The Painted War Read Online Free PDF

building and risked a glance down the street. Pietro was striding towards a soldier who stood below a thunder lamp, her silver armour flickering and reflecting the crackling bolts of light. Bianca pulled back quickly, listening hard to catch Pietro’s conversation.
    â€˜The daughter might be with her, too,’ said the guard.
    â€˜That little brat’s given us no end of trouble,’ said Pietro. ‘I’d like to wring her scrawny neck.’
    â€˜You might get to,’ chuckled the guard. ‘New orders from the Duchess – she wants them brought back, and she doesn’t much care if they’re breathing.’
    Bianca shuddered. Saralinda put her arms around Bianca’s shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. Bianca wished she felt more reassured.
    â€˜Humph,’ Pietro chuckled. ‘Let’s hope they put up a fight, then! I’d better be off and get my troops together.’
    â€˜Want some company? I’m headed back to barracks myself.’ Bianca clenched her fists and held her breath, ready to turn and run – but Pietro spoke again.
    â€˜Nah. Better split up. We can cover more ground.’
    â€˜True. Good luck, then,’ said the guard, and Bianca risked another brief glance into the street to see Pietro turn back towards them. Mercifully, the guard turned the other way and her dark cloak swished around a corner and vanished.
    Pietro hurried back to them. ‘That was close,’ he said. ‘I’m afraid I have to get back to my rounds or I’ll be missed. Can you make it from here, My Lady?’
    â€˜I can,’ said Saralinda. ‘But first, let’s get Bianca home.’
    â€˜Hey,’ Bianca protested, ‘I’m not leaving you now!’
    â€˜Oh yes you are,’ her mother said.
    â€˜But I can’t leave you here and not even know if you’re safe!’
    â€˜Dear Bianca,’ said Saralinda. She reached up and tucked a strand of Bianca’s hair back behind her servant’s headdress. The warmth of her hand on Bianca’s cold cheek made Bianca shiver. ‘If they find you here, they will kill you. I’d rather you were far away from me and safe, than dead by my side. I know you know it’s the only sensible course,’ she added, with a look that cut deep into Bianca’s heart.
    Her mother was right – Bianca did know this was the only way. But still, she
couldn’t
go – she felt as if her shoes were weighed down with heavy rocks.
    â€˜I can’t,’ she said. ‘Not without some idea of how to find you again.’
    â€˜If you have absolutely no choice,’ her mother said, ‘go to Dante’s Grocery, near the Cathedral – that’s just near the square with Father’s statue. Do you think you can find it?’
    Bianca thought hard – when she’d visited Oscurita in her dreams she’d found her way to the statue of Annunzio di Lombardi, surrounded by glowing
lux aurumque
flowers. She was sure she could make her way back and find this grocer. She nodded.
    â€˜Go into Dante’s shop and say “God bless the true Duchess” to Dante. Then cross yourself like this.’ Saralinda touched her eyes, her heart and both shoulders in turn. Bianca repeated the motion. ‘He’ll lead you to the Resistance.’
    Bianca nodded.
    â€˜Promise me you won’t come back here until the danger has passed.’
    â€˜I promise.’
    â€˜Good girl,’ said Saralinda, and her eyes suddenly welled with tears. Lieutenant Pietro looked away politely as she gathered Bianca back into another hug. ‘Please be safe,’ she whispered, pressing the paintbrush key into Bianca’s hand. ‘I couldn’t bear it if –’ She broke off as a sound that chilled Bianca to the bone filled the air – a rhythmical, metallic clanking.
    Soldiers!
    Bianca pulled away quickly; there was no time. She had to leave.
    â€˜God