in her muscles slowly melting away. “Don’t worry, love. We’ll get you out of those wet clothes and in front of a crackling fire.” When Thea released her, she looked sharply at Shen. “What happened?”

“Rowena happened.” He peeled off his soaking shirt, revealing the golden-brown planes of his chest and the ring that hung from his neck. His skin was smooth and muscled, and... Rose realized she was staring. She looked away, quickly, to where Tilda was tearing down the beach.

“Rose! Rose! Banba is coming!”

With a face like thunder Banba stomped after the young witch. The crowd parted for her. Her gaze hardened as she looked Rose up and down. “Are you all right?”

Rose tried to swallow the tremble in her voice. “Barely.”

Banba unclasped her cloak and slung it around her shoulders. “Warm yourself, girl. I will deal with this.”

She spun around, searching the crowd. “Rowena Glasstide, show yourself!”

Rowena was hauled to the front of the crowd. Banba took one look at the witch and backhanded her across the face. “How dare you attack one of your own? Do you think you are above the rules of Ortha? Aboveme?”

Rowena spat blood on to the sand. Then she raised her chin and met Banba’s gaze. “It’s not my fault I’m the only witch in this damned place who’s brave enough to give her what she deserves. Rose is a witch-hating traitor. We all know she’d kill every one of us if she had half the chance!”

“Nonsense,” said Thea calmly. “Rose is no killer. She has been blessed with the craft of healing. She is one ofus.”

“She will never be one of us!”

“Well, not if you kill her!” shouted Shen. “Give her a chance!”

“What use have we for the princess?” challenged Cathal. “The switch has already been made!”

Banba raised her fists, and a howling wind ripped across the beach. The witches fell silent. Rowena kept her jaw clenched, but Rose saw that she was trembling now.

“You donotdecide justice here, Rowena Glasstide.” Banba’s voice soared on the wind until it was everywhere all at once. “With your actions, you shame your ancestors. You shame your craft. You shame yourself.” She dropped her hands, and the wind disappeared in a ragged howl. The sudden quiet felt even deadlier. “I punish you for what you have done. I punish you for defying me. And more than that, I punish you for the attempted murder of one of your witch sisters.”

“Andyour princess!” cried Rose, unable to stop herself.

“You will never be my princess,” Rowena hissed.

“SILENCE!” Banba raised her hands, and with them, she silenced not only the witches but the crashing waves and the shrieking gulls. Until only her voice could be heard. She looked hard at Rowena. “You will hang by your wrists from the cliffs until sunrise tomorrow.”

Rowena was swiftly hauled away. She didn’t protest, nor did she struggle. She went willingly to her fate, and Rose found herself squirming as she watched her.

Banba glared at the rest of the witches. “Take this as a warning to all of you. Rose is my granddaughter. My blood. Do not forget it. I decreed she would live, and so she shall.”

Back in the hut, Rose shivered in front of the hearth, trying to get warm.

Thea brought her a steaming cup of ginger tea. “Drink this, love. It will help with the shock.”

The floorboards creaked, and Banba appeared in the doorway. “Thea, my light in the dark, I’d like to speak to my granddaughter alone.”

“Of course, my sky.” Thea kissed Banba on the cheek as she bustledpast her. “I’ll be back within the hour.”

Rose did not relish the idea of being alone with her grandmother, but she was too cold to leave the fire.

Banba sighed wearily as she settled in her rocking chair. “Do you think me a monster?”

“No....” Rose chose her words carefully. “But I think that kind of punishment could be considered monstrous.”

Banba released a short, sharp laugh. “You must know that a strong ruler must sometimes be cruel. You cannot allow others to take advantage of you, Rose.” Her chair creaked as it rocked back and forth. “Rowena wanted you dead. And she is not alone in that desire. She got off lightly today. As leader of Ortha and your grandmother, I could have drowned her myself. And maybe I should have. To make it clear that no one in Ortha should defy me. That nobody should harm you.”

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