Raven’s eyes narrowed. “And you think Father will believe that?”
No. Sage knew Father would never believe that. Raven was an excellent hunter. Still, Sage was not put off. She had the answer. They just needed to tell their father what he would believe. “We got distracted practicing.”
Willow nodded enthusiastically, grinning. “We could stay an extra day and help Sybil with the harvest. It will work! Please, Raven.”
Raven shook her head. Her dark eyes pinned Willow. “Why is this so important to you?” she demanded. She jerked her head at Sage. “I can see Sage being so adamant, but you? You want us to ride an entire day for some old monk to read a book? You’ve never cared about a book before. What do you think it’s going to say?”
Sage had been asking herself the same questions. She knew Willow secretly harbored feelings for Christian, but she wasn’t sure that was the cause of Willow’s interest. There was something Willow was not telling them. But Sage didn’t care. It was nice to have one of her sisters as interested in a book as she was.
“I don’t know,” Willow admitted. “But aren’t you curious?”
“No,” Raven insisted. “I don’t care about a book. I’d rather be practicing. Or doing something that will help me hone my skills. And you should, too.” She looked at Sage. “Bothof you.”
Raven was so much like their father. Sometimes, it boiled Sage’s blood. “Books are important,” Sage asserted. “They hold knowledge, and knowledge is power.”
“I don’t want that kind of power. It’s dangerous.”
“That’s Father talking.” Sage lifted her chin and ran a hand over the black leather of the book. Raven would never understand books. Not the way Sage did. They held knowledge; they held secrets. “I want to know what it says. And I’m going to le Bezu whether you come or not.”
Willow gaped in disbelief.
Raven’s lips thinned, and her eyes narrowed. “I’ll tell Father.”
“I don’t care. I’m going.” She brushed past Raven and marched toward the stables. “You do what you have to.”
Willow stood indecisively for a long moment. Then, with a small sigh, she hurried after Sage.
Raven cursed quietly and followed them into the stables. “This is not a good idea.”
The three girls moved to the stall where their horses were stabled.
Sage smiled to herself. Victory. She had always allowed Raven to lead, never standing up to her. It felt good to take charge for once.
Willow met Sage’s gaze over the back of her horse, grinning widely. “When has anything worthwhile been a good idea?”
