All Chapters of THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The other Sisters are tense around us, silently undoing their braids. Their naked bodies glowing in the candlelight scattered throughout the carved stone room. On the walls there is a huge statue of our Mother Goddess — with open arms to welcome us — and statues of the most important Mothers and Sisters. Those who were exceptionally gifted. Until the first, Sonna, there at the altar. She is mentioned in almost all ancient books as “she who was carved by the Goddess”. The first to possess magic in her blood, the gift, the power. It looks scary to me from where I'm sitting, holding a huge bouquet of flowers in one arm and a dagger in the other. The books say that she fought alongside men. They say she saw the future in the blood of her enemies, in the fire that burned their bodies. She helped the northern clans retake Pontis Maari when it was invaded by the island people. And she was my age when she did it.None of us were raised to be a warrior like Sonna.I know how to use a knife and

The Goddess teaches us that we, her Daughters, are sacred.But what about this man? And the other men?Shouldn't I try to save him like I would anyone who needed my help? His cuts are deep, but even before I think about it consciously, my mind knows what steps I should take to tend to his wounds.I go to the entrance of the hideout and sit looking out as the angry waves come in and wash my legs.The storm is devouring the world.The Goddess brought the stranger to me, so that I could see him.Is it a test?I heard the thunder all day. None of my Sisters heard it, not even Arina, who sees everything. Not even Irvina, who knows all the secrets of time. None of them saw it. Just me.I look over my shoulder at the unconscious foreigner.Your life is in my hands.If I were with my Sisters, sleeping, he would die on the beach. When he went hunting I would find his body. Some of the Mothers would see his body when they went out on their walks before sunrise. Or else he would be swallowed by

Who threatened his life? I wonder. Why would anyone try to kill him? Did he do something to deserve it? Did he do something forbidden to his own people? Something unforgivable? I know that the people of the continent have laws that, if broken, can be punished by death, Mr. Tastaren told me. We also have that here, but I don't think they were ever put into practice. In ancient books there is no record that any Servant of the Goddess was punished by death.I look at the stranger and a stone slides down my throat with difficulty.If the Mothers find out that I'm taking care of him, will I be the first Servant to be punished by death? Foreigners are prohibited here. They can't see us or touch us. I saw and touched the stranger. Is this prohibited too? I'm afraid to find out. For almost a year I allowed Mr. Tastaren to see me and talk to me. I think this deserves punishment too...The foreigners were near the Goddess's island earlier, and I am now convinced that they were looking for the i

All the Mothers gather for prayers with Arina in the Third Corridor, then the other Sisters and I are dismissed for a few hours during the day, so we go down to the beach.When we were younger we used to play in the sand or in the sea with wooden toys or scented herb dolls that our Mothers made for us, but as we grew up the beach stopped being our favorite place to play. Each small group had their favorite place on the island. And it was never the lighthouse. I can see it from where we are. I have to keep myself from looking over there, wondering if the stranger is well enough to get up and leave, and then be seen by all the Sisters.But that doesn't happen.There is nothing attractive about a crumbling old tower, so my Sisters don't even look there.Some undress and enter the water.I sit on the sand.Hani sits next to me, then we watch the others play in the sea, young, beautiful and carefree.I would like to be like them again, but I realize that I don't think I ever was. I've alwa

Does it seem plausible... or am I just trying to assuage the guilt I feel?The Sisters talk for at least another hour until the first of them shows signs of tiredness. Little by little, one by one, they retire to the shared beds.Arina sleeps next to me.I can see your restless face in the candlelight.I stroke her hair until I feel her small body relax, and then I get up. Her hand is tucked into her tunic pocket, tightly gripping the wolfsbane seeds that I take from her and throw anywhere.My heart rumbles in my chest.I will not allow Arina to die. I will not allow any of my Sisters to die.They are heavily asleep.Nothing will make them wake up for at least the next hour.I pick up my knife and the quiver with the bow and arrow. I get ready as if I'm going out hunting, even though it's still dawn, so I leave our room.I hesitate at the door. I look back at my Sisters who sleep, anxious and worried, in their shared beds.My bare feet make no noise as I step across the stone floor of