["Celaena\ttook\ta\tstep\tcloser.\t\\\"Tell\tme.\\\" Yellowlegs\tlooked\ttoward\tanother\tmirror.\t\\\"The\tWyrd\tgoverns\tand\tforms\tthe foundation\tof\tthis\tworld.\tNot\tjust\tErilea,\tbut\tall\tlife.\tThere\tare\tworlds\tthat\texist beyond\tyour\tknowledge,\tworlds\tthat\tlie\ton\ttop\tof\teach\tother\tand\tdon't\tknow\tit. Right\tnow,\t you\t could\tbe\t standing\t on\tthe\t bottom\t of\tsomeone\t else's\t ocean.\tThe Wyrd\tkeeps\tthese\trealms\tapart.\\\" Yellowlegs\tbegan\tto\thobble\taround\tthe\tsitting\tarea,\tlost\tin\ther\town\twords. \\\"There\tare\tgates--black\tareas\tin\tthe\tWyrd\tthat\tallow\tfor\tlife\tto\tpass\tbetween the\t worlds.\t There\t are\t Wyrdgates\t that\t lead\t to\t Erilea.\t All\t sorts\t of\t beings\t have come\t through\t them\t over\t the\t eons.\t Benign\t things.\t but\t also\t the\t dead\t and\t foul things\tthat\tcreep\tin\twhen\tthe\tgods\tare\tlooking\telsewhere.\\\" Yellowlegs\t disappeared\t behind\t a\t mirror,\t her\t uneven\t steps\t echoing\t along. \\\"But\t long\t ago,\t before\t humans\t overran\t this\t miserable\t world,\t a\t different\t sort\t of evil\tbroke\tthrough\tthe\tgates.\tThe\tValg.\tDemons\tfrom\tanother\trealm,\tbent\ton\tthe conquest\t of\t Erilea,\t and\t with\t the\t force\t of\t an\t endless\t army\t behind\t them.\t In Wendlyn,\tthey\tfought\tagainst\tthe\tFae.\tTry\tas\tthe\timmortal\tchildren\tmight,\tthey could\tnot\tdefeat\tthem. \\\"Then\tthe\tFae\tlearned\tthat\tthe\tValg\thad\tdone\tsomething\tunforgivable.\tThey had\t taken\t a\t piece\t of\t a\t Wyrdgate\t with\t their\t dark\t magic,\t and\t split\t it\t into\t three slivers--three\t keys.\t One\t key\t for\t each\t of\t their\t kings.\t Using\t all\t three\t at\t once,\t the Valg\tKings\twere\table\tto\topen\tthat\tWyrdgate\tat\twill,\tto\tmanipulate\tits\tpower\tto strengthen\ttheir\tforces,\tto\tallow\tan\tendless\tline\tof\tsoldiers\tto\tpour\tinto\tthe\tworld. The Fae\tknew\tthat\tthey\tmust\tstop\tit.\\\" Celaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tfire,\tat\tthe\tmirrors,\tat\tthe\tdarkness\tof\tthe\twagon\taround her.\tThe\theat\twas\tsmothering\tnow. \\\"And\t so\t a\t small\t band\t of\t Fae\t set\t out\t to\t steal\t them\t from\t the\t Valg\t Kings,\\\" Yellowlegs\tsaid,\ther\tvoice\tcoming\tnearer\tagain.\t\\\"It\twas\tan\timpossible\ttask;\tand most\tof\tthose\tfools\tdidn't\treturn. \\\"But\t the\t Wyrdkeys\t were\t indeed\t retrieved,\t and\t the\t Fae\t Queen\t Maeve banished\t the\t Valg\t to\t their\t realm.\t Yet\t for\t all\t her\t wisdom,\t Maeve\t couldn't discover\thow\tto\tput\tthe\tkeys\tback\tin\tthe\tgate--and\tno\tforge,\tno\tsteel,\tno\tweight could\t destroy\t them.\t So\t Maeve,\t believing\t that\t no\t one\t should\t have\t their\t power, sent\t them\t across\t the\t sea\t with\t Brannon\t Galathynius,\t first\t King\t of\t Terrasen,\t to hide\t on\t this\t continent.\t And\t thus\t the\t Wyrdgate\t remained\t protected,\t its\t power","unused.\\\" Silence\tfell.\tEven\tYellowlegs'\thobbling\tsteps\thad\tslowed. \\\"So\t the\t riddle\t is\t a.\t a\t map\t to\t where\t the\t keys\t are\t hidden?\\\"\t Celaena\t asked, trembling\t now\t as\t she\t realized\t just\t what\t kind\t of\t power\t Nehemia\t and\t the\t others had\tbeen\tafter.\tWorse,\twhat\tthe\tking\tmight\tbe\tafter.\t\\\"Yes.\\\" Celaena\t licked\t her\t lips.\t \\\"What\t might\t one\t do\t with\t the\t Wyrdkeys?\\\"\t \\\"The person\t who\t holds\t all\t three\t Wyrdkeys\t would\t have\t control\t over\t the\t broken Wyrdgate--and\tall\tErilea.\tThey\twould\tbe\table\tto\topen\tand\tclose\tthe\tgate\tat\twill. They\t could\t conquer\t new\t worlds\t or\t let\t in\t all\t sorts\t of\t life\t to\t bend\t to\t their\t cause. But\t even\t one\t key\t could\t make\t someone\t immensely\t dangerous.\t Not\t enough power\tto\topen\tthe\tgate,\tbut\tenough\tto\tbe\ta\tthreat.\tYou\tsee,\tthe\tkeys\tthemselves are\t pure\t power--power\t to\t be\t shaped\t as\t the\t wielder\t wills\t it.\t Tempting,\t isn't\t it?\\\" The\t words\t echoed\t through\t her,\t blending\t with\t Elena's\t command--\t to\t find\t and destroy\tthe\tsource\tof\tevil.\tEvil.\tEvil\tthat\thad\tarisen\tten\tyears\tago,\twhen\ta\twhole continent\t had\t suddenly\t found\t itself\t at\t mercy\t of\t one\t man--a\t man\t who\t had somehow\tbecome\tunstoppable. A\tsource\tof\tpower\tthat\texisted\toutside\tof\tmagic.\t\\\"It\tcan't\tbe.\\\" Yellowlegs\tonly\tlet\tout\ta\tconfirming\tchuckle. Celaena\t kept\t shaking\t her\t head,\t her\t heart\t beating\t so\t violently\t she\t could hardly\tbreathe.\t\\\"The\tking\thas\tsome\tof\tthe\tWyrdkeys?\tThat's\thow\the\twas\table\tto conquer\tthe\tcontinent\tso\teasily?\\\"\tBut\tif\the'd\talready\tdone\tthat--then\twhat\tfurther plans\tdid\the\thave? \\\"Perhaps,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsaid.\t\\\"If\tI\twere\tto\twager\tmy\thard-earned\tgold,\tI'd\tsay he\thas\tat\tleast\tone.\\\" Celaena\t scanned\t the\t dark,\t the\t mirrors,\t but\t only\t saw\t versions\t of\t herself looking\t back.\t She\t only\t heard\t the\t crackling\t of\t the\t oven,\t and\t her\t own\t uneven breathing. Yellowlegs\thad\tstopped\tmoving. \\\"Is\tthere\tanything\telse?\\\"\tCelaena\tdemanded. No\tresponse\tfrom\tthe\told\twoman. \\\"So\t you're\t going\t to\t take\t my\t money\t and\t run?\\\"\t Celaena\t eased\t toward\t the winding\tpath\tthrough\tthe\tmirrors,\tand\tthe\tdoor\tthat\tnow\tseemed\timpossibly\tfar away.\t \\\"What\t if\t I\t still\t have\t questions?\\\"\t Her\t own\t movements\t in\t the\t mirrors\t sent","her\t nerves\t jumping,\t but\t she\t kept\t alert,\t focused--reminded\t herself\t what\t she\t had to\tdo.\tShe\tdrew\tboth\ther\tdaggers. \\\"You\tthink\tsteel\tcan\thurt\tme?\\\"\tcame\ta\tvoice\tthat\tslithered\tacross\teach\tmirror until\tits\torigin\twas\teverywhere\tand\tnowhere. \\\"Here\t I\t was,\t thinking\t we\t were\t having\t a\t grand\t time,\\\"\t Celaena\t said,\t taking another\tstep. \\\"Bah.\tWho\tcan\thave\ta\tgrand\ttime\twhen\tyour\tguest\tis\tplanning\tto\tkill\tyou?\\\" Celaena\tsmiled. \\\"Isn't\tthat\twhy\tyou're\tmoving\ttoward\tthe\tdoor?\\\"\tYellowlegs\twent\ton.\t\\\"Not\tto escape,\tbut\tto\tmake\tsure\tI\tdon't\tget\tpast\tyour\tclever,\twicked\tdaggers?\\\" \\\"Tell\t me\t who\t else\t you've\t sold\t the\t prince's\t questions\t to\t and\t I'll\t let\t you\t go.\\\" Earlier,\t she'd\t been\t about\t to\t walk\t away--about\t to\t leave--\t when\t Yellowlegs' mention\tof\tDorian\thad\tstopped\ther\tcold.\tNow\tshe\thad\tno\tchoice\tabout\twhat\tshe had\t to\t do.\t What\t she\t would\t do\t to\t protect\t Dorian.\t It\t was\t what\t she'd\t realized\t last night:\t she\t did\t have\t someone\t left--one\t friend.\t And\t there\t was\t nothing\t she wouldn't\tdo\tto\tkeep\thim\tsafe. \\\"And\tif\tI\tsay\tthat\tI've\ttold\tno\tone?\\\" \\\"I\twouldn't\tbelieve\tyou.\\\"\tCelaena\tspied\tthe\tdoor\tat\tlast.\tNo\tsign\tof\tthe\twitch. She\tpaused\ther\tsteps,\troughly\tin\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\twagon.\tIt'd\tbe\teasier\tto\tcatch the\twoman\there--easier\tto\tmake\tit\tquick\tand\tclean. \\\"Pity,\\\"\tYellowlegs\tsaid,\tand\tCelaena\tangled\therself\ttoward\tthe\tdisembodied voice.\t There\t had\t to\t be\t some\t hidden\t exit--but\t where?\t If\t Yellowlegs\t got\t out,\t if she\t told\t anyone\t what\t Dorian\t had\t asked\t (whatever\t it\t might\t be),\t if\t she\t told anyone\twhat\tshe\thad\tasked. All\taround\tCelaena,\ther\treflection\tshifted\tand\tglimmered.\tQuick,\tclean,\tthen she'd\tbe\tgone. \\\"What\thappens,\\\"\tYellowlegs\thissed,\t\\\"when\tthe\thunter\tbecomes\tthe\thunted?\\\" From\t the\t corner\t of\t her\t eye,\t Celaena\t glimpsed\t the\t hunched\t form,\t the\t chains sagging\t between\t the\t gnarled\t hands.\t She\t whirled\t toward\t the\t crone,\t dagger already\tflying--to\tdisable,\tto\tget\ther\tdown\tso\tshe\tcould-- The\tmirror\tshattered\twhere\tYellowlegs\thad\tbeen\tstanding. Behind\ther,\tthere\twas\ta\theavy\tclink,\tand\ta\tsatisfied\tcaw\tof\tlaughter.","For\t all\t her\t training,\t Celaena\t wasn't\t fast\t enough\t to\t duck\t before\t the\t heavy chain\twhipped\t across\tthe\tside\tof\ther\thead,\tand\tshe\tslammed\tface-first\tinto\t the floor.","Chaol\tand\tDorian\tstood\ton\ta\tbalcony\tand\twatched\tthe\tcarnival\tbe\tdismantled bit\tby\tbit.\tIt\twould\tleave\ttomorrow\tmorning,\tand\tthen\tChaol\tcould\tfinally\thave his\tmen\tback\tto\tdoing\tuseful\tthings.\tLike\tmaking\tsure\tno\tother\tassassins\tgot\tinto the\tcastle. But\t Chaol's\t most\t pressing\t problem\t was\t Celaena.\t Late\t last\t night,\t after\t the royal\tlibrarian\thad\tgone\tto\tbed,\tChaol\thad\treturned\tto\tthe\tlibrary\tand\tfound\tthe genealogy\trecords.\tSomeone\thad\tgotten\tthem\tall\tout\tof\torder,\tso\tit'd\ttaken\thim\ta while\t to\t find\t the\t right\t one,\t but\t he\t at\t last\t found\t himself\t staring\t at\t the\t list\t of Terrasen's\tnoble\thouses. None\t of\t them\t bore\t the\t name\t of\t Sardothien,\t though\t that\t was\t little\t surprise. Part\t of\t him\t had\t always\t known\t that\t wasn't\t Celaena's\t true\t name.\t So\t he'd\t made\t a list--a\t list\t that\t now\t sat\t in\t his\t pocket,\t burning\t a\t hole\t through\t it--of\t all\t the\t noble houses\tshe\tmight\thave\tcome\tfrom,\thouses\twith\tchildren\tat\tthe\ttime\tof\tTerrasen's conquest.\t There\t were\t at\t least\t six\t families\t that\t had\t survived.\t but\t what\t if\t she hailed\t from\t one\t that\t had\t been\t entirely\t slaughtered?\t When\t he'd\t finished\t writing down\tthe\tnames,\the\twas\tno\tcloser\tto\tfiguring\tout\twho\tshe\treally\twas\tthan he'd\tbeen\tat\tthe\tstart. \\\"So,\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\task\tme\twhatever\tit\tis\tyou\tdragged\tme\tout\there\tto\task, or\tam\tI\tjust\tgoing\tto\tenjoy\tfreezing\tmy\tass\toff\tfor\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tnight?\\\"\tDorian said. Chaol\traised\ta\tbrow,\tand\tDorian\tgave\thim\ta\tslight\tsmile. \\\"How\t is\t she?\\\"\t Chaol\t asked.\t He'd\t heard\t that\t they'd\t had\t dinner--\t that\t she hadn't\tleft\this\trooms\tuntil\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tnight.\tHad\tit\tbeen\ta\tdeliberate\tmove on\ther\tpart?\tSomething\tto\tthrow\tin\this\tface,\tmake\thim\tache\tjust\ta\tbit\tmore? \\\"Coping,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid.\t\\\"Coping\tas\tbest\tshe\tcan.\tAnd\tsince\tI\tknow\tyou're\ttoo proud\tto\task\tit,\tI'll\tjust\ttell\tyou\tthat\tno,\tshe\thasn't\tmentioned\tyou.\tNor\tdo\tI\tthink she\twill.\\\" Chaol\ttook\ta\tlong\tbreath.\tHow\tcould\the\tconvince\tDorian\tto\tstay\taway\tfrom her?\tNot\tbecause\the\twas\tjealous,\tbut\tbecause\tCelaena\tmight\tbe\tmore\tof\ta\tthreat than\tDorian\tcould\tever\timagine.\tOnly\tthe\ttruth\twould\twork,\tbut.","\\\"Your\tfather\tis\tcurious\tabout\tyou,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid.\t\\\"After\tthe\tcouncil\tmeetings, he\talways\tasks\tme\tabout\tyou.\tI\tthink\the\twants\tyou\tback\tin\tAnielle.\\\" \\\"I\tknow.\\\" \\\"Are\tyou\tgoing\tto\tgo\twith\thim?\\\" \\\"Do\tyou\twant\tme\tto?\\\" \\\"It's\tnot\tfor\tme\tto\tdecide.\\\" Chaol\t clamped\t his\t teeth.\t He\t certainly\t wasn't\t going\t anywhere,\t not\t while Celaena\t was\t here.\t And\t not\t just\t because\t of\t who\t she\t actually\t was.\t \\\"I\t have\t no interest\tin\tbeing\tLord\tof\tAnielle.\\\" \\\"Men\twould\tkill\tfor\tthe\tkind\tof\tpower\tthat\tAnielle\twields.\\\" \\\"I've\tnever\twanted\tit.\\\" \\\"No.\\\"\tDorian\tbraced\this\thands\ton\tthe\tbalcony\trail.\t\\\"No,\tyou've\tnever\twanted anything\tfor\tyourself,\tsave\tfor\tthe\tposition\tyou\thave\tnow,\tand\tCelaena.\\\" Chaol\topened\this\tmouth,\texcuses\talready\tforming\ton\this\ttongue. \\\"You\t think\t I'm\t blind?\\\"\t Dorian\t asked,\t his\t gaze\t a\t frozen,\t ice\t blue.\t \\\"Do\t you know\t why\t I\t approached\t her\tat\t the\t Yulemas\t ball?\t Not\tbecause\t I\t wanted\t to\task her\t to\t dance,\t but\t because\t I\t saw\t the\t way\t you\t two\t were\t looking\t at\t each\t other. Even\tthen,\tI\tknew\thow\tyou\tfelt.\\\" \\\"You\tknew,\tand\tyet\tyou\tasked\ther\tto\tdance.\\\"\tHis\thands\tclenched\tinto\tfists. \\\"She's\tcapable\tof\tmaking\tup\ther\town\tmind.\tAnd\tshe\tdid.\\\"\tDorian\tgave\thim\ta bitter\tsmile.\t\\\"About\tboth\tof\tus.\\\" Chaol\ttook\ta\tsteadying\tbreath,\tcalming\this\trising\tanger.\t\\\"If\tyou\tfeel\tthe\tway you\tdo,\tthen\twhy\tlet\ther\tstay\tshackled\tto\tyour\tfather?\tWhy\tnot\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tget her\tout\tof\ther\tcontract?\tOr\tare\tyou\tjust\tafraid\tthat\tif\tyou\tset\ther\tfree,\tshe'll\tnever come\tback\tto\tyou?\\\" \\\"I'd\tbe\tcareful\twhat\tyou\tsay,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid\tsoftly. But\t it\t was\t true.\t Even\t though\t he\t couldn't\t imagine\t a\t world\t without\t Celaena, Chaol\tknew\the\thad\tto\tget\ther\tout\tof\tthis\tcastle.\tYet\the\tcouldn't\ttell\tif\tit\twas\tfor Adarlan's\tsake\tor\ther\town. \\\"My\tfather\tis\ttemperamental\tenough\tto\tpunish\tme--and\ther--if\tI\ttry\tto\tbroach that\tsubject.\tI\tagree\twith\tyou,\tI\ttruly\tdo:\tit's\tnot\tright\tto\tkeep\ther\there.\tBut\tyou should\tstill\tmind\twhat\tyou\tsay.\\\"\tThe\tCrown\tPrince\tof\tAdarlan\tstared\thim\tdown.","\\\"And\tconsider\twhere\tyour\ttrue\tloyalties\tlie.\\\" Once,\t Chaol\t might\t have\t argued.\t Once,\t he\t might\t have\t protested\t that\t his loyalty\tto\tthe\tcrown\twas\this\tgreatest\tasset.\tBut\tthat\tblind\tloyalty\tand\tobedience had\tstarted\tthis\tdescent. And\tit\thad\tdestroyed\teverything. Celaena\t knew\t she'd\t only\t been\t out\t for\t a\t few\t seconds--long\t enough\t for Yellowlegs\t to\t yank\t her\t arms\t behind\t her\t back\t and\t get\t the\t chain\t around\t her wrists.\t Her\t head\t was\t pounding,\t and\t blood\t slid\t down\t the\t side\t of\t her\t neck, trickling\t into\t her\t tunic.\t Nothing\t too\t bad--she'd\t been\t hit\t worse.\t Her\t weapons were\tgone,\tthough,\tdiscarded\tsomewhere\tin\tthe\twagon.\tEven\tthe\tones\tin\ther\thair and\tclothes.\tAnd\tboots.\tClever\twoman. So\tshe\tdidn't\tgive\tthe\twitch\ta\tchance,\tnot\teven\ta\theartbeat,\tto\trealize\tshe\twas conscious.\t With\t no\t warning,\t she\t surged\t her\t shoulders\t up,\t throwing\t back\t her head\tas\thard\tas\tshe\tcould. Bone\t cracked,\t and\t Yellowlegs\t howled,\t but\t Celaena\t had\t already\t twisted, getting\t her\t legs\t beneath\t her.