The Princess of Ash novel · Chapter 19 of 24
Chapter 19: Berengar's Fall
I stepped out of the fire to meet my father, and it let me go.
Behind me the pyre went on burning around my mother's feet.
"Put it down, Father."
"You are no daughter of mine."
"I'm the one you gave a locket of sweepings."
He came on across the cobbles with the sword held in both hands, as he had been taught as a boy.
It was a handsome sword, with a jewelled hilt.
I drew the steel knife from my boot.
Lord Hask had taught me one thing above the rest.
Never meet strength with strength.
My father swung.
I slid under the blade and felt it breathe on my hair.
He swung again, wider, and I stepped inside the arc and laid the edge of my knife across the back of his hand.
Blood ran down his wrist.
He screamed, and the sword rang on the stones.
The crowd gasped, a great breath all around the square.
He lunged for it with his left hand, and I put my boot on the blade.
"You're hurt," I said.
"You didn't think it would be you."
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of The Princess of Ash are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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