Read an exclusive excerpt from Brittany N. Williams' debut novel before its April release.
“You two need to count before you accidentally take each other’s eyes out.”Advertisement
Samuel and Nick had both fumbled so badly through the movements in that morning’s rehearsal that Joan demanded they drill the fight in the empty playing space. She’d see they got the moves right before they performed for King James and the court. Or before the boys accidentally ran each other through.The latter looked more and more likely.
She cut her eyes at him. “There’s no need to trouble myself with changing for this simple a combination.” She smacked the flat of the blade against the fleshy back of his thigh, grinned when he yelped. “Do try to pay attention so you don’t embarrass the whole company in front of His Majesty and the whole court.”Nick and Samuel both guffawed but listened, Samuel stepping off to the side to watch and Nick taking his first position. She smiled to herself.
“Laugh if you’d like, but mess up again . . .” She let the threat hang in the air, leaving Samuel to dread what dastardly and exhausting punishment she’d come up with should he fail.“Now let’s see it once more.” She stood back and folded her arms, pretending that her heart wasn’t still racing.”Later, Joan wandered around the playing space with her hands full of dulled swords that she herself had mended and prepared for the King’s Men’s impending royal performance.
Nick smiled at her, his full lips quirking a little higher on one side as they always did before he slid into conversation with Rob. Joan suddenly found that she enjoyed this lopsided grin the most.Nick’s glorious black hair hung loose around his shoulders this time, thick and shiny and nearly reaching the small of his back.
Joan rolled her eyes. They always forgot she was stronger than them. No matter how many times she’d proved it.Samuel huffed and held the chain out for Joan to take. As soon as the metal touched her hands, she knew what it was: gilded tin. Cheap but done well enough to fool someone less savvy.“I was told you should use your refined eye and give it to the lady you think it suits best.”“And men,” Samuel said and wiggled his eyebrows at Nick.
She coaxed them to unbind themselves, to straighten back into the easy linked chain. As the metal ran over her fingers, it sang and grew warm to the touch.Done. The necklace looked unblemished. She sent the links curling around themselves, creating a delicate spiral pattern in the cheap metal.
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