Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
“I was very sorry to hear of your injury,” he said. “The Darkling should bemore 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 ofincense and mildew, and the scent of turned earth. I thought of the graveyard atKeramzin, the crooked headstones, the peasant women keening over new graves.I was suddenly very aware of the emptiness of the infirmary. Was the CorporalkiHealer still nearby? Or had he gone somewhere to find a glass of kvas and awarm bed?“Did you know that in some of the border villages, they are making altars toyou?” murmured the Apparat.“What?”“Oh yes. The people are hungry for hope, and the icon painters are doing abooming business thanks to you.”“But I’m not a Saint!”“It is a blessing, Alina Starkov. A benediction.” He stepped even closer. Icould 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 enoughto 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 ofwater to the floor. It shattered loudly. Hurried footsteps pounded down the halltowards 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 bedand suggested that I try to rest. But as soon as he was gone, I sat up and lit thelamp by my bed.My hands were shaking. I wanted to dismiss the Apparat’s ramblings asnonsense, but I couldn’t. Not if people were really praying to the SunSummoner, not if they were expecting me to save them. I remembered the
Darkling’s dire words beneath the broken roof of the barn. The age of Grishapower is coming to an end. I thought of the volcra, of the lives being lost on theShadow Fold. A divided Ravka won’t survive the new age. I wasn’t just failingthe Darkling or Baghra or myself. I was failing all of Ravka.When Genya came by the next morning, I told her about the Apparat’s visit, butshe didn’t seem concerned by what he’d said or his strange behaviour.“He’s creepy,” she admitted. “But harmless.”“He is not harmless. You should have seen him. He looked completely mad.”“He’s just a priest.”“But why was he even here?”Genya shrugged. “Maybe the King asked him to pray for you.”“I’m not staying in this place again tonight. I want to sleep in my room. Witha door that locks.”Genya sniffed and looked around the spare infirmary. “Well, that, at least, Ican agree with. I wouldn’t want to stay here either.” Then she peered at me.“You look dreadful,” she said with her usual tact. “Why don’t you let me fix youup a bit?”“No.”“Just let me get rid of the dark circles.”“No!” I said stubbornly. “But I do need a favour.”“Should I get my kit?” she asked eagerly.I scowled at her. “Not that kind of favour. A friend of mine was injured on theFold. I … I’ve written to him, but I’m not sure my letters are getting through.” Ifelt my cheeks flush and hurried on. “Could you find out if he’s okay and wherehe’s been stationed? I don’t know who else to ask, and since you’re always at theGrand Palace, I thought you might be able to help.”“Of course, but … well, have you been checking the casualty lists?”I nodded, a lump in my throat. Genya left to find paper and pen so I couldwrite down Mal’s name for her.I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what to make of Mal’s silence. Ichecked the casualty lists every single week, my heart pounding, my stomach inknots, terrified that I would see his name. And each week, I gave thanks to allthe Saints that Mal was safe and alive, even if he couldn’t be bothered to write.Was that the truth of it? My heart gave a painful twist. Maybe Mal was glad Iwas gone, glad to be free of old friendships and obligations. Or maybe he’s lyingin a hospital bed somewhere and you’re being a petty little brat, I chided myself.Genya returned, and I wrote out Mal’s name, regiment, and unit number. Shefolded the paper and slipped it into the sleeve of her kefta.
- Page 49 and 50: Slowly, I opened my eyes and took i
- Page 51 and 52: CHAPTER 5The next few days passed i
- Page 53 and 54: on the earthen floor and built a fi
- Page 55 and 56: The Darkling sighed. “I doubt tha
- Page 57 and 58: country that had long been at war.T
- Page 59 and 60: CHAPTER 6I dreamed that I was back
- Page 61 and 62: ease in slowly. Military life had l
- Page 63 and 64: feeling the anger and embarrassment
- Page 65 and 66: A tall, broad-chested Grisha in red
- Page 67 and 68: particular affinity and made a gift
- Page 69 and 70: Light flooded the throne room, dren
- Page 71 and 72: subject.“The Apparat?”“Is he
- Page 73 and 74: Grand Palace, all of them dressed i
- Page 75 and 76: CHAPTER 8After a restless night, I
- Page 77 and 78: toothily at me. Marie looped her ar
- Page 79 and 80: a massive set of double doors in fr
- Page 81 and 82: Genya’s voice was light, but it h
- Page 83 and 84: “I can’t go with you. Not that
- Page 85 and 86: CHAPTER 9It was a complete disaster
- Page 87 and 88: the long brown robes or the dirty b
- Page 89 and 90: I nodded.“Homesick?”I shrugged.
