["\u201cI\t need\t to\t inspect\t Xavier\u2019s\t body\t again.\t I\u2019ll\t see\t you\t in\t the\t hall\t for\t dinner tonight,\u201d\twas\tall\tChaol\tsaid\tbefore\the\theaded\tto\this\trooms.\tDorian\twatched\thim go.\t The\t walk\t back\t to\t his\t tower\t felt\t surprisingly\t long.\t He\t opened\t the\t wooden door\tto\this\trooms,\tpeeling\toff\this\tclothing\tas\the\theaded\tto\tthe\tbathing\troom.\tHe had\t the\t entire\t tower\t to\t himself,\t though\t his\t chambers\t occupied\t only\t the\t upper level.\tThey\tprovided\ta\thaven\tfrom\teveryone,\tbut\ttoday\tthey\tjust\tfelt\tempty.","Chapter\t27 Late\tthat\tafternoon,\tCelaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tebony\tclock\ttower.\tIt\tgrew\tdarker\tand darker,\t as\t if\t it\t somehow\t absorbed\t the\t sun\u2019s\t dying\t rays.\t On\t top\t of\t it,\t the gargoyles\t remained\t stationary.\t They\t hadn\u2019t\t moved.\t Not\t even\t a\t finger.\t The Guardians,\tElena\thad\tcalled\tthem.\tBut\tGuardians\tto\twhat?\tThey\u2019d\tscared\tElena enough\tto\tkeep\ther\t away.\tSurely,\tif\tthey\u2019d\tbeen\tthe\tevil\tElena\tmentioned,\tshe would\thave\tjust\tsaid\tit\toutright.\tNot\tthat\tCelaena\twas\tconsidering\tlooking\tfor\tit right\tnow\u2014not\twhen\tit\tcould\tget\ther\tinto\ttrouble.\tAnd\tsomehow\twind\tup\tkilling her\tbefore\tshe\tcould\teven\tbecome\tthe\tKing\u2019s\tChampion. Still,\twhy\tdid\tElena\thave\tto\tbe\tso\toblique\tabout\teverything? \u201cWhat\u2019s\tyour\tobsession\twith\tthese\tugly\tthings?\u201d\tNehemia\tasked\tfrom\tbeside her. Celaena\tturned\tto\tthe\tprincess.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tthey\tmove?\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re\tmade\tof\tstone,\tLillian,\u201d\tthe\tprincess\tsaid\tin\tthe\tcommon\ttongue,\ther Eyllwe\taccent\tslightly\tless\tthick. \u201cOh!\u201d\t Celaena\t exclaimed,\t smiling.\t \u201cThat\t was\t very\t good!\t One\t lesson,\t and you\u2019re\t already\t putting\t me\t to\t shame!\u201d\t Unfortunately,\t the\t same\t couldn\u2019t\t be\t said of\tCelaena\u2019s\tEyllwe. Nehemia\tbeamed.\t\u201cThey\tdo\tlook\twicked,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\tEyllwe. \u201cAnd\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tthe\tWyrdmarks\tdon\u2019t\thelp,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid.\tA\tWyrdmark\twas at\ther\tfeet,\tand\tshe\tglanced\tto\tthe\tothers.\tThere\twere\ttwelve\tof\tthem\tall\ttogether, forming\ta\tlarge\tcircle\taround\tthe\tsolitary\ttower.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\tthe\tfaintest\tidea\twhat any\t of\t it\t meant.\t None\t of\t the\t marks\t here\t matched\t the\t three\t she\u2019d\t spotted\t at Xavier\u2019s\t murder\t site,\t but\t there\t had\t to\t be\t some\t connection.\t \u201cSo,\t you\t truly\t can\u2019t read\tthese?\u201d\tshe\tasked\ther\tfriend. \u201cNo,\u201d\t Nehemia\t said\t curtly,\t and\t headed\t toward\t the\t hedges\t that\t bordered\t the courtyard.\t \u201cAnd\t you\t shouldn\u2019t\t try\t to\t discover\t what\t they\t say,\u201d\t she\t added\t over her\tshoulder.\t\u201cNothing\tgood\twill\tcome\tof\tit.\u201d Celaena\tpulled\ther\tcloak\ttighter\taround\ther\tas\tshe\tfollowed\tafter\tthe\tprincess. Snow\twould\tstart\tfalling\tin\ta\tmatter\tof\tdays,\tbringing\tthem\tcloser\tto\tYulemas\u2014 and\t the\t final\t duel,\t still\t two\t months\t away.\t She\t savored\t the\t heat\t from\t her\t cloak, remembering\t all\t too\t well\t the\t winter\t she\u2019d\t spent\t in\t Endovier.\t Winter\t was unforgiving\t when\t you\t lived\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t the\t Ruhnn\t Mountains.\t It\t was\t a miracle\t she\t hadn\u2019t\t gotten\t frostbite.\t If\t she\t went\t back,\t another\t winter\t might\t kill her. \u201cYou\tlook\ttroubled,\u201d\tNehemia\tsaid\twhen\tCelaena\treached\ther\tside,\tand\tput\ta hand\ton\ther\tarm.","\u201cI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tin\tEyllwe,\tsmiling\tfor\tNehemia\u2019s\tsake.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tlike winter.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\t never\t seen\t snow,\u201d\t Nehemia\t said,\t looking\t at\t the\t sky.\t \u201cI\t wonder\t how long\tthe\tnovelty\twill\tlast.\u201d \u201cHopefully\t long\t enough\t for\t you\t to\t not\t mind\t the\t drafty\t corridors,\t freezing mornings,\tand\tdays\twithout\tsunshine.\u201d Nehemia\tlaughed.\t\u201cYou\tshould\tcome\tto\tEyllwe\twith\tme\twhen\tI\treturn\u2014and make\t sure\t you\t stay\t long\t enough\t to\t experience\t one\t of\t our\t blistering\t summers. Then\tyou\u2019ll\tappreciate\tyour\tfreezing\tmornings\tand\tdays\twithout\tsun.