\t Yellowlegs\t scrambled\t for\t the\t other\t end\t of\t the chain,\tfast\tas\ta\tviper.\tCelaena\tstomped\ton\tthe\tlength\tof\tchain\tbetween\tthem,\ther other\tfoot\tlashing\tout\tto\tmeet\tYellowlegs'\tface. The\t woman\t went\t flying--as\t if\t she\t were\t made\t of\t nothing\t but\t dust\t and\t wind, tumbling\tinto\tthe\tshadows\tbetween\tmirrors. Swearing\tunder\ther\tbreath,\tCelaena's\twrists\tached\tagainst\tthe\tcold\tiron.\tBut she'd\t been\t taught\t to\t free\t herself\t from\t worse.\t Arobynn\t had\t bound\t her\t up\t from head\tto\ttoe\tand\tmade\ther\tlearn\thow\tto\tget\tloose,\teven\tif\tit\tmeant\tspending\ttwo days\t prostrate\t on\t the\t ground\t in\t her\t own\t filth,\t or\t dislocating\t her\t shoulder\t to\t get out.\tSo,\tnot\tall\tthat\tsurprisingly,\tshe\thad\tthe\tchains\toff\tin\ta\tmatter\tof\tseconds. She\t yanked\t a\t handkerchief\t from\t her\t pocket\t and\t used\t it\t to\t snatch\t up\t a\t long mirror\t shard.\t Angling\t the\t glass,\t Celaena\t peered\t into\t the\t shadows\t where Yellowlegs\thad\tgone\tflying.\tNothing.\tJust\ta\tsmear\tof\tdark\tblood. \\\"Do\t you\t know\t how\t many\t young\t women\t I've\t trapped\t in\t this\t wagon\t in\t the past\t five\t hundred\t years?\\\"\t Yellowlegs's\t voice\t was\t everywhere\t and\t nowhere. \\\"How\t many\t Crochan\t witches\t I\t destroyed?\t They\t were\t warriors,\t too--such talented,\tbeautiful\twarriors.\tThey\ttasted\tlike\tsummer\tgrass\tand\tcool\twater.\\\" Confirming\t that\t Yellowlegs\t was\t a\t blue-blooded\t Ironteeth\t witch\t changed nothing,\t she\t told\t herself.\t Nothing,\t except\t that\t she'd\t have\t to\t find\t a\t bigger","weapon. Celaena\tscanned\tthe\twagon--for\tthe\twitch,\tfor\ther\tlost\tdaggers,\tfor\tanything to\tuse\tagainst\tthe\tcrone.\tHer\tgaze\tlifted\tto\tthe\tshelves\ton\tthe\tnearby\twall.\tBooks, crystal\tballs,\tpaper,\tdead\tthings\tin\tjars. Celaena\twould\thave\tmissed\tit\tif\tshe'd\tblinked.\tIt\twas\tcoated\tin\tdirt,\tbut\tstill gleamed\t faintly\t in\t the\t light\t of\t the\t distant\t oven.\t Mounted\t on\t the\t wall\t above\t a woodpile\twas\ta\tlong,\tsingle-bladed\tax. She\t smiled\t faintly\t as\t she\t yanked\t it\t off\t the\t wall.\t All\t around,\t Yellowlegs' image\t danced\t in\t the\t mirrors,\t a\t thousand\t possibilities\t for\t where\t she\t could\t be standing,\twatching,\twaiting. Celaena\tswung\tthe\tax\tat\tthe\tnearest\tone.\tThen\tthe\tnext.\tAnd\tthe\tnext. The\tonly\tway\tto\tkill\ta\twitch\tis\tto\tcut\toff\ther\thead.\tA\tfriend\thad\ttold\ther\tthat once. Celaena\t wove\t between\t the\t mirrors,\t smashing\t them\t as\t she\t went,\t the reflections\t of\t the\t crone\t vanishing,\t until\t the\t real\t witch\t stood\t along\t the\t narrow pathway\tbetween\tCelaena\tand\tthe\thearth,\tthe\tchain\tback\tin\ther\thands. Celaena\t hefted\t the\t ax\t over\t a\t shoulder.\t \\\"One\t more\t chance,\\\"\t she\t breathed. \\\"You\t agree\t to\t never\t say\t one\t word\t about\t me,\t or\t Dorian,\t and\t I'll\t walk\t out\t of here.\\\" \\\"I\t can\t taste\t your\t lies,\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t said.\t Faster\t than\t should\t be\t possible,\t she came\tfor\tCelaena,\tscuttling\tlike\ta\tspider,\tchain\tswinging\tfrom\ther\tfingers. Celaena\tdodged\tthe\tfirst\twhip\tof\tthe\tchain.\tShe\theard\tthe\tsecond\tbefore\tshe saw\t it,\t and\t though\t it\t missed\t her,\t it\t struck\t a\t mirror\t and\t glass\t exploded everywhere.\tCelaena\thad\tno\tchoice\tbut\tto\tshield\ther\teyes,\tto\tlook\taway\tfor\tone heartbeat. It\twas\tenough. The\tchain\twrapped\taround\ther\tankle,\tstinging\tand\tbruising,\tand\tthen\tyanked. The\t world\t tilted\t as\t Yellowlegs\t pulled\t her\t feet\t out\t from\t under\t her\t and Celaena\twent\tcrashing\tto\tthe\tfloor.\tYellowlegs\trushed\tfor\ther,\tbut\tCelaena\trolled across\tthe\tshards,\tchain\ttangling\taround\ther,\tclinging\tto\tthe\tax\tin\ther\tone\thand, until\t her\t face\t brushed\t against\t the\t coarse\t fibers\t of\t the\t ancient\t rug\t before\t the oven. There\twas\ta\tfirm\tyank\ton\tthe\tchain,\tand\tthen\tanother\twhipping\tsound.\tMetal","slammed\t into\t Celaena's\t forearm,\t so\t hard\t that\t she\t lost\t her\t grip\t on\t the\t ax.\t She flipped\t onto\t her\t back,\t still\t tangled\t in\t the\t infernal\t chain,\t only\t to\t find\t the\t iron teeth\t of\t Baba\t Yellowlegs\t looming\t above\t her.\t In\t a\t flash,\t the\t witch\t slammed Celaena\tback\tdown\tinto\tthe\tcarpet. The\t iron\t nails\t dug\t into\t her\t skin,\t drawing\t blood\t as\t the\t witch\t pinned\t her\t by the\t shoulder.\t \\\"Hold\t still,\t you\t foolish\t girl,\\\"\t Yellowlegs\t hissed,\t grabbing\t for\t the length\tof\tthe\tchain\tlying\taround\tthem. The\trug\tscratched\tagainst\tCelaena's\tfingers\tas\tshe\tstretched\tfor\tthe\tfallen\tax, just\t inches\t out\t of\t reach.\t Her\t arm\t throbbed\t mercilessly,\t her\t ankle\t aching\t too.\t If she\t could\t just\t get\t the\t ax..\t Yellowlegs\t lunged\t for\t Celaena's\t neck,\t her\t teeth snapping. Celaena\t threw\t herself\t to\t the\t side,\t narrowly\t dodging\t those\t iron\t teeth,\t and grabbed\t the\t ax\t at\t last.\t She\t hauled\t it\t up\t so\t hard\t that\t its\t blunt\t bottom\t slammed into\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\told\twoman's\tface. Yellowlegs\t was\t knocked\t off\t her,\t collapsing\t in\t a\t heap\t of\t billowing\t brown robes.\tCelaena\tscrambled\tback\tand\traised\tthe\tweapon\tbetween\tthem. Pushing\t to\t her\t hands\t and\t knees,\t Yellowlegs\t spat\t dark\t blood--blue\t blood-- onto\t the\t aged\t rug,\t her\t eyes\t blazing.\t \\\"I\t am\t going\t to\t make\t you\t wish\t you'd\t never been\tborn.\tBoth\tyou\tand\tyour\tprince.\\\"\tAnd\tthen\tYellowlegs\tshot\tforward\tso\tfast Celaena\tcould\thave\tsworn\tshe\twas\tflymg. But\tshe\tonly\tgot\tas\tfar\tas\tCelaena's\tfeet. Celaena\t brought\t the\t ax\t down,\t throwing\t every\t bit\t of\t strength\t into\t her\t arms. Blue\tblood\tsprayed\teverywhere. There\twas\ta\tsmile\ton\tBaba\tYellowlegs's\tdecapitated\thead\tas\tit\tthudded\tto\ta stop. Quiet\t fell.\t Even\t the\t fire,\t still\t burning\t so\t hot\t that\t she\t was\t sweating\t again, seemed\tto\thave\tgone\tsilent.\tCelaena\tswallowed.\tOnce.\tTwice. Dorian\tcouldn't\tknow.\tEven\tthough\tshe\twanted\tto\tscold\thim\tto\thigh\thell\tfor asking\t questions\t that\t Yellowlegs\t had\t deemed\t valuable\t enough\t to\t sell\t to\t others, he\tcouldn't\tknow\twhat\thad\thappened\there.\tNo\tone\tcould. When\t she\t at\t last\t found\t the\t strength\t to\t disentangle\t herself,\t her\t pants\t and boots\twere\tstained\tblue-black.\tAnother\toutfit\tto\tbe\tburned.\tShe\tstudied\tthe\tbody, the\tstained\tand\tsoaking\tcarpet.\tIt\thadn't\tbeen\tquick,\tbut\tit\tcould\tstill\tbe\tclean.\tA missing\tperson\twas\tbetter\tthan\ta\tdecapitated\tcorpse.","Celaena\traised\ther\teyes\tto\tthe\tlarge\toven\tgrate.","Mort\tchuckled\twhen\tshe\tstaggered\tthrough\tthe\ttomb\tdoor.\t\\\"Witch\tSlayer,\tare you?\tAnother\tlovely\ttitle\tto\tadd\tto\tyour\trepertoire.\\\" \\\"How\t do\t you\t know\t about\t that?\\\"\t she\t asked,\t setting\t down\t the\t candle.\t She'd already\t burned\t her\t bloodied\t clothes.\t It\t had\t reeked\t as\t it\t burned--reeked\t like rotting\t flesh,\t just\t like\t Yellowlegs.\t Fleetfoot\t had\t growled\t at\t the\t fireplace\t and tried\tto\therd\tCelaena\taway\tby\tpressing\ther\tbody\tagainst\ther\tlegs. \\\"Oh,\tI\tcan\tsmell\ther\ton\tyou,\\\"\tMort\tsaid.\t\\\"Smell\ther\tfury\tand\twickedness.\\\" Celaena\t peeled\t back\t the\t collar\t of\t her\t tunic\t to\t show\t the\t little\t cuts\t where Yellowlegs's\tnails\thad\tpierced\tthe\tskin\tright\tabove\ther\tcollarbone.\tShe'd\tcleaned them\tout,\tbut\thad\ta\tfeeling\tthey\twould\tleave\tmarks,\ta\tnecklace\tof\tscars.\t\\\"What do\tyou\tmake\tof\tthose?\\\" Mort\t winced.\t \\\"Those\t makes\t me\t grateful\t I'm\t made\t of\t bronze.\\\"\t \\\"Will\t they harm\tme?\\\" \\\"You\t killed\t a\t witch--and\t you're\t now\t marked\t by\t a\t witch.\t It\t will\t not\t be\t the usual\tsort\tof\twound.\\\"\tMort's\teyes\tnarrowed.\t\\\"You\tunderstand that\tyou\tmay\thave\tjust\tlanded\tyourself\tin\ta\theap\tof\ttrouble.\\\" Celaena\tgroaned. \\\"Baba\tYellowlegs\twas\ta\tleader--a\tqueen\tto\ther\tclan,\\\"\tMort\twent\ton.\t\\\"When they\t destroyed\t the\t Crochan\t family,\t they\t joined\t with\t the\t Blackbeaks\t and\t the Bluebloods\tin\tthe\tIronteeth\tAlliance.\tThey\tstill\thonor\tthose\toaths.\\\" \\\"But\tI\tthought\tall\tthe\twitches\twere\tgone--scattered\tto\tthe\twinds.\\\" \\\"Gone?\tThe\tCrochans\tand\tthose\twho\tfollowed\tthem\thave\tbeen\tin\thiding\tfor generations.\tBut\tthe\tclans\tin\tthe\tIronteeth\tAlliance\tstill\ttravel\tabout,\tas\tBaba\tdid. Though\t many\t more\t of\t them\t live\t in\t the\t ruined\t and\t dark\t places\t of\t the\t world, content\tin\ttheir\twickedness.\tBut\tI\tsuspect\tthat\twhen\tthe\tYellowlegs\tlearn\tof\ttheir matron's\tdeath,\tthey\twill\tmuster\tthe\tBlackbeaks\tand\tthe\tBluebloods,\tand\tdemand answers\t from\t the\t king.\t And\t you\t will\t be\t fortunate\t if\t they\t do\t not\t come\t on\t their brooms\tand\tdrag\tyou\tinto\tit.\\\" She\tgrimaced.\t\\\"I\thope\tyou're\twrong.\\\"","Mort's\tbrows\tlowered\tslightly.\t\\\"So\tdo\tI.\\\" Celaena\t spent\t an\t hour\t in\t the\t tomb,\t reading\t through\t the\t riddle\t on\t the\t wall, puzzling\t over\t Yellowlegs'\t words.\t Wyrdkeys.\t Wyrdgates.\t it\t was\t all\t so\t strange, incomprehensible\tand\tterrifying.\tAnd\tif\tthe\tking\thad\tthem--if\the\teven\thad\tone. Celaena\tshuddered. When\tstaring\tat\tthe\triddle\tgave\ther\tno\tfurther\tanswers,\tCelaena\ttrudged\tback to\ther\trooms\tfor\ta\tmuch-needed\tnap. At\t least\t she'd\t finally\t discovered\t a\t possible\t source\t of\t the\t king's\t power.\t But she\t still\t needed\t to\t learn\t more.\t And\t then\t the\t real\t question:\t what\t was\t the\t king planning\tto\tdo\twith\tthe\tkeys\tthat\the\thad\tnot\tdone\talready? She\thad\ta\tfeeling\tshe\tdidn't\twant\tto\tknow. But\t the\t library\t catacombs\t might\t contain\t the\t answer\t to\t that\t most\t horrible\t of questions.\tThere\twas\ta\tbook\tshe\tcould\tuse\tto\tgain\taccess\tto\tthat\tanswer--a\tbook that\tmight\thave\tthe\tunlocking\tspell\tshe\twas\tlooking\tfor.\tAnd\tshe\tknew\tthat\tThe Walking\tDead\twould\tfind\ther\tthe\tmoment\tshe\tbegan\tlooking\tfor\tit. Halfway\tup\tto\ther\trooms,\tall\tplans\tfor\ta\tnap\tvanished\tas\tCelaena\tturned\tback around\t and\t went\t to\t retrieve\t Damaris,\t and\t every\t other\t ancient\t blade\t she\t could carry. He\t shouldn't\t be\t here.\t He\t was\t only\t asking\t for\t trouble--another\t fight\t that might\t wind\t up\t tearing\t the\t castle\t in\t two.\t And\t if\t Celaena\t attacked\t him\t again, Chaol\t knew\t with\t absolute\t certainty\t that\t he'd\t still\t let\t her\t kill\t him,\t if\t she\t really wanted. He\t didn't\t even\t know\t what\t he'd\t say\t to\t her.\t But\t he\t had\t to\t say\t something,\t if only\t to\t end\t the\t silence\t and\t tension\t that\t kept\t him\t awake\t night\t after\t night\t and prevented\thim\tfrom\tfocusing\ton\this\tduties. She\t wasn't\t in\t her\t bedrooms,\t but\t he\t went\t in\t anyway,\t wandering\t over\t to\t her desk.\t It\t was\t as\t messy\t as\t Dorian's,\t and\t covered\t in\t papers\t and\t books.\t He\t might have\t turned\t away\t had\t he\t not\t seen\t the\t strange\t symbols\t written\t on\t everything. Symbols\t that\t reminded\t him\t of\t the\t mark\t he'd\t seen\t burn\t on\t her\t forehead\t at\t the duel.\t He'd\t somehow\t forgotten\t about\t it\t in\t the\t months\t that\t had\t gone\t by.\t Was\t it. was\tit\tsomething\tconnected\tto\ther\tpast? Glancing\tover\this\tshoulder,\tlistening\tfor\tany\tsign\tof\tPhilippa\tor\tCelaena,\the rifled\t through\t the\t documents.\t Just\t scribblings--drawings\t of\t the\t symbols\t and random\t words\t underlined.\t Perhaps\t they\t were\t no\t more\t than\t doodles,\t he\t tried\t to","tell\thimself. He\twas\tabout\tto\tturn\taway\twhen\the\tcaught\tsight\tof\ta\tdocument\tpeeking\tout from\t a\t stack\t of\t books.\t It\t was\t signed\t by\t multiple\t people,\t and\t written\t in\t careful calligraphy. Easing\tit\tout\tfrom\tunder\tthe\tbooks,\tChaol\tpicked\tup\tthe\tthick\tpaper\tand\tread. The\tworld\tdropped\tout\tfrom\tbeneath\this\tfeet. It\twas\tCelaena's\twill.\tSigned\ttwo\tdays\tbefore\tNehemia's\tdeath. And\tshe'd\tgiven\teverything--every\tlast\tcopper--to\thim. His\tthroat\ttightened\tas\the\tstared\tat\tthe\tsum\tand\tthe\tlist\tof\tassets,\tincluding\tan apartment\tin\ta\twarehouse\tin\tthe\tslums\tand\tall\tthe\twealth\tinside. And\t she\t had\t signed\t it\t all\t to\t him,\t with\t only\t one\t request:\t that\t he\t consider giving\tsome\tof\tit\tto\tPhilippa. \\\"I'm\tnot\tgoing\tto\tchange\tit.\\\" He\t whirled,\t finding\t her\t leaning\t against\t the\t door\t frame,\t her\t arms\t crossed. Though\t the\t position\t was\t so\t familiar,\t her\t face\t was\t cold,\t blank.\t He\t let\t the document\tslip\tfrom\this\tfingers. The\tlist\tof\tnoble\thouses\tin\this\tpocket\tsuddenly\tbecame\tleaden.\tWhat\tif\the'd been\t jumping\t to\t conclusions?\t Perhaps\t it\t wasn't\t actually\t a\t dirge\t of\t Terrasen. Maybe\tit\thad\tbeen\tanother\tlanguage\the'd\tnever\theard. She\twatched\thim\tlike\ta\tcat.\t\\\"It'd\tbe\ttoo\tmuch\ttrouble\tto\tbother\tchanging\tit,\\\" she\twent\ton.\tShe\twore\ta\tbeautiful,\tancient-looking\tblade\tat\ther\tside,\talong\twith a\tfew\tdaggers\the'd\tnever\tseen\tbefore.\tWhere\thad\tshe\tgotten\tthem? There\t were\t so\t many\t words\t trying\t to\t work\t their\t way\t out\t of\t him\t that\t he couldn't\t speak\t at\t all.\t All\t of\t that\t money--she'd\t left\t everything\t to\t him.\t Left\t it\t to him\tbecause\twhat\tshe'd\tfelt\tfor\thim.\teven\tDorian\thad\tseen\tit\tfrom\tthe\tstart. \\\"At\tleast\tnow,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tpushing\toff\tthe\tdoor\tframe\tand\tturning\taway,\t\\\"when the\tking\tsacks\tyou\tfor\tbeing\tso\tdamn\tlousy\tat\tyour\tjob,\tyou'll\thave\tsomething\tto fall\tback\ton.\\\" He\t couldn't\t breathe.\t She\t hadn't\t just\t done\t it\t out\t of\t generosity.\t But\t rather because\t she\t knew\t that\t if\t he\t ever\t lost\t his\t position,\t he'd\t have\t to\t consider\t going back\tto\tAnielle,\tto\this\tfather's\tmoney.\tAnd\tthat\tit'd\tkill\tpart\tof\thim\tto\tdo\tthat. But\tshe'd\thave\tto\tbe\tdead\tfor\thim\tto\tsee\tthat\tmoney.