I shrugged, unable to muster any gracious words despite Frederic’s belief in me.
He disappeared into the trees, and I wandered toward the meal, taking a circuitous route to visit a handful of the old places. Some had changed but surprisingly few. The jungle had encroached in new ways and been beaten back in others.
When I reached the communal eating hut, Celine pounced on me.
“There you are, Evie! Where have you been?” She didn’t pause for me to reply. “I’ve discovered your secret!”
I blinked, my sluggish brain unable to work out which of my secrets she could mean.
“Everyone in the capital has been wondering where your vivid material comes from, and now I know!” She winked at me. “If you promise to keep making me amazing dresses, I promise I won’t tell.”
I relaxed. So Celine had found Josinna. I hadn’t seen her with the other greeters, but she had already had limited mobility when I had been here, and years had passed since then. I would have to go and visit her sooner rather than later.
“They have an impressive operation,” she continued. “You must be so proud.”
I stared at her. “What do you mean?”
She grinned. “Don’t tell me you don’t know! She did say it was new. Oh, you have to come and look.”
I protested that I hadn’t eaten yet, but she dragged me away anyway.
Josinna had once been the head weaver in the region, but age had slowed her down. She preferred experimenting with incredible dyes and new weaves to producing quickly, and her work had come to be seen by the village as a beautiful curiosity rather than a practicality. She wasn’t exactly a warm woman, but she had never turned me away from her small weaving hut when I needed somewhere to hide from the other youngsters. And after seeing my interest in her material and hearing me musing aloud about a possible dress design, she had gifted me a length, telling me she wanted to see what I could create.
When I had handed her the finished product, she had stared at it silently for a full two minutes. I had feared she disliked it, but when she at last spoke, she told me to leave. “A talent like yours is wasted here, youngling,” she had told me. “There is nothing for you here. Make your way to the capital and let your skill shine.”
I had been too afraid to run, then, but she had often repeated her advice. And one day I had come to her hut and told her that I was finally going to do it. I promised her I would leave and make a name for myself as long as she agreed to let me buy all my material from her. During my three years on Catalie, I had always felt a vague sense of guilt, that I was betraying Josinna by not starting my own shop. But when I finally did make it to the capital and sent her my first order, she had filled it without delay. And she had never let me down since.
The weaving hut was tucked on the far edge of the village, so I hadn’t passed it in my earlier wanderings. My steps quickened as Celine led me in the right direction. I should have gone to visit Josinna first, but I hadn’t wanted our meeting tainted by all my negative emotions.
But as I neared it, I slowed. This section of the village looked far from familiar. Where had all these open-air huts come from? Even with the welcome feast underway, people bustled to and fro, the air of activity a far cry from the quiet haven this corner used to be.
Where was Josinna? I ignored the greetings from the villagers and hurried to her hut.
“Evangeline!” she cried in her trembling voice.
My eyes swam with moisture as I rushed over to embrace her where she sat.
“You did it.” She patted my hand and beamed at me. “I knew you would.” She nodded toward Celine. “I see your hand in her gown easily enough.”
I flushed. “All thanks to you, Josinna.”
“Nonsense.” She looked past me to Celine. “I was always telling her she was made for bigger things than this jungle.”
“You were right, of course,” said Celine. “You look like the sort of woman who’s always right.”
Josinna laughed, a rumbling cadence, at her obvious flattery. “I like you, girl.”
“Everyone likes me,” said Celine with a cheeky twinkle, and the old lady laughed again.
“But what is going on here?” I asked her. “Who are all these people?”
She looked smug. “I charge you a lot for my material, Evangeline. I took a gamble that you would pay it, and you do. I knew that once you combined my creations with your designs, you would be able to charge a great deal for your gowns. And, clearly, I was right since your demand for material keeps increasing. Together we have proven that luxury cloth can be worth as much to the village as the more practical weaves. All the local villages send me their most promising weavers now. They work for me and, in exchange, I teach them my new techniques. Did you not wonder how I managed to keep up with your orders?”
“I did.” I looked around. “But I was picturing you having taken on an assistant or two.”
My emotions swung up and down as I looked around her expanding empire. She deserved to have her skills recognized and valued. It was only right. And I owed her a lot for being the first to believe in my designs and encourage me in them. But clearly her production was already starting to outstrip my demand. I couldn’t hold on to my exclusive source any longer. Especially now that the Tour had visited the village—word would inevitably get out. But I could not begrudge her the success. I would simply have to work harder to ensure my designs stood out even without exceptional material.
Nora and Brandon avoided me after that, but I visited with Josinna whenever I could, admiring her new set up and discussing materials and designs with her. Both princes toured the set of weaving huts, full of compliments for the skill of the junglers. In fact, the villagers were so pleased with their reaction that they outdid themselves in demonstrations and activities for the royals.
Their efforts included showing off the beauties of the jungle, and several villagers insisted the royals must be shown the village’s pride and joy—a beautiful waterfall hidden nearby. When Celine asked me about it, I did have to admit that it was an exquisite spot. Cassian decided to catch up on some paperwork, but Frederic and Celine expressed interest in going and insisted I come along as well—since I was, in Celine’s words, “practically a local.”
Two of the village’s most experienced guides were given the task of leading us to the spot, for which I was grateful. I didn’t remember the route well enough to trust myself to the task.
But just as we were about to set out, Celine groaned and doubled over.
“Celine? What’s wrong?” Frederic steadied her.
“My stomach,” she gasped and groaned again. “Horrible cramps. You’ll have to go without me.”
“No, no, we’ll wait—”
She cut him off, shaking her head. “Don’t be silly. We leave tomorrow. There’s no need for you to miss your chance to go because I’m feeling poorly.” She groaned again.
He frowned at her and then glanced at me and the guides. I could see in his eyes that he would rather stay with Celine, but he didn’t want to offend the locals by canceling the trip altogether.
Cassian emerged from his tent to see what the fuss was about and promised to take Celine under his care.
Frederic nodded with some reluctance. “Very well, then.” He gestured for the guides to lead us out and began striding after them.
I paused for a second longer, my concerned gaze on Celine. She looked toward Frederic’s retreating back, and then winked at me before doubling over in a particularly loud groan.
I gasped, but Frederic was already calling for me to hurry. Reluctantly I followed him, sending silent insults back in Celine’s direction. So this was her idea of subtly influencing her brother. With her absence, the tone of our expedition would be vastly different. Just as she had intended.
I sighed and plunged into the jungle.
Chapter 17