\u201d Celaena\t had\t already\t spent\t one\t blistering\t summer\t in\t the\t heat\t of\t the\t Red Desert,\t but\t to\t tell\t Nehemia\t that\t would\t only\t invite\t difficult\t questions.\t Instead, she\tsaid:\t\u201cI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tsee\tEyllwe\tvery\tmuch.\u201d Nehemia\u2019s\tgaze\tlingered\ton\tCelaena\u2019s\tbrow\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tshe\tgrinned. \u201cThen\tit\tshall\tbe\tso.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t eyes\t brightened,\t and\t she\t tilted\t her\t head\t back\t so\t she\t could\t see\t the castle\t looming\t above\t them.\t \u201cI\t wonder\t if\t Chaol\t sorted\t through\t the\t mess\t of\t that murder.\u201d \u201cMy\tbodyguards\ttell\tme\tthat\tthe\tman\twas\t.\t.\t.\tvery\tviolently\tkilled.\u201d \u201cTo\t say\t the\t least,\u201d\t Celaena\t murmured,\t watching\t the\t shifting\t colors\t of\t the fading\tsun\tturn\tthe\tcastle\tgold\tand\tred\tand\tblue.\tDespite\tthe\tostentatious\tnature of\tthe\tglass\tcastle,\tshe\thad\tto\tadmit\tthat\tit\tdid\tlook\trather\tbeautiful\tat\ttimes. \u201cYou\tsaw\tthe\tbody?\tMy\tguards\tweren\u2019t\tallowed\tclose\tenough.\u201d She\tnodded\tslowly.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsure\tyou\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\tknow\tthe\tdetails.\u201d \u201cIndulge\tme,\u201d\tNehemia\tpressed,\tsmiling\ttightly. Celaena\traised\tan\teyebrow.\t\u201cWell\u2014there\twas\tblood\tsmeared\teverywhere.\tOn the\twalls,\ton\tthe\tfloor.\u201d \u201cSmeared?\u201d\tNehemia\tsaid,\ther\tvoice\tdropping\tinto\ta\thush.\t\u201cNot\tsplattered?\u201d \u201cI\t think\t so.\t Like\t someone\t had\t rubbed\t it\t on\t there.\t There\t were\t a\t few\t of\t those Wyrdmarks\tpainted,\tbut\tmost\thad\tbeen\trubbed\taway.\u201d\tShe\tshook\ther\thead\tat\tthe image\t that\t arose.\t \u201cAnd\t the\t man\u2019s\t body\t was\t missing\t its\t vital\t organs\u2014like someone\t had\t split\t him\t open\t from\t neck\t to\t navel,\t and\u2014I\u2019m\t sorry,\t you\t look\t like you\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tbe\till.\tI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tsaid\tanything.\u201d \u201cNo.\tKeep\tgoing.\tWhat\telse\twas\tmissing?\u201d Celaena\tpaused\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tsaying:\t\u201cHis\tbrain.\tSomeone\thad\tmade\ta hole\t in\t the\t top\t of\t his\t head,\t and\t his\t brain\t was\t gone.\t And\t the\t skin\t from\t his\t face had\tbeen\tripped\toff.\u201d Nehemia\t nodded,\t staring\t at\t a\t barren\t bush\t in\t front\t of\t them.\t The\t princess chewed\t on\t her\t bottom\t lip,\t and\t Celaena\t noted\t that\t her\t fingers\t curled\t and uncurled\t at\t the\t sides\t of\t her\t long,\t white\t gown.\t A\t cold\t breeze\t blew\t past\t them,","making\tNehemia\u2019s\tmultitude\tof\tfine,\tthin\tbraids\tsway.\tThe\tgold\twoven\tinto\ther braids\tclinked\tsoftly. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\u2014\u201d A\t step\t fell\t behind\t them,\t and\t before\t Celaena\t could\t whirl,\t a\t male\t voice\t said: \u201cLook\tat\tthis.\u201d She\t tensed\t as\t Cain\t came\t to\t stand\t nearby,\t half-hidden\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t the clock\t tower\t behind\t them.\t Verin,\t the\t curly-haired\t loudmouth\t thief,\t was\t at\t his side.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\twant?\u201d\tshe\tsaid. Cain\u2019s\t tan\t face\t twisted\t in\t a\t sneer.\t Somehow,\t he\u2019d\t gotten\t bigger\u2014or\t maybe her\t eyes\t were\t playing\t tricks\t on\t her.\t \u201cPretending\t to\t be\t a\t lady\t doesn\u2019t\t mean\t you are\tone,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tCelaena\tshot\tNehemia\ta\tlook,\tbut\tthe\tprincess\u2019s\teyes\tremained upon\tCain\u2014narrowed,\tbut\ther\tlips\tstrangely\tslack. But\t Cain\t wasn\u2019t\t done,\t and\t his\t attention\t shifted\t to\t Nehemia.\t His\t lips\t pulled back,\t revealing\t his\t gleaming\t white\t teeth.\t \u201cNeither\t does\t wearing\t a\t crown\t make you\ta\treal\tprincess\u2014not\tanymore.\u201d Celaena\ttook\ta\tstep\tcloser\tto\thim.\t\u201cShut\tyour\tstupid\tmouth,\tor\tI\u2019ll\tpunch\tyour teeth\tdown\tyour\tthroat\tand\tshut\tit\tfor\tyou.\u201d Cain\tlet\tout\ta\tsharp\tlaugh,\twhich\tVerin\techoed.\tThe\tthief\tcircled\tbehind\tthem, and\tCelaena\tstraightened,\twondering\tif\tthey\u2019d\tactually\tpick\ta\tfight\there.