\tVerifiably\tdead,\tand\tnot","a\ttraitor\tto\tthe\tcrown,\teither--if\tshe\tdied\ta\ttraitor,\tthen\tall\ther\tassets\thad\tto\tgo\tto the\tking. And\t the\t only\t way\t she'd\t die\t a\t traitor\t would\t be\t for\t her\t to\t do\t what'd\t he'd feared:\t ally\t with\t this\t secret\t organization,\t find\t Aelin\t Galathynius,\t and\t return\t to Terrasen.\t This\t was\t a\t hint\t that\t she\t had\t no\t intention\t of\t doing\t that.\t She\t had\t no plans\t to\t reclaim\t her\t lost\t title,\t posed\t no\t threat\t to\t Adarlan,\t or\t Dorian.\t He'd\t been wrong.\tYet\tagain,\the'd\tbeen\twrong. \\\"Get\t out\t of\t my\t chambers,\\\"\t she\t said\t from\t the\t foyer,\t before\t striding\t into\t the gaming\troom\tand\tslamming\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\ther. He\t hadn't\t wept\t when\t Nehemia\t died,\t or\t when\t he'd\t thrown\t Celaena\t in\t the dungeons,\tor\teven\twhen\tshe'd\treturned\twith\tGrave's\thead,\tutterly\tdifferent\tfrom the\twoman\the\thad\tgrown\tto\tlove\tso\tfiercely. But\twhen\tChaol\twalked\tout,\tleaving\tthat\tdamning\twill\tbehind\thim,\the\tdidn't even\tmake\tit\tto\this\town\troom.\tHe\tjust\tbarely\tmade\tit\tinto\tan\tempty\tbroom\tcloset before\tthe\tsobs\thit.","Celaena\t stood\t in\t the\t gaming\t room,\t staring\t at\t the\t pianoforte\t as\t she\t heard Chaol\tquickly\tleave.\tShe\thadn't\tplayed\tin\tweeks. Originally,\tit\thad\tbeen\tjust\tbecause\tshe\tdidn't\thave\ttime.\tBecause\tArcher\tand the\ttomb\tand\tChaol\thad\toccupied\tevery\tmoment\tof\ther\tday.\tThen\tNehemia\thad died--and\t she\t hadn't\t gone\t into\t this\t room\t once,\t hadn't\t wanted\t to\t look\t at\t the instrument,\thadn't\twanted\tto\thear\tor\tmake\tmusic\tever\tagain. Shoving\t the\t encounter\t with\t Chaol\t out\t of\t her\t mind,\t Celaena\t slowly\t folded back\tthe\tlid\tof\tthe\tpianoforte\tand\tstroked\tthe\tivory\tkeys. But\tshe\tcouldn't\tpush\tdown,\tcouldn't\tbring\therself\tto\tmake\ta\tsound.\tNehemia should\thave\tbeen\there--to\thelp\twith\tYellowlegs\tand\tthe\triddle,\tto\ttell\ther\twhat\tto do\twith\tChaol,\tto\tsmile\tas\tCelaena\tplayed\tsomething\tparticularly\tclever\tfor\ther. Nehemia\twas\tgone.\tAnd\tthe\tworld--it\twas\tmoving\ton\twithout her. When\t Sam\t had\t died,\t she\t had\t tucked\t him\t into\t her\t heart,\t tucked\t him\t in alongside\ther\tother\tbeloved\tdead,\twhose\tnames\tshe\tkept\tso\tsecret\tshe\tsometimes forgot\t them.\t But\t Nehemia--Nehemia\t wouldn't\t fit.\t It\t was\t as\t if\t her\t heart\t was\t too full\tof\tthe\tdead,\ttoo\tfull\tof\tthose\tlives\tthat\thad\tended\twell\tbefore\ttheir\ttime. She\t couldn't\t seal\t Nehemia\t away\t like\t that,\t not\t when\t that\t bloodstained\t bed and\tthose\tugly\twords\tstill\thaunted\ther\tevery\tstep,\tevery\tbreath. So\t Celaena\t just\t hovered\t at\t the\t pianoforte,\t tracing\t her\t fingers\t over\t the\t keys again\tand\tagain,\tand\tlet\tthe\tsilence\tdevour\ther. An\t hour\t later,\t Celaena\t stood\t before\t the\t strange,\t second\t staircase\t at\t the\t end of\t the\t forgotten\t hall\t of\t ancient\t records,\t a\t clock\t chiming\t somewhere\t far\t in\t the library\t above.\t The\t images\t of\t Fae\t and\t flora\t danced\t along\t the\t fire-lit\t stairwell, spiraling\t out\t of\t sight,\t down\t and\t down\t into\t unknown\t depths.\t She'd\t found\t The Walking\t Dead\t almost\t immediately--discarded\t on\t a\t lonely\t table\t between\t some stacks.\t As\t if\t it\t had\t been\t waiting\t for\t her.\t And\t it\t had\t been\t the\t work\t of\t a\t few minutes\t to\t find\t a\t spell\t inside\t that\t claimed\t to\t unlock\t any\t door.\t She'd\t quickly memorized\tit,\tpracticing\ta\tfew\ttimes\ton\ta\tlocked\tbroom\tcloset.","It\thad\ttaken\tall\ther\tself-control\tnot\tto\tscream\twhen\tshe'd\theard\tthe\tlock\tsnap free\tthe\tfirst\ttime.\tOr\tthe\tsecond. It\twas\tno\twonder\tNehemia\tand\ther\tfamily\tkept\tsuch\tpower\ta\tsecret.\tAnd\tno wonder\tthe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan\thad\tsought\tit\tout\tfor\thimself. Staring\tdown\tinto\tthe\tstairwell,\tCelaena\ttouched\tDamaris,\tthen\tlooked\tat\tthe two\t jeweled\t daggers\t hanging\t from\t her\t belt.\t She\t was\t fine.\t No\t reason\t to\t be nervous.\tWhat\tsort\tof\tevil\tdid\tshe\texpect\tto\tfind\tin\ta\tlibrary,\tof\tall\tplaces? Surely\tthe\tking\thad\tbetter\tplaces\tto\thide\this\tdark\tdealings.\tAt\tbest,\tshe'd\tfind more\t hints\t as\t to\t whether\t he\t had\t any\t Wyrdkeys\t and\t where\t he\t kept\t them.\t At worst.\tShe'd\trun\tinto\tthe\tcloaked\tperson\tshe'd\tseen\toutside\tthe\tlibrary\tthat\tnight. But\tthe\tglowing\teyes\tshe'd\tglimpsed\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthat\tdoor\tbelonged\tto\ta rodent\t of\t some\t sort--nothing\t more.\t And\t if\t she\t was\t wrong.\t Well,\t whatever\t it was,\tafter\ttaking\tdown\tthe\tridderak,\tthis\tshouldn't\tbe\ttoo\thard,\tright? Right.\tCelaena\tstepped\tforward,\tpausing\ton\tthe\tlanding. Nothing.\tNo\tfeelings\tof\tterror,\tno\totherworldly\twarnings.\tNot\ta\tthing. She\ttook\tanother\tstep,\tthen\tanother,\tholding\ther\tbreath\tas\tshe\twound\taround the\tstaircase\tuntil\tshe\tcould\tno\tlonger\tsee\tthe\ttop.\tShe\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthat\tthe etchings\t on\t the\t wall\t moved\t all\t around\t her,\t that\t the\t beautiful,\t feral\t faces\t of\t the Fae\tturned\tto\tlook\tas\tshe\tpassed. The\tonly\tnoises\twere\ther\tfootsteps\tand\tthe\twhispering\tof\tthe\ttorch\tflame.\tA chill\t ran\t down\t her\t spine,\t and\t Celaena\t stopped\t as\t the\t void\t of\t the\t hallway\t came into\tview. She\t was\t at\t the\t sealed\t iron\t door\t a\t moment\t later.\t She\t didn't\t give\t herself\t the luxury\t of\t reconsidering\t her\t plan\t as\t she\t took\t out\t her\t piece\t of\t chalk\t and\t traced two\tWyrdmarks\tonto\tthe\tdoor,\twhispering\tthe\taccompanying\twords\tas\tshe\tdrew them.\tThey\tburned\ton\ther\ttongue,\tbut\tas\tshe\tfinished\tspeaking,\tshe\theard\ta\tfaint, dull\tthud\tas\tsomething\tin\tthe\tdoor\tslid\topen. She\tswore\tunder\ther\tbreath.\tThe\tspell\ttruly\tworked.\tShe\tdidn't\twant\tto\tthink about\tall\tthat\timplied,\tabout\thow\tit\twas\table\tto\twork\ton\t iron,\tthe\tone\t element supposedly\t immune\t to\t magic.\t And\t not\t when\t there\t were\t so\t many\t awful\t spells contained\tin\tThe\tWalking\tDead.\tSpells\tto\tsummon\tdemons,\tto\traise\tthe\tdead,\tto torture\tothers\tuntil\tthey\tbegged\tfor\tdeath. With\t a\t firm\t tug,\t she\t yanked\t the\t door\t open,\t wincing\t as\t it\t whined\t across\t the gray\tstone\tfloor.\tA\tstale,\tcold\tbreeze\trustled\tpast\ther\tface,\truffling\ther\thair.\tShe","drew\tDamaris. After\tchecking\tand\tdouble-checking\tthat\tshe\tcould\tnot\tbe\tlocked\tinside,\tshe crossed\tthe\tthreshold. Her\t torch\t revealed\t a\t small\t staircase\t of\t about\t ten\t steps,\t which\t led\t down\t to another\tlong,\tnarrow\tpassageway.\tCobwebs\tand\tdust\tfilled\tevery\tinch\tof\tit,\tbut\tit wasn't\tthe\tneglected\tlook\tof\tthe\tplace\tthat\tmade\ther\tpause. Rather\tit\twas\tthe\tdoors,\tthe\tdozens\tof\tiron\tdoors\tthat\tlined\tboth\tsides\tof\tthe hallway.\tAll\tas\tnondescript\tas\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\ther,\tall\tof\tthem\trevealing\tnothing of\twhat\tmight\tbe\tbehind\tthem.\tAt\tthe\topposite\tend\tof\tthe\thall,\tanother\tiron\tdoor gleamed\tdully\tin\tthe\ttorchlight. What\twas\tthis\tplace? She\tdescended\tthe\tstairs.\tIt\twas\tso\tsilent.\tAs\tif\tthe\tair\theld\tits\tbreath. She\theld\ther\ttorch\thigh,\tDamaris\tin\tthe\tother\thand,\tand\tapproached\tthe\tfirst iron\t door.\t It\t had\t no\t handle.\t The\t surface\t was\t marked\t only\t by\t a\t single\t line.\t The door\tacross\tfrom\tit\thad\ttwo\tmarks.\tNumbers\tone\tand\ttwo.\tOdd\tnumbers\ton\tthe left,\t even\t on\t the\t right.\t She\t kept\t moving,\t igniting\t torch\t after\t torch,\t brushing away\tthe\tcurtains\tof\tcobwebs.\tAs\tshe\twalked\tfurther\tdown\tthe\thall,\tthe\tnumbers rose. Is\tthis\tsome\tsort\tof\tdungeon? But\t the\t floor\t held\t no\t traces\t of\t blood,\t no\t remnants\t of\t bones\t or\t weapons.\t It didn't\t even\t smell\t that\t bad--just\t dusty.\t Dry.\t She\t tried\t opening\t one\t of\t the\t doors, but\t it\t was\t firmly\t locked.\t All\t of\t the\t doors\t were\t locked.\t And\t some\t instinct\t told her\tto\tkeep\tthem\tthat\tway. Her\thead\tthrobbed\tslightly\twith\tthe\tbeginnings\tof\ta\theadache. The\t hallway\t went\t on\t and\t on,\t until\t she\t reached\t the\t door\t at\t the\t far\t end,\t the cells\ton\teither\tside\tnumbered\tninety-eight\tand\tninety-nine. Just\tbeyond\tthem\twas\ta\tfinal,\tunmarked\tdoor.\tShe\tset\tthe\ttorch\tin\ta\tbracket beside\tthe\tlast\tdoor,\tand\tgrabbed\tring\ton\tthe\tdoor\tto\tpull\tit\topen.\tThis\tone\twas significantly\t lighter\t than\t the\t first,\t but\t also\t locked.\t And\t unlike\t the\t doors\t lining the\thall,\tthis\tone\tseemed\tto\task\ther\tto\tunlock\tit--like\tit\tneeded\tto\tbe\topened.\tSo Celaena\t sketched\t the\t unlocking\t spell\t again,\t the\t chalk\t bone-white\t against\t the ancient\tmetal.\tThe\tdoor\tyielded\twithout\ta\tsound. Perhaps\t these\t were\t Gavin's\t dungeons.\t From\t the\t time\t of\t Brannon.\t That","would\texplain\tthe\tFae\tdepictions\ton\tthe\tstaircase\tabove.\tPerhaps\the'd\thad\tall\tof this\t iron--these\t iron-gated\t cells--to\t imprison\t the\t demon-soldiers\t of\t Erawan's army.\tOr\tthe\twicked\tthings\tGavin\tand\this\twar\tband\thunted\tdown. Her\t mouth\t went\t dry\t as\t she\t passed\t through\t the\t second\t door\t and\t ignited\t the torches\t along\t the\t way.\t Again,\t the\t light\t revealed\t a\t small\t set\t of\t stairs\t leading down\t into\t a\t hallway.\t Yet\t this\t one\t veered\t to\t the\t right,\t and\t was\t significantly shorter.\t There\t was\t nothing\t in\t the\t shadows.\t Just\t more\t and\t more\t locked\t iron doors\ton\teither\tside.\tIt\twas\tso,\tso\tquiet. She\twalked\tuntil\tshe\treached\tthe\tdoor\ton\tthe\tother\tend\tof\tthe\thall.\tSixty-six cells\tthis\ttime,\tall\tsealed\tshut.\tShe\tunlocked\tthe\tend\tdoor\twith\tthe\tWyrdmarks. She\t entered\t the\t third\t passageway,\t which\t also\t made\t a\t sharp\t right\t turn,\t and found\tit\tto\tbe\teven\tshorter.\tThirty-three\tcells. The\tfourth\thallway\tveered\tright\tagain,\tand\tshe\tcounted\ttwenty-two\tcells.\tThe slight\t throbbing\t in\t her\t head\t turned\t into\t a\t full-on\t pounding,\t but\t it\t was\t so\t far\t to her\trooms,\tand\tshe\twas\there\talready. Celaena\tpaused\tbefore\tthe\tfourth\tend\tdoor. It's\t a\t spiral.\t A\t labyrinth.\t Bringing\t you\t deeper\t and\t deeper\t inside,\t farther below\tground... She\t bit\t her\t lip,\t but\t unlocked\t the\t door.\t Eleven\t cells.\t She\t increased\t her\t pace, and\tswiftly\treached\tthe\tfifth\tdoor.\tNine\tcells. She\tapproached\tthe\tsixth\tdoor\tand\thalted. A\tdifferent\tsort\tof\tchill\twent\tthrough\ther\tas\tshe\tstared\tat\tthe\tsixth\tportal. The\tcenter\tof\tthe\tspiral? As\tthe\tchalk\tmet\tthe\tiron\tdoor\tto\tform\tthe\tWyrdmarks,\ta\tvoice\tin\tthe\tback\tof her\tmind\ttold\ther\tto\trun.\tAnd\tthough\tshe\twanted\tto\tlisten,\tshe\topened\tthe\tdoor anyway. Her\t torches\t revealed\t a\t hallway\t in\t ruin.\t Parts\t of\t the\t walls\t had\t caved\t in,\t and the\twooden\tbeams\twere\tleft\tin\tsplinters.\tCobwebs\tstretched\tbetween\tthe\tbroken shafts\t of\t wood,\t and\t tattered\t scraps\t of\t cloth,\t impaled\t upon\t rock\t and\t beam, swayed\tin\tthe\tslight\tbreeze. Death\t had\t been\t here.\t And\t not\t too\t long\t ago.\t If\t this\t place\t were\t as\t ancient\t as Gavin\tand\tBrannon,\tmost\tof\tthe\tcloth\twould\tbe\tdust. She\tlooked\tat\tthe\tthree\tcells\tthat\tlined\tthe\tshort\thallway.\tThere\twas\tone\tmore","door\t at\t the\t end,\t which\t hung\t crookedly\t on\t its\t one\t remaining\t hinge.\t Darkness filled\tthe\tvoid\tbeyond. But\tit\twas\tthe\tthird\tcell\tthat\theld\ther\tinterest. The\t iron\t door\t to\t the\t third\t cell\t had\t been\t smashed,\t its\t surface\t dented\t and folded\tupon\titself.\tBut\tnot\tfrom\tthe\toutside. Celaena\traised\tDamaris\tbefore\ther\tas\tshe\tfaced\tthe\topen\tcell. Whoever\thad\tbeen\twithin\thad\tbroken\tloose. A\t quick\t sweep\t of\t her\t torch\t across\t the\t threshold\t revealed\t nothing,\t save\t for bones,\tpiles\tof\tbones,\tmost\tof\tthem\tsplintered\tbeyond\trecognition. She\tsnapped\ther\tattention\tback\tto\tthe\thallway.\tNothing\tmoved. Gingerly,\tshe\tstepped\tinto\tthe\tcell. Iron\t chains\t dangled\t from\t the\t walls,\t broken\t off\t where\t manacles\t would\t have been.\t The\t dark\t stone\t was\t covered\t in\t white\t marks,\t dozens\t and\t dozens\t of\t long, deep\tgouges\tin\tgroups\tof\tfour. Fingernails. She\tturned\taround\tto\tthe\tbroken\tcell\tdoor.\tThere\twere\tcountless\tmarks\ton\tit. How\tcould\tsomeone\tmake\tsuch\tlines\tin\tiron?\tIn\tstone? She\tshuddered\tand\tquickly\tstepped\tout\tof\tthe\tcell. She\t glanced\t back\t the\t way\t she\t had\t come,\t which\t glowed\t with\t the\t torches she'd\tlit,\tand\tthen\tat\tthe\tdark,\topen\tspace\tthat\tled\tonward. You're\t near\t the\t center\t of\t the\t spiral.\t Just\t see\t what\t it\t is...\t See\t if\t it\t yields\t any answers.\tElena\tsaid\tto\tlook\tfor\tclues... She\tswung\tDamaris\tin\ther\thand\ta\tfew\ttimes--only\tto\tloosen\ther wrist,\tof\tcourse.\tRolling\ther\tneck,\tshe\tentered\tthe\tgloom. There\t were\t no\t torch\t brackets\t here.\t The\t seventh\t portal\t only\t revealed\t a\t short passageway\tand\tone\topen\tdoor.\tAn\teighth\tgate. The\twalls\ton\teither\tside\tof\tthe\teighth\tdoor\twere\tdamaged\tand\tclaw-marked. Her\thead\tgave\ta\tviolent\tthrob,\tthen\tquieted\tas\tshe\tstepped\tnearer. Beyond\t the\t portal\t lay\t a\t spiral\t staircase\t that\t led\t upward,\t so\t high\t that\t she couldn't\tsee\tthe\ttop.\tA\tstraight\tascent\tinto\tdarkness.","But\tto\twhere? The\t stairwell\t stank,\t and\t she\t held\t Damaris\t before\t her\t as\t she\t ascended\t the steps,\ttaking\tcare\tto\tavoid\tthe\tfallen\tstones\tthat\tlittered\tthe\tground. Up\t and\t up\t and\t up\t she\t climbed,\t grateful\t for\t all\t her\t training.\t Her\t headache only\tgrew\tworse,\tbut\twhen\tshe\treached\tthe\ttop,\tshe\tforgot\tabout\tfatigue,\tforgot about\tpain. She\t raised\t the\t torch.\t Shimmering\t obsidian\t walls\t surrounded\t her,\t reaching high,\t high,\t high--so\t high\t that\t she\t couldn't\t see\t the\t ceiling.