Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi

“I was very sorry to hear of your injury,” he said. “The Darkling should be
more watchful of his charges.”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” he said, regarding me in the moonlight. “You do not look well,
Alina Starkov. It’s essential that you stay well.”
“I’m just a little tired.”
He stepped closer. His peculiar smell wafted over me, that strange mix of
incense and mildew, and the scent of turned earth. I thought of the graveyard at
Keramzin, the crooked headstones, the peasant women keening over new graves.
I was suddenly very aware of the emptiness of the infirmary. Was the Corporalki
Healer still nearby? Or had he gone somewhere to find a glass of kvas and a
warm bed?
“Did you know that in some of the border villages, they are making altars to
you?” murmured the Apparat.
“What?”
“Oh yes. The people are hungry for hope, and the icon painters are doing a
booming business thanks to you.”
“But I’m not a Saint!”
“It is a blessing, Alina Starkov. A benediction.” He stepped even closer. I
could see the dark and matted hairs of his beard, the stained jumble of his teeth.
“You are becoming dangerous, and you will become more dangerous still.”
“Me?” I whispered. “To whom?”
“There is something more powerful than any army. Something strong enough
to topple kings, and even Darklings. Do you know what that thing is?”
I shook my head, inching away from him.
“Faith,” he breathed, his black eyes wild. “Faith.”
He reached for me. I groped for my bedside table and knocked the glass of
water to the floor. It shattered loudly. Hurried footsteps pounded down the hall
towards us. The Apparat stepped back, melting into the shadows.
The door burst open and a Healer entered, his red kefta flapping behind him.
“Are you all right?”
Before I could answer, the Apparat slid soundlessly from the room.
“I … I’m sorry,” I said. “I broke a glass.”
The Healer called a servant to clean up the mess. He settled me back into bed
and suggested that I try to rest. But as soon as he was gone, I sat up and lit the
lamp by my bed.
My hands were shaking. I wanted to dismiss the Apparat’s ramblings as
nonsense, but I couldn’t. Not if people were really praying to the Sun
Summoner, not if they were expecting me to save them. I remembered the