Burning Kingdoms. Lauren DeStefano

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      The smallest Piper volunteers to say grace, which means we all bow our heads as she recites some sort of poem that begins with “Thank you, God” and goes on to list all the things at the table. She adds in “please” and “bless” copious times. It ends when she says, “And bless Mother, too. And tell her to please send a telegram.”

      “We don’t ask for things like that,” Riles says.

      “Says you.”

      “I thought it was a fine prayer,” Nimble says. He winks at his littlest sister and she grins.

      Everyone wields utensils and begins helping themselves. Pen, Basil, Thomas, and I take a modest portion of everything, but we aren’t brave—or perhaps stupid—enough to try eating it.

      “Your accent is lovely,” Gertrude says, forcing the words out all at once as though she’s been building the courage to speak. She’s the second oldest, with soft rosy cheeks, and hair that covers one eye as it falls over her shoulder in waves.

      “Accent?” I say.

      “Yes. You don’t know that word? It’s the way that you speak. Everything has an upward inflection. You all sound so inquisitive. I think it’s pretty.”

      “Thank you,” Celeste says brightly. “Where we’re from, everyone speaks the same way. It hadn’t occurred to me there was any other way.”

      “There are lots of ways to speak,” Nimble says. “Though King Ingram prefers to war with the one nation that speaks the same language we do.” He looks at Celeste. “You come from a political family. Does that seem smart to you?”

      “That’s enough,” Jack Piper says, dabbing his lips with a cloth napkin. “Your depiction of our king is unwelcome in this home, Nimble. We’ve discussed this.”

      Nimble’s gaze rolls from one side of his lenses to the other. The younger children are giggling soundlessly at their plates.

      “Are you at war?” Celeste asks.

      “The dinner table isn’t the place to discuss politics,” Jack Piper says. “Perhaps tomorrow, once you’ve all had a chance to rest.” He leans back so that he can see under the table. “And speaking of inappropriate, what have I told you about rolling your stockings, Gertrude?”

      She blushes. “Yes, of course,” she says. “Sorry, Father.”

      During the meal, Jack explains to us that this building is something called a hotel during the warm seasons. It’s winter now, he says, and so it’s closed for business. There’s something called a theme park nearby, and people will travel from all across the nation in a season he calls summer to visit it and catch a glimpse of the floating island. They have scopes here on the ground, too, though Internment’s position and altitude prevent them from seeing much besides the bottom of the city.

      “It’s flattering to know you’ve taken such an interest in our humble city,” Celeste says. “I—we would all love to see this park.”

      “Well, then I—we—will have to show it to you,” Nimble says, and the way he’s looking at her actually makes her blush.

      After dinner, Basil and I find a moment alone in the hallway that holds my bedroom. We’re standing in something called the east wing. His room is in something called the west wing. So many words for one building.

      His eyes meet mine, and at the same time we both blurt out, “Are you okay?”

      He puts his hand on the wall by my head, and I feel so safe, so very safe in his shadow and in the smell of him, like home and bottled redolence and sunlight.

      “Yes,” I say. “I’m okay. Are you?”

      “Is that the truth?” he says.

      “Can’t we just pretend that it is?” I say. “What else are we supposed to do?”

      “Morgan—”

      I put my finger to his lips. “Don’t. Please. I can’t be pitied right now.”

      “All right,” he says.

      I nod to the closed door beside us. “They’re making Pen and me share a room with the princess. Pen thinks she’ll kill us in our sleep.”

      “I should sleep with you,” he says.

      “You know we can’t change where they placed us,” I say. “It might insult them. They were kind enough to take us in at all.”

      “You’re right,” he says. “And sooner or later they’ll come to collect on that kindness.”

      “What do you suppose they want from us?” I say.

      “If it’s a way up to Internment, they’ll soon be disappointed, won’t they?” He makes an effort at a smile. “I’ll see you in the morning, if the princess doesn’t kill you and Pen, and Judas doesn’t kill me.”

      “We must survive if only to see what poor animal the Pipers cook for breakfast.” I rise on tiptoes to kiss him. “Good night.”

      As I reach for the doorknob, he grabs my wrist. “I also think we should take an opportunity to get familiar with this kingdom,” he says. “In case we have to run.”

      “Run.” I try not to laugh, but it’s so absurd. “Basil, where would we go?”

      He seems worried, though. “Don’t you think it’s strange that they’ve built a theme park just so they can gaze at the ‘magical floating city’ and yet when the lot of us falls down from it, the king wants to keep us a secret?”

      “It is strange,” I say. “But everything about this world is strange so far.”

      “All I mean is, what’s to stop him from killing us all if he pleases? No one would be the wiser.”

      “I hadn’t thought of that,” I say, and I feel a chill. “Oh, Basil, do you think that could happen?”

      “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says. “But we should keep that in mind.”

      I nod. “We’ll familiarize ourselves with the city. Pen could even draw up a map, I should think.” I force myself to smile. “It will work out, Basil.”

      He gives me the same sort of distracted smile. “Good night,” he says.

      After I’ve washed up and changed into one of the many nightgowns hanging in the closet, I look for Alice and Lex. They’ll surely be together. When I get to the door at the end of the hallway and I knock, no one answers. There’s light coming from under the door, though. “Hello?” I say, and turn the knob. “Alice?”

      “Quiet,” Judas says. “Close the door behind you.”

      He’s knelt on the floor beside Amy, whose skin is red. Her hair is damp, and I recognize that dead stare in her eyes.

      “I came in to check on her before everyone went to СКАЧАТЬ