The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom, #1)

by Rachel Gillig

You know this story, Bartholomew, though you do not remember it. I’ll tell it to you as best I can and promise to be honest in my talebearing. If I’m not, that’s hardly my fault. To tell a story is in some part to tell a lie, isn’t it?

“Bartholomew is a daughter of Aisling, a harbinger of gods—the most dedicated dreamer I know.” He patted my shoulder. “But no, I’m sorry to say she is not especially useful. I, on the other hand—”

“Will there be kissing?” the gargoyle asked. “What—no.” Rory made a face.

“I’ll likely regret saying this—but keep your hands out of my pants.”

“It’s not true, you know,” he said. “You don’t have to be good, or useful, for someone to care about you.”

And dropped to his knees.

“You want to throw me down,” Rory said, eyelids dropping as he whispered into my parted lips. “And I, prideful, disdainful, godless, want to drag you into the dirt with me.”

“How undignified.” The gargoyle let out a whimper. “Did anyone see me fall?”

The gargoyle tutted. “How embarrassing. I would never fall in such an ungainly way.”

thinking on dying and killing and living, and how I was unsuited for all three.

“Are you still in pain?” He shivered. “Near you? Always.”

“Where would you bite me, knight?” “Wherever you told me to, Diviner.”

“Bartholomew does not know how to swim. But worry not—” He looked up at me. Smiled proudly. “She has always excelled at drowning.”