Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
The Darkling shook his head. “She’ll have the stag.”Baghra scowled. “You’re a fool.”“I’ve been called worse. Often by you.”“This is folly. You must reconsider.”The Darkling’s face went cold. “I must? You don’t give me orders any more,old woman. I know what has to be done.”“I might surprise you,” I piped up. The Darkling and Baghra turned to stare atme. It was almost as if they’d forgotten I was there. “Baghra’s right. I know Ican do better. I can work harder.”“You’ve been on the Shadow Fold, Alina. You know what we’re up against.”I felt suddenly stubborn. “I’m getting stronger every day. If you give me achance—”Again, the Darkling shook his head. “I can’t take that kind of a chance. Notwith Ravka’s future at stake.”“I understand,” I said numbly.“Do you?”“Yes,” I said. “Without Morozova’s stag, I’m pretty much useless.”“Ah, so she’s not as stupid as she looks,” cackled Baghra.“Leave us,” said the Darkling with surprising ferocity.“We’ll all suffer for your pride, boy.”“I won’t ask you again.”Baghra gave him a disgusted glower, then turned on her heel and marchedback up the path to her cottage.When her door slammed shut, the Darkling regarded me in the lamplight.“You look well,” he said.“Thanks,” I mumbled, my eyes sliding away. Maybe Genya could teach me totake a compliment.“If you’re returning to the Little Palace, I’ll walk with you,” he said.For a while, we strolled in silence along the lake shore, past the deserted stonepavilions. Across the ice, I could see the lights of the school.Finally, I had to ask. “Has there been any word? Of the stag?”He pressed his lips together. “No,” he said. “My men think that the herd mayhave crossed into Fjerda.”“Oh,” I said, trying to hide my disappointment.He stopped abruptly. “I don’t think you’re useless, Alina.”“I know,” I said to the tops of my boots. “Not useless. Just not exactly useful.”“No Grisha is powerful enough to face the Fold. Not even me.”“I get it.”“But you don’t like it.”
“Should I? If I can’t help you destroy the Fold, then what exactly am I goodfor? Midnight picnics? Keeping your feet warm in the winter?”His mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Midnight picnics?”I couldn’t smile back. “Botkin told me that Grisha steel is earned. It’s not thatI’m not grateful for all of this. I am, truly. But I don’t feel I’ve earned any of it.”He sighed. “I’m sorry, Alina. I asked you to trust me and I haven’t delivered.”He looked so weary that I felt instantly contrite. “It’s not that—”“It’s true.” He took another deep breath and ran a hand over his neck. “MaybeBaghra’s right, as much as I hate to admit it.”I cocked my head to one side. “You never seem fazed by anything. Why doyou let her bother you so much?”“I don’t know.”“Well, I think she’s good for you.”He started in surprise. “Why?”“Because she’s the only one around here who isn’t scared of you or constantlytrying to impress you.”“Are you trying to impress me?”“Of course,” I laughed.“Do you always say exactly what you’re thinking?”“Not even half the time.”Then he laughed too, and I remembered how much I liked the sound. “Then Iguess I should count myself lucky,” he said.“What’s Baghra’s power, anyway?” I asked, the thought occurring to me forthe first time. She was an amplifier like the Darkling, but he had his own powertoo.“I’m not sure,” he said. “I think she was a Tidemaker. No one around here isold enough to remember.” He looked down at me. The cold air had put a flush inhis cheeks, and the lamplight shone in his eyes. “Alina, if I tell you that I stillbelieve we can find the stag, would you think I’m mad?”“Why would you care what I think?”He looked genuinely baffled. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I do.”And then he kissed me.It happened so suddenly that I barely had time to react. One moment, I wasstaring into his slate-coloured eyes, and the next, his lips were pressed to mine. Ifelt that familiar sense of surety melt through me as my body sang with suddenheat and my heart jumped into a skittery dance. Then, just as suddenly, hestepped back. He looked as surprised as I felt.“I didn’t mean …” he said.At that moment, we heard footsteps and Ivan rounded the corner. He bowed to
- 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 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: “Whatever do you mean?”“You k
- 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
- Page 163 and 164: “So?” asked Longface.“So Riko
- Page 165 and 166: “It was a stupid risk. I should k
- Page 167 and 168: CHAPTER 18We saw shoots of new gras
“Should I? If I can’t help you destroy the Fold, then what exactly am I good
for? Midnight picnics? Keeping your feet warm in the winter?”
His mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Midnight picnics?”
I couldn’t smile back. “Botkin told me that Grisha steel is earned. It’s not that
I’m not grateful for all of this. I am, truly. But I don’t feel I’ve earned any of it.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry, Alina. I asked you to trust me and I haven’t delivered.”
He looked so weary that I felt instantly contrite. “It’s not that—”
“It’s true.” He took another deep breath and ran a hand over his neck. “Maybe
Baghra’s right, as much as I hate to admit it.”
I cocked my head to one side. “You never seem fazed by anything. Why do
you let her bother you so much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I think she’s good for you.”
He started in surprise. “Why?”
“Because she’s the only one around here who isn’t scared of you or constantly
trying to impress you.”
“Are you trying to impress me?”
“Of course,” I laughed.
“Do you always say exactly what you’re thinking?”
“Not even half the time.”
Then he laughed too, and I remembered how much I liked the sound. “Then I
guess I should count myself lucky,” he said.
“What’s Baghra’s power, anyway?” I asked, the thought occurring to me for
the first time. She was an amplifier like the Darkling, but he had his own power
too.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I think she was a Tidemaker. No one around here is
old enough to remember.” He looked down at me. The cold air had put a flush in
his cheeks, and the lamplight shone in his eyes. “Alina, if I tell you that I still
believe we can find the stag, would you think I’m mad?”
“Why would you care what I think?”
He looked genuinely baffled. “I don’t know,” he said. “But I do.”
And then he kissed me.
It happened so suddenly that I barely had time to react. One moment, I was
staring into his slate-coloured eyes, and the next, his lips were pressed to mine. I
felt that familiar sense of surety melt through me as my body sang with sudden
heat and my heart jumped into a skittery dance. Then, just as suddenly, he
stepped back. He looked as surprised as I felt.
“I didn’t mean …” he said.
At that moment, we heard footsteps and Ivan rounded the corner. He bowed to
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