Chapter 20
JOHANNA WOKE UP before sunrise the next morning. She slipped from the bed and got dressed while Roald still slept.
Koby was in the kitchen and greeted her wordlessly. She passed Johanna a steaming cup of tea and a bowl of porridge.
Nellie came into the back door when she was halfway eating it. “The podium is in the market square and people have begun to gather already.”
Johanna nodded, wondering how Father had spent the night, and cringing at her immature behaviour with Roald last night.
“We must go upstairs and get you ready soon.”
Johanna sighed. She couldn’t have felt any less like getting dressed up, but pomp and ceremony were all they had. She followed Nellie up the stairs, remembering how she used to hate getting ready for festivities. That seemed kind of silly right