- Page 91 and 92: CHAPTER 10Next morning, my body ach
- Page 93 and 94: us, and she still needed a flint to
- Page 95 and 96: knowing that I fitted into my new l
- Page 97 and 98: pushed my plate away. The prospect
- Page 99: Good, I thought with satisfaction.
- Page 103 and 104: CHAPTER 12The next morning wasn’t
- Page 105 and 106: I thought back, remembering Ana Kuy
- Page 107 and 108: After my conversation with the Dark
- Page 109 and 110: and the birds painted above my bed.
- Page 111 and 112: The woman in red watches me closely
- Page 113 and 114: CHAPTER 13That very afternoon, I jo
- Page 115 and 116: across my jaw).“Here,” he said,
- Page 117 and 118: “Whatever do you mean?”“You k
- Page 119 and 120: “Should I? If I can’t help you
- Page 121 and 122: CHAPTER 14As winter drew to a close
- Page 123 and 124: beautiful people in their beautiful
- Page 125 and 126: How was it that Genya had fallen so
- Page 127 and 128: She examined the toes of her satin
- Page 129 and 130: leaning on a cane.“Duke Keramsov!
- Page 131 and 132: when the room was practically vibra
- Page 133 and 134: over the ribbons at my neckline.
- Page 135 and 136: “Forgive me,” I said. “It’s
- Page 137 and 138: imagine what it’s been like here.
- Page 139 and 140: CHAPTER 15Only when I was in my roo
- Page 141 and 142: “Then talk sense,” I said. “H
- Page 143 and 144: I would never help him do that.”
- Page 145 and 146: CHAPTER 16Baghra’s relief was unm
- Page 147 and 148: “For everything.”“Hmph,” sh
- Page 149 and 150: collar around my neck and make me a
Darkling’s dire words beneath the broken roof of the barn. The age of Grisha
power is coming to an end. I thought of the volcra, of the lives being lost on the
Shadow Fold. A divided Ravka won’t survive the new age. I wasn’t just failing
the Darkling or Baghra or myself. I was failing all of Ravka.
When Genya came by the next morning, I told her about the Apparat’s visit, but
she didn’t seem concerned by what he’d said or his strange behaviour.
“He’s creepy,” she admitted. “But harmless.”
“He is not harmless. You should have seen him. He looked completely mad.”
“He’s just a priest.”
“But why was he even here?”
Genya shrugged. “Maybe the King asked him to pray for you.”
“I’m not staying in this place again tonight. I want to sleep in my room. With
a door that locks.”
Genya sniffed and looked around the spare infirmary. “Well, that, at least, I
can agree with. I wouldn’t want to stay here either.” Then she peered at me.
“You look dreadful,” she said with her usual tact. “Why don’t you let me fix you
up a bit?”
“No.”
“Just let me get rid of the dark circles.”
“No!” I said stubbornly. “But I do need a favour.”
“Should I get my kit?” she asked eagerly.
I scowled at her. “Not that kind of favour. A friend of mine was injured on the
Fold. I … I’ve written to him, but I’m not sure my letters are getting through.” I
felt my cheeks flush and hurried on. “Could you find out if he’s okay and where
he’s been stationed? I don’t know who else to ask, and since you’re always at the
Grand Palace, I thought you might be able to help.”
“Of course, but … well, have you been checking the casualty lists?”
I nodded, a lump in my throat. Genya left to find paper and pen so I could
write down Mal’s name for her.
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what to make of Mal’s silence. I
checked the casualty lists every single week, my heart pounding, my stomach in
knots, terrified that I would see his name. And each week, I gave thanks to all
the Saints that Mal was safe and alive, even if he couldn’t be bothered to write.
Was that the truth of it? My heart gave a painful twist. Maybe Mal was glad I
was gone, glad to be free of old friendships and obligations. Or maybe he’s lying
in a hospital bed somewhere and you’re being a petty little brat, I chided myself.
Genya returned, and I wrote out Mal’s name, regiment, and unit number. She
folded the paper and slipped it into the sleeve of her kefta.
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