Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
It was time to let go. That day on the Shadow Fold, Mal had saved my life,and I had saved his. Maybe that was meant to be the end of us.The thought filled me with grief, grief for the dreams we’d shared, for the loveI’d felt, for the hopeful girl I would never be again. That grief flooded throughme, dissolving a knot that I hadn’t even known was there. I closed my eyes,feeling tears slide down my cheeks, and I reached out to the thing within me thatI’d kept hidden for so long. I’m sorry, I whispered to it.I’m sorry I left you so long in the dark.I’m sorry, but I’m ready now.I called and the light answered. I felt it rushing towards me from everydirection, skimming over the lake, skittering over the golden domes of the LittlePalace, under the door and through the walls of Baghra’s cottage. I felt iteverywhere. I opened my hands and the light bloomed right through me, fillingthe room, illuminating the stone walls, the old tile oven, and every angle ofBaghra’s strange face. It surrounded me, blazing with heat, more powerful andmore pure than ever before because it was all mine. I wanted to laugh, to sing, toshout. At last, there was something that belonged wholly and completely to me.“Good,” said Baghra, squinting in the sunlight. “Now we work.”
CHAPTER 13That very afternoon, I joined the other Etherealki by the lake and called mypower for them for the first time. I sent a sheet of light shimmering out over thewater, letting it roll over the waves that Ivo had summoned. I didn’t have theothers’ control yet, but I managed. In fact, it was easy.Suddenly, lots of things seemed easy. I wasn’t tired all the time or windedwhen I climbed the stairs. I slept deeply and dreamlessly every night and wokerefreshed. Food was a revelation: bowls of porridge heaped with sugar andcream, plates of skate fried in butter, fat plums and hothouse peaches, the clearand bitter taste of kvas. it was as if that moment in Baghra’s cottage was my firstfull breath and I had awakened into a new life.Since none of the other Grisha knew that I’d had so much trouble summoning,they were all a little baffled by the change in me. I didn’t offer any explanations,and Genya let me in on some of the more hilarious rumours.“Marie and Ivo were speculating that the Fjerdans had infected you with adisease.”“I thought Grisha didn’t get sick.”“Exactly!” she said. “That’s why it was so very sinister. But apparently theDarkling cured you by feeding you his own blood and an extract of diamonds.”“That’s disgusting,” I said, laughing.“Oh that’s nothing. Zoya actually tried to put it around that you werepossessed.”I laughed even harder.My lessons with Baghra were still difficult and I never actually enjoyed them.But I did relish any chance to use my power, and I knew I was making progress.
- 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 and 102: Darkling’s dire words beneath the
- 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: The woman in red watches me closely
- 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
- Page 153 and 154: For a moment, I thought my heart ha
- Page 155 and 156: my heels and toes. My miserable nig
- Page 157 and 158: CHAPTER 17Mal took both watches and
- Page 159 and 160: “I know I can find it.”“If th
- Page 161 and 162: came down, some of the worry had go
It was time to let go. That day on the Shadow Fold, Mal had saved my life,
and I had saved his. Maybe that was meant to be the end of us.
The thought filled me with grief, grief for the dreams we’d shared, for the love
I’d felt, for the hopeful girl I would never be again. That grief flooded through
me, dissolving a knot that I hadn’t even known was there. I closed my eyes,
feeling tears slide down my cheeks, and I reached out to the thing within me that
I’d kept hidden for so long. I’m sorry, I whispered to it.
I’m sorry I left you so long in the dark.
I’m sorry, but I’m ready now.
I called and the light answered. I felt it rushing towards me from every
direction, skimming over the lake, skittering over the golden domes of the Little
Palace, under the door and through the walls of Baghra’s cottage. I felt it
everywhere. I opened my hands and the light bloomed right through me, filling
the room, illuminating the stone walls, the old tile oven, and every angle of
Baghra’s strange face. It surrounded me, blazing with heat, more powerful and
more pure than ever before because it was all mine. I wanted to laugh, to sing, to
shout. At last, there was something that belonged wholly and completely to me.
“Good,” said Baghra, squinting in the sunlight. “Now we work.”
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