Page 30 of A Court Bright and Broken

“He told me that Dardick Creegan toldhimthat he’d noticed how ‘nicely’ you’ve grown up.” She gave a pert nod. “Andhe’sfar too well off to be concerned about a dowry.”

“Ugh. Dardick Creegan,” I groaned. “I might as well marry a Troll.”

Dardick was the eldest son of the wealthiest—and only—general merchant in town, and therefore quite a catch in the eyes of most girls. His family lived in the largest, nicest home in the village, and he’d just broken ground on the neighboring plot in preparation to build his own fine home.

Marrying him would certainly make my family’s lives much easier.

Unfortunately it would make mine a living hell.

Dardick was famously vain, and as far as I knew, had never once admitted to a mistake or a defeat. He was never wrong. He’d accept blame for nothing—even things numerous witnesses had seen him do and heard him say.

That wasn’t the worst of it. He’d seduced several of the local girls, but none of his courtships seemed to last.

According to him, he’d grown bored of them and called things off, but it had been noticed that each of them had sprouted mysterious bruises or sprains after spending time with him.

No one had outright accused him of abuse, but the women kept their distance after the breakups and didn’t want to talk about him.

I wasn’t sure why, but my guesses were they either felt shame about something that had happened to them or that Dardick’s father had paid for their silence. Maybe it was both.

Plus it was well known he was a steady customer of the nearest pleasure house to our village. There were stories that after his “visits,” the women who’d served him bore fresh marks on their faces and necks.

Though my father had warned against believing rumors, some were so persistent and loud they were impossible to ignore. My friends and I took care to steer well clear of him.

“I know, you’re right,” Katricia agreed, slumping. “He’s horrible. I’m sorry I even suggested it. I just thought… well, you seem desperate.”

“It’s all right. Iamdesperate.”

For a moment, I tried to imagine living with Dardick, allowing him to kiss me, sharing a marital bed—on the nights he chose to come home anyway.

Allowing him to beat me as the poor pleasure house workers were required to do.

I flopped back into my chair, staring up at the low ceiling. “There’s got to be another way.”

“You could ask Sorcha for help,” Katricia suggested. “She haswaysof finding lost things—and helping people with all sorts of problems.”

“Yes, I know, and herwayslead to all sorts ofnewproblems,” I said.

I’d already planned to visit the Earthwife’s cottage as soon as I left here to ask for a loan of Papa’s pain medicine. I didn’t want him to go another day without it.

But I did not want to get any deeper into her debt than absolutely necessary.

Though the villagers relied on Sorcha’s healing treatments, all of us were a little afraid of her as well. Earthwives had powers—and motives—none of us really understood.

And we all knew the stories of people who’d struck bargains with her.

Like Alux Cowden, who’d always longed to be a famous bard despite the fact he couldn’t carry a tune in a wheelbarrow.

Overnight he’d developed a new talent for playing the lute, and his previously torturous voice had become silken and true. His fame had spread quickly throughout the Three Peaks Valley, and he’d even been invited to perform for a lord in the neighboring region of Windros.

Unfortunately, on his way home, his horse had apparently gotten spooked and had run his master directly into a low-hanging tree branch.

It had struck him across the throat, ending his singing career—and his life.

And then there was Nilsa Mulberry, who’d asked to be the richest woman in our village. After visiting Sorcha, she’d gone on a walk and found a bag of precious gemstones.

She’d enjoyed her newfound riches for exactly two months before the sheriff of Ardenmoor arrived in our village in search of a noblewoman’s missing jewels.

Nilsa’s insistence she hadn’t stolen the gems but had simply found them didn’t move him. He’d taken her away to spend the rest of her days in Deadmarsh Prison.

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