Auguste chuckled and clapped a threatening hand on Achille’s shoulder. “Because she is only the bait, you foolish man. We have much bigger fish to catch.” To Philippe, he said, “Spread word far and wide throughout the kingdom, Captain. Madame Helene Labelle will burn”—he cast a pointed look at Achille now—“and any who object will meet the same fate.”

Achille bowed stiffly. “You must follow your conscience, Your Majesty. I must follow mine.”

“See that your conscience leads you outside the cathedral in three days’ time. At sunset, you shall light her pyre.” With that, he strode through the vaulted doors once more, and the courtroom vanished into smoke.

Part IV

Qui sème le vent, récolte la tempête.

He who sows the wind shall reap the tempest.

—French proverb

What Happiness Looks Like

Lou

Though Angelica and her iron chalices had gone when we resurfaced, Beau, Célie, and Jean Luc floated atop the inlet in a fishing boat. A fishing boat. Célie grinned with palpable excitement from the flybridge, gripping the helm with both hands. Her smile quickly fell at our grim expressions, however, and she called out, “What’s wrong?”

I waited until we’d climbed aboard to answer. “Isla’s gift was shit.”

We wouldn’t be able to reach Cesarine before Madame Labelle burned to ash. When Coco said as much—explaining the conclave’s decision, Father Achille’s involvement, and Auguste’s last words—Beau patted the stern. “This is her gift. Or at least, this is Angelica’s. It’ll get us there in time.” He shrugged and added, “I wouldn’t worry about my father. He has a flair for dramatics, but he knows what he’s doing even less than we do.”

“You didn’t see him.” I wrung out my hair, cursing at the cold. The strands had already started to freeze, and gooseflesh steepled my entire body. “He wasn’t acting. He knows we’ll come to rescue Madame Labelle. He plans to trap us, like he did before.” I glanced around the ramshackle boat. “And this won’t get us to Cesarine anytime soon.”

“It will.” Nudging Célie aside, Beau nodded as Jean Luc dropped the sail, and we slipped through the waters with speed. “I learned to sail when I was three.” He arched a smug brow at Coco, adding, “The admiral of the Royal Navy taught me himself.”