\t\u201cLots\tof barking\tfrom\tthe\tprince\u2019s\tlapdog,\u201d\tCain\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tdoes\tshe\thave\tany\tfangs?\u201d She\tfelt\tNehemia\u2019s\thand\ton\ther\tshoulder,\tbut\tshe\tshrugged\tit\toff\tas\tshe\ttook another\t step\t toward\t him,\t close\t enough\t for\t the\t curls\t of\t his\t breath\t to\t touch\t her face.\t Inside\t the\t castle,\t the\t guards\t remained\t loitering\t about,\t talking\t amongst themselves.\t\u201cYou\u2019ll\tfind\tout\twhen\tmy\tfangs\tare\tburied\tin\tyour\tneck,\u201d\tshe\tsaid. \u201cWhy\tnot\tright\tnow?\u201d\tCain\tbreathed.\t\u201cCome\ton\u2014hit\tme.\tHit\tme\twith\tall\tthat rage\tyou\tfeel\tevery\ttime\tyou\tforce\tyourself\tto\tmiss\tthe\tbull\u2019s-eye,\tor\twhen\tyou slow\t yourself\t down\t so\t you\t don\u2019t\t scale\t walls\t as\t fast\t as\t me.\t Hit\t me,\t Lillian,\u201d\t he whispered\t so\t only\t she\t could\t hear,\t \u201cand\t let\u2019s\t see\t what\t that\t year\t in\t Endovier really\ttaught\tyou.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\theart\tleapt\tinto\ta\tgallop.\tHe\tknew.\tHe\tknew\twho\tshe\twas,\tand\twhat she\t was\t doing.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t to\t look\t at\t Nehemia,\t and\t only\t hoped\t her understanding\t of\t the\t common\t language\t was\t still\t weak\t enough\t for\t her\t not\t to have\tunderstood.\tVerin\tstill\twatched\tfrom\tbehind\tthem. \u201cYou\t think\t you\u2019re\t the\t only\t one\t whose\t sponsor\t is\t willing\t to\t do\t anything\t to win?\t You\t think\t your\t prince\t and\t captain\t are\t the\t only\t ones\t who\t know\t what\t you are?\u201d Celaena\tclenched\ther\thand.\tTwo\tblows,\tand\the\u2019d\tbe\ton\tthe\tground,\tstruggling to\tbreathe.\tAnother\tblow\tafter\tthat,\tand\tVerin\twould\tbe\tbeside\thim. \u201cLillian,\u201d\t Nehemia\t said\t in\t the\t common\t tongue,\t taking\t her\t by\t the\t hand.\t \u201cWe","have\tbusiness.\tLet\tus\tgo.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tright,\u201d\tCain\tsaid.\t\u201cFollow\ther\taround\tlike\tthe\tlapdog\tyou\tare.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t hand\t trembled.\t If\t she\t hit\t him\t .\t .\t .\t If\t she\t hit\t him,\t if\t she\t got\t into\t a brawl\t right\t here\t and\t the\t guards\t had\t to\t pull\t them\t apart,\t Chaol\t might\t not\t let\t her see\t Nehemia\t again,\t let\t alone\t leave\t her\t rooms\t after\t lessons,\t or\t stay\t late\t to practice\t with\t Nox.\t So\t Celaena\t smiled\t and\t rolled\t her\t shoulders\t as\t she\t said brightly:\t\u201cShove\tit\tup\tyour\tass,\tCain.\u201d Cain\t and\t Verin\t laughed,\t but\t she\t and\t Nehemia\t walked\t away,\t the\t princess holding\t her\t hand\t tightly.\t Not\t from\t fear\t or\t anger,\t but\t just\t to\t tell\t her\t that\t she understood\t.\t.\t.\tthat\tshe\twas\tthere.\tCelaena\tsqueezed\ther\thand\tback.\tIt\thad\tbeen\ta while\t since\t someone\t had\t looked\t out\t for\t her,\t and\t Celaena\t had\t the\t feeling\t she could\tget\tused\tto\tit. \u2022 Chaol\tstood\twith\tDorian\tin\tthe\tshadows\tatop\tthe\tmezzanine,\tstaring\tdown\tat\tthe assassin\t as\t she\t punched\t at\t the\t dummy\t situated\t in\t the\t center\t of\t the\t floor.\t She\u2019d sent\t him\t a\t message\t saying\t she\t was\t going\t to\t train\t for\t a\t few\t hours\t after\t dinner, and\the\u2019d\tinvited\tDorian\tto\tcome\talong\tto\twatch.\tPerhaps\tDorian\twould\tnow\tsee why\tshe\twas\tsuch\ta\tthreat\tto\thim.\tTo\teveryone. Celaena\tgrunted,\tthrowing\tpunch\tafter\tpunch,\tleft-right-left-left-right.\tOn\tand on,\tas\tif\tshe\thad\tsomething\tburning\tinside\tof\ther\tthat\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tquite\tget\tout. \u201cShe\t looks\t stronger\t than\t before,\u201d\t the\t prince\t said\t quietly.\t \u201cYou\u2019ve\t done\t a good\tjob\tgetting\ther\tback\tin\tshape.\u201d\tCelaena\tpunched\tand\tkicked\tat\tthe\tdummy, dodging\t invisible\t blows.\t The\t guards\t at\t the\t door\t just\t watched,\t their\t faces impassive.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tshe\tstands\ta\tchance\tagainst\tCain?\u201d Celaena\tswung\ther\tleg\tthrough\tthe\tair,\tconnecting\twith\tthe\tdummy\u2019s\thead.\tIt rocked\tback.\t The\t blow\t would\thave\t knocked\tout\t a\tman.\t \u201cI\tthink\t if\tshe\t doesn\u2019t get\t too\t riled\t and\t keeps\t a\t cool\t head\t when\t they\t duel,\t she\t might.\t But\t she\u2019s\t .\t .\t . wild.\t And\t unpredictable.\t She\t needs\t to\t learn\t to\t control\t her\t feelings\u2014especially that\timpossible\tanger.