Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi

felt tears threatening again and blinked them back. A few hours ago, I’d been a
frightened girl on my way into the unknown, but at least I’d known who and
what I was. With a pang, I thought of the Documents Tent. The other surveyors
might be at their work right now. Would they be mourning Alexei? Would they
be talking about me and what had happened on the Fold?
I clutched the crumpled army-issue coat I had bundled up on my lap. Surely
this all had to be a dream, some crazy hallucination brought on by the terrors of
the Shadow Fold. I couldn’t really be wearing a Grisha’s kefta, sitting in the
Darkling’s coach – the same coach that had almost crushed me only yesterday.
Someone lit a lamp inside the coach, and in the flickering light I could better
see the silken interior. The seats were heavily cushioned black velvet. On the
windows, the Darkling’s symbol had been cut into the glass: two overlapping
circles, the sun in eclipse. Sun Summoner. I’d never heard the term before. If the
Darkling could summon darkness, then I supposed it was possible for someone
to summon light. Was that what I had done? I rubbed my thumb across the scar
on my palm. It wasn’t possible.
Across from me, the two Grisha were studying me with open curiosity. Their
red kefta were of the finest wool, embroidered lavishly in black and lined with
black fur. The fair-haired Heartrender was lanky and had a long, melancholy
face. Ivan was taller, broader, with wavy brown hair and sun-bronzed skin. Now
that I bothered to look, I had to admit he was handsome. And knows it too. A big
handsome bully.
I shifted restlessly in my seat, uncomfortable with their stares. I looked out of
the window, but there was nothing to see except the growing darkness and my
own pale reflection. I looked back at the Grisha and tried to quash my irritation.
They were still gawking at me. I reminded myself that these men could make my
heart explode in my chest, but eventually I just couldn’t stand it.
“I don’t do tricks, you know,” I snapped.
The Grisha exchanged a glance.
“That was a pretty good trick back in the tent,” Ivan said.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, if I plan on doing anything exciting, I promise to give
fair warning so just … go to sleep or something.”
Ivan looked affronted. I felt a little snap of fear, but the fair-haired
Corporalnik let out a bark of laughter.
“I am Fedyor,” he said. “And this is Ivan.”
“I know,” I replied. Then, picturing Ana Kuya’s disapproving glare, I added,
“Very pleased to meet you.”
They exchanged an amused glance. I ignored them and wriggled back in my
seat, trying to get comfortable. It wasn’t easy with two heavily armed soldiers