The Ruby Moon (15 page)

“Okay, so I’m upset. Regardless, why would Angelina have to do it herself, and why secretly?”

Kendrick shrugged. “Why does she do anything she does?”

“Well, did
you
know Kate’s older sister worked in the castle?”

“No, and neither do you! You’re just jumping to another conclusion! Just because this girl looks like her and sounds like her doesn’t make it so. Kate’s never mentioned anything about a sister.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true either.”

They sat watching the waves crash against rock.

“But think about it, Avery. Why would Kate hide a sister from us?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know, but I think we need to find out. None of this makes sense to me. Don’t you wonder what happened? How did you get sent away and mistaken for dead? And why? The king had every reason to be the happiest man on earth.”

Kendrick shrugged. “My mother died within hours of my birth. He was probably so overcome with grief about her that he believed whatever they told him about me and never gave me another thought.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. Someone else wanted you dead, and I think the king thinks you are. You know Queen Elizabeth didn’t want you harmed.”

Kendrick laughed. “It must be nice to believe whatever you want to just to make you feel better.”

“I
do
believe the queen is still alive.”

Kendrick sat up and looked deep into her eyes. “My mother? What are you talking about?”

Avery told him about the fishwife and how Babs had described her eyes.

He sighed heavily. “Does that fanciful mind of yours ever stop? We have really got to find you more to occupy your time.”

Avery pulled the ruby necklace from her pocket, popped open the locket, and showed Kendrick the image of the baby. He studied it a long time, tipping it to get the full light of the moon on it. “It’s not me, Avery. Look. The nose is wrong.”

Avery took the locket back and shifted so she could hold it near Kendrick’s face. She had been so sure. But he was right. “Then who could this be?”

“Avery,” Kendrick said solemnly, “look very closely. Do you know who I see?”

“Who?”

“It looks like
you.”

Avery laughed and smacked him on the shoulder. “You’re funny! Why would my face be in a locket alongside an image of the queen?”

Kendrick shrugged. “Your mother loved the queen. Makes sense that she would put your faces side by side in a special piece of jewelry.”

“Nah, I don’t know.”

As they crawled down, Kendrick said, “A mother’s love always outlives her.”

Because of the damp conditions of the underworld, thirteen-year-olds began getting sick, starting with a cough that became something more sinister deep in their chests.

One morning, after three kids were found sick in their beds, Kate called an emergency meeting of the cabinet. She showed up with a stack of clean blankets. “We need to move everyone who is sick until they are well again.”

“A makeshift infirmary,” Avery said.

Kate nodded. “We’ll forbid visits, and I’ll look after them.”

“Tuck and I can do the heavy lifting,” Kendrick said. “We’ll find and secure the right location and start moving them.”

Avery wished more than ever that Babs was still around. He would know what to do. Plus, he could carry the beds over his shoulder in half the time it would take the thirteen-year-olds to do it like ants on a hill. It struck Avery that the kids could die in the underworld without the right kind of help.

Kate asked Avery to cut the blankets into strips. “We need to make cloths from them we can soak in warm water and use on the patients.”

As the council broke up, Avery grabbed Kendrick and motioned for him to follow her to a private spot. “You can’t go anywhere near the infirmary,” she whispered, “once even one patient is moved there.”

“Why?”

“Do I need to remind you that you could be the next king?”

Kendrick drew a finger to his lips. “So what am I supposed to do, stand around and watch? You don’t think the others will notice I’m not helping?”

Avery pointed to the blankets. “Start tearing these into strips.”

Something scuttled in the shadows, making Avery hope she hadn’t been overheard.

Avery peeked into their chamber as Kate sat on the corner of her own bed, pinning her hair.

Kate was meticulous about the way she got ready each morning, and today was no exception. First she washed her face. Then she dressed, fixed her hair, and then—when she thought no one was watching—carefully reapplied the star to her wrist using paint from a tiny porcelain jar she kept hidden.

“Why didn’t you tell me about her?” Avery asked.

Kate jumped, whirling so quickly she knocked the porcelain jar from the mattress, spilling ink onto the floor.

Both girls stared at the jar, neither moving to clean the mess.

“Tell you about whom?” Kate asked, straightening.

Avery came to sit beside her on the bed, carefully stepping over the spill. “I know about your sister. I saw her in the kitchen.”

