Free Season of Sacrifice by Mindy Klasky Page B

make of the boy’s tale. If an outlander walked into the common room tonight, he’d be welcomed with a full tankard.”
    “You exaggerate, Donal. These backwoods fools might not treat the outlanders as child-killers, but they’ll still rise up against thieves. Don’t forget that they live by their flocks. Lost lambs are lost gold.”
    “You need to unite your people, Your Grace. You need to show that you can keep them safe, even against bloodthirsty ravagers who would murder their own children, murder stolen children for a tree!”
    “I know what I need, man.” Coren’s voice sounded like his jaw was hard again. Reade lay as still as he could, terrified that either man would notice he was still awake.
    Donal continued, as if he didn’t hear that the duke was angry. “That boy is going to cause problems—mark my words. He should respect his elders, not contradict them. The girl was bad enough, at the first tavern, but at least those countrymen just thought she was hysterical. That boy is going to cause us a lot more trouble, if you let him go on and on.”
    “The boy is no fool. He knew I was displeased, and he went to bed hungry. He’ll hold his tongue now.” The duke’s voice softened a bit, and Reade could tell that he was smiling. “Don’t worry, Donal. They’ll both be fine. We’ll train them properly, once we’re back at Smithcourt. They’ll be ready to play the Sun-lord and Sun-lady in time for the Service.”
    “The Service is not my concern, Your Grace. It’s the journey to Smithcourt that worries me. You’re supposed to be raising the countryside on this trip. You’re supposed to be gathering support.”
    “We haven’t lost that support, Donal. People saw the Sun-lord in that room tonight.”
    “They saw a child in golden robes, a child who contradicted you.”
    “Are we going to have that argument again, about the robes?” The smile was gone from Duke Coren’s words.
    Donal answered quickly. “No, Your Grace. I understand why you want them in their finery. You want your duchy to remember the Sun-lord and the Sun-lady, and for the legend to spread, even after you’ve gained Smithcourt. It’s just that if they say the wrong things when they’re wearing those golden robes, we could have an entire village rise up against us. Your claim to the throne will hardly be advanced if you have to burn one of your own villages.”
    “You worry too much, Donal. The boy will hold his tongue. If he doesn’t, we’ll teach him a sharper lesson than an empty belly.” Duke Coren sighed. “This is the hardest time for us, Donal. This is when we need to take the gravest risks. You and I both know that my claim to the Iron Throne will die altogether, if I can’t produce the Sun-lord and the Sun-lady in Smith court, alive and ready for the Service.”
    Donal was silent for so long that Reade thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then he finally said, “I’m just saying that you should watch him, Your Grace. Watch him closely.”
    “I do, Donal. With every step we take closer to Smithcourt, I do just that.”
    Donal bowed then and left the tiny room. It took Reade a long time to fall asleep, even with the sound of Maida breathing on his right, and Duke Coren snoring in the great bed above.
    The next morning, Reade thought about the men’s argument. He decided he would let Duke Coren say whatever he wanted, even if he was wrong about the lambs and the Song of Sacrifice. That way, Duke Coren wouldn’t be angry with him. He wouldn’t be angry, and Reade would get to eat his supper. He’d get to share a bench with the nobleman, sitting in the tavern common room like a big boy.
    After all, what did it really matter if Duke Coren told some stories about the People? Lambs were sacrificed in the Song of Sacrifice. Was that so different from pouring lambs’ blood on the Tree? And no one could really believe that the People would pour a child’s blood on the Tree.
    Duke Coren must be telling a scary