CHAPTER ONE

The Queen’s Knife
Wilde Island AD 1145

Mother pulled out her knife. We were alone in her solar.

“It’s time,” she said. “Give me your hand.”

I drew back. “It’s not yet Sunday eve.”

“We’re together, Rosalind and the door’s well locked.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tonight.” Then softening her voice she said, “Come, Rosie, take off your gloves.”

Her blade flashed in the firelight, which sent a russet glow across the room. She was ready for the ritual. I dreaded it.

“Take yours off first.”

Mother placed her knife on the table and bared her hands. Queen Gweneth’s fingers were finely tapered as candles, her skin milky as the moon. It was a shame for her to wear golden gloves, but she’d donned them at my birth to protect me, and worn them ever since.

“Now you, Rosie.”

I bit my lip as she removed my right glove. Pretty hand that never saw the sun with soft and creamy skin not unlike her own. Mother kissed it. Then taking my other hand in hers, she peeled away the left glove.

My throat tightened as we looked at my fourth finger. The horny flesh. Blue-green and scaly as a lizard’s hide. Claw of the beast with a black curving talon at the end.

I rubbed the scar at the base of my claw. A wound I’d made myself the night of Nell’s witch burning. With her cunning craft Nell had lured folk into the woods and fed them to the dragon. Of this she was accused, and too she had a devil’s mark on her back. I’d seen the mark myself before they burned her — it was nothing compared to mine. None but Mother and myself knew what hid under my glove lest I be burned for a witch.

With Cook’s sharp knife, I’d stolen to my room to cut off my cursed part. The wound was deep and the blood had drenched my kirtle before Mother caught me.

The queen was peering at my claw now, working her face to hold back a sickened sneer but with all her trying, her lip still tightened. “The sorrow of it,” she whispered. “That it should be your wedding finger.”

“No man would marry me unless he were a leper.”

“Rosie. Don’t say such things.”

“Then say it isn’t true.”

Mother took out her silver vial, sipped the poppy potion and closed her eyes. The fire
crackled. When the lines around her eyes and mouth grew smooth she corked the bottle and set her jaw. “Now.”

I hid my hand behind my back. “It will hurt.”

“I’ll cut with care.” Tugging my wrist close, she started peeling the black talon as a fletcher sharpens an arrow.

Curled bits of hard black nail fell to the floor, clickety-click. Sparks flew and a trail of smoke rose as she trimmed the nail. It was a wonder we’d shaken our heads at. For what kind of talon hides a spark?

Scrape. Scrape. I closed my eyes and smelled the odor of ground bone and stranger still a smell of rusted metal. The stench filled me with shame.

I waited for her to finish, breathing slow to calm myself. Then I felt a sharp prick.

“Too close to the quick!” I drew back and blinked away the tears.

“Done,” said Mother, sweeping the broken bits of nail in her hands and tossing them in the fire.

Gently now, she slid my golden gloves back on and put her cool hand on my cheek. “This secret is heavy between us,” she said. “But don’t cry, Rosie. I’ll find a way to cure you. I swear it on my life.”