\t She\t was\t inside\t some sort\tof\tchamber.\tAt\tthe\tbottom\tof\tsome\ttower. She\t looked\t at\t the\t strange\t stone\t that\t made\t up\t the\t walls.\t Greenish\t veins glittered\tin\tthe\ttorchlight.\tShe\thad\tseen\tthis\tmaterial\tbefore.\tSeen\tit-- The\tking's\tring.\tThe\tring\ton\tPerringtonn's\tfinger.\tAnd\tCain's... She\t touched\t the\t stone\t and\t a\t shock\t went\t through\t her,\t her\t head\t pounding\t so badly\tshe\tgagged.\tThe\tEye\tof\tElena\tgave\ta\tpulse\tof\tblue\tlight\tbut\tquickly\tdied, as\tif\tthe\tlight\titself\thad\tbeen\tsucked\ttoward\tthe\tstone\tand\tthere\tdevoured. She\tstaggered\tback\ttoward\tthe\tstairs. Gods\tAbove.\tWhat\tis\tthis? As\t if\t in\t response,\t a\t boom\t shuddered\t through\t the\t tower,\t so\t loud\t that\t she jumped\tback.\tIt\techoed\tand\techoed,\tturning\tmetallic. She\traised\ther\tgaze\tto\tthe\tdarkness\tabove. \\\"I\tknow\twhere\tI\tam,\\\"\tshe\twhispered\tas\tthe\tsound\tsubsided.\tThe\tclock\ttower.","Dorian\t stared\t at\t the\t odd\t spiral\t staircase.\t Celaena\t had\t found\t the\t legendary catacombs\tbeneath\tthe\tlibrary.\tOf\tcourse\tshe\thad.\tIf\tthere\twere\tanyone\tin\tErilea who\tcould\tfind\tsomething\tlike\tthat,\tit'd\tbe\tCelaena. He'd\t been\t just\t about\t to\t go\t to\t lunch\t when\t he'd\t seen\t Celaena\t strut\t into\t the library,\t a\t sword\t strapped\t across\t her\t back.\t Perhaps\t he\t would\t have\t let\t her\t go about\ther\town\tbusiness\twere\tit\tnot\tfor\ther\tbraided\thair.\tCelaena\tnever\ttied\tback her\thair\tunless\tshe\twas\tfighting.\tAnd\twhen\tshe\twas\tabout\tto\tget\tmessy. It\t wasn't\t spying.\t And\t it\t wasn't\t sneaking.\t Dorian\t was\t merely\t curious.\t He followed\t her,\t through\t long-forgotten\t hallways\t and\t rooms,\t always\t staying\t far behind,\t keeping\t his\t steps\t silent,\t as\t Chaol\t and\t Brullo\t had\t taught\t him\t years\t ago. He'd\tfollowed\tuntil\tCelaena\thad\tdisappeared\tdown\tthat\tstaircase\twith\tan\tever-so suspicious\tglance\tover\ther\tshoulder. Yes,\t Celaena\t was\t up\t to\t something.\t And\t so\t Dorian\t had\t waited.\t One\t minute. Five\t minutes.\t Ten\t minutes\t before\t following\t after\t her.\t To\t make\t it\t seem\t like\t an accident\tif\ttheir\tpaths\tcrossed. And\t now\t what\t did\t he\t see?\t Nothing\t but\t junk.\t Old\t parchment\t and\t books tossed\t around.\t Beyond\t was\t a\t second\t spiral\t staircase,\t lit\t in\t the\t same\t manner\t as the\tprevious\tone. A\tchill\twent\tthrough\thim.\tHe\tdidn't\tlike\tany\tof\tthis.\tWhat\twas\tCelaena\tdoing here? As\tif\tin\tanswer,\this\tmagic\tscreamed\tat\thim\tto\trun\tin\tthe\topposite\tdirection-- to\tfind\thelp.\tBut\tthe\tmain\tlibrary\twas\ta\tlong\tway\toff,\tand\tby\tthe\ttime\the\tcould get\t there\t and\t back,\t something\t might\t happen.\t Something\t might\t already\t have happened. Dorian\tquickly\tdescended\tthe\tstaircase\tand\tfound\ta\tdimly\tlit\thallway\twith\ta single\tdoor\tajar,\ttwo\tmarks\twritten\tupon\tit\tin\tchalk.\tWhen\the\tsaw\tthe\tcell-lined hallway\t beyond,\t he\t froze.\t The\t iron\t reeked,\t somehow--and\t made\t his\t stomach turn. \\\"Celaena?\\\"\the\tcalled\tdown\tthe\thallway.\tNo\tresponse.\t\\\"Celaena?\\\"\tNothing. He\thad\tto\ttell\ther\tto\tget\tout.\tWhatever\tthis\tplace\twas,\tneither\tof\tthem\tshould","be\t here.\t Even\t if\t the\t power\t in\t his\t blood\t wasn't\t screaming\t it,\t he\t would\t have known.\tHe\thad\tto\tget\ther\tout. Dorian\tdescended\tthe\tstaircase. Celaena\thalf-ran,\thalf-jumped\tdown\tthe\tstairs,\tgetting\taway\tfrom\tthe\tinterior of\tthe\tclock\ttower\tas\tfast\tas\tshe\tcould.\tThough\tit\thad\tbeen\tmonths\tsince\tshe\thad encountered\tthe\tdead\tduring\tthe\tduel\twith\tCain,\tthe\tmemory\tof\tbeing\tslammed into\tthe\tdark\twall\tof\tthe\ttower\twas\tstill\ttoo\tnear.\tShe\tcould\tsee\tthe\tdead\tgrinning at\ther,\tand\trecalled\tElena's\twords\ton\tSamhuinn\tabout\tthe\teight\tguardians\tin\tthe clock\ttower,\tand\thow\tshe\tshould\tstay\tfar\tfrom\tthem. Her\thead\tached\tso\tbadly\tthat\tshe\tcould\tbarely\tfocus\ton\tthe\tsteps\tbeneath\ther feet. What\t had\t been\t in\t there?\t This\t had\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t Gavin,\t or\t Brannon. Maybe\tthe\tdungeon\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tthen,\tbut\tthis--all\tof\tthis--had\tto\tbe\tconnected to\tthe\tking.\tBecause\the\thad\tbuilt\tthe\tclock\ttower--built\tit\tout\tof-- Obsidian\tthe\tgods\tforbade And\tstone\tthey\tgreatly\tfeared. But--but\t the\t keys\t were\t supposed\t to\t be\t small.\t Not\t mammoth,\t like\t the\t clock tower.\tNot-- Celaena\thit\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe\tclock\tstairs\tand\tfroze\tas\tshe\tbeheld\tthe\tpassage that\tcontained\tthe\tdestroyed\tcell. The\ttorches\thad\tbeen\textinguished.\tShe\tlooked\tbehind\ther,\ttoward\tthe\tclock tower.\tThe\tdarkness\tseemed\tto\texpand,\treaching\tfor\ther.\tShe\twasn't\talone. Clutching\t her\t own\t torch,\t keeping\t her\t breathing\t steady,\t she\t crept\t along\t the ruined\t passage.\t Nothing--no\t sounds,\t no\t hint\t of\t another\t person\t in\t the\t passage. But. Halfway\t down,\t she\t stopped\t again\t and\t set\t down\t the\t torch.\t She'd\t marked\t all the\t turns,\t counted\t her\t steps\t as\t she\t came\t here.\t She\t knew\t the\t way\t in\t the\t dark-- could\t find\t her\t way\t back\t blindfolded.\t And\t if\t she\t wasn't\t alone\t down\t here,\t then her\ttorch\twas\ta\tbeacon.\tAnd\tshe\twas\tin\tno\tmood\tto\tbe\ta\ttarget. She\tput\tout\tthe\ttorch\twith\ta\tgrind\tof\ther\theel. Complete\tdarkness. She\tlifted\tDamaris\thigher,\tadjusting\tto\tthe\tdark.\tOnly\tit\twasn't\twholly\tblack. A\t faint\t glow\t issued\t from\t her\t amulet--a\t glow\t that\t allowed\t her\t to\t see\t only\t dim","shapes,\tas\tif\tthe\tdarkness\twere\ttoo\tstrong\tfor\tthe\tEye.\tThe\thair\ton\ther\tneck\trose. The\tonly\ttime\tshe'd\tseen\tthe\tamulet\tglow\tlike\tthat..\tFeeling\twith\ther\tother\thand, not\tdaring\tto\tturn\taround,\tshe\teased\tback\ttoward\tthe\tlibrary. There\twas\ta\tscrape\tof\tnail\tagainst\tstone,\tand\tthen\tthe\tsound\tof\tbreathing. It\twas\tnot\ther\town. It\tpeered\tout\tfrom\tthe\tshadows\tof\tthe\tcell,\tclutching\tat\tits\tcloak\twith\ttaloned hands.\t Food.\t For\t the\t first\t time\t in\t months.\t She\t was\t so\t warm,\t so\t teeming\t with life.\tIt\tskittered\tout\tof\tthe\tcell\tpast\ther\tas\tshe\tcontinued\ther\tblind\tretreat. Since\t they\t had\t locked\t it\t down\t here\t to\t rot,\t since\t they\t had\t gotten\t tired\t of playing\t with\t it,\t it\t had\t forgotten\t so\t many\t things.\t It\t had\t forgotten\t its\t own\t name, forgotten\twhat\tit\tused\tto\tbe.\tBut\tit\tnow\tknew\tmore\tuseful\tthings--better\tthings. How\tto\thunt,\t how\tto\tfeed,\thow\tto\tuse\tthose\tmarks\t to\topen\tand\tclose\tdoors.\tIt had\tpaid\tattention\tduring\tthe\tlong\tyears;\tit\thad\twatched\tthem\tmake\tthe\tmarks. And\tonce\tthey\thad\tleft,\tit\thad\twaited\tuntil\tit\tknew\tthey\tweren't\tcoming\tback. Until\the\twas\tlooking\telsewhere\tand\thad\ttaken\tall\this\tother\tthings\twith\thim.\tAnd then\t it\t had\t begun\t opening\t the\t doors,\t one\t after\t another.\t Some\t shred\t of\t it remained\tmortal\tenough\tto\talways\tseal\tthose\tdoors\tshut,\tto\tcome\tback\there\tand form\tthe\tmarks\tthat\tagain\tlocked\tthe\tdoors,\tto\tkeep\tit\tcontained. But\tshe\thad\tcome\there.\tShe\thad\tlearned\tthe\tmarks.\tWhich\tmeant\tshe\thad\tto know--know\t what\t had\t been\t done\t to\t it.\t She\t had\t to\t have\t been\t a\t part\t of\t it,\t the breaking\tand\tshattering\tand\tthen\tthe\tbrutal\trebuilding.\tAnd\tsince\tshe\thad\tcome here. It\tducked\tinto\tanother\tshadow,\tand\twaited\tfor\ther\tto\twalk\tinto\tits\tclaws. Celaena\tstopped\ther\tretreat\tas\tthe\tbreathing\thalted.\tSilence. The\tblue\tlight\taround\ther\tgrew\tbrighter. Celaena\tput\ta\thand\tto\ther\tchest. The\tamulet\tflared. It\t had\t been\t stalking\t the\t little\t men\t who\t lived\t above\t for\t weeks\t now, contemplating\thow\tthey\twould\ttaste.\tBut\tthere\twas\talways\tthat\tcursed\tlight\tnear them,\tlight\tthat\tburned\tits\tsensitive\teyes.\tThere\twas\talways something\tthat\tsent\tit\tskittering\tback\there\tto\tthe\tcomfort\tof\tthe\tstone. Rats\tand\tcrawling\tthings\thad\tbeen\tits\tonly\tfood\tfor\ttoo\tlong,\ttheir\tblood\tand bones\tthin\tand\ttasteless.\tBut\tthis\tfemale.\tit\thad\tseen\ther\ttwice\tbefore.\tFirst\twith","that\tsame\tfaint,\tblue\tlight\tat\ther\tthroat--then\ta\tsecond\ttime,\twhen\tit\thadn't\tseen her\tas\tmuch\tas\tit\thad\tsmelled\ther\tfrom\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthat\tiron\tdoor. Upstairs,\t the\t blue\t light\t had\t been\t enough\t to\t keep\t it\t away--the\t blue\t light\t that had\ttasted\tof\tpower.\tBut\tdown\there,\tdown\tin\tthe\tshadow\tof\tthe\tblack,\tbreathing stone,\t that\t light\t diminished.\t Down\t here,\t now\t that\t it\t had\t put\t out\t the\t lights\t she'd ignited,\tthere\twas\tnothing\tto\tstop\tit,\tand\tno\tone\tto\thear\ther. It\t had\t not\t forgotten,\t even\t in\t the\t twisted\t pathways\t of\t its\t memory,\t what\t had been\tdone\tto\tit\ton\tthat\tstone\ttable. With\ta\tdripping\tmaw,\tit\tsmiled. The\tEye\tof\tElena\tburned\tbright\tas\ta\tflame,\tand\tthere\twas\ta\thiss\tin\ther\tear. Celaena\t whirled,\t striking\t before\t she\t could\t get\t a\t good\t look\t at\t the\t cloaked figure\t behind\t her.\t She\t glimpsed\t only\t a\t flash\t of\t withered\t skin\t and\t jagged, stumpy\tteeth\tbefore\tshe\tsliced\tDamaris\tacross\tits\tchest. It\t screamed--screamed\t like\t nothing\t she\t had\t ever\t heard\t as\t the\t ragged\t cloth ripped,\t revealing\t a\t bony,\t misshapen\t chest\t peppered\t with\t scars.\t It\t slammed\t a clawed\t hand\t into\t her\t face\t as\t it\t fell,\t its\t eyes\t gleaming\t with\t the\t light\t of\t the amulet.\tAn\tanimal's\teyes,\tcapable\tof\tseeing\tin\tthe\tdark. The\tperson--creature--from\tthe\thallway.\tFrom\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tdoor.\tShe didn't\t even\t see\t where\t she\t had\t wounded\t it\t as\t she\t hit\t the\t ground.\t Blood\t rushed from\ther\tnose\tand\tfilled\ther\tmouth.\tShe\tstaggered\tinto\ta\tsprint\tback\ttoward\tthe library. She\t leapt\t over\t fallen\t beams\t and\t chunks\t of\t stone,\t letting\t the\t Eye\t light\t her way,\tbarely\tkeeping\ther\tfooting\tas\tshe\tslipped\ton\tbones. The\tcreature\tbarreled\tafter\ther,\ttearing\tthrough\tthe\tobstacles\tas\tif\tthey\twere no\tmore\tthan\tgossamer\tcurtains.\tIt\tstood\tlike\ta\tman,\tbut\tit\twasn't\ta\tman--no,\tthat face\t was\t something\t out\t of\t a\t nightmare.\t And\t its\t strength,\t to\t be\t able\t to\t shove aside\tthose\tfallen\tbeams\tas\tthough\tthey\twere\tlike\tstalks\tof\twheat. The\tiron\tdoors\thad\tbeen\tthere\tto\tkeep\tthis\tthing\tin. And\tshe\thad\tunlocked\tall\tof\tthem. She\t dashed\t up\t the\t short\t stairs\t and\t through\t the\t first\t doorway.\t As\t she\t veered left,\tit\tcaught\ther\tby\tthe\tback\tof\ther\ttunic.\tThe\tcloth\ttore.\tCelaena\tslammed\tinto the\topposite\twall,\tducking\tas\tit\tlunged\tfor\ther. Damaris\t sang,\t and\t the\t creature\t roared,\t falling\t back.\t Black\t blood\t squirted","from\tthe\twound\tacross\tits\tabdomen.\tBut\tshe\thadn't\tcut\tdeep\tenough. Surging\t to\t her\t feet,\t blood\t running\t down\t her\t back\t from\t where\t its\t claws\t had punctured,\tCelaena\tdrew\ta\tdagger\twith\ther\tother\thand. The\thood\thad\tfallen\toff\tthe\tcreature,\trevealing\twhat\tlooked\tlike\ta\tman's\tface- -looked\tlike,\tbut\tno\tlonger\twas.\tHis\thair\twas\tsparse,\thanging\t off\this\tgleaming skull\t in\t clumpy\t strings,\t and\t his\t lips.\t there\t was\t such\t scarring\t around\t his\t mouth, as\tif\tsomeone\thad\tripped\tit\topen\tand\tsewed\tit\tshut,\tthen\tripped\tit\topen\tagain. The\t creature\t pushed\t a\t gnarled\t hand\t against\t its\t abdomen,\t panting\t through those\tbrown,\tbroken\tteeth\tas\tit\tlooked\tat\ther--looked\tat\ther\twith\tsuch\thatred\tthat she\tcouldn't\tmove.\tIt\twas\tsuch\ta\thuman\texpression. \\\"What\t are\t you?\\\"\t she\t gasped,\t swinging\t Damaris\t as\t she\t took\t another\t step back. But\tit\tsuddenly\tbegan\tclawing\tat\titself,\ttearing\tat\tthe\tdark\trobes,\tpulling\tout its\t hair,\t pushing\t against\t its\t skull,\t as\t if\t it\t would\t reach\t in\t and\t rip\t something\t out. And\t the\t shrieks\t it\t made,\t the\t rage\t and\t despair--\t The\t creature\t had\t been\t in\t the castle\thallway. Which\tmeant. This\tthing,\tthis\tperson--it\tknew\thow\tto\tuse\tthe\tWyrdmarks,\ttoo.\tAnd\twith\tits unnatural\tstrength,\tno\tmortal\tbarrier\twould\tkeep\tit\tcontained. The\t creature\t tipped\t its\t head\t back,\t and\t its\t animal\t eyes\t settled\t on\t her\t again. Fixating.\tA\tpredator\tanticipating\tthe\ttaste\tof\tits\tprey. Celaena\tturned\tand\tran\tlike\thell. Dorian\t had\t just\t passed\t through\t the\t third\t door\t when\t he\t heard\t the\t scream\t of something\t not\t human.\t A\t series\t of\t crashing\t noises\t filled\t the\t passage,\t and\t the bellowing\twas\tcut\tshort\twith\teach\tslam. \\\"Celaena?\\\"\tDorian\tyelled\ttoward\tthe\tdirection\tof\tthe\tcommotion. Another\tslam. \\\"Celaena!\\\" Then--\\\"\tDorian,\trunf' The\t high-pitched\t shriek\t that\t followed\t Celaena's\t command\t shook\t the\t walls. The\ttorches\tsputtered. Dorian\t drew\t his\t rapier\t as\t Celaena\t came\t flying\t up\t the\t stairs,\t blood\t leaking","from\t her\t face,\t and\t slammed\t the\t iron\t door\t shut\t behind\t her.\t She\t raced\t toward him,\ta\tsword\tin\tone\thand,\ta\tdagger\tin\tthe\tother.\tThe\tamulet\ton\ther\tneck\tglowed blue,\tlike\tthe\thottest\tfire. Celaena\t was\t upon\t him\t in\t a\t second.\t The\t iron\t door\t burst\t open\t behind\t them and-- The\t thing\t that\t came\t out\t was\t not\t of\t this\t earth--it\t couldn't\t be.\t It\t looked\t like something\t that\t used\t to\t be\t a\t man,\t but\t was\t twisted\t and\t dried\t and\t broken,\t with hunger\t and\t madness\t written\t over\t every\t protruding\t bone\t in\t its\t body.\t Gods.\t Oh, gods.\tWhat\thad\tshe\tawoken? They\tsprinted\tdown\tthe\thall,\tand\tDorian\tswore\tas\the\tbeheld\tthe\tstairs\tup\tto the\tnext\tdoor.\tThe\ttime\tit\twould\ttake\tfor\tthem\tto\tclimb\tthe\tstairs. But\t Celaena\t was\t fast.