Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
“Thanks,” I said hoarsely.“I’m sure he’s fine,” she said, and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “Now lieback so I can fix those dark circles.”“Genya!”“Lie back or you can forget about your little favour.”My jaw dropped. “You are rotten.”“I am marvellous.”I glared at her, then flopped down on the pillows.After Genya left, I made arrangements to return to my own quarters. TheHealer wasn’t happy about it, but I insisted. I was barely even sore any more,and there was no way I was spending another night in that empty infirmary.When I got back to my room, I took a bath and tried to read one of my theorybooks. I couldn’t concentrate. I was dreading returning to classes the next day,dreading another futile lesson with Baghra.The stares and gossip about me had died down a bit since I’d arrived at theLittle Palace. But I had no doubt that my fight with Zoya would bring that allback.As I rose and stretched, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror above mydressing table. I crossed the room and scrutinised my face in the glass.The dark shadows beneath my eyes were gone, but I knew they would be backin a few days. And it made little difference. I looked the way I always had: tired,scrawny, sick. Nothing like a real Grisha. The power was there, somewhereinside me, but I couldn’t reach it, and I didn’t know why. Why was I different?Why had it taken so long for my power to reveal itself? And why couldn’t Iaccess it on my own?Reflected in the mirror I could see the thick golden curtains at the windows,the brilliantly painted walls, the firelight glittering off the tiles in the grate. Zoyawas awful, but she was also right. I didn’t belong in this beautiful world, and if Ididn’t find a way to use my power, I never would.
CHAPTER 12The next morning wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. Zoya was already in thedomed hall when I entered. She sat by herself at the end of the Summoners’table, eating her breakfast in silence. She didn’t look up as Marie and Nadiacalled their greetings to me, and I did my best to ignore her too.I savoured every step of my walk down to the lake. The sun was bright, the aircold on my cheeks, and I wasn’t looking forward to the stuffy, windowlessconfines of Baghra’s hut. But when I climbed the steps to her door, I heardraised voices.I hesitated and then knocked softly. The voices quieted abruptly, and after amoment, I pushed the door open and peeked inside. The Darkling was standingby Baghra’s tile oven, his face furious.“Sorry,” I said, and began to back out of the door.But Baghra just snapped, “In, girl. Don’t let the heat out.”When I entered and shut the door, the Darkling gave me a small bow. “Howare you, Alina?”“I’m fine,” I managed.“She’s fine!” hooted Baghra. “She’s fine! She cannot light a hallway, butshe’s fine.”I winced and wished I could disappear into my boots.To my surprise, the Darkling said, “Leave her be.”Baghra’s eyes narrowed. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”The Darkling sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair in exasperation.When he looked at me, there was a rueful smile on his lips, and his hair wasgoing every which way. “Baghra has her own way of doing things,” he said.
- 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 and 100: Good, I thought with satisfaction.
- Page 101: Darkling’s dire words beneath the
- 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
- Page 151 and 152: pace. Once I’d passed them, I ris
CHAPTER 12
The next morning wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. Zoya was already in the
domed hall when I entered. She sat by herself at the end of the Summoners’
table, eating her breakfast in silence. She didn’t look up as Marie and Nadia
called their greetings to me, and I did my best to ignore her too.
I savoured every step of my walk down to the lake. The sun was bright, the air
cold on my cheeks, and I wasn’t looking forward to the stuffy, windowless
confines of Baghra’s hut. But when I climbed the steps to her door, I heard
raised voices.
I hesitated and then knocked softly. The voices quieted abruptly, and after a
moment, I pushed the door open and peeked inside. The Darkling was standing
by Baghra’s tile oven, his face furious.
“Sorry,” I said, and began to back out of the door.
But Baghra just snapped, “In, girl. Don’t let the heat out.”
When I entered and shut the door, the Darkling gave me a small bow. “How
are you, Alina?”
“I’m fine,” I managed.
“She’s fine!” hooted Baghra. “She’s fine! She cannot light a hallway, but
she’s fine.”
I winced and wished I could disappear into my boots.
To my surprise, the Darkling said, “Leave her be.”
Baghra’s eyes narrowed. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
The Darkling sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair in exasperation.
When he looked at me, there was a rueful smile on his lips, and his hair was
going every which way. “Baghra has her own way of doing things,” he said.
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