Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (z-lib.org).mobi
CHAPTER 11When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did.I was sitting at breakfast in the domed hall when the main doors blew openand a group of unfamiliar Grisha entered. I didn’t pay them much attention.Grisha in the Darkling’s service were always coming and going at the LittlePalace, sometimes to recover from injuries received at the northern or southernfront, sometimes on leave from other assignments.Then Nadia gasped.“Oh no,” groaned Marie.I looked up and my stomach lurched as I recognised the raven-haired girl whohad found Mal so fascinating back in Kribirsk.“Who is she?” I whispered, watching the girl glide among the other Grisha,saying her hellos, her high laugh echoing off the golden dome.“Zoya,” muttered Marie. “She was a year ahead of us at school and she’shorrible.”“Thinks she’s better than everyone,” added Nadia.I raised my eyebrows. If Zoya’s sin was snobbery, then Marie and Nadia hadno business making judgments.Marie sighed. “The worst part is that she’s kind of right. She’s an incrediblypowerful Squaller, a great fighter, and look at her.”I took in the silver embroidery on Zoya’s cuffs, the glossy perfection of herblack hair, the big blue eyes fringed by impossibly dark lashes. She was almostas beautiful as Genya. I thought of Mal and felt a pang of pure jealousy shootthrough me. Then I remembered that Zoya had been stationed at the Fold. If sheand Mal had … well, she might know if he was there, if he was all right. I
pushed my plate away. The prospect of asking Zoya about Mal made me a littlenauseated.As if she could feel my stare, Zoya turned from where she was chatting tosome awestruck Corporalki and swept over to the Summoners’ table.“Marie! Nadia! How are you?”They stood to hug her, their faces plastered with huge, fake smiles.“You look amazing, Zoya! How are you?” gushed Marie.“We missed you so much!” squealed Nadia.“I missed you too,” Zoya said. “It’s so good to be back at the Little Palace.You can’t imagine how busy the Darkling’s kept me. But I’m being rude. I don’tthink I’ve met your friend.”“Oh!” Marie exclaimed. “I’m so sorry. This is Alina Starkov. The SunSummoner,” she said with a little pride.I stood up awkwardly.Zoya swept me into an embrace. “It’s such an honour to finally meet the SunSummoner,” she said loudly. But as she hugged me she whispered, “You stink ofKeramzin.”I stiffened. She released me, a smile playing on her perfect lips.“I’ll see you all later,” she said with a wave. “I’m frantic for a bath.” And withthat she sailed from the domed hall and through the double doors to thedormitories.I stood there, stunned, my cheeks blazing. I felt as if everyone must be gapingat me, but no one else seemed to have heard what Zoya had said.Her words stayed with me for the rest of the day, through another botchedlesson with Baghra and an interminable lunch during which Zoya held forthabout the journey from Kribirsk, the state of the towns bordering the Fold, andthe exquisite lubok woodcuts she’d seen in one of the peasant villages. It mighthave been my imagination, but it seemed as though every time she said“peasant” she looked directly at me. As she spoke, light glinted off the heavysilver bracelet gleaming at her wrist. It was studded with pieces of bone. Anamplifier, I realised.Things went from bad to dreadful when Zoya showed up at our combat lesson.Botkin hugged her, kissed both of her cheeks, and then proceeded to chatter withher in Shu. Was there anything this girl couldn’t do?She’d brought along her friend with the chestnut curls, whom I rememberedfrom the Grisha tent. They proceeded to giggle and whisper as I stumbledthrough the drills with which Botkin began every class. When we separated tospar, I wasn’t even surprised when Botkin paired me with Zoya.“Is star pupil,” he said, grinning proudly. “Will help little girl.”
- Page 45 and 46: “A what?”Fedyor and Ivan exchan
- Page 47 and 48: He never finished his sentence. A s
- Page 49 and 50: Slowly, I opened my eyes and took i
- 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: knowing that I fitted into my new l
- 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 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
CHAPTER 11
When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did.
I was sitting at breakfast in the domed hall when the main doors blew open
and a group of unfamiliar Grisha entered. I didn’t pay them much attention.
Grisha in the Darkling’s service were always coming and going at the Little
Palace, sometimes to recover from injuries received at the northern or southern
front, sometimes on leave from other assignments.
Then Nadia gasped.
“Oh no,” groaned Marie.
I looked up and my stomach lurched as I recognised the raven-haired girl who
had found Mal so fascinating back in Kribirsk.
“Who is she?” I whispered, watching the girl glide among the other Grisha,
saying her hellos, her high laugh echoing off the golden dome.
“Zoya,” muttered Marie. “She was a year ahead of us at school and she’s
horrible.”
“Thinks she’s better than everyone,” added Nadia.
I raised my eyebrows. If Zoya’s sin was snobbery, then Marie and Nadia had
no business making judgments.
Marie sighed. “The worst part is that she’s kind of right. She’s an incredibly
powerful Squaller, a great fighter, and look at her.”
I took in the silver embroidery on Zoya’s cuffs, the glossy perfection of her
black hair, the big blue eyes fringed by impossibly dark lashes. She was almost
as beautiful as Genya. I thought of Mal and felt a pang of pure jealousy shoot
through me. Then I remembered that Zoya had been stationed at the Fold. If she
and Mal had … well, she might know if he was there, if he was all right. I
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