\u201d Which\t was\t true.\t Chaol\t didn\u2019t\t know\t if\t it\t was\t because\t of\t Endovier,\t or\t just being\t an\t assassin;\t whatever\t the\t cause\t of\t that\t unyielding\t rage,\t she\t could\t never entirely\tleash\therself. \u201cWho\u2019s\tthat?\u201d\tDorian\tasked\tsharply\tas\tNox\tentered\tthe\troom\tand\twalked\tover to\t Celaena.\t She\t paused,\t rubbing\t her\t wrapped\t knuckles,\t and\t wiped\t the\t sweat from\ther\teyes\tas\tshe\twaved\tto\thim. \u201cNox,\u201d\tChaol\tsaid.\t\u201cA\tthief\tfrom\tPerranth.\tMinister\tJoval\u2019s\tChampion.\u201d Nox\tsaid\tsomething\tto\tCelaena\tthat\tset\ther\tchuckling.\tNox\tlaughed,\ttoo.\t\u201cShe","made\tanother\tfriend?\u201d\tDorian\tsaid,\traising\this\tbrows\tas\tCelaena\tdemonstrated\ta move\tfor\tNox.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\thelping\thim?\u201d \u201cEvery\tday.\tThey\tusually\tstay\tafter\tlessons\twith\tthe\tothers\tare\tover.\u201d \u201cAnd\tyou\tallow\tthis?\u201d Chaol\t hid\t his\t glower\t at\t Dorian\u2019s\t tone.\t \u201cIf\t you\t want\t me\t to\t put\t an\t end\t to\t it,\t I will.\u201d Dorian\t watched\t them\t for\t another\t moment.\t \u201cNo.\t Let\t her\t train\t with\t him.\t The other\tChampions\tare\tbrutes\u2014she\tcould\tuse\tan\tally.\u201d \u201cThat\tshe\tcould.\u201d Dorian\t turned\t from\t the\t balcony\t and\t strode\t off\t into\t the\t darkness\t of\t the\t hall beyond.\tChaol\twatched\tthe\tprince\tdisappear,\this\tred\tcape\tbillowing\tbehind\thim, and\tsighed.\tHe\tknew\tjealousy\twhen\the\tsaw\tit,\tand\twhile\tDorian\twas\tclever,\the was\tjust\tas\tbad\t as\tCelaena\tat\thiding\t his\temotions.\tPerhaps\tbringing\tthe\tprince along\thad\tdone\tthe\topposite\tof\twhat\the\u2019d\tintended. His\t feet\t heavy,\t Chaol\t followed\t after\t the\t prince,\t hoping\t Dorian\t wasn\u2019t\t about to\tdrag\tthem\tall\tinto\tserious\ttrouble. \u2022 A\t few\t days\t later,\t Celaena\t turned\t the\t crisp\t yellow\t pages\t of\t a\t heavy\t tome, squirming\tin\ther\tseat.\tLike\tthe\tcountless\tothers\tshe\u2019d\ttried,\tit\twas\tjust\tpage\tafter page\t of\t scribbled\t nonsense.\t But\t it\t was\t worth\t researching,\t if\t there\t were Wyrdmarks\t at\t Xavier\u2019s\t crime\t scene\t and\t Wyrdmarks\t at\t the\t clock\t tower.\t The more\tshe\tknew\tabout\twhat\tthis\tkiller\twanted\u2014why\tand\thow\the\twas\tkilling\u2014the better.\t That\t was\t the\t real\t threat\t to\t be\t dealing\t with,\t not\t some\t mysterious, inexplicable\t evil\t Elena\t had\t mentioned.\t Of\t course,\t there\t was\t little\t to\t nothing\t to be\t found.\t Her\t eyes\t sore,\t the\t assassin\t looked\t up\t from\t the\t book\t and\t sighed.\t The library\t was\t gloomy,\t and\t were\t it\t not\t for\t the\t sound\t of\t Chaol\t flipping\t pages,\t it would\thave\tbeen\twholly\tsilent. \u201cDone?\u201d\t he\t asked,\t closing\t the\t novel\t he\t was\t reading.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t told\t him about\t Cain\t revealing\t that\t he\t knew\t who\t she\t really\t was,\t or\t the\t possible\t murder connection\t to\t the\t Wyrdmarks\u2014not\t yet.\t Inside\t the\t library,\t she\t didn\u2019t\t have\t to think\t about\t competitions\t and\t brutes.\t Here,\t she\t could\t savor\t the\t quiet\t and\t the calm. \u201cNo,\u201d\tshe\tgrumbled,\tdrumming\ther\tfingers\ton\tthe\ttable. \u201cThis\tis\tactually\thow\tyou\tspend\tyour\tspare\ttime?\u201d\tA\thint\tof\ta\tsmile\tappeared on\t his\t lips.\t \u201cYou\t should\t hope\t no\t one\t else\t hears\t about\t this\u2014it\t would\t ruin\t your reputation.\tNox\twould\tleave\tyou\tfor\tCain.\u201d\tHe\tchuckled\tto\thimself\tand\topened his\t book\t again,\t leaning\t back\t in\t his\t chair.\t She\t stared\t at\t him\t for\t a\t moment,","wondering\t if\t he\u2019d\t stop\t laughing\t at\t her\t if\t he\t knew\t what\t she\t was\t researching. How\tit\tmight\thelp\thim,\ttoo. Celaena\tstraightened\tin\ther\tchair,\trubbing\ta\tnasty\tbruise\ton\ther\tleg.\tNaturally, it\twas\tfrom\tan\tintentional\tblow\tof\tChaol\u2019s\twooden\tstaff.\tShe\tglared\tat\thim,\tbut he\tcontinued\treading. He\twas\tmerciless\tduring\ttheir\tlessons.\tHe\thad\ther\tdoing\tall\tsorts\tof\tactivities: walking\t on\t her\t hands,\t juggling\t blades\t .\t .\t .\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t anything\t new,\t but\t it\t was unpleasant.\tBut\this\ttemper\thad\timproved\tsomewhat.\tHe\tdid\tseem\ta\tbit\tsorry\tfor hitting\ther\tleg\tso\thard.