Sage stared at Willow for a long moment.
Willow found it difficult to meet her sister’s gaze, but she forced herself not to turn away. She held her breath.
Sage shrugged.
Victory swelled within Willow. She glanced at the book in Sage’s hands. “We should probably figure out what it says. Do you know anyone who can read the book?”
Sage looked down at it. “Possibly. Remember Brother Nicolas from Chateau le Bezu?”
Willow shook her head.
“It was a long time ago, and you were young,” Sage admitted. “Chateau le Bezu is only half a day’s ride from here. Father is working a job and won’t be back until sunset tomorrow.” She stroked the book gently. “We could be back before sunset, and he would never know.”
Willow didn’t like doing things behind her father’s back. He would disapprove of them going to le Bezu. Her gaze dropped to the book. He would probably demand they burn it. But Willow wanted to know what the book said. Why had Christian possessed it? “Father will not be pleased if he finds out,” Willow declared.
Sage’s lips curved into a grin. “We’ll have to make sure he doesn’t find out.”
“What about Raven?”
“She won’t like it.”
“No,” Willow agreed. “And we shouldn’t tell her about Christian. She won’t approve. She never liked him. We can tell her I found the book.”
“Good idea.” Sage approved, easing the book closed and placing her hand protectively over the cover. “We could go without her and—”
Willow frowned in displeasure. She would never leave Raven out of their plan. They were sisters, and they stuck together. No matter what. Besides, Raven would be hurt if she weren’t included. “Wehaveto tell her. She’ll want to come with us.”
“No. Absolutely not,” Raven said, crossing her arms. “Father wouldn’t want us traveling the roads without him.”
Willow and Sage had intercepted Raven as she was leaving the inn, heading toward the stables. Desperation gripped Willow. She wanted Raven to come with them. “He doesn’t have to know,” Willow pleaded, following her across the yard. The same yard she had saved Christian in.
Raven whirled on her, moonlight washing over her angry features. “Don’t you think Sybil will tell him we didn’t help her with the harvest and that we were missing for an entire day?”
Willow scowled. She glanced imploringly at Sage, who still held the book.
“We’ll make something up,” Sage told Raven. “That we were out hunting.”
“All day?” Raven asked in disbelief. She put a hand on her hip. “And what do we say when we come back with nothing?”
“We didn’t find anything,” Willow answered.
“And you think Father will believe that?”
Father would never believe that. Raven was an excellent hunter. She never missed a kill.
“We got distracted practicing,” Sage offered.
Brilliant! Willow nodded enthusiastically. Sage was good. Father would believe that, and there was nothing he could negatively say because he always wanted them to practice their skills. “We could stay an extra day and help Sybil with the harvest. It will work! Please, Raven.”
“Why is this so important to you?” Raven demanded, glaring at Willow. 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?”
“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.”
“Books are important,” Sage said softly. “They hold knowledge, and knowledge is power.”
“I don’t want that kind of power. It’s dangerous.”
