Mixing romance with magic and paranormal intrigue,Bloodleafcenters on young Princess Aurelia.
But even without her crown, she cant leave politics behind.
Already generating plenty of advanced praise,Bloodleafis sure to make a splash when it lands next year.
Credit: HMH Books for Young Readers
Read on below, and pre-order the book ahead of its March 5 releasehere.
Order in all things, that was the Tribunals motto.
I scanned right and left from under my hood, wary.
Good day for a hanging, a man next to me drawled in a conversational tone.
I glanced quickly away, unable to meet his eyes for fear he might notice mine.
A murmur rippled across the crowd as two women were prodded up the stairs onto the platform.
Accused witches, both of them.
The second, a younger woman with a sad face and stooped shoulders, was perfectly still.
They were both dressed in rags, dirt caking their sallow cheeks and clinging to their matted hair.
Theyd probably been isolated and starved for days, long enough to turn them desperate and feral.
The man whod spoken to me sidled in closer.
Fantastic fun, these hangings.
I tried to ignore him, but he leaned in, repeating quietly, Wouldnt you agree,Princess?
Kellan, I said in a heated whisper.
What are you doing here?
He set his jaw, shadows collecting in the hollows beneath his copper-brown cheekbones.
I wanted to get out.
All right, lets go.
He made a grab for my elbow, but I snapped it back.
If you drag me away now, it will cause a scene.
Is that what you want?
To draw attention to me?
Now twenty, he was long since oath-bound to protect me.
Though it pained him to have to do so, he relented.
Why do you even want to be here, Aurelia?
How can this possibly be good for you?
I didnt have a reasonable answer for him, so I didnt reply.
Toris was a commanding presence in his starched collar and stiff black Tribunal coat.
Brothers and sisters, he began.
It is with great sadness we gather today.
We have before us Madams Mabel Lawrence Doyle and Hilda Everett Gable.
Around his neck hung a vial of red liquid.
He raised it so all could see.
I dont understand, Kellan was saying quietly by my ear.
Is this some challenge youve put to yourself?
Come stand in the midst of your enemies?
My eyebrows knitted together.
Right then I saw a dim shadow pass in front of the younger ladyMabeland pause next to her.
The shadow flickered at her feet, gathering form from the morning mist until it became starkly clear.
The air grew even colder in the square as the spirit pulled heat and energy into his cloudy form.
It was a young boy, no more than seven.
He clung to the skirt of the shackled woman.
No one touched him.
No one even looked his way.
I was likely the only one who could see him.
I know that woman, Kellan whispered.
Her husband used to come through Greythorne, selling books, at least two or three times a season.
Him and a son, too, I think.
I knew Mabel too, but I couldnt risk telling Kellan that.
By the blood of the Founder, you have been condemned to die.
Say your last words.
I stiffened, waiting for her to point a finger at me, to call me by name.
To bargain for her life with mine.
Instead she said, I am at peace, I have no regret.
And she lifted her face to the sky.
A familiar scent drifted around me: roses, though it was too early in the season for them.
Toris turned to the second lady, whose whole body was shaking violently.
By the blood of the Founder, you have been condemned to die.
Say your last words.
Her voice rang out.
She lied, I tell you!
Hilda pointed her bound, shuddering hands at a woman near the front of the audience.
Youll pay for what youve done!
Youll
The clock struck the hour, and the bell reverberated across the multitude.
Toris bowed his head and pronounced over the sound, Nihil nunc salvet te.Nothing can save you now.
Then he gave a nod to the executioner, and the floor dropped out from beneath the women.
I let out a cry, and Kellan pulled me into his shoulder to muffle it.
The bell tolled nine times and fell silent.
Their feet were still twitching.
Kellans voice was gentler now.
I dont know what you thought youd see here.
He tried to turn me away to protect me from it, but I twisted from his grasp.
I had to see.
Mabels body had gone completely still now, but the air around her shimmered.
When she emerged, she found her son waiting and she went to him.
It took longer for Hilda to die.
She gagged and spluttered, her eyes bulging from their sockets.
When it did happen, it was an ugly thing.
Her attention was on the sloppy sack of bones swaying at the end of the gallows rope.
Would you like to claim your mother-in-laws body?
Toris asked the woman.
No, she said emphatically.
And Hildas ghost silently screamed, dragging her intangible nails across her daughter-in-laws face.
The woman paled and put her hand to her cheek.
I wondered if Hildas rage had given her spirit enough energy to exert a real touch.
I didnt envy the daughter-in-law.
Id seen it happen before.
Letsgo, Aurelia, Kellan said.
He used my name instead of my title; he was becoming distressed.
The crowd was starting to get raucous, pushing forward as the bodies were dragged down from the stage.
My hand went to my empty wrist.
But Kellan was right; it was well and truly gone.
There were two new vacancies in the Tribunals cells, and they were never left empty for long.
Clothing was meant to reflect the ideals of modesty, simplicity, and austerity.
The only allowable exceptions were marriages and funerals.
Celebration was reserved for the events that curtailed ones opportunities to sin.
The dress was my mothers wedding gift to me, every tiny stitch done by her own hand.
Every day brought the occasion closer and closer.
Sighing, I straightened up and went through the door into the next room, ready for battle.
My mother was pacing on the other side of her table, skirts rustling with each restless stride.
She used my name like an epithet.
Onal took another slow sip of her tea.
I thrust my hands into my pockets.
The gesture was supposed to make me look sheepish and repentant, of which I was neither.
But this whole thing would be over faster if Mother thought I was remorseful.
You went to town alone this morning?
Have you lost your mind?
She lifted a stack of papers and shook them at me.
Let me read one to you, shall I?
This one contains a very detailed methodology of how to determine if youre a witch.
It involves a sharp knife and a thorough examination of the underside of your skin.
I didnt need to be reminded of how much I was hated.
I knew it better than she did.
They want to peel my skin off?
And burn it, Onal supplied from behind her teacup.
One week until you leave, Mother snapped.
Cant you manage to stay out of trouble until then?
Im sure when youre queen in Achleva youll be able to come and go as you hey.
you’ve got the option to go into the city and do .
whatever it was you went to do today.
I went to a hanging.
Its like you want the Tribunal to come after you.
Were very lucky we have Toris there on the inside.
Very lucky, I echoed.
Aurelia, she said, taking stock of me, head to toe.
And Renaltans were suspicious enough about me simply because I existed.
Proof of our moral superiority.
Sometimes I agreed with them.
A knock at the door broke the tense quiet.
Mother said, Bring him in, Sir Greythorne.
Kellan came through first, looking around and then giving a wave behind him.
A man stepped out from behind Kellan.
He had a shock of gleaming black hair, untouched by the silver that should have accompanied his age.
He was an Achlevan.