\tCelaena\tsupposed\tshe\tliked\thim. The\tassassin\tslammed\tshut\tthe\ttome,\tdust\tflying\tinto\tthe\tair.\tIt\twas\tpointless. \u201cWhat?\u201d\the\tasked,\tstraightening. \u201cNothing,\u201d\tshe\tgrumbled. What\t were\t Wyrdmarks,\t and\t where\t did\t they\t come\t from?\t And\t more importantly,\t why\t had\t she\t never\t heard\t of\t them\t before?\t They\u2019d\t been\t all\t over Elena\u2019s\t tomb,\t too.\t An\t ancient\t religion\t from\t a\t forgotten\t time\u2014what\t were\t they doing\there?\tAnd\tat\tthe\tcrime\tscene!\tThere\thad\tto\tbe\ta\tconnection. So\tfar,\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tlearned\tmuch:\taccording\tto\tone\tbook,\tWyrdmarks\twere\tan alphabet.\t Though,\t according\t to\t this\t book,\t no\t grammar\t existed\t with\t the Wyrdmarks:\t everything\t was\t just\t symbols\t that\t one\t had\t to\t string\t together.\t And they\t changed\t meaning\t depending\t on\t the\t marks\t around\t them.\t They\t were painfully\t difficult\t to\t draw;\t they\t required\t precise\t lengths\t and\t angles,\t or\t they became\tsomething\telse\tentirely. \u201cStop\t glowering\t and\t sulking,\u201d\t Chaol\t chided.\t He\t looked\t at\t the\t title\t of\t the book.\t Neither\t of\t them\t had\t mentioned\t Xavier\u2019s\t murder,\t and\t she\u2019d\t gleaned\t no more\tinformation\tabout\tit.\t\u201cRemind\tme\twhat\tyou\u2019re\treading.\u201d \u201cNothing,\u201d\t she\t said\t again,\t covering\t the\t book\t with\t her\t arms.\t But\t his\t brown eyes\tnarrowed\tfarther,\tand\tshe\tsighed.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tjust\u2014just\tabout\tWyrdmarks\u2014those sundial-things\t by\t the\t clock\t tower.\t I\t was\t interested,\t so\t I\t started\t learning\t about them.\u201d\tA\thalf\ttruth,\tat\tleast. She\twaited\tfor\tthe\tsneer\tand\tsarcasm,\tbut\tit\tdidn\u2019t\tcome.\tHe\tonly\tsaid:\t\u201cAnd? Why\tthe\tfrustration?\u201d She\t looked\t at\t the\t ceiling,\t pouting.\t \u201cAll\t I\t can\t find\t is\t just\t .\t .\t .\t just\t radical\t and outlandish\ttheories.\tI\tnever\tknew\tany\tof\tthis!\tWhy?\tSome\tbooks\tclaim\tthe\tWyrd is\t the\t force\t that\t holds\t together\t and\t governs\t Erilea\u2014and\t not\t just\t Erilea! Countless\tother\tworlds,\ttoo.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\theard\tof\tit\tbefore,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tpicking\tup\this\tbook.\tBut\this\teyes\tremained fixed\t on\t her\t face.\t \u201cI\t always\t thought\t the\t Wyrd\t was\t an\t old\t term\t for\t Fate\u2014or Destiny.\u201d \u201cSo\tdid\tI.\tBut\tthe\tWyrd\tisn\u2019t\ta\treligion,\tat\tleast\tnot\tin\tthe\tnorthern\tparts\tof\tthe","continent,\tand\tit\u2019s\tnot\tincluded\tin\tthe\tworship\tof\tthe\tGoddess\tor\tthe\tgods.\u201d He\t set\t the\t book\t in\t his\t lap.\t \u201cIs\t there\t a\t point\t to\t this,\t beyond\t your\t obsession with\tthose\tmarks\tin\tthe\tgarden?\tAre\tyou\tthat\tbored?\u201d Worried\tfor\tmy\tsafety\tis\tmore\tlike\tit! \u201cNo.\tYes.\tIt\u2019s\tinteresting:\tsome\ttheories\tsuggest\tthe\tMother\tGoddess\tis\tjust\ta spirit\t from\t one\t of\t these\t other\t worlds,\t and\t that\t she\t strayed\t through\t something called\ta\tWyrdgate\tand\tfound\tErilea\tin\tneed\tof\tform\tand\tlife.\u201d \u201cThat\t sounds\t a\t little\t sacrilegious,\u201d\t he\t warned.\t He\t was\t old\t enough\t to\t more vividly\trecall\tthe\tburnings\tand\texecutions\tten\tyears\tago.\tWhat\thad\tit\tbeen\tlike\tto grow\t up\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t the\t king\t who\t had\t ordered\t so\t much\t destruction?\t To have\t lived\t here\t when\t royal\t families\t were\t slaughtered,\t when\t seers\t and\t magic- wielders\twere\tburned\talive,\tand\tthe\tworld\tfell\tinto\tdarkness\tand\tsorrow? But\t she\t went\t on,\t needing\t to\t dump\t the\t contents\t of\t her\t mind\t in\t case\t all\t the pieces\tsomehow\tassembled\tby\tspeaking\tthem\taloud.\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tan\tidea\tthat\tbefore the\t Goddess\t arrived,\t there\t was\t life\u2014an\t ancient\t civilization,\t but\t somehow,\t they disappeared.\tPerhaps\tthrough\tthat\tWyrdgate\tthing.\tRuins\texist\u2014ruins\ttoo\told\tto be\t of\t Fae\t making.\u201d\t How\t this\t connected\t to\t the\t Champion\t murders\t was\t beyond her.\tShe\twas\tdefinitely\tgrasping\tat\tstraws. He\t set\t his\t feet\t down\t and\t put\t the\t book\t on\t the\t table.\t \u201cCan\t I\t be\t honest\t with you?\u201d\t Chaol\t leaned\t closer,\t and\t Celaena\t leaned\t to\t meet\t him\t as\t he\t whispered: \u201cYou\tsound\tlike\ta\traving\tlunatic.