Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
Have you been checking the casualty lists?”It’s the right question to ask, though I’m almost ashamed at how easily itcomes to my lips.Alina gives a single sharp nod as her hands clench the edge of the infirmarysheet. I’m sorry to see her hurting, but I can’t help being fascinated by the playof emotion over her face. She hasn’t learned to hide what she feels. It’s all therefor anyone to read from moment to moment: happiness, relief, fear, and—always—fatigue, the deep weariness she carries everywhere. That lack of caution is anovelty at court. I have to remind myself not to stare.I bring her pen and paper so she can write out the tracker’s name: MalyenOretsev. I know it well enough by now. He’s the only person she’s written tothis whole time at the Little Palace. Instead of posting her letters, the servantsbring them to me, and I pass them along. I don’t know if the Darkling reads themor if they sit unopened, a growing stack in some bureau drawer.“I’m sure he’s fine,” I tell Alina as I slip the paper into my sleeve. Again, herface comes alive: Red in her cheeks—she’s ashamed to have asked. Lips pressedtogether—she hopes anyway. It’s almost painful to watch. I think she’s so usedto being unnoticed that she doesn’t realize how much she shows. I have to biteback the urge to tell her to be more careful. It’s not my place to give herwarnings, but I seem to keep finding myself doing so.Before I go, I bully her into letting me fix the dark circles beneath her eyes.She grumbles and groans, and I burst out laughing when she finally relents,hurling herself back against the pillows as if I’ve insisted on reading her asermon. Ridiculous girl.My hands drift over her skin. Maybe it’s my way of apologizing. Andhonestly, I can’t help myself. It’s like wiping the smudges off a looking glass, or
putting flowers in a vase just so—sometimes my fingers fairly itch to set her torights. Besides, in this moment, I’m her friend. I can pretend all the littlebetrayals don’t exist. I can ignore the paper with Oretsev’s name on it burning ahole in my sleeve.In the end, I leave Alina arguing with the Healer about checking out of theinfirmary and turn my steps to the war room. I take the long way so I can pass bythe big sunlit windows of the Fabrikator workshops. I won’t stop in, not today,but I can still treat myself to a glimpse of David’s bent shoulders and messybrown hair. I’m deep in a day-dream of him letting me cut it when I comearound the corner and nearly slam into Zoya.“Where are you rushing off to?” she says with a sniff. “Does the Queen have aparty to attend?”“As a matter of fact, yes,” I say coolly. “But I have a few moments if youwant me to see to your eyes. They’re looking awfully red.”She keeps that haughty look, but her shoulders stiffen and she has to work abit harder to lift her perfect nose in the air. I know I shouldn’t enjoy her miseryas much as I do. I also shouldn’t have a second buttered roll with my breakfastevery morning, but sometimes one must indulge. Anyway, Zoya bought thistrouble for herself.“Hay fever,” she mutters. “There’s something new in the air here that irritatesme.”“Yes,” I say as I glide past her. “I hear you practically choked on it.”I learned a long time ago never to give Zoya a chance at the last word. Thatgirl finds openings like water in a sieve.i'D PLANNED tO leave a message for the Darkling with his guards, but I meetIvan coming out of the war room.“Back from visiting the invalid?” he asks as I follow him out of the LittlePalace.“She’s hardly that.”“Well, she looks the part.”“Should she be leading a fencing lesson by the lake? Zoya broke two of herribs.”“Shame,” he drawls.I arch a brow. “The Darkling thought so. Please tell me you were there whenhe told Zoya she’d be leaving Os Alta.”“I was.”“And?” I urge as we head down the hill to the birch grove. I’m a greedy thing,but how can I be expected to resist this gossip?
- Page 169 and 170: drawing the furs tighter around my
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- Page 173 and 174: been passed between us. “Mikhael
- Page 175 and 176: Around sunset, we emerged from the
- Page 177 and 178: The sound was like a soft whistle o
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- Page 183 and 184: Fold.”Ivan shook his head. “The
- Page 185 and 186: as cold and smooth as ever. “We
- Page 187 and 188: I shuddered. I hoped that Baghra ha
- Page 189 and 190: CHAPTER 21I picked at my dinner and
- Page 191 and 192: asked, and for once, his voice was
- Page 193 and 194: hold back during my conversation wi
- Page 195 and 196: lips met mine.We stayed together th
- Page 197 and 198: in crimson silks, stood a delegatio
- Page 199 and 200: breathing, I thought in terror.The
- Page 201 and 202: most valued Grisha had just punched
- Page 203 and 204: Mal as I threw the light ahead of m
- Page 205 and 206: hurtling towards me over the dead r
- Page 207 and 208: AFTERThe boy and the girl stand at
- Page 209 and 210: ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThanks to my agent a
- Page 213 and 214: FOUND NEAR RAVKA’SNORTHERN BORDER
- Page 215 and 216: more, why I toss and turn, why my r
- Page 217 and 218: when I stand at the gates of the Gr
- Page 222 and 223: Ivan shrugs, scowling. “He just m
- Page 224 and 225: “You’ve suffered, too,” he sa
- Page 226 and 227: memory.“You’re right, of course
- Page 228 and 229: perfume, counting and recounting th
- Page 230 and 231: WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GR
- Page 232 and 233: WHAT SPARKED YOUR IMAGINATION FOR S
- Page 234 and 235: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHAR
- Page 236: number 4.WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR
- Page 240 and 241: CopyrightORION CHILDREN’S BOOKSFi
putting flowers in a vase just so—sometimes my fingers fairly itch to set her to
rights. Besides, in this moment, I’m her friend. I can pretend all the little
betrayals don’t exist. I can ignore the paper with Oretsev’s name on it burning a
hole in my sleeve.
In the end, I leave Alina arguing with the Healer about checking out of the
infirmary and turn my steps to the war room. I take the long way so I can pass by
the big sunlit windows of the Fabrikator workshops. I won’t stop in, not today,
but I can still treat myself to a glimpse of David’s bent shoulders and messy
brown hair. I’m deep in a day-dream of him letting me cut it when I come
around the corner and nearly slam into Zoya.
“Where are you rushing off to?” she says with a sniff. “Does the Queen have a
party to attend?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” I say coolly. “But I have a few moments if you
want me to see to your eyes. They’re looking awfully red.”
She keeps that haughty look, but her shoulders stiffen and she has to work a
bit harder to lift her perfect nose in the air. I know I shouldn’t enjoy her misery
as much as I do. I also shouldn’t have a second buttered roll with my breakfast
every morning, but sometimes one must indulge. Anyway, Zoya bought this
trouble for herself.
“Hay fever,” she mutters. “There’s something new in the air here that irritates
me.”
“Yes,” I say as I glide past her. “I hear you practically choked on it.”
I learned a long time ago never to give Zoya a chance at the last word. That
girl finds openings like water in a sieve.
i'D PLANNED tO leave a message for the Darkling with his guards, but I meet
Ivan coming out of the war room.
“Back from visiting the invalid?” he asks as I follow him out of the Little
Palace.
“She’s hardly that.”
“Well, she looks the part.”
“Should she be leading a fencing lesson by the lake? Zoya broke two of her
ribs.”
“Shame,” he drawls.
I arch a brow. “The Darkling thought so. Please tell me you were there when
he told Zoya she’d be leaving Os Alta.”
“I was.”
“And?” I urge as we head down the hill to the birch grove. I’m a greedy thing,
but how can I be expected to resist this gossip?
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