BooksBarbecue
Back Master of Poisons Save as PDF
Chapters (102)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. Map
  5. DRAMATIS PERSONAE
  6. BOOKI
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. BOOKII
  30. 1
  31. 2
  32. 3
  33. 4
  34. 5
  35. 6
  36. 7
  37. 8
  38. 9
  39. 10
  40. 11
  41. 12
  42. 13
  43. 14
  44. 15
  45. 16
  46. 17
  47. 18
  48. 19
  49. BOOKIII
  50. 1
  51. 2
  52. 3
  53. 4
  54. 5
  55. 6
  56. 7
  57. 8
  58. 9
  59. 10
  60. 11
  61. 12
  62. 13
  63. 14
  64. 15
  65. 16
  66. 17
  67. BOOKIV
  68. 1
  69. 2
  70. 3
  71. 4
  72. 5
  73. 6
  74. 7
  75. 8
  76. 9
  77. 10
  78. 11
  79. BOOKV
  80. 1
  81. 2
  82. 3
  83. 4
  84. 5
  85. 6
  86. 7
  87. 8
  88. 9
  89. 10
  90. 11
  91. 12
  92. 13
  93. 14
  94. 15
  95. 16
  96. 17
  97. 18
  98. Glossary
  99. Acknowledgments
  100. Also by Andrea Hairston
  101. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  102. Newsletter Sign-up

Mother bit her lip and traced the snake birthmark on Awa’s scalp that wiggled to her eyebrow. She smoothed a snarl of hair and whispered, “I’ll poison your father for stealing you from me. On your birthday.” She clenched her jaw, serious. “His favorite bread.”

“Oh.” Awa felt uncertain about poison. Did Mother mean to kill Father?

Mother blinked away tears. “With the Elders, you’ll map all of Smokeland. Think on that.”

Awa loved to draw maps and plan visits to faraway places, but getting sold away from the family wasn’t a story she’d told on herself. She clutched a honeycomb from Smokeland, her only possession, and stared at Kenu. The snake birthmark along his cheek quivered and his nose flared. He wanted to cry.

There’d be nobody who would do everything he dared. Not just freeing the elephants, Awa poured water in Father’s wine so he wouldn’t get so drunk. She stole forbidden scrolls from his bag for Kenu to read in the night. Kenu whispered to Awa about the village girl whose eyes were so deep and dark, he got lost in her gaze.

Why didn’t Kenu protest?

Elders were dragging Awa off to hot coals and worm meals. There’d be nobody for Kenu to share secrets with; nobody to make up funny stories to save him from Father. Two days ago, instead of getting drunk and beating Kenu, Father laughed over Awa’s tale of dogfish men chasing mud maidens and washing away in the rain. Father even blamed the elephant escape on Awa, not Kenu. How could Kenu let Father sell her to his enemies?

Awa clung to Mother. “I’d rather stay with you and brother Kenu.”

Mother’s face ran with tears, but she said nothing.

“Bugs in your hair. You’re a mess.” Kenu tried to laugh. Her younger brothers had no problem chortling. Who would they laugh at tomorrow? Kenu chased them off.

“A bee.” Awa pouted. “They don’t make a mess.”

“I know.” Kenu touched the snake birthmark on his cheek. “Don’t forget me.”

“I won’t.” Awa wiggled the snake on her forehead. “What’ll you do in Holy City without me? Don’t make the high priest mad.”

“I won’t. I promise.” Kenu held her so close, so tight she couldn’t breathe.

The Green Elders were gentle yet firm as they pulled Awa away. The sun was a white disk in gray. Awa kept looking back until Mother and Kenu disappeared in the mist hugging the herb garden. Awa wanted to shriek. What good would that do? She forced herself to remember every Smokeland moment. Drawing a map in her mind was better than burning with rage.

5

Storm