\u201d Celaena\t made\t a\t disgusted\t noise\t and\t sat\t back,\t seething.\t \u201cSorry\t for\t having some\tinterest\tin\tthe\thistory\tof\tour\tworld!\u201d \u201cAs\t you\t said,\t these\t sound\t like\t radical\t and\t outlandish\t theories.\u201d\t He\t started reading\t once\t more,\t and\t said\t without\t looking\t at\t her,\t \u201cAgain:\t why\t the frustration?\u201d She\t rubbed\t her\t eyes.\t \u201cBecause,\u201d\t she\t said,\t almost\t whining.\t \u201cBecause\t I\t just want\t a\t straightforward\t answer\t to\t what\t the\t Wyrdmarks\t are,\t and\t why\t they\u2019re\t in the\tgarden\there,\tof\tall\tplaces.\u201d\tMagic\thad\tbeen\twiped\taway\ton\tthe\tking\u2019s\torders; so\t why\t had\t something\t like\t the\t Wyrdmarks\t been\t allowed\t to\t remain?\t To\t have them\tshow\tup\tat\tthe\tmurder\tscene\tmeant\tsomething. \u201cYou\tshould\tfind\tanother\tway\tto\toccupy\tyour\ttime,\u201d\the\tsaid,\treturning\tto\this book.\tUsually,\tguards\twatched\ther\tin\tthe\tlibrary\tfor\thours\ton\tend,\tday\tafter\tday. What\t was\t he\t doing\t here?\t She\t smiled\u2014her\t heart\t skipping\t a\t beat\u2014and\t then looked\tat\tthe\tbooks\ton\tthe\ttable. She\tran\tagain\tthrough\tthe\tinformation\tshe\u2019d\tgathered.\tThere\twas\talso\tthe\tidea of\t the\t Wyrdgates,\t which\t appeared\t numerous\t times\t alongside\t the\t mention\t of Wyrdmarks,\tbut\tshe\u2019d\tnever\theard\tof\tthem.\tWhen\tshe\u2019d\tfirst\tstumbled\tacross\tthe notion\t of\t Wyrdgates,\t days\t ago,\t it\t had\t seemed\t interesting,\t and\t so\t she\u2019d","researched,\t digging\t through\t piles\t of\t old\t parchment,\t only\t to\t find\t more\t puzzling theories. The\tgates\twere\tboth\treal\tand\tinvisible\tthings.\tHumans\tcould\tnot\tsee\tthem,\tbut they\tcould\tbe\tsummoned\tand\taccessed\tusing\tthe\tWyrdmarks.\tThey\topened\tinto other\trealms,\tsome\tof\tthem\tgood,\tsome\tof\tthem\tbad.\tThings\tcould\tcome\tthrough from\t the\t other\t side\t and\t slither\t into\t Erilea.\t It\t was\t due\t to\t this\t that\t many\t of\t the strange\tand\tfell\tcreatures\tof\tErilea\texisted. Celaena\tpulled\tanother\tbook\ttoward\ther\tand\tgrinned.\tIt\twas\tas\tif\tsomeone\thad read\t her\t mind.\t It\t was\t a\t large\t black\t volume\t entitled\t The\t Walking\t Dead\t in tarnished\t silver\t letters.\t Thankfully,\t the\t captain\t didn\u2019t\t see\t the\t title\t before\t she opened\tit.\tBut\t.\t.\t. She\t didn\u2019t\t remember\t selecting\t this\t from\t the\t shelves.\t It\t reeked,\t almost\t like soil,\t and\t Celaena\u2019s\t nose\t crinkled\t as\t she\t turned\t the\t pages.\t She\t scanned\t for\t any sign\t of\t the\t Wyrdmarks,\t or\t any\t mention\t of\t a\t Wyrdgate,\t but\t she\t soon\t found something\tfar\tmore\tinteresting. An\t illustration\t of\t a\t twisted,\t half-decayed\t face\t grinned\t at\t her,\t flesh\t falling from\t its\t bones.\t The\t air\t chilled,\t and\t Celaena\t rubbed\t her\t arms.\t Where\t had\t she found\t this?\t How\t had\t this\t escaped\t the\t burnings?\t How\t had\t any\t of\t these\t books escaped\tthe\tpurging\tfires\tten\tyears\tago? She\t shivered\t again,\t almost\t twitching.\t The\t hollow,\t mad\t eyes\t of\t the\t monster were\tfull\tof\tmalice.\tIt\tseemed\tto\tlook\tat\ther.\tShe\tclosed\tthe\tbook\tand\tpushed\tit to\t the\t end\t of\t the\t table.\t If\t the\t king\t knew\t this\t kind\t of\t book\t still\t existed\t in\t his library,\the\u2019d\thave\tit\tall\tdestroyed.\tUnlike\tthe\tGreat\tLibrary\tof\tOrynth,\there\tthere were\t no\t Master\t Scholars\t to\t protect\t the\t invaluable\t books.\t Chaol\t kept\t reading. Something\tgroaned,\tand\tCelaena\u2019s\thead\tswung\ttoward\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tlibrary.\tIt was\ta\tguttural\tnoise,\tan\tanimalistic\tnoise\u2014 \u201cDid\tyou\thear\tanything?\u201d\tshe\tasked. \u201cWhen\tdo\tyou\tplan\ton\tleaving?\u201d\twas\this\tonly\treply. \u201cWhen\tI\tgrow\ttired\tof\treading.\u201d\tShe\tpulled\tthe\tblack\tbook\tback\tto\ther,\tleafed past\t the\t terrifying\t portrait\t of\t the\t dead\t thing,\t and\t drew\t the\t candle\t closer\t to\t read the\tdescriptions\tof\tvarious\tmonsters. There\twas\ta\tscraping\tnoise\tsomewhere\tbeneath\ther\tfeet\u2014close,\tas\tif\tsomeone were\t running\t a\t fingernail\t along\t the\t ceiling\t below.\t Celaena\t slammed\t the\t book shut\tand\tstepped\taway\tfrom\tthe\ttable.\tThe\thair\ton\ther\tarms\trose,\tand\tshe\talmost stumbled\t into\t the\t nearest\t table\t as\t she\t waited\t for\t something\u2014a\t hand;\t a\t wing;\t a gaping,\tfanged\tmouth\u2014to\tappear\tand\tgrab\ther. \u201cDo\t you\t feel\t that?