\t And\t months\t of\t training\t had\t made\t her\t strong.\t To\t his eternal\t humiliation,\t as\t they\t hit\t the\t bottom\t of\t the\t stairs,\t she\t grasped\t him\t by\t the collar\tof\this\ttunic,\thalf-hauling\thim\tup\tthe\tsteps.\tShe\thurled\thim\tinto\tthe\thallway beyond\tthe\tthreshold. Behind\tthem,\tthe\tthing\tshrieked.\tDorian\tturned\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tits\tbroken\tteeth glistening\t as\t it\t leapt\t up\t the\t stairs.\t Lightning-swift,\t Celaena\t slammed\t the\t iron door\tshut\tin\tthe\tcreature's\tface. Only\t one\t more\t door--he\t could\t picture\t the\t landing\t that\t led\t back\t to\t the\t first hallway,\tthen\tthat\tspiral\tstaircase,\tthen\tthe\tsecond\tstaircase,\tand-- What\tthen,\twhen\tthey\treached\tthe\tmain\tlibrary?\tWhat\tcould\tthey\tdo\tagainst this\tthing? As\tDorian\tsaw\tthe\tnaked\tterror\ton\tCelaena's\tface,\the\tknew\tshe\twondered\tthe same. Celaena\t threw\t Dorian\t into\t the\t hallway\t and\t then\t hurled\t herself\t backward, slamming\tinto\tthe\tlast\tiron\tdoor\tthat\tseparated\tthe\tthing's\tlair\tfrom\tthe\trest\tof\tthe library.\tShe\tput\ther\tweight\tinto\tit,\tand\tsaw\tstars\tas\tthe\tcreature\tbarreled\tinto\tthe other\tside.\tGods,\tit\twas\tstrong--\tstrong\tand\twild\tand\tunyielding. For\t a\t moment\t she\t stumbled\t away,\t and\t it\t tried\t to\t fling\t open\t the\t door.\t But Celaena\tlunged,\tthrowing\ther\tback\tagainst\tit. Its\thand\tcaught\tin\tthe\tdoor\tand\tthe\tcreature\tbellowed,\tlatching\tits\tclaws\tinto Celaena's\tshoulder\tas\tshe\tpushed\tand\tpushed.\tBlood\tran\tfrom\ther\tnose,\tmingling with\tthe\tblood\trunning\tdown\ther\tshoulders.\tThe\tclaws\tdug\tin\tfurther.","Dorian\t rushed\t to\t the\t door,\t bracing\t his\t back\t against\t it.\t He\t panted,\t gaping\t at her. They\thad\tto\tseal\tthe\tdoor.\tEven\tif\tthis\tthing\twas\tintelligent\tenough\tto\tknow the\t Wyrdmarks,\t they\t had\t to\t buy\t some\t time\t for\t themselves.\t She\t had\t to\t give Dorian\t enough\t time\t to\t get\t away.\t They\t would\t run\t out\t of\t strength\t soon,\t and\t the thing\twould\tbreak\tthrough\tand\tkill\tthem,\tand\twhoever\telse\tgot\tin\tits\tpath. There\t had\t to\t be\t a\t lock\t somewhere,\t some\t way\t to\t shut\t it\t in,\t to\t slow\t it\t down just\tfor\ta\tmoment. \\\"Push,\\\"\t she\t breathed\t to\t Dorian.\t The\t creature\t gained\t an\t inch,\t but\t Celaena shoved\t hard,\t drawing\t on\t the\t strength\t of\t her\t legs.\t It\t roared\t again,\t so\t loudly\t she thought\tblood\twould\tpour\tfrom\ther\tears.\tDorian\tswore\tviciously. She\tglanced\tat\thim,\tnot\teven\tfeeling\tthe\tpain\tof\tthe\ttalons\tembedded\tin\ther skin.\tSweat\tran\tdown\tDorian's\tbrow\tas--as-- The\t metal\t began\t to\t heat\t along\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t door,\t glowing\t red,\t then fizzling-- Magic\t was\t here--magic\t was\t working\t right\t now,\t trying\t to\t seal\t the\t door against\tthe\tcreature.\tBut\tit\twasn't\tcoming\tfrom\ther. Dorian's\teyes\twere\tscrunched\tin\tconcentration,\this\tface\tdeathly\tpale. She'd\t been\t right.\t Dorian\t did\t have\t magic.\t This\t was\t the\t information Yellowlegs\t had\t wanted\t to\t sell\t to\t the\t highest\t bidder,\t sell\t to\t the\t king\t himself.\t It was\tknowledge\tthat\tcould\tchange\teverything.\tIt\tcould\tchange\tthe\tworld. Dorian\thad\tmagic. And\tif\the\tdidn't\tstop,\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tburn\thimself\tout\ton\tthe\tiron\tdoor. The\tiron\tdoor\tsuffocated\tDorian.\tHe\twas\tin\ta\tcoffin,\ta\tcoffin\twith\tno\tair.\tHis magic\tcouldn't\tbreathe.\tHe\tcouldn't\tbreathe. Celaena\tswore\tas\tthe\tcreature\tgained\tground.\tDorian\tdidn't\teven\tknow\twhat he\t was\t doing,\t only\t that\t he\t needed\t to\t seal\t this\t door.\t His\t magic\t had\t chosen\t the method.\tHe\tpushed\twith\this\tlegs,\tpushed\twith\this\tback,\tpushed\this\tmagic\tto\tthe breaking\tpoint\tas\the\tsought\tto\tweld\tthe\tdoor.\tSpinning,\theat,\tstrangling. The\tmagic\tslipped\tfrom\thim. The\t creature\t pushed\t hard,\t sending\t Dorian\t staggering\t forward.\t But\t Celaena threw\therself\tharder\tagainst\tthe\tdoor\tas\the\tregained\this\tbalance.","Celaena's\tblade\tlay\ta\tfew\tfeet\taway,\tbut\twhat\tgood\twas\ta\tsword? They\thad\tno\thope\tof\tescaping\twith\ttheir\tlives. Celaena's\teyes\tmet\twith\this,\tthe\tquestion\tall\ttoo\tvisible\ton\ther\tbloodied\tface: What\thave\tI\tdone? Still\t gripped\t by\t the\t creature's\t talons,\t Celaena\t couldn't\t even\t move\t as\t Dorian made\ta\tsudden\tlunge\tfor\tDamaris.\tThe\tcreature\ttried\tagain\tto\tbreak\tfree,\tand\tthe prince\t swung,\t making\t direct\t contact\t with\t its\t wrist.\t Its\t shriek\t penetrated\t her bones,\t but\t the\t door\t slammed\t shut\t completely.\t Celaena\t stumbled,\t the\t beast's dismembered\t hand\t protruding\t from\t her\t shoulder,\t but\t she\t shoved\t back\t against the\tdoor\tas\tthe\tcreature\tlaunched\titself\tat\tit. \\\"What\tthe\thell\tis\tit?\\\"\tDorian\tbarked,\tthrowing\this\tweight\tagainst\tthe\tiron. \\\"I\t don't\t know,\\\"\t Celaena\t breathed.\t Not\t having\t the\t luxury\t of\t a\t healer,\t she ripped\t the\t filthy\t hand\t from\t her\t shoulder,\t biting\t down\t on\t her\t scream.\t \\\"It\t was down\tthere,\\\"\tshe\tpanted.\tAnother\tthud\tfrom\tbehind\tthe\tdoor.\t\\\"You\tcan't\tseal\tthat door\t with\t magic.\t We\t need\t to--need\t to\t seal\t this\t another\t way.\\\"\t And\t find something\t that\t would\t outsmart\t whatever\t unlocking\t spells\t this\t creature\t knew-- some\tway\tto\tkeep\tit\tfrom\tgetting\tout.\tShe\tchoked\ton\tthe\tblood\trunning\tfrom\ther nose\t into\t her\t mouth,\t and\t spat\t it\t onto\t the\t floor.\t \\\"There\t is\t a\t book--The\t Walking Dead.\tIt'll\thave\tthe\tanswer.\\\" Their\t eyes\t met\t and\t held.\t A\t line\t stretched\t taut\t between\t them--a\t moment\t of trust,\tand\ta\tpromise\tof\tanswers\tfrom\tboth\tof\tthem. \\\"Where's\tthe\tbook?\\\"\tDorian\tasked. \\\"In\tthe\tlibrary.\tIt'll\tfind\tyou.\tI\tcan\thold\tthis\tfor\ta\tfew\tmoments.\\\" Not\t needing\t it\t to\t make\t sense,\t Dorian\t bolted\t upstairs.\t He\t ran\t through\t stack after\tstack,\this\tfingers\treading\tthe\ttitles,\tfaster\tand\tfaster,\tknowing\teach\tsecond drained\t her\t strength.\t He\t was\t about\t to\t bellow\t his\t frustration\t when\t he\t ran\t past\t a table\tand\tbeheld\ta\tlarge,\tblack\tvolume\tupon\tits\tsurface. The\tWalking\tDead. She\t had\t been\t right.\t Why\t was\t she\t always\t right,\t in\t her\t own\t odd\t way?\t He grabbed\tthe\tbook\tand\thurtled\tto\tthe\tsecret\tchamber.\tShe\thad\tshut\ther\teyes,\tand her\tteeth\twere\tred\twith\ther\town\tblood\tas\tshe\tgritted\tthem. \\\"Here,\\\"Dorian\t said.\t Without\t needing\t her\t to\t ask,\t he\t shoved\t himself\t into\t the door\t as\t she\t dropped\t to\t the\t floor\t and\t grabbed\t the\t book\t to\t her.\t Her\t hands","trembled\tas\tshe\tflipped\tto\ta\tpage,\tthen\tanother,\tand\tanother.\tHer\tblood\tsplattered onto\tthe\ttext. \\\"'To\t bind\t or\t to\t contain,'\\\"\t she\t read\t aloud.\t Dorian\t peered\t down\t at\t the\t dozens of\tsymbols\ton\tthe\tpage. \\\"This\twill\twork?\\\"\the\tasked. \\\"I\thope,\\\"\tshe\twheezed,\talready\tmoving,\tclutching\tthe\topen\tbook\tin\tone\thand. \\\"Once\t the\t spell\t is\t cast,\t just\t passing\t through\t that\t threshold\t will\t hold\t it\t in\t place long\tenough\tto\tkill\tit.\\\"\tShe\tdipped\ther\tfingers\tinto\tthe\twounds\ton\ther\tchest,\tand he\tcould\tonly\tgape\tas\tshe\tmade\tthe\tfirst\tmark,\tand\tthen\tthe\tsecond,\tturning\ther battered\tbody\tinto\tan\tinkwell\tas\tshe\tdrew\tmark\tafter\tmark\taround\tthe\tdoor. \\\"But\tfor\tit\tto\tpass\tover\tthe\tthreshold,\\\"\tDorian\tpanted,\t\\\"we'd\thave\tto--\\\" \\\"Open\tthe\tdoor,\\\"\tshe\tfinished\tfor\thim,\tnodding. He\tshifted\tso\tshe\tcould\treach\tto\tdraw\tabove\this\thead,\ttheir\tbreath\tmingling. Celaena\t let\t out\t a\t long\t breath\t as\t she\t made\t the\t last\t mark,\t and\t suddenly\t they glowed\ta\tfaint\tblue.\tHe\theld\thimself\tagainst\tthe\tdoor,\teven\tas\the\tfelt\tthe\tiron\tgo rigid. \\\"You\t can\t let\t go,\\\"\t she\t breathed,\t angling\t the\t sword.\t \\\"Let\t go,\t and\t get\t the\t hell behind\tme.\\\" At\tleast\tshe\tdidn't\tinsult\thim\tby\ttelling\thim\tto\tflee. With\ta\tfinal\tbreath,\the\tleapt\taway. The\tcreature\tslammed\tinto\tthe\tdoor,\tflinging\tit\topen. And,\tjust\tlike\tshe\thad\tsaid,\tit\tfroze\tin\tthe\tthreshold,\tits\tanimalistic\teyes\twild as\tits\thead\tjutted\tout\tinto\tthe\thall.\tThere\twas\ta\tpause\tthen,\ta\tpause\tduring\twhich Dorian\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthat\tCelaena\tand\tthe\tcreature\tlooked\tat\teach\tother--and that\t the\t wildness\t calmed,\t just\t for\t a\t moment.\t Just\t for\t a\t moment,\t and\t then Celaena\tmoved. The\t sword\t flashed\t in\t the\t torchlight,\t and\t there\t was\t the\t squish\t of\t flesh\t and crunch\t of\t bone.\t The\t neck\t was\t too\t thick\t to\t sever\t in\t one\t blow,\t so\t before\t Dorian could\tdraw\tanother\tbreath,\tshe\tstruck\tagain. The\t head\t hit\t the\t ground\t with\t a\t thud,\t black\t blood\t spraying\t from\t the\t severed neck--from\tthe\tbody\tthat\tstill\tstood\tparalyzed\tin\tthe\tdoorway. \\\"Shit,\\\"\tDorian\tbreathed.\t\\\"Shit.\\\"","Celaena\tmoved\tagain,\tslamming\ther\tsword\tdown\tonto\tthe\thead,\tskewering\tit. As\tif\tshe\tthought\tit\tcould\tstill\tbite. Dorian\twas\tstill\tspewing\ta\tsteady\tstream\tof\tcurses\tas\tCelaena\treached\tout\tto the\tbloody\tmarks\taround\tthe\tdoor\tand\tswiped\ta\tfinger\tthrough\tone\tof\tthem. The\tcreature's\theadless\tbody\tcollapsed,\tthe\tholding\tspell\tbroken. It\thad\tbarely\tfinished\tfalling\tbefore\tCelaena\tmade\tfour\tstrikes:\tthree\tto\tsever the\temaciated\ttorso\tin\ttwo,\tand\ta\tfourth\tto\tstab\tthrough\twhere\tits\theart\twould\tbe. He\tfelt\tbile\trising\tup\tagain\tas\tshe\tangled\ther\tblade\ta\tfifth\ttime,\tprying\topen\tthe chest\tcavity\tof\tthe\tcreature. Whatever\tshe\tsaw\tmade\ther\tface\tgo\teven\tpaler.\tDorian\tdidn't\twant\tto\tlook. With\tgrim\tefficiency,\tshe\tkicked\tthe\ttoo-human\thead\tthrough\tthe\tthreshold, sending\t it\t knocking\t into\t the\t withered\t corpse\t of\t the\t creature.\t Then\t she\t shut\t the iron\tdoor\tand\ttraced\ta\tfew\tmore\tmarks\tover\tthe\tthreshold\tthat\tglowed\tand\tthen faded. Celaena\tfaced\thim,\tbut\tDorian\tlooked\tat\tthe\tdoor\tagain,\tnow\tsealed. \\\"How\tlong\tdoes\tthat--that\tspell\thold?\\\"\tHe\talmost\tchoked\ton\tthe\tword. \\\"I\t don't\t know,\\\"\t she\t said,\t shaking\t her\t head.\t \\\"Until\t I\t remove\t the\t marks,\t I think.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tthink\twe\tcan\tlet\tanyone\telse\tknow\tabout\tthis,\\\"\the\tsaid\tcarefully. She\tlaughed,\ta\tbit\twildly.\tTelling\tothers,\teven\tChaol,\twould\tmean\tanswering difficult\t questions--questions\t that\t could\t earn\t them\t both\t a\t trip\t to\t the\t butchering block. \\\"So,\\\"\t Celaena\t said,\t spitting\t blood\t onto\t the\t stones,\t \\\"do\t you\t want\t to\t explain yourself\tfirst,\tor\tshould\tI?\\\" Celaena\t went\t first,\t because\t Dorian\t desperately\t needed\t to\t change\t his\t filthy tunic,\t and\t talking\t seemed\t like\t a\t good\t idea\t while\t he\t stripped\t naked\t in\t his dressing\t room.\t She\t sat\t on\t his\t bed,\t not\t looking\t much\t better\t herself--which\t was why\tthey'd\ttaken\tthe\tdark\tservants'\tpassages\tback\tto\this\ttower. \\\"Beneath\t the\t library\t stretches\t an\t ancient\t dungeon,\t I\t think,\\\"\t Celaena\t said, trying\t to\t keep\t her\t voice\t as\t soft\t as\t possible.\t She\t caught\t a\t gleam\t of\t golden\t skin through\t the\t half-open\t door\t to\t his\t dressing\t room,\t and\t looked\t away.\t \\\"I\t think.\t I think\t someone\t kept\t the\t creature\t in\t there\t until\t it\t broke\t out\t of\t its\t cell.\t It's\t been living\tunder\tthe\tlibrary\tever\tsince.\\\"","No\t need\t to\t tell\t him\t that\t she\t was\t starting\t to\t believe\t the\t king\t had\t created\t it. The\t clock\t tower\t had\t been\t built\t by\t the\t king\t himself--so\t he\t had\t to\t know\t what\t it connected\tto.\tShe\tknew\tthat\tthe\tcreature\thad\tbeen\tmade,\tbecause\tin\tits\tchest\thad been\t a\t human\t heart.\t Celaena\t was\t willing\t to\t bet\t that\t the\t king\t had\t used\t at\t least one\tWyrdkey\tto\tmake\tboth\ttower\tand\tmonster. \\\"What\tI\tdon't\tunderstand,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid\tfrom\tthe\tdressing\troom,\t\\\"is\twhy\tthis thing\tcan\tnow\tbreak\tthrough\tthe\tiron\tdoors\twhen\tit\tcouldn't\tbefore.\\\" \\\"Because\t I\t was\t an\t idiot\t and\t broke\t the\t spells\t on\t them\t when\t I\t walked through.\\\" A\t lie--sort\t of.\t But\t she\t didn't\t want\t to\t explain,\t couldn't\t explain\t why\t the creature\thad\tbeen\table\tto\tbreak\tout\tbefore\tand\thad\tnever\thurt\tanyone\tuntil\tnow. Why\t it\t had\t been\t in\t the\t hallway\t that\t night\t and\t disappeared,\t why\t the\t librarians were\tall\talive\tand\tunhurt. But\tperhaps\tthe\tman\tthat\tthe\tcreature\thad\tonce\tbeen.\tPerhaps\the\thadn't\tbeen entirely\t lost.\t There\t were\t so\t many\t questions\t now--so\t many\t things\t left unanswered. \\\"And\tthat\tlast\tspell\tyou\tdid--on\tthe\tdoor.\tIt'll\tkeep\tforever?\\\"\tDorian\tappeared in\t a\t new\t tunic\t and\t pants,\t still\t barefoot.\t The\t sight\t of\t his\t feet\t felt\t strangely intimate. She\tshrugged,\tfighting\tthe\turge\tto\twipe\ther\tbloody,\tfilthy\tface.\tHe'd\toffered her\this\tprivate\tbath,\tbut\tshe'd\trefused.\tThat\tfelt\ttoo\tintimate,\ttoo. \\\"The\tbook\tsays\tit's\ta\tpermanent\tbinding\tspell,\tso\tI\tdon't\tthink\tanyone\tbut\tus is\tcapable\tof\tgetting\tthrough.\\\" Unless\tthe\tking\twants\tto\tget\tin\tand\tuses\tone\tof\tthe\tWyrdkeys. Dorian\t ran\t a\t hand\t through\t his\t hair,\t sitting\t down\t beside\t her\t on\t the\t bed. \\\"Where\tdid\tit\tcome\tfrom?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tshe\tlied.\tThe\tking's\tring\tflashed\tin\ther\tmemory.\tThat\tcouldn't be\t the\t Wyrdkey,\t though--no,\t Yellowlegs\t had\t said\t they\t were\t slivers\t of\t black rock,\tnot--not\tforged\tinto\tshapes.\tBut\the\tcould\thave\tmade\tthe\tring\tusing\tthe\tkey. She\t understood\t now\t why\t Archer\t and\t his\t society\t both\t coveted\t and\t sought\t to destroy\tit--if\tthe\tking\tcould\tuse\tit\tto\tmake\tcreatures. If\the\thad\tmade\tmore. There\thad\tbeen\tso\tmany\tdoors.