The Boy with the Porcelain Blade by Den Patrick Read Free Book Online

night. Porca misèria , you were a noisy thing.’
    ‘Where’s Ella today?’
    ‘She’s at home. Her sister is ill.’
    Lucien blinked a few times. Ella had never mentioned a sister before. Suddenly he realised there was a whole side to Ella he knew nothing about. He was embarrassed to realise he’d never thought to ask.
    ‘Sister?
    ‘Yes. She’s called Salvaggia, about your age.’
    A bang and scrape in the corridor broke Lucien from his introspection and he suppressed a shudder. It came again with a constant even rhythm, growing louder with each iteration. A cowled figured emerged from under the pointed arch of the doorway, darkness releasing him into the well lit kitchen. The Domo turned his seemingly blind gaze toward them and approached, staff continuing to tap out the dull percussion of his stride.
    ‘Lucien,’ he droned in his flat voice, the head bobbing in the slightest imitation of a bow. Technically the Domo outranked everyone in Demesne barring the king, but he always nodded to the Orfano. ‘I had not expected to find you here.’
    Camelia stepped forward and slipped one arm around Lucien’s shoulders, pulling him close to her.
    ‘Isn’t he growing up to be a fine young man?’ she said. Lucien thought he detected a note of challenge in her words. The Domo simply stood in front of them, not saying anything. Behind them Dino smacked his lips and continued gnawing on the bread.
    ‘He is indeed growing up,’ said the Domo, the flat line of his mouth betraying nothing. His eyes were, as ever, hidden in the deep shadow of the grey hood.
    ‘I dare say he’ll make a fine addition to the castle.’ Camelia squeezed him, but Lucien could not drag his eyes from the looming presence that filled the kitchen. Another awkward pause and then the chief steward spoke again.
    ‘Perhaps he can be of some help. It occurs to me there may be a job he could perform admirably.’ And then the Domo turned abruptly, drifting from the kitchen, the hem of his dour robe sliding over flagstones, the staff resuming its plaintive clatter.
    ‘He’s a strange one,’ whispered Camelia. ‘They say he’s older than sin and twice as ugly.’
    Lucien sniggered, caught himself for a moment, then resumed laughing anyway.
    ‘What do you think he meant? About performing a job, I mean.’ Lucien chewed his lip, suddenly anxious.
    ‘Who knows what goes on under that hood. Best not to wonder at it.’
    ‘What will I do when I grow up, Camelia?’
    ‘I’m not sure.’ She narrowed her eyes a second, hands resting on her hips. ‘I’ve always known about the Orfano, but Golia was the first I’d ever seen. People say there were more back in older times. Then you came along, and Anea, and Dino. And now we have Festo.’
    ‘But why?’
    ‘I couldn’t say. And we’re told not to ask.’ Camelia smiled, stifling a laugh behind one flour-dusted hand. She was looking at Dino, who was holding out a soggy crust of bread to Lucien.
    ‘Looks like you’ve made a new friend.’
    Lucien nodded, noticing Dino’s shy smile.
    ‘Don’t you have somewhere to be? I’ll be in just as much trouble as you if your teachers find you down here.’
    ‘My testing isn’t until later.’
    ‘Well go and practise then, for goodness’ sake.’ She sighed. ‘You’ll be the death of me, Lucien Contadino.’
    He shrugged awkwardly. He’d always hated that expression. He didn’t want to be the death of anyone, certainly not Camelia. She pulled him close, kissing him on the forehead, before shooing him out of the kitchens. Dino waved, at Camelia’s insistence, dropping the crust of bread on the floor in the process. Lucien waved back and headed through the arch, into the labyrinthine corridors beyond, and on to his testing.

5
    Camelia’s Tears
HOUSE CONTADINO KITCHENS
– Febbraio 315
    Lucien walked down the corridors of House Fontein, hearing his own footsteps in a daze. A few novices noted his slashed jacket, opened at the shoulder and across