Page 39 of A Court of Ash and Midnight
“I’m telling you, it’s a very bad idea,” Yenna says, a deep frown twisting her face.
“It’s not like I was trying to get his attention,” I say sulkily.
Silence falls again for several moments, and then Lyana brings me my tea.
“Why is it so quiet here today, anyway? It seems deserted.”
The women all exchange glances.
“What?” I ask, my heart climbing in my throat.
“Last night, while the Queen’s balls were being celebrated all over Aureon, there were several border attacks,” Yenna says. “They knew all the fae would be deep in their revelry, so they struck when everyone was distracted.”
I suddenly remember what Daemon had said last night about how wrong I was about who sat on the throne. “Fae rebels? Or who?”
“That’s the rumor,” Carmeline says. “Half of Shadow’s Keep emptied out at dawn this morning to travel to the borders. There were at least three attacks, east, west, and south.”
For a moment, I wonder if that’s where Daemon has gone. But surely, they wouldn’t let him leave, especially if they thought he was a part of the rebellion.
And then another thought crosses my mind. “So, Shadow’s Keep is pretty much unguarded right now?”
“They left a handful of Guardians here, but yes. We’re mostly on our own.” Yenna looks more serious than I’ve ever seen her. “They even sent thesolaristo the borders, even though they’re not full Guardians yet.”
A shiver runs across my skin. I’ve spent these last couple of months chafing at the idea of being locked within the walls of the keep, but thinking now that those walls might not be guarded anymore… I realize I don’t actually want to be back out on my own. To be hunted once again.
But surely my hunters won’t try to break into the keep, even so…
“Did Professor Julian leave as well?” I ask, as another unpleasant thought pops into my head.
Three nods confirm my fears. This is doubly bad. Not only is the keep unprotected from outside attacks, but inside the walls I am unprotected as well. Julian is pretty much the only one here who keeps the other fae in line. I shudder to think what Commander Thornne or Toryn would do if they were here. Surely, though, they’re both deployed to the borders.
I can only pray that they are.
Since there are no classes with everyone gone, I spend the rest of the day in the kitchen with the women helping them preparefood for the evening meal, albeit a much smaller one than usual. Come evening, I eat with them and then head to my room. I’ve discovered that Trix is fond of a certain type of berries that Yenna grows in her garden near the stables, a berry that as far as I know only grows here. I bring a small bowl for my winged friend and bar the door behind me for the rest of the night, reading fae history texts and spellbooks until I fall asleep.
I don’t know what time it is when I’m awoken by the sensation of wings in my face. Trix is flapping violently against me, making soft mewling sounds.
Instantly I can tell that something isn’t right.
My room is completely and utterly black. No moonlight coming in the window. Not an ounce of light. I can barely even see my own hands in front of my face.
I realize then as my heart begins to pound, and everything in my body screams an alert, that the air is very thick. Like smoke, an acrid smell. But it’s not smoke made from fire, a scent I am intimately familiar with. I try to suck in a breath, and it burns.
Flailing, I try to get out of bed and move toward the door only three feet away. But the room spins, and it feels like the night is attacking me, weighing me down. I hear Trix squeal as I fall to my knees. Even the impact feels fuzzy, distant, everything fading away. I try to crawl toward the door, but my limbs won’t respond to me. The stones of the floor are startlingly cold against my cheek.
My eyes flutter. I fight to keep them open and fail. As if from far, far away, I hear a pounding sound, though perhaps it’s just my heart, which feels like it’s exploding in my chest.
Darkness slides over me, pulling me under like a rip current in the sea.
And then I know nothing.
Interlude
About a yearafter waking up, a year of running, of surviving, the girl returns to the town where it all began.
It’s risky. The girl knows this. The hunters are likely expecting her return. She’s been very careful not to stay in one place for too long, and even more careful not to return to places she’s been before.
But thenot knowinghaunts her.