\u201d\t she\t asked\t Chaol,\t who\t slowly,\t maliciously\t grinned.\t He held\tout\this\tdagger\tand\tdragged\tit\ton\tthe\tmarble\tfloor,\tcreating\tthe\texact\tsound and\tfeeling.","\u201cDamned\tidiot,\u201d\tshe\tsnarled.\tShe\tgrabbed\ttwo\theavy\tbooks\tfrom\tthe\ttable\tand stalked\tfrom\tthe\tlibrary,\tmaking\tsure\tto\tleave\tThe\tWalking\tDead\tfar\tbehind.","Chapter\t28 Brows\t narrowed,\t Celaena\t aimed\t the\t cue\t at\t the\t white\t ball.\t The\t pole\t slid\t easily between\ther\tfingers\tas\tshe\tsteadied\ther\thand\ton\tthe\tfelt\tsurface\tof\tthe\ttable.\tWith an\t awkward\t lurch\t of\t her\t arm,\t she\t jabbed\t the\t rod\t forward.\t She\t missed completely. Cursing,\tCelaena\ttried\tagain.\tShe\thit\tthe\tcue\tball\tin\tsuch\ta\tway\tthat\tit\tgave\ta pathetic\t half\t roll\t to\t the\t side,\t gently\t knocking\t into\t a\t colored\t ball\t with\t a\t faint click.\tWell,\tat\tleast\tshe\u2019d\thit\tsomething.\tIt\twas\tmore\tsuccessful\tthan\ther\tresearch on\tthe\tWyrdmarks\thad\tbeen. It\twas\tpast\tten,\tand,\tin\tneed\tof\ta\tbreak\tfrom\thours\tof\ttraining\tand\tresearching and\t fretting\t about\t Cain\t and\t Elena,\t she\u2019d\t come\t into\t the\t gaming\t room.\t She\t was too\ttired\tfor\tmusic,\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tplay\tcards\talone,\tand\u2014well,\tbilliards\tseemed\tto be\t the\t only\t plausible\t activity.\t She\u2019d\t picked\t up\t the\t cue\t with\t high\t hopes\t that\t the game\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\ttoo\tdifficult\tto\tlearn. The\t assassin\t pivoted\t around\t the\t table\t and\t took\t aim\t again.\t She\t missed. Gritting\t her\t teeth,\t she\t considered\t snapping\t the\t cue\t in\t half\t across\t her\t knee.\t But she\u2019d\tbeen\tattempting\tto\tplay\tfor\tonly\tan\thour.\tShe\u2019d\tbe\tincredible\tby\tmidnight! She\u2019d\tmaster\tthis\tridiculous\tgame\tor\tshe\u2019d\tturn\tthe\ttable\tinto\tfirewood.\tAnd\tuse it\tto\tburn\tCain\talive. Celaena\tjabbed\tthe\tcue,\tand\thit\tthe\tball\twith\tsuch\tforce\tthat\tit\tzoomed\ttoward the\t back\t wall\t of\t the\t table,\t knocking\t three\t colored\t balls\t out\t of\t its\t way\t before\t it collided\twith\tthe\tnumber\tthree\tball,\tsending\tit\tshooting\tstraight\tfor\ta\thole. It\tstopped\trolling\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tpocket. A\t shriek\t of\t rage\t ripped\t from\t her\t throat,\t and\t Celaena\t ran\t over\t to\t the\t pocket. She\tfirst\tscreamed\tat\tthe\tball,\tthen\ttook\tthe\tcue\tin\ther\thands\tand\tbit\tdown\tupon the\tshaft,\tstill\tscreaming\tthrough\ther\tclamped\tteeth.\tFinally\tthe\tassassin\tstopped and\tslapped\tthe\tthree\tball\tinto\tthe\tpocket. \u2022 \u201cFor\t the\t world\u2019s\t greatest\t assassin,\t this\t is\t pathetic,\u201d\t said\t Dorian,\t stepping\t from the\tdoorway. She\t yelped\t and\t swung\t toward\t him.\t She\t wore\t a\t tunic\t and\t pants,\t and\t her\t hair was\tunbound.\tHe\tleaned\tagainst\tthe\ttable,\tsmiling\tas\tshe\tturned\ta\tdeep\tshade\tof red.\t\u201cIf\tyou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tinsult\tme,\tyou\tcan\tshove\tthis\u2014\u201d\tShe\tlifted\tthe\tcue\tin\tthe air\tand\tmade\tan\tobscene\tgesture\tthat\tfinished\ther\tsentence. He\trolled\this\tsleeves\tbefore\tpicking\tup\ta\tcue\tfrom\tthe\track\ton\tthe\twall.\t\u201cAre","you\t planning\t on\t biting\t the\t cue\t again?\t Because\t if\t you\t are,\t I\u2019d\t like\t to\t invite\t the court\tpainter\tso\tI\tcan\tforever\tremember\tthe\tsight.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tdare\tmock\tme!\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tbe\tso\tserious.\u201d\tHe\taimed\tat\tthe\tball\tand\tsent\tit\tgracefully\tinto\ta\tgreen one,\twhich\tdropped\tinto\ta\tpocket.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\timmensely\tentertaining\twhen\tyou\u2019re hopping\tmad.\u201d To\t his\t surprise\t and\t delight,\t she\t laughed.\t \u201cFunny\t to\t you,\u201d\t she\t said, \u201cinfuriating\tfor\tme.\u201d\tShe\tmoved\tand\ttook\tanother\tshot.\tAnd\tmissed. \u201cLet\tme\tshow\tyou\thow\tto\tdo\tit.\u201d\tHe\tstrode\tover\tto\twhere\tshe\tstood\tand\tset\this stick\t down,\t taking\t hers\t in\t his\t hand.\t Nudging\t her\t out\t of\t the\t way,\t his\t heart beating\t a\t bit\t faster,\t he\t positioned\t himself\t where\t she\t stood.\t \u201cYou\t see\t how\t my thumb\t and\t index\t finger\t are\t always\t holding\t the\t upper\t end\t of\t the\t cue?