\tWell\tover\ttwo\thundred.\tAll\tlocked.\tAnd\tboth","Kaltain\t and\t Nehemia\t had\t mentioned\t wings--wings\t in\t their\t dreams,\t wings flapping\tthrough\tthe\tFerian\tGap.\tWhat\twas\tthe\tking\tbrewing\tthere? \\\"Tell\tme,\\\"\tDorian\tpressed. \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tshe\tlied\tagain,\thating\therself\tfor\tit.\tHow\tcould\tshe\tmake\thim understand\ta\ttruth\tthat\tmight\tshatter\teverything\the\tloved? \\\"That\tbook,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid.\t\\\"How\tdid\tyou\tknow\tit'd\thelp?\\\" \\\"I\t found\t it\t one\t day\t in\t the\t library.\t It\t seemed\t to.\t trail\t me.\t Showed\t up\t in\t my rooms\t when\t I\t hadn't\t brought\t it\t there,\t reappeared\t in\t the\t library.\t It\t was\t full\t of those\tkinds\tof\tspell.\\\" \\\"But\tit's\tnot\tmagic,\\\"\tDorian\tsaid,\tpaling. \\\"Not\t the\t magic\t that\t you\t have.\t This\t is\t different.\t I\t didn't\t even\t know\t if\t that spell\t would\t work.\t Speaking\t of\t which,\\\"\t she\t said,\t meeting\t his\t eyes.\t \\\"You\t have. magic.\\\" He\tscanned\ther\tface,\tand\tshe\tquelled\tthe\turge\tto\tfidget. \\\"What\tdo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tsay?\\\" \\\"Tell\tme\thow\tyou\thave\tmagic,\\\"\tshe\tbreathed.\t\\\"Tell\tme\thow\tyou\thave\tit\tand the\trest\tof\tthe\tworld\tdoesn't.\tTell\tme\thow\tyou\tdiscovered\tit,\tand\twhat\tmanner\tof magic\t it\t is.\t Tell\t me\t everything.\\\"\t He\t started\t to\t shake\t his\t head,\t but\t she\t leaned forward.\t \\\"You\t just\t saw\t me\t break\t at\t least\t a\t dozen\t of\t your\t father's\t laws.\t You think\t I'm\t going\t to\t turn\t you\t over\t to\t him\t when\t you\t could\t just\t as\t easily\t destroy me?\\\" Dorian\tsighed.\tAfter\ta\tmoment,\the\tsaid:\t\\\"A\tfew\tweeks\tago,\tI.\terupted.\tI\tgot so\t mad\t at\t a\t council\t meeting\t that\t I\t stormed\t out,\t and\t punched\t a\t wall.\t And somehow,\t the\t stone\t cracked,\t and\t then\t the\t window\t nearby\t shattered,\t too.\t Since then,\tI've\tbeen\ttrying\tto\tfigure\tout\twhere\tit\tcomes\tfrom,\twhat\tkind\tof\tpower\tit\tis, exactly.\tAnd\thow\tto\tcontrol\tit.\tBut\tit\tjust.\thappens.\tLike--\\\" \\\"Like\twhen\tyou\tused\tit\tto\tstop\tme\tfrom\tkilling\tChaol.\\\" His\tneck\tbobbed\tas\the\tswallowed\thard. She\t couldn't\t meet\t his\t stare\t as\t she\t said:\t \\\"Thank\t you\t for\t that.\t If\t you\t hadn't stopped\tme,\tI.\\\"\tNo\tmatter\twhat\thad\thappened\tbetween\ther\tand\tChaol,\tno\tmatter what\t she\t now\t felt\t for\t him,\t if\t she\t had\t killed\t him\t that\t night,\t there\t would\t have been\t no\t coming\t back\t from\t it,\t no\t recovering.\t In\t some\t ways..\t .in\t some\t ways,\t it might\thave\tmade\ther\tinto\tjust\tanother\tversion\tof\tthat\tthing\tin\tthe\tlibrary.\tIt\tmade","her\t sick\t to\t even\t think\t about\t it.\t \\\"No\t matter\t what\t your\t magic\t might\t be,\t it\t saved more\tlives\tthan\this\tthat\tnight.\\\" Dorian\t shifted.\t \\\"I\t still\t need\t to\t learn\t to\t control\t it--or\t else\t it\t might\t happen anywhere.\tIn\tfront\tof\tanyone.\tI've\tgotten\tlucky\tso\tfar,\tbut\tI\tdon't\tthink\tthat\tluck will\tlast.\\\" \\\"Does\tanyone\telse\tknow?\tChaol?\tRoland?\\\" \\\"No.\tChaol\tdoesn't\tknow,\tand\tRoland\tjust\tleft\twith\tDuke\tPerrington.\tThey're going\tto\tMorath\tfor\ta\tfew\tmonths\tto.\tto\toversee\tthe\tsituation\tin\tEyllwe.\\\" It\t had\t to\t all\t be\t tied\t together:\t the\t king,\t the\t magic,\t Dorian's\t power,\t the Wyrdmarks,\t even\t the\t creature.\t The\t prince\t went\t to\t his\t bed\t and\t hoisted\t up\t the mattress,\t pulling\t out\t a\t concealed\t book.\t Not\t the\t best\t hiding\t place,\t but\t a\t valiant effort.\t \\\"I've\t been\t looking\t through\t the\t genealogy\t charts\t for\t Adarlan's\t noble families--we've\thardly\thad\tany\tmagic-users\tin\tthe\tpast\tfew\tgenerations.\\\" There\twere\tso\tmany\tthings\tshe\tcould\ttell\thim,\tbut\tif\tshe\tdid\tso,\tit\twould\tjust result\tin\ttoo\tmany\tquestions.\tSo\tCelaena\tmerely\tstudied\tthe\tpages\the\tdisplayed for\ther,\tflipping\tthrough\tone\tafter\tanother. \\\"Wait,\\\"\t she\t said.\t The\t puncture\t wounds\t in\t her\t shoulder\t gave\t a\t burst\t of\t pain when\tshe\tlifted\ther\thand\tto\tthe\tbook.\tShe\tscanned\tthe\tpage\the'd\tstopped\ton,\ther heart\t pounding\t as\t another\t clue\t about\t the\t king\t and\t his\t plans\t slipped\t into\t place. She\tlet\thim\tcontinue\ton. \\\"See,\\\"\t Dorian\t said,\t closing\t the\t book,\t \\\"I'm\t not\t quite\t sure\t where\t it\t comes from.\\\" He\t was\t still\t watching\t her\t a\t bit\t warily.\t She\t met\t his\t gaze\t and\t said\t quietly, \\\"Ten\t years\t ago,\t many\t of\t the\t people\t I.\t people\t I\t loved\t were\t executed\t for\t having magic.\\\"\t Pain\t and\t guilt\t flickered\t in\t his\t eyes,\t but\t she\t went\t on.\t \\\"So\t you'll understand\twhen\tI\tsay\tthat\tI\thave\tno\tdesire\tto\tsee\tanyone\telse\tdie\tfor\tit,\teven\tthe son\tof\tthe\tman\twho\tordered\tthose\tdeaths.\\\" \\\"I'm\tsorry,\\\"\the\tsaid\tquietly.\t\\\"So\twhat\tdo\twe\tdo\tnow?\\\" \\\"Eat\ta\tgiant\tmeal,\tsee\ta\thealer,\ttake\ta\tbath.\tIn\tthat\torder.\\\" He\tsnorted\tand\tplayfully\tnudged\ther\twith\ta\tknee. She\tleaned\tforward,\tclasping\ther\thands\tbetween\ther\tlegs.\t\\\"We\twait--keep\tan eye\ton\tthat\tdoor\tto\tmake\tsure\tno\tone\tever\ttries\tto\tgo\tin,\tand.\tjust\ttake\tit\tday\tby day.\\\"","He\t took\t one\t of\t her\t hands\t in\t his\t own,\t staring\t toward\t the\t window.\t \\\"Day\t by day.\\\"","Celaena\tdidn't\tgo\tget\ta\tmeal,\tor\ttake\ta\tbath,\tor\tsee\ta\thealer\tfor\ther\tshoulder. Instead,\t she\t hurried\t to\t the\t dungeon,\t not\t even\t looking\t at\t the\t guards\t that\t she passed.\t Exhaustion\t ripped\t at\t her,\t but\t fear\t kept\t her\t moving,\t almost\t sprinting down\tthe\tstairs. They\t want\t to\t use\t me.\t They\t tricked\t me,\t Kaltain\t had\t said.\t And\t in\t Dorian's book\tof\tAdarlan's\tnoble\tlineages,\tthe\tRompier\tfamily\thad\tbeen\tlisted\tas\tone\twith a\tstrong\tmagical\tline,\tsupposedly\tvanished\ttwo\tgenerations\tago. Sometimes\t I\t think\t they\t brought\t me\t here,\t Kaltain\t had\t said.\t Not\t to\t marry Perrington,\tbut\tfor\tanother\tpurpose. Brought\t Kaltain\t here,\t the\t way\t Cain\t had\t been\t brought\t here.\t Cain,\t of\t the White\tFang\tMountains,\twhere\tpowerful\tshamans\thad\tlong\truled\ttheir\ttribes. Her\t mouth\t went\t dry\t as\t she\t strode\t down\t the\t familiar\t dungeon\t hallway\t to Kaltain's\tcell.\tShe\tstopped\tin\tfront,\tstaring\tthrough\tthe\tbars. It\twas\tempty. All\t that\t was\t left\t inside\t was\t Celaena's\t old\t cloak,\t discarded\t amongst\t the kicked-up\t hay.\t As\t if\t Kaltain\t had\t struggled\t against\t whoever\t had\t come\t to\t take her. Celaena\t was\t at\t the\t guards'\t station\t a\t moment\t later,\t pointing\t down\t the\t hall. \\\"Where\t is\t Kaltain?\\\"\t Even\t as\t she\t said\t it,\t a\t memory\t began\t to\t clear,\t a\t memory hazed\tby\tdays\tspent\tsedated\tin\tthe\tdungeons. The\tguards\tlooked\tat\teach\tother,\tthen\tat\ther\ttorn\tand\tbloody\tclothes,\tbefore one\tsaid:\t\\\"The\tduke\ttook\ther--to\tMorath.\tTo\tbe\this\twife.\\\" She\tstalked\tout\tof\tthe\tdungeon,\theading\tfor\ther\trooms. Something\tis\tcoming,\tKaltain\thad\twhispered,\tAnd\tI\tam\tto\tgreet\tit. I\thear\twings. My\theadaches\tare\tworse\tevery\tday\tand\tfull\tof\tall\tthose\tflapping\twings. Celaena\t nearly\t stumbled\t on\t a\t step.\t Roland\t has\t been\t suffering\t from\t awful","headaches\tlately,\tDorian\ttold\ther\ta\tfew\tdays\tago.\tAnd\tnow\tRoland,\twho\tshared Dorian's\tHavilliard\tblood,\thad\tgone\tto\tMorath\ttoo. Gone,\tor\tbeen\ttaken? Celaena\t touched\t her\t shoulder,\t felt\t the\t open,\t bloody\t wounds\t beneath.\t The creature\t had\t been\t clawing\t at\t its\t head,\t as\t if\t it\t were\t in\t pain.\t And\t when\t it\t had shoved\tthrough\tthe\tdoor,\tfor\tthose\tlast\tfew\tseconds\tit\thad\tbeen\tfrozen\tin\tplace, she\t had\t seen\t something\t human\t in\t its\t warped\t eyes--something\t that\t looked\t so relieved,\tso\tgrateful\tfor\tthe\tdeath\tthat\tshe\tgave\thim. \\\"Who\t were\t you?\\\"\t she\t whispered,\t recalling\t the\t human\t heart,\t the\t man-like body\tof\tthe\tcreature\tunder\tthe\tlibrary.\t\\\"And\twhat\tdid\the\tdo\tto\tyou?\\\" But\tCelaena\thad\ta\tfeeling\tshe\talready\tknew\tthe\tanswer. Because\tthat\twas\tthe\tother\tthing\tthe\tWyrdkeys\tcould\tdo,\tthe\tother\tpower\tthat the\tWyrdmarks\tcontrolled:\tlife. They\t hear\t wings\t in\t the\t Ferian\t Gap,\t Nehemia\t once\t said.\t Our\t scouts\t do\t not come\tback. The\t king\t was\t twisting\t far\t worse\t things\t than\t mortal\t men.\t Far,\t far\t worse things.\tBut\twhat\tdid\the\tplan\tto\tdo\twith\tthem--with\tthe\tcreatures,\twith\tthe\tpeople like\tRoland\tand\tKaltain? She\tneeded\tto\tlearn\thow\tmany\tof\tthe\tWyrdkeys\the\thad\tfound. And\twhere\tthe\tothers\tmight\tbe. The\tnext\tnight,\tCelaena\texamined\tthe\tdoor\tto\tthe\tlibrary\tcatacombs,\ther\tears straining\tfor\tany\thint\tof\tsound\ton\tthe\tother\tside. Nothing. The\tbloody\tWyrdmarks\thad\tturned\tflaky,\tbut\tbeneath\tthe\tcrust,\tas\tif\twelded onto\tthe\tmetal,\twas\tthe\tdark\toutline\tof\teach\tmark. From\t high,\t high\t above,\t the\t muffled\t bellow\t of\t the\t clock\t tower\t sounded.\t It was\ttwo\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tHow\tdid\tno\tone\tknow\tthat\tthe\tclock\ttower\tsat\tatop\tan ancient\tdungeon\tthat\tserved\tas\tthe\tking's\town\tsecret\tchamber? Celaena\tglowered\tat\tthe\tdoor\tin\tfront\tof\ther.\tBecause\twho\twould\teven\tthink about\tthat\tas\ta\tpossibility? She\t knew\t she\t should\t go\t to\t bed,\t but\t she'd\t been\t unable\t to\t sleep\t for\t weeks now,\t and\t saw\t no\t point\t in\t even\t trying\t anymore.\t It\t was\t why\t she'd\t come\t down","here:\tto\tdo\tsomething\twhile\tsorting\tthrough\ther\tjumbled\tthoughts. She\tflipped\tthe\tdagger\tin\ther\tright\thand,\tangling\tit,\tand\tgave\ta\tlight,\ttentative tug\ton\tthe\tdoor. It\theld.\tShe\tpaused,\tlistening\tagain\tfor\tany\tsigns\tof\tlife,\tand\tyanked\tharder. It\tdidn't\tbudge. Celaena\tpulled\ta\tfew\tmore\ttimes,\tgoing\tso\tfar\tas\tto\tbrace\ta\tfoot\tagainst\tthe wall,\tbut\tthe\tdoor\tremained\tsealed.\tWhen\tshe\twas\tat\tlast\tconvinced\tthat\tnothing was\tgetting\tthrough\tthe\tdoor--in\teither\tdirection--she\tloosed\ta\tlong\tbreath. No\t one\t would\t believe\t her\t about\t this\t place--just\t like\t no\t one\t would\t believe her\twild,\thighly\tunlikely\tstory\tabout\tthe\tWyrdkeys. To\tfind\tthe\tWyrdkeys,\tshe'd\tfirst\thave\tto\tsolve\tthe\triddle.\tAnd\tthen\tconvince the\t king\t to\t let\t her\t go\t for\t a\t few\t months.\t Years.\t It'd\t take\t careful\t manipulation, especially\tsince\tit\tseemed\tlikely\tthat\the\talready\thad\ta\tkey.\tBut\twhich\tone? They\thear\twings... Yellowlegs\t said\t that\t only\t combined\t could\t the\t three\t open\t the\t actual Wyrdgate,\t but\t alone\t each\t wielded\t immense\t power.\t What\t other\t sorts\t of\t terrors could\t he\t create?\t If\t he\t ever\t got\t all\t three\t Wyrdkeys,\t what\t might\t he\t bring\t into Erilea\t to\t serve\t him?\t Things\t were\t already\t stirring\t on\t the\t continent--unrest brewing.\tShe\thad\ta\tfeeling\tthat\the\twouldn't\ttolerate\tit\tfor\tlong.\tNo,\tit'd\tonly\tbe\ta matter\tof\ttime\tuntil\the\tunleashed\twhatever\the'd\tbeen\tcreating\tupon\tthem\tall,\tand crush\tany\tresistance\tforever. Celaena\t looked\t at\t the\t sealed\t door,\t her\t stomach\t turning.\t A\t halfdried\t pool\t of blood\t lay\t at\t the\t base\t of\t the\t door--so\t dark\t it\t looked\t like\t oil.\t She\t crouched, swiping\ta\tfinger\tthrough\tthe\tpuddle.\tShe\tsniffed\tat\tit,\talmost\tgagged\tat\tthe\treek, and\t then\t rubbed\t her\t finger\t against\t the\t pad\t of\t her\t thumb.\t It\t felt\t as\t oily\t as\t it looked. She\t got\t to\t her\t feet\t and\t reached\t into\t her\t pocket,\t looking\t for\t something\t to wipe\toff\ther\tfingers.\tShe\tdrew\tout\ta\thandful\tof\tpapers\tinstead.\tScraps,\twas\tmore like\tit--bits\tof\tthings\tthat\tshe'd\tcarried\taround\tto\tstudy\twhenever\tshe\thad\ta\tspare moment.\t Frowning,\t she\t shifted\t through\t them\t to\t sort\t out\t which\t one\t she\t could spare\tto\tuse\ta\tmakeshift\thandkerchief. One\twas\tjust\ta\treceipt\tfor\ta\tpair\tof\tshoes--which\tshe\tmust\thave\taccidentally tucked\tinto\ther\tpocket\tthat\tmorning.\tAnd\tanother.\tCelaena\tlifted\tthat\tone\tcloser. Ah!\tTime's\tRift!\thad\tbeen\twritten\tthere.\tShed\tscribbled\tit\tdown\twhen\tshe'd\tbeen","trying\tto\tsolve\tthe\teye\triddle.\tWhen\teverything\tin\tthe\ttomb\thad\tfelt\tlike\ta\tgreat secret,\tone\tgiant clue. Some\t help\t that\t had\t been.\t Just\t another\t dead-end.\t Cursing\t under\t her\t breath, she\t used\t it\t to\t wipe\t the\t grime\t off\t her\t fingers.\t The\t tomb\t still\t didn't\t make\t sense, though.\tWhat\tdid\tthe\ttrees\ton\tthe\tceiling\tand\tstars\ton\tthe\tfloor\thave\tto\tdo\twith the\triddle?\tThe\tstars\thad\tled\tto\tthe\tsecret\thole,\tbut\tthey\tcould\thave\tjust\tas\teasily been\ton\tthe\tceiling\tto\tdo\tthat.\tWhy\tmake\teverything\tbackwards? Would\tBrannon\thave\tbeen\tso\tfoolish\tas\tto\tput\tall\tthe\tanswers\tin\tone\tplace? She\t uncrumpled\t the\t scrap\t of\t paper,\t now\t stained\t with\t the\t creature's\t oily blood.\tAh!\tTime's\tRift! There\t was\t no\t inscription\t at\t Gavin's\t feet--only\t Elena's.\t And\t the\t words\t made little\tsense. .But\twhat\tif\tthey\tweren't\tmeant\tto\tmake\tsense?\tWhat\tif\tthey\twere\tonly\tjust- logical\tenough\tto\tmake\tpeople\tthink\tone\tthing,\tbut\treally\tmean\tanother? Everything\t in\t the\t tomb\t was\t backwards,\t rearranged,\t the\t natural\t order\t in reverse.\tTo\thint.\tto\thint\tthat\tthings\twere\tjumbled,\tmisarranged.\tSo\tthe\tthing\tthat should\t have\t been\t concealed\t was\t right\t in\t the\t open.\t But,\t like\t everything\t else,\t its meaning\twas\twarped. And\t there\t was\t one\t person--being--who\t could\t possibly\t tell\t her\t if\t she\t was right.","\\\"It's\tan\tanagram,\\\"\tshe\tpanted\tas\tshe\treached\tthe\ttomb. Mort\t opened\t an\t eye.\t \\\"Clever,\t wasn't\t it?\t To\t hide\t it\t right\t where\t everyone could\tsee?\\\" Celaena\teased\topen\tthe\tdoor\tjust\twide\tenough\tto\tslip\tinside.