Kate shook her head, furrowing her brow. Was it possible Kate didn’t
know
she had a sister? The castle was full of secrets, after all. But then her lower lip began to quiver, and all Avery’s questions came flooding back.

“You can tell me, Kate. Really, you can.”

Kate crossed her arms, making Avery assume she was going to deny it. But she said, “Her name is Edith, and she and I have had little to do with each other since childhood. There are things you don’t know about me, and it’s better this way.”

Avery shook her head. “Don’t you think it’s time we tell each other everything? Why do you need to keep Edith a secret? Maybe she could help you—help
all
of us.”

Tears clouded Kate’s eyes. “Someday you’ll understand. For now you need to trust me.”

But Avery was tired of secrets. “Let’s start with this,” she said. She took Kate’s arm and turned her hand over. “Why don’t you have a permanent star like the rest of us?”

Kate lowered her head, and it was as if she had to squeak out the words. “Because I’m not thirteen.”

Who in the world was this, and how old was she? Avery sensed she was on fragile ground. “You once told me it was your job to keep me safe. What did you mean?”

Kate shrugged, pulling away and crossing her arms. “My grandmother told me she was bringing you to the castle and that it was my job to look after you. She said you were hard to tame and worried you would try to run away. I promised to help. After she died, I considered sneaking out, but where would I go? And anyway, you’re the first real friend I’ve ever had.”

Avery let that sink in.

“Aren’t you going to ask how old I am?”

“I assume you’ll tell me when you’re ready.”

“Fifteen.”

Because she was Kate’s friend, Avery vowed to herself she would never reveal Kate’s secrets to anyone in the world, no matter the consequences.

Avery joined a group of kids in a midmorning round of bandy ball, using bats to hit a ball through rings wedged into the tunnel floor.

She was practicing her swing when a scout approached, one she recognized who’d spent a lot of time talking strategy with Tuck. “Want to join us?” she asked, but he shook his head, leaned close, and whispered in her ear.

Avery dropped the bat and ran down the tunnel.

One of the players called after her, but she refused to stop until she reached the tiny alcove where Tuck had lodged his mattress. She swept aside the curtain only to find the alcove empty. So it was true?

“No!” she said, running farther, checking chambers as she ran. “Please!” she prayed.

She arrived at the infirmary out of breath, frantically peering into each tiny chamber until she came to Kendrick and Kate standing over a patient. They turned to her, their expressions heavy.

Avery pushed between them to where Tuck lay motionless, face pale and forehead damp. She willed his chest to rise and fall but detected no movement. Horrified, Avery considered everything she and he had left unsaid. She needed his friendship as fiercely as the rest of the kids needed his leadership.

“When he didn’t show up for breakfast,” Kendrick said, “I found him like this.”

Tuck’s eyes fluttered open and closed again.

“Tell me he’ll be all right,” Avery said.

Kendrick and Kate glanced at each other, and she finally muttered, “I’m afraid he needs remedies we don’t have.”

Avery’s mind raced. Surely the castle had medics with a tonic that could heal a thirteen-year-old boy. And then it hit her. “Kendrick! You need to get out of here!”

He left immediately, and strangely, Kate didn’t ask any questions.

Hours later, Avery remained sitting alone beside Tuck’s sickbed. Against her better judgment, she touched his forehead and felt the fever then took his cold hand in both of hers.

She asked God to spare his life and whispered words she’d heard her mother pray, “You give and You take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Even as she prayed, she knew she needed to take her mother’s advice and go to the chapel.

There were things she wanted to say to Tuck, but her thoughts were jumbled, and she remembered only their needless arguments, the unheeded advice, and the wasted time.

For hours she did not leave his side. She sent a scout for one of her books then alternated reading and praying. She prayed that God would spare Tuck’s life. And she prayed that God would keep Babs safe—wherever he was.

Kate checked on Tuck every half hour or so, but she couldn’t confirm he would survive. Only when she insisted Avery go to supper did she leave, wondering if she would ever see Tuck again.

Returning to her bedchamber after supper, Avery had to smile.

The familiar wooden crate lay on her bed.

In truth, she was relieved. She had already decided to send Edward a message telling him she needed more time. She didn’t dare leave Tuck sick in his bed, and she was sure Edward would wait.

She opened the lid and jumped back. Steadying herself, she peeked into the box again.

The bird lay motionless, its neck at an odd angle.