Chapter 17
JOHANNA STUMBLED away from the grave and pressed herself against the wall. It was so dark in the room that she could only see that little fish made of flames that gambolled through the air. It was a thing of mesmerising beauty, if dangerous.
She became aware of a glow of light from below: the front of her dress glowed with magic. She drew her cape over the spot to conceal it, but there were glowing spots on her hands, too, and goodness knew where else.
She had no idea where the others were. Some men had escaped into the ballroom, she hoped. Master Willems might have been smart enough to crawl to the side of the room. She clutched the wooden handle of the king’s staff, doing her best to keep her breathing as quiet as possible.
The sound of footsteps from Alexandre’s high-heel