\tThe\tmoonlight was\tstrong,\tand\ther\tbreath\tcaught\tin\ther\tthroat\tas\tshe\tsaw\tprecisely\twhere\tit\tfell. Trembling,\tshe\tstopped\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tsarcophagus\tand\ttraced\ther\tfingers\tover the\tstone\tletters.\t\\\"Tell\tme\twhat\tit\tmeans.\\\" He\tpaused,\tlong\tenough\tfor\ther\tto\ttake\ta\tbreath\tto\tstart\tyelling\tat\thim,\tbut\the then\tsaid:\t\\\"I\tAm\tthe\tFirst.\\\" And\tthat\twas\tall\tthe\tconfirmation\tshe\tneeded. The\t first\t Wyrdkey\t of\t the\t three.\t Celaena\t moved\t around\t the\t stone\t body,\t her eyes\t upon\t Elena's\t sleeping\t face.\t As\t she\t looked\t upon\t those\t fine\t features,\t she whispered\tthe\twords. In\tgrief,\the\thid\tone\tin\tthe\tcrown\tOf\ther\the\tloved\tso\twell, To\tkeep\twith\ther\twhere\tshe\tlay\tdown Inside\tthe\tstarry\tcell. She\tlifted\tshaking\tfingers\tto\tthe\tblue\tjewel\tin\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\tcrown.\tIf\tthis was\t indeed\t the\t Wyrdkey.\t what\t would\t she\t do\t with\t it?\t Would\t she\t be\t forced\t to destroy\t it?\t Where\t could\t she\t hide\t it\t so\t no\t one\t else\t would\t discover\t it?\t The questions\t swirled,\t threatening\t with\t all\t the\t difficulty\t they\t offered\t to\t send\t her running\t back\t to\t her\t rooms,\t but\t she\t steeled\t herself.\t She'd\t consider\t everything later.\tI\twill\tnot\tbe\tafraid,\tshe\ttold\therself. The\t gem\t in\t the\t crown\t glowed\t in\t the\t moonlight,\t and\t she\t gingerly\t pushed against\tone\tside\tof\tthe\tjewel.\tIt\tdidn't\tmove. She\t pushed\t again,\t staying\t closer\t to\t the\t side,\t digging\t her\t nail\t into\t the\t slight crease\tbetween\tthe\tgem\tand\tthe\tstone\trim.\tIt\tshifted--and\tturned\tover\tto\treveal\ta small\t compartment\t beneath.\t It\t was\t no\t larger\t than\t a\t coin,\t and\t no\t deeper\t than\t a knuckle's\tlength.","Celaena\t peered\t in.\t The\t moonlight\t revealed\t only\t gray\t stone.\t She\t stuck\t a finger\tinside,\tscraping\tevery\tsurface. There\twas\tnothing\tthere.\tNot\teven\ta\tshard. A\t shot\t of\t cold\t ran\t down\t her\t spine.\t \\\"So\t he\t truly\t has\t it,\\\"\t she\t whispered.\t \\\"He found\tthe\tkey\tbefore\tme.\tAnd\the's\tbeen\tusing\tits\tpower\tfor\this\town\tagenda.\\\" \\\"He\t was\t barely\t twenty\t when\t he\t did,\\\"\t Mort\t said\t softly.\t \\\"Strange,\t bellicose youth!\tAlways\tpoking\tabout\tin\tforgotten\tplaces\twhere\the\twasn't\twanted,\treading books\tno\tone\this\tage--or\tany\tage--should\tread!\tThough,\\\"\tMort\tadded,\t\\\"that\tdoes sound\tawfully\tlike\tsomeone\tI\tknow.\\\" \\\"And\tyou\tsomehow\tforgot\tto\ttell\tme\tuntil\tnow?\\\" \\\"I\t didn't\t know\t what\t it\t was\t then--I\t thought\t he\t merely\t took\t something.\t It wasn't\tuntil\tyou\tread\tthe\triddle\tthat\tI\tsuspected.\\\" It\t was\t a\t good\t thing\t he\t was\t made\t of\t bronze.\t Otherwise\t she'd\t have\t smashed his\t face\t in.\t \\\"Do\t you\t have\t any\t suspicions\t about\t what\t he\t might\t have\t done\t with it?\\\"\tShe\tturned\tthe\tgem\tback\tover\tas\tshe\tfought\ther\trising\tterror. \\\"How\tshould\tI\tknow?\tHe\tnever\tsaid\tanything\tto\tme,\tthough\tI'll\tadmit\tI\tdidn't condescend\t to\t speak\t with\t him.\t He\t came\t back\t here\t once\t he\t was\t king--but\t he only\tpoked\taround\tfor\ta\tfew\tminutes\tand\tthen\tleft.\tI\tsuspect\the\twas\tlooking\tfor the\tother\ttwo\tkeys.\\\" \\\"How\t did\t he\t discover\t it\t was\t here?\\\"\t she\t asked,\t stepping\t away\t from\t the marble\tfigure. \\\"The\tsame\tway\tyou\tdid,\tthough\tfar\tfaster.\tI\tsuppose\tthat\tmakes\thim\tcleverer than\tyou.\\\" \\\"Do\tyou\tthink\the\thas\tthe\tother\ttwo?\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\teyeing\tthe\ttreasure\talong\tthe far\twall,\tthe\tstand\twhere\tDamaris\twas\tdisplayed.\tWhy\thadn't\the\ttaken\tDamaris, one\tof\tthe\tgreatest\theirlooms\tof\this\thouse? \\\"If\t he\t had\t the\t others,\t don't\t you\t think\t that\t our\t doom\t would\t have\t come\t upon us\talready?\\\" \\\"You\t think\t he\t doesn't\t have\t all\t of\t the\t keys?\\\"\t she\t asked,\t beginning\t to\t sweat despite\tthe\tcold. \\\"Well,\t Brannon\t once\t told\t me\t that\t if\t you\t have\t all\t three\t keys,\t then\t you\t have control\tover\tthe\tWyrdgate.\tI\tthink\tit's\tfair\tto\tassume\tthe\tcurrent\tking\twould\thave tried\this\thand\tat\tconquering\tanother\trealm,\tor\tenslaved\tcreatures\tto\tconquer\tthe","rest\tof\tours,\tif\the\thad\tall\tthree.\\\"\t\\\"Wyrd\tsave\tus\tif\tthat\thappens.\\\" \\\"Wyrd?\\\"\tMort\tlaughed.\t\\\"You're\tpleading\twith\tthe\twrong\tforce.\tIf\the\tcontrols the\t Wyrd,\t you're\t going\t to\t have\t to\t find\t another\t means\t of\t saving\t yourself.\t And don't\tyou\tthink\tit's\ttoo\tmuch\tof\ta\tcoincidence\tthat\tmagic\tstopped\tas\tsoon\tas\the began\this\tconquest?\\\" How\tmagic\tstopped.\t\\\"He\tused\tthe\tWyrdkeys\tto\tstifle\tmagic.\tAll\tmagic,\\\"\tshe added,\t\\\"but\this\town.\\\" And\tby\textension,\tDorian's. She\t swore,\t then\t asked,\t \\\"So\t you\t think\t he\t might\t also\t have\t the\t second Wyrdkey?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tthink\ta\tperson\tcould\teliminate\tmagic\twith\tonly\tone--\tthough\tI\tmight be\twrong.\tNo\tone\treally\tknows\twhat\tthey're\tcapable\tof.\\\" Celaena\tpressed\tthe\theels\tof\ther\tpalms\tto\ther\teyes.\t\\\"Oh,\tgods.\tThis\twas\twhat Elena\twanted\tme\tto\tlearn.\tAnd\tnow\twhat\tam\tI\tsupposed\tto\tdo?\tGo\thunt\tthe\tthird one\tdown?\tSteal\tthe\tother\ttwo\tfrom\thim?\\\" Nehemia--Nehemia,\tyou\thad\tto\thave\tknown.\tYou\tmust\thave\thad\ta\tplan.\tBut what\twere\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo? That\t now-familiar\t abyss\t inside\t of\t her\t stretched\t wider.\t There\t was\t no\t end\t to it,\tthat\thollow\tache.\tNo\tend\tat\tall.\tIf\tthe\tgods\thad\tbothered\tto\tlisten,\tshe\twould have\t traded\t her\t life\t for\t Nehemia's.\t It\t would\t have\t been\t such\t an\t easy\t choice\t to make.\tBecause\tthe\tworld\tdidn't\tneed\tan\tassassin\twith\ta\tcoward's\theart.\tIt\tneeded someone\tlike\tNehemia. But\t there\t were\t no\t gods\t left\t to\t bargain\t with--no\t one\t to\t offer\t her\t soul\t to\t in exchange\tfor\tjust\tanother\tmoment\twith\tNehemia,\tjust\tone\tmore\tchance\tto\ttalk\tto her.\tJust\tto\thear\ther\tvoice. Yet.\tMaybe\tshe\tdidn't\tneed\tthe\tgods\tto\ttalk\tto\tNehemia. Cain\t had\t summoned\t the\t ridderak,\t and\t he\t certainly\t hadn't\t possessed\t a Wyrdkey.\t No,\t Nehemia\t had\t said\t that\t there\t were\t spells\t to\t open\t a\t temporary portal,\tjust\tlong\tenough\tfor\tsomething\tto\tslip\tthrough.\tIf\tCain\tcould\tdo\tit,\tand\tif Celaena\t could\t use\t the\t marks\t to\t freeze\t the\t catacombs\t creature\t in\t place\t and permanently\t seal\t a\t door,\t then\t couldn't\t the\t marks\t open\t a\t portal\t to\t yet\t another realm? Her\t chest\t tightened.\t If\t there\t were\t other\t realms.\t realms\t where\t the\t dead","dwelled,\t in\t torment\t or\t peace,\t who\t was\t to\t say\t that\t she\t couldn't\t speak\t to Nehemia?\t She\t could\t do\t it.\t No\t matter\t the\t cost,\t it'd\t only\t be\t for\t a\t moment--just long\t enough\t to\t ask\t Nehemia\t where\t the\t king\t was\t keeping\t the\t keys,\t or\t how\t to find\tthe\tthird,\tand\tto\tfind\tout\twhat\telse\tNehemia\tmight\thave\tknown. She\tcould\tdo\tit. There\t were\t other\t things\t she\t needed\t to\t tell\t Nehemia,\t too.\t Words\t she\t needed to\tsay,\ttruths\tshe\tneeded\tto\tconfess.\tAnd\tthat\tgoodbye--\tthat\tfinal\tgoodbye\tthat she\thadn't\tbeen\tallowed\tto\tmake. Celaena\t took\t Damaris\t off\t its\t stand\t again.\t \\\"Mort,\t how\t long\t do\t you\t think\t a portal\tcan\tstay\topen?\\\" \\\"Whatever\tyou\tare\tthinking,\twhatever\tyou\tare\tgoing\tto\tdo\tright\tnow,\tstop\tit.\\\" But\t Celaena\t was\t already\t walking\t out\t of\t the\t tomb.\t He\t didn't\t understand-- couldn't\tunderstand.\tShe\thad\tlost\tand\tlost\tand\tlost--\tbeen\tdenied\tcountless\tgood byes.\t But\t not\t this\t time--not\t when\t she\t could\t change\t all\t of\t that,\t even\t for\t a\t few minutes.\tThis\ttime,\tit\twould\tbe\tdifferent. She'd\t need\t The\t Walking\t Dead,\t another\t dagger\t or\t two,\t some\t candles,\t and space--more\tspace\tthan\tthe\ttomb\tcould\toffer.\tThe\tdrawings\tthat\tCain\thad\tmade had\t taken\t up\t a\t fair\t amount\t of\t room.\t There\t was\t a\t large\t passage\t one\t level\t up\t in the\tsecret\ttunnels--a\tlong\thallway\tand\ta\tset\tof\tdoors\tshe'd\tnever\tdared\topen.\tThe hallway\twas\twide,\tits\tceiling\thigh:\tenough\tspace\tto\tdo\tthe\tspell. For\ther\tto\topen\ta\tportal\tinto\tan\tOtherworld. Dorian\tknew\the\twas\tdreaming.\tHe\twas\tstanding\tin\tan\tancient\tstone\tchamber he'd\t never\t seen\t before,\t facing\t a\t tall,\t crowned\t warrior.\t The\t crown\t was\t familiar, somehow,\t but\t it\t was\t the\t man's\t eyes\t that\t stunned\t him\t into\t inaction.\t They\t were his\t own\t eyes--sapphire,\t blazing.\t The\t similarities\t ended\t there--the\t man\t had shoulder-length\tdark\tbrown\thair,\tan\tangular,\talmost\tcruel\tface,\tand\twas\tat\tleast\ta hand\ttaller\tthan\tDorian\thimself.\tAnd\the\tcarried\thimself\tlike.\ta\tking. \\\"Prince,\\\"\t the\t man\t said,\t his\t golden\t crown\t gleaming.\t There\t was\t something feral\tin\this\teyes--as\tif\tthe\tking\twas\tmore\taccustomed\tto\troaming\tthe\twilderness than\twalking\tthese\tmarble\thalls.\t\\\"You\tmust\tawaken.\\\" \\\"Why?\\\"\t Dorian\t asked,\t not\t sounding\t very\t princely\t at\t all.\t Strange\t green symbols\t were\t glowing\t on\t the\t gray\t stones,\t similar\t to\t the\t symbols\t Celaena\t had made\tin\tthe\tlibrary.\tWhat\twas\tthis\tplace? \\\"Because\ta\tline\tthat\tshould\tnever\tbe\tcrossed\tis\tabout\tto\tbe\tbreached.\tIt\tputs","this\tentire\tcastle\tin\tjeopardy--and\tthe\tlife\tof\tyour\tfriend.\\\"\tHis\tvoice\twasn't\tharsh, but.but\t Dorian\t had\t a\t sense\t it\t could\t turn\t that\t way,\t if\t provoked.\t Which,\t judging by\tthat\tancient\twildness,\tthe\tarrogance\tand\tchallenge\tin\tthe\tking's\teyes,\tseemed like\ta\tfairly\teasy\tto\tthing\tto\tdo. Dorian\tsaid,\t\\\"What\tare\tyou\ttalking\tabout?\tWho\tare\tyou?\\\" \\\"Don't\t waste\t time\t with\t pointless\t questions.\\\"\t Yes,\t this\t king\t wasn't\t one\t to mince\twords\tat\tall.\t\\\"You\tmust\tgo\tto\ther\trooms.\tThere\tis\ta\tdoor\thidden\tbehind\ta tapestry.\t Take\t the\t third\t passage\t on\t the\t right.\t Go\t now,\t Prince,\t or\t lose\t her forever.\\\" And\tsomehow,\tDorian\tdidn't\tthink\ttwice\tabout\tthe\tfact\tthat\tGavin,\tfirst\tKing of\tAdarlan,\thad\tspoken\tto\thim\tas\the\tawoke,\tyanked\ton\this\tclothes,\tgrabbed\this sword\tbelt,\tand\tsprinted\tfrom\this\ttower.","The\tcut\ton\ther\tarm\tthrobbed,\tbut\tCelaena\tkept\ther\thand\tsteady\tas\tshe\tdipped her\t finger\t again\t into\t her\t blood\t and\t traced\t the\t Wyrdmark\t on\t the\t wall,\t copying the\t symbols\t in\t the\t book\t with\t perfect\t precision.\t They\t formed\t an\t archway--a door--and\ther\tblood\tgleamed\tin\tthe\tlight\tof\tthe\tcandles\tshe\thad\tbrought. It\thad\tto\tbe\tperfect--each\tsymbol\thad\tto\tbe\tflawless,\tor\telse\tit\twouldn't\twork. She\t kept\t pressing\t on\t the\t wound\t to\t keep\t it\t from\t clotting.\t Not\t everyone\t could harness\t the\t marks--no,\t The\t Walking\t Dead\t said\t there\t had\t to\t be\t power\t in\t the blood\tto\tdo\tit.\tCain\thad\tclearly\thad\tsome\ttrace\tof\tpower.\tThat\tmust\tbe\twhy\tthe king\t had\t rounded\t up\t Kaltain\t and\t Roland,\t too.\t He'd\t used\t the\t Wyrdkeys\t to suppress\t magic,\t but\t he\t must\t have\t some\t way\t of\t harnessing\t the\t innate\t power\t in someone's\tblood--and\tthe\tWyrdmarks\tmust\tbe\table\tto\taccess\tthat\tpower,\ttoo. She\tdrew\tanother\tsymbol,\talmost\tfinished\twith\tthe\tarchway. Their\t power\t can\t warp\t things.\t It\t had\t warped\t Cain.\t But\t it\t had\t also\t allowed him\tto\tsummon\tthe\tridderak\tand\tgain\teven\tmore\tpower\tfor\thimself. Thank\tthe\tWyrd\tCain\twas\tdead. There\twas\tone\tmark\tleft\tto\tdraw,\tthe\tone\tthat\twould\tbring\ther\tthe\tperson\tshe so\tdesperately\tneeded\tto\tsee,\tif\tonly\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tIt\twas\tcomplex,\ta\tweave\tof loops\tand\tangles.\tShe\ttook\tout\ther\tchalk\tand\tpracticed\ton\tthe\tfloor\tuntil\tshe\tgot it\tright,\tthen\tetched\tit\tin\tblood\ton\tthe\twall.\tNehemia's\tname\tin\tWyrdmark\tform. She\texamined\tthe\tdoor\tshe'd\tdrawn\tand\tgot\tto\ther\tfeet,\tthe\tbook\theld\tin\ther clean\thand. She\tcleared\ther\tthroat,\tand\tbegan\tto\tread\tthe\twords\ton\tthe\tpage. She\t didn't\t know\t the\t language.\t Her\t throat\t burned\t and\t contracted,\t as\t if fighting\t the\t sounds,\t but\t she\t panted\t through\t it,\t the\t words\t making\t her\t teeth\t ache like\tshe'd\tjust\tcome\tin\tfrom\tthe\tcold\tand\twas\tdrinking\tsomething\thot. And\tthen\tthe\tfinal\twords\twere\tout,\ther\teyes\twatering. No\twonder\tthis\tkind\tof\tpower\tfell\tout\tof\tfavor. The\t symbols\t written\t in\t her\t blood\t began\t to\t glow\t green,\t one\t after\t another, until\t the\t whole\t archway\t was\t a\t line\t of\t light.\t The\t stones\t within\t its\t borders","darkened,\tdarkened,\tdarkened,\tand\tthen\tdisappeared. The\tblackness\twithin\tthe\tgreen\tarchway\tseemed\tto\treach\tout\tfor\ther. It\thad\tworked.\tHoly\tgods,\tit\thad\tworked. Was\tthat\twhat\twaited\tfor\ther\twhen\tshe\tdied?\tNehemia\thad\tgone\there? \\\"Nehemia?\\\"\tshe\twhispered,\ther\tthroat\traw\tfrom\tthe\tspell. There\twas\tnothing.\tNothing\tthere--just\ta\tvoid. Celaena\t looked\t at\t the\t book,\t then\t to\t the\t wall,\t and\t the\t symbols\t she'd\t drawn. She'd\twritten\tit\tcorrectly.\tThe\tspell\twas\tright.\t\\\"Nehemia?\\\"\tshe\twhispered\ttoward that\tendless\tdark. There\twas\tno\tresponse. Perhaps\t it\t needed\t time.\t The\t book\t hadn't\t specified\t how\t long\t it\t would\t take; maybe\tNehemia\thad\tto\ttravel\tthrough\twhatever\tthis realm\twas. So\tCelaena\twaited. The\tlonger\tshe\tstared\tinto\tthat\tendless\tvoid,\tthe\tmore\tit\tseemed\tto\tstare\tback. It\t was\t just\t like\t that\t dream,\t the\t one\t where\t she\t was\t standing\t on\t the\t edge\t of\t that ravine. You\tare\tnothing\tmore\tthan\ta\tcoward. \\\"Please,\\\"\tCelaena\twhispered\tinto\tthe\tdark. There\twas\ta\tsudden\tyelp\tfrom\tfar,\tfar\tabove,\tand\tCelaena\twhirled\ttoward\tthe stairs\t at\t the\t far\t end\t of\t the\t hall.\t Moments\t later,\t faster\t than\t should\t be\t possible, Fleetfoot\tbounded\tdown\tthe\tsteps,\tracing\tfor\ther. Not\tfor\ther,\tCelaena\trealized\tas\tshe\tbeheld\tthe\twagging\ttail,\tthe\tpanting,\tthe yip\tof\twhat\tcould\tonly\tbe\tjoy.\tNot\tfor\ther,\tbecause-- Celaena\tlooked\ttoward\tthe\tportal\tat\tthe\tsame\tmoment\tFleetfoot\tskidded\tto\ta halt. And\t then\t everything\t stopped\t as\t she\t beheld\t the\t shimmering\t figure\t standing just\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tportal. Fleetfoot\t lay\t on\t the\t ground,\t tail\t still\t wagging,\t whining\t softly.\t The\t edges\t of Nehemia's\tbody\trippled\tand\tblurred,\tfracturing\twith\tsome\tsort\tof\tinner\tlight.\tBut her\tface\twas\tclear--her\tface\twas.\tit\twas\ther\tface.\tCelaena\tsank\tto\ther\tknees.","She\t felt\t the\t warmth\t of\t her\t tears\t before\t she\t realized\t she\t was\t crying.\t \\\"I'm sorry,\\\"\twas\tall\tshe\tcould\tsay.\t\\\"I'm\tso\tsorry.\\\" But\t Nehemia\t remained\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t the\t portal.\t Fleetfoot\t whined again.\t\\\"I\tmay\tnot\tcross\tthis\tline,\\\"\tNehemia\tsaid\tgently\tto\tthe\tdog.\t\\\"And\tneither may\tyou.\\\"\tHer\ttone\tshifted,\tand\tCelaena\tknew\tNehemia\twas\tnow\tstaring\tat\ther. \\\"I\tthought\tyou\twere\tsmarter\tthan\tthis.\\\" Celaena\t looked\t up.\t The\t light\t radiating\t off\t the\t princess\t didn't\t reach\t through the\tglowing\tportal.\tAs\tif\tthere\ttruly\twas\tsome\tsort\tof\tline--\tsome\tfinal\tboundary. \\\"I'm\tsorry,\\\"\tCelaena\twhispered\tagain.\t\\\"I\tjust\twanted--\\\" \\\"There\t is\t no\t time\t for\t you\t to\t tell\t me\t what\t you\t long\t to\t say.\t I\t came\t here because\tyou\tneed\tto\tbe\twarned.\tDo\tnot\topen\tthis\tportal\tagain.\tThe\tnext\ttime\tyou do,\t I\t will\t not\t be\t the\t one\t who\t answers\t your\t call.\t And\t you\t will\t not\t survive\t the encounter.\t No\t one\t has\t a\t right\t to\t open\t the\t door\t to\t this\t realm,\t no\t matter\t how fierce\ttheir\tgrief.\\\" She\thadn't\tknown,\thadn't\tmeant. Fleetfoot\tpawed\tat\tthe\tfloor.\t\\\"Goodbye,\tmy\tdear\tfriend,\\\"\tNehemia\tsaid\tto\tthe dog\tand\tbegan\twalking\tinto\tthe\tblackness. Celaena\t just\t stood\t there,\t unable\t to\t move\t or\t think.\t Her\t throat\t burned\t with those\tpent-up\twords,\tthe\twords\tthat\tnow\tchoked\tthe\tlife\tout\tof\ther. \\\"Elentiya.\\\"\t Nehemia\t paused\t to\t look\t back\t at\t her.\t The\t void\t seemed\t to\t be swirling,\tswallowing\ther\tup\tbit\tby\tbit.\t\\\"You\twill\tnot\tunderstand\tyet,\tbut.\tI\tknew what\tmy\tfate\twas\tto\tbe,\tand\tI\tembraced\tit.\tI\tran\t toward\tit.\tBecause\tit\twas\tthe only\t way\t for\t things\t to\t begin\t changing,\t for\t events\t to\t be\t set\t in\t motion.\t But\t no matter\t what\t I\t did,\t Elentiya,\t I\t want\t you\t to\t know\t that\t in\t the\t darkness\t of\t the\t past ten\tyears,\tyou\twere\tone\tof\tthe\tbright\tlights\tfor\tme.\tDo\tnot\tlet\tthat\tlight\tgo\tout.\\\" And\tbefore\tCelaena\tcould\treply,\tthe\tprincess\twas\tgone. There\t was\t nothing\t in\t the\t dark.\t As\t though\t Nehemia\t had\t never\t been.\t As though\tshe'd\tmade\tit\tall\tup. \\\"Come\t back,\\\"\t she\t whispered.\t \\\"Please--come\t back.\\\"\t But\t the\t darkness remained\tthe\tsame.\tAnd\tNehemia\twas\tgone. There\t was\t a\t scrape\t of\t footsteps.\t But\t not\t from\t the\t portal.\t Rather,\t it\t came from\ther\tleft. From\tArcher,\twho\tstood\tthere\tgaping.\t\\\"I\tdon't\tbelieve\tit,\\\"\the\twhispered.","Celaena\t had\t Damaris\t drawn\t and\t leveled\t at\t Archer\t in\t a\t heartbeat.\t Fleetfoot growled\tat\thim,\tbut\tkept\tback,\ta\tstep\tbehind\tCelaena. \\\"What\tare\tyou\tdoing\there?\\\"\tIt\twas\tinconceivable\tthat\the'd\tbe\there.\tHow\thad he\tgotten\tin? \\\"I've\t been\t tracking\t you\t for\t weeks,\\\"\t Archer\t said,\t eyeing\t the\t dog.\t \\\"Nehemia told\tme\tabout\tthe\tpassages--showed\tme\tthe\tway\tin.\tI've\tbeen\tdown\there\talmost every\tnight\tsince\tshe\tdied.\\\" Celaena\t glanced\t at\t the\t portal.\t If\t Nehemia\t had\t warned\t her\t not\t to\t open\t the portal,\t then\t she\t was\t certain\t her\t friend\t didn't\t want\t Archer\t seeing\t it,\t either. Celaena\tmoved\tto\tthe\twall,\tkeeping\twell\taway\tfrom\tthe\tblackness\tas\tshe\tran\ther hand\tover\tthe\tglowing\tgreen\tmarks,\tmaking\tto\twipe\tthem\taway. \\\"What\tare\tyou\tdoing?\\\"\tArcher\tdemanded. Celaena\t pointed\t Damaris\t at\t him,\t furiously\t wiping\t at\t the\t marks.\t They\t didn't budge.\t Whatever\t this\t spell\t was,\t it\t was\t far\t more\t complex\t than\t the\t one\t that\t had sealed\t the\t library\t door--merely\t swiping\t away\t the\t marks\t wouldn't\t undo\t it.\t But Archer\t now\t stood\t between\t her\t and\t the\t book\t where\t she\t had\t the\t closing\t spell flagged.\tCelaena\trubbed\tharder.\tIt\twas\tall\tterribly\twrong. \\\"Stop!\\\"\t Archer\t lunged,\t getting\t past\t her\t guard\t with\t unnatural\t ease\t as\t he grasped\ther\twrist.\tFleetfoot\tbarked\ta\tferocious\twarning,\tbut\ta\tsharp\twhistle\tfrom Celaena\thad\tthe\tdog\tstaying\twell\taway. She\twhirled\tto\tArcher,\talready\tmaking\tto\tdislocate\tthe\tarm\tthat\theld\ther,\tbut the\t green\t light\t of\t the\t portal\t illuminated\t the\t plane\t of\t his\t wrist,\t where\t the\t sleeve of\this\ttunic\thad\tfallen\tback. A\tblack\ttattoo\tof\tsome\tsnakelike\tcreature\tappeared\tthere. She'd\tseen\tthat\tbefore.\tSeen\tit. Celaena\traised\ther\teyes\tto\this\tface. Do\tnot\ttrust. She\t had\t thought\t Nehemia's\t drawing\t had\t been\t of\t the\t Royal\t Seal--a\t slightly","warped\tversion\tof\tthe\twyvern.\tBut\tit\thad\tactually\tbeen\tof\tthis\ttattoo.\tOf\tArcher's tattoo. Do\tnot\ttrust\tArcher,\tshe'd\tbeen\ttrying\tto\ttell\ther. Celaena\tshoved\tback\tfrom\thim,\tdrawing\ta\tdagger.\tShe\tpointed\tboth\tDamaris and\t the\t knife\t at\t him.\t How\t much\t had\t Nehemia\t hidden\t from\t Archer\t and\t his contacts?\tIf\tshe\tdidn't\ttrust\tthem,\tthen\twhy\thad\tshe\ttold\tthem\tall\tthat\tshe\tdid? \\\"Tell\tme\thow\tyou\tlearned\tthis,\\\"\tArcher\twhispered,\this\teyes\tgoing\tback\tto\tthe portal\tand\tthe\tdarkness\tbeyond.\t\\\"Please.\tDid\tyou\tfind\tthe\tWyrdkeys?\tIs\tthat\thow you\tdid\tit?\\\" \\\"What\tdo\tyou\tknow\tof\tthe\tWyrdkeys?\\\"\tshe\tgot\tout. \\\"Where\tare\tthey?\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tfind\tthem?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\thave\tthe\tkeys.\\\" \\\"You\t found\t the\t riddle,\t though,\\\"\t Archer\t panted.\t \\\"I\t let\t you\t find\t that\t riddle\t I hid\t in\t Davis'\t office.\t It\t took\t us\t five\t years\t to\t find\t that\t riddle--and\t you\t must\t have solved\tit.\tI\tknew\tyou'd\tbe\tthe\tone\tto\tsolve\tit.\tNehemia\tknew,\ttoo.\\\" Celaena\twas\tshaking\ther\thead.\tHe\tdidn't\tknow\tthat\tthere\thad\tbeen\ta\tsecond riddle--a\triddle\twith\ta\tmap\tto\tthe\tkeys.\t\\\"The\tking\thas\tat\tleast\tone\tkey.\tBut\twhere the\tother\ttwo\tare,\tI\tdon't\tknow.\\\" Archer's\t eyes\t darkened.\t \\\"We\t suspected\t as\t much.\t That\t was\t why\t she\t came here\tin\tthe\tfirst\tplace.\tTo\tlearn\tif\the'd\tactually\tstolen\tthem,\tand\thow\tmany.\\\" That\twas\twhy\tNehemia\tcouldn't\tleave,\tshe\trealized.\tWhy\tshe'd\topted\tto\tstay here\t instead\t of\t returning\t to\t Eyllwe.\t To\t fight\t for\t the\t one\t thing\t that\t was\t more important\tthan\tthe\tfate\tof\ther\tcountry:\tthe\tfate\tof\tthe\tworld.\tOf\tother\tworlds,\ttoo. \\\"I\t don't\t have\t to\t get\t on\t a\t ship\t tomorrow.\t We'll\t tell\t everyone,\\\"\t Archer breathed.\t\\\"We'll\ttell\teveryone\the\thas\tthem,\tand--\\\" \\\"No.\tIf\twe\treveal\tthe\ttruth,\tthen\tthe\tking\twill\tuse\tthe\tkeys\tto\tdo\tmore\tdamage than\tyou\tcan\tpossibly\timagine.\tWe'll\tlose\tany\tchance\tof\tstealth\twe\thave\tto\tfind the\tothers.\\\" He\ttook\ta\tstep\tcloser\tto\ther.\tFleetfoot\tlet\tout\tanother\twarning\tgrowl,\tbut\tkept her\t distance.\t \\\"Then\t we'll\t find\t where\t he's\t keeping\t the\t key.\t And\t the\t others.\t And then\t we'll\t use\t them\t to\t overthrow\t him.\t Then\t we'll\t create\t a\t world\t of\t our\t own making.\\\" His\tvoice\twas\tbuilding\tinto\ta\tfrenzy,\teach\tword\tharsher\tthan\tthe\tnext.","She\tshook\ther\thead.\t\\\"I\twould\tsooner\tdestroy\tthem\tthan\tuse\ttheir\tpower.\\\" Archer\t chuckled.\t \\\"She\t said\t the\t same\t thing.\t She\t said\t they\t should\t be destroyed--put\tback\tin\tthe\tgate,\tif\twe\tcould\tdiscover\ta\tway.\tBut\twhat\tis\tthe\tpoint of\tfinding\tthem\tif\twe\tdon't\tuse\tthem\tagainst\thim?\tMake\thim\tsuffer?\\\" Her\t stomach\t turned.\t There\t was\t more\t he\t wasn't\t saying,\t more\t that\t he\t knew. So\t she\t sighed\t and\t shook\t her\t head,\t beginning\t to\t pace.\t Archer\t was\t silent\t as\t she walked--silent\t until\t she\t halted,\t as\t if\t suddenly\t understanding.\t She\t raised\t her voice.\t \\\"He\t should\t suffer\t for\t as\t long\t as\t possible.\t And\t so\t should\t the\t people\t who destroyed\t us--who\t made\t us\t into\t what\t we\t are:\t Arobynn,\t Clarisse.\\\"\t She\t chewed on\t her\t lip.\t \\\"Nehemia\t could\t never\t understand\t that.\t She\t never\t tried\t to.\t You-- you're\tright.\tThey\tshould\tbe\tused.\\\" He\tstudied\ther\twarily\tenough\tthat\tshe\tcame\tcloser\tand\ttilted\ther\thead\tto\tthe side--contemplating\this\twords,\tcontemplating\thim. And\tArcher\tbought\tit.\t\\\"That\twas\twhy\tshe\tleft\tthe\tmovement.\tShe\tleft\ta\tweek before\tshe\tdied.\tWe\tknew\tit\twas\ta\tmatter\tof\ttime\tbefore\tshe\twent\tto\tthe\tking\tto expose\t us\t all--to\t use\t what\t she'd\t learned\t to\t grant\t clemency\t to\t Eyllwe,\t and\t to annihilate\tus\twith\tthe\t same\tstroke.\tShe\tsaid\t she'd\trather\t have\tone\t all-powerful tyrant\tthan\ta\tdozen\tof\tthem.\\\" Celaena\t said\t with\t deadly\t calm,\t \\\"She\t would\t have\t ruined\t everything\t for\t you. She\t almost\t ruined\t everything\t for\t me,\t too.\t She\t told\t me\t to\t stay\t away\t from\t the Wyrdkeys.\tShe\ttried\tto\tsteer\tme\tfrom\tsolving\tthe\triddle.\\\" \\\"Because\tshe\twanted\tto\tkeep\tthe\tknowledge\tto\therself--for\ther\town\tgain.\\\" She\tsmiled\teven\tas\tshe\tfelt\tthe\tworld\tshifting\tbeneath\ther.\tAnd\tshe\tcouldn't explain\twhy,\tor\thow\tshe\tbegan\tto\twonder,\tbut\tif\tit\twas\ttrue,\tshe\thad\tto\tget\thim to\tadmit\tit.\tShe\tfound\therself\tsaying,\t\\\"You\tand\tI\tworked\tfor\teverything\twe\thave- -we.we\t had\t everything\t taken\t away\t and\t used\t against\t us,\t too.\t Other\t people\t can't even\tbegin\tto\tfathom\tthe\tthings\twe\twere\tforced\tto\tdo.\tI\tthink--I\tthink\tthat's\twhy I\t was\t so\t infatuated\t with\t you\t when\t I\t was\t a\t girl.\t I\t knew,\t even\t then,\t that\t you understood.\tThat\tyou\tknew\twhat\tit\twas\tlike\tto\tbe\traised\tby\tpeople\tlike\tArobynn and\t Clarisse\t and\t then.\t sold.\t You\t understood\t me\t then.\\\"\t She\t willed\t her\t eyes\t to gleam,\t her\t mouth\t to\t tighten\t as\t if\t she\t were\t keeping\t it\t from\t wobbling.\t Blinking furiously,\tshe\tmurmured,\t\\\"But\tI\tthink\tI\tfinally\tunderstand\tyou\tnow,\ttoo.\\\" She\t reached\t out\t a\t hand\t as\t if\t to\t grab\t his,\t but\t lowered\t it--making\t her\t face tender\tand\tsoft\tand\tbittersweet.\t\\\"Why\tdidn't\tyou\ttell\tme\tsooner?\tWe\tcould\thave been\t working\t toward\t this\t for\t weeks.\t We\t could\t have\t tried\t to\t solve\t the\t riddle","together.\tIf\tI'd\tknown\twhat\tNehemia\twas\tgoing\tto\tdo,\thow\tshed\tlie\tto\tme\tagain and\tagain.\tShe\tbetrayed\tme.\tIn\tevery\tpossible\tway,\tArcher.\tShe\tlied\tto\tmy\tface, made\tme\tbelieve.\\\"\tHer\tshoulders\tslumped.\tAfter\ta\tlong\tmoment,\tshe\ttook\ta\tstep toward\t him.\t \\\"Nehemia\t was\t no\t better\t than\t Arobynn\t or\t Clarisse\t in\t the\t end. Archer,\tyou\tshould\thave\ttold\tme.\tAbout\teverything.\tI\tknew\tit\twasn't\tMullison-- he\twasn't\tsmart\tenough.\tIf\tyou'd\ttold\tme,\tI\tcould\thave\ttaken\tcare\tof\tit.\\\"\tA\trisk--a leap\tof\tfaith.\t\\\"For\tyou.for\tus,\tI\twould\thave\ttaken\tcare\tof\tit.\\\" But\tArcher\tgave\ther\ta\thesitant\tsmile.\t\\\"She\tspent\tso\tmuch\ttime\tcomplaining about\t Councilman\t Mullison\t that\t I\t knew\t he'd\t be\t the\t easiest\t one\t to\t blame.\t And thanks\tto\tthat\tcompetition,\the\talready\thad\ta\tconnection\tto\tGrave.\\\" \\\"Grave\t didn't\t recognize\t that\t you\t weren't\t Mullison?\\\"\t she\t asked\t as\t calmly\t as she\tcould. \\\"You'd\t be\t surprised\t how\t easily\t men\t see\t what\t they\t want\t to\t see.\t A\t cloak, mask,\tand\tsome\tfine\tclothes,\tand\the\tdidn't\tthink\ttwice.\\\" Oh,\tgods.\tGods. \\\"So\t the\t night\t at\t the\t warehouse,\\\"\t she\t went\t on,\t raising\t an\t eyebrow--\t an intrigued\tcoconspirator.\t\\\"Why\tdid\tyou\treally\tkidnap\tChaol?\\\" \\\"I\thad\tto\tget\tyou\taway\tfrom\tNehemia.\tAnd\twhen\tI\ttook\tthat\tarrow\tfor\tyou,\tI knew\t you'd\t trust\t me,\t if\t only\t for\t that\t night.\t I\t apologize\t if\t my\t methods\t were. harsh.\tTrick\tof\tthe\ttrade,\tI'm\tafraid.\\\" Trust\t him,\t lose\t Nehemia,\t and\t lose\t Chaol.\t He\t had\t isolated\t her\t from\t her friends--the\tsame\tthing\tshe'd\tsuspected\tRoland\twanted\tto\tdo\twith\tDorian. \\\"And\tthat\tthreat\tthe\tking\treceived\tbefore\tNehemia's\tdeath--the\tthreat\ton\ther life?\\\"\tCelaena\tsaid,\ther\tlips\tcurled\tupward.\t\\\"You\tplanted\tthat\tthreat,\tdidn't\tyou? To\tshow\tme\twho\tmy\treal\tfriends\tare--who\tI\tcan\treally\ttrust.\\\" \\\"It\twas\ta\tgamble.\tJust\tas\tI'm\tgambling\tnow.\tI\tdidn't\tknow\twhether\tor\tnot\tthe captain\twould\twarn\tyou.\tSeems\tI\twas\tright.\\\" \\\"Why\tme?\tI'm\tflattered,\tof\tcourse,\tbut.\tyou're\tclever.\tWhy\tcouldn't\tyou\thave figured\tthe\triddle\tout\ton\tyour\town?\\\" Archer\t bowed\t his\t head.\t \\\"Because\t I\t know\t what\t you\t are,\t Celaena.\t Arobynn told\t me\t one\t night,\t after\t you\t went\t to\t Endovier.\\\"\t She\t shoved\t the\t twinge\t of genuine\tpain\tand\tbetrayal\tdown,\tuntil\tit\tcouldn't\tdistract\ther.\t\\\"And\tfor\tour\tcause to\t succeed,\t we\t need\t you.\t I\t need\t you.\t Some\t members\t of\t the\t movement\t are already\t starting\t to\t fight\t me,\t to\t question\t my\t leadership.\t They\t think\t my\t methods"]
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