\t All\t you have\tto\tdo\tis\u2014\u201d She\t knocked\t him\t out\t of\t the\t way\t with\t a\t swish\t of\t her\t hips\t and\t took\t the\t rod from\t him.\t \u201cI\t know\t how\t to\t hold\t it,\t you\t buffoon.\u201d\t She\t tried\t to\t hit\t the\t ball\t and missed\tyet\tagain. \u201cYou\u2019re\tnot\tmoving\tyour\tbody\tthe\tcorrect\tway.\tHere,\tjust\tlet\tme\tshow\tyou.\u201d Though\t it\t was\t the\t oldest\t and\t most\t shameless\t trick\t in\t the\t book,\t he\t reached over\t her\t and\t put\t his\t hand\t on\t top\t of\t the\t one\t that\t gripped\t the\t cue.\t He\t then positioned\tthe\tfingers\tof\ther\tother\thand\ton\tthe\twood\tbefore\tlightly\tgripping\ther wrist.\tTo\tDorian\u2019s\tdismay,\this\tface\tbecame\twarm. His\teyes\tshifted\tto\ther,\tand,\tto\this\trelief,\the\tfound\tthat\tshe\twas\tas\tred\tas\the,\tif not\tmore\tso. \u201cIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tstop\tfeeling\tand\tstart\tinstructing,\tI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\trip\tout\tyour\teyes and\treplace\tthem\twith\tthese\tbilliard\tballs.\u201d \u201cLook,\tall\tyou\thave\tto\tdo\tis\t.\t.\t.\u201d\tHe\twalked\ther\tthrough\tthe\tsteps,\tand\tshe\thit the\t ball\t smoothly.\t It\t went\t into\t a\t corner\t and\t rebounded\t into\t a\t pocket.\t He removed\t himself\t from\t her\t and\t smirked.\t \u201cSee?\t If\t you\t do\t it\t properly,\t it\u2019ll\t work. Try\tagain.\u201d\tHe\tpicked\tup\this\tcue.\tShe\tsnorted,\tbut\tstill\tpositioned\therself,\taimed, and\t hit\t it.\t The\t cue\t ball\t shot\t all\t around\t the\t table,\t creating\t general\t chaos.\t But\t at least\tshe\tmade\tcontact. He\tgrabbed\tthe\ttriangle\tand\theld\tit\tin\tthe\tair.\t\u201cCare\tfor\ta\tgame?\u201d \u2022 The\tclock\tstruck\ttwo\tbefore\tthey\tstopped.\tHe\thad\tordered\tan\tarray\tof\tdesserts\tto be\t brought\t in\t the\t midst\t of\t their\t playing,\t and\t though\t she\t protested,\t she\t gobbled down\ta\tlarge\tpiece\tof\tchocolate\tcake\tand\tthen\tate\thalf\tof\this\tpiece,\ttoo. He\t won\t every\t game,\t yet\t she\t hardly\t noticed.\t As\t long\t as\t she\t hit\t the\t ball,\t it","resulted\t in\t shameless\t bragging.\t When\t she\t missed\u2014well,\t even\t the\t fires\t of\t Hell couldn\u2019t\tcompare\tto\tthe\trage\tthat\tburst\tfrom\ther\tmouth.\tHe\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\ta time\twhen\the\u2019d\tlaughed\tso\thard. When\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tcursing\tand\tsputtering,\tthey\tspoke\tof\tthe\tbooks\tthey\u2019d\tboth read,\t and\t as\t she\t jabbered\t on\t and\t on,\t he\t felt\t as\t if\t she\t hadn\u2019t\t spoken\t a\t word\t in years\tand\twas\tafraid\tshe\u2019d\tsuddenly\tgo\tmute\tagain.\tShe\twas\tfrighteningly\tsmart. She\t understood\t him\t when\t he\t spoke\t of\t history,\t or\t of\t politics\u2014though\t she claimed\tto\tloathe\tthe\tsubject\u2014and\teven\thad\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tto\tsay\tabout\tthe\ttheater. He\tsomehow\twound\tup\tpromising\tto\ttake\ther\tto\ta\tplay\tafter\tthe\tcompetition.\tAn awkward\tsilence\tarose\tat\tthat,\tbut\tit\tquickly\tpassed. Dorian\t was\t slumped\t in\t an\t armchair,\t resting\t his\t head\t on\t a\t hand.\t She\t lay sprawled\tacross\tthe\tchair\tfacing\this,\ther\tlegs\tdangling\toff\tan\tarm.\tShe\tstared\tat the\tfire,\ther\teyelids\thalf-closed.\t\u201cWhat\tare\tyou\tthinking?\u201d\the\tasked. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tShe\tlet\ther\thead\tdrop\tonto\tthe\tarm\tof\tthe\tchair.\t\u201cDo you\tthink\tXavier\tand\tthe\tother\tChampion\tmurders\twere\tintentional?\u201d \u201cPerhaps.\tDoes\tit\tmake\ta\tdifference?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\tShe\tlazily\twaved\ther\thand\tin\tthe\tair.\t\u201cNever\tmind.\u201d Before\the\tcould\task\tmore,\tshe\tfell\tasleep. He\t wished\t he\t knew\t more\t about\t her\t past.\t Chaol\t had\t only\t told\t him\t that\t she came\t from\t Terrasen,\t and\t that\t her\t family\t was\t dead.\t He\t hadn\u2019t\t the\t faintest\t clue what\ther\tlife\twas\tlike,\thow\tshe\tbecame\tan\tassassin,\thow\tshe\tlearned\tto\tplay\tthe pianoforte\t.\t.\t.\tIt\twas\tall\ta\tmystery. He\t wanted\t to\t know\t everything\t about\t her.\t He\t wished\t she\u2019d\t just\t tell\t him. Dorian\tstood\tand\tstretched.\tHe\tplaced\ttheir\tcues\ton\tthe\track,\tarranged\tthe\tballs, and\treturned\tto\tthe\tslumbering\tassassin.\tHe\tshook\ther\tgently,\tand\tshe\tgroaned\tin protest.\t\u201cYou\tmay\twant\tto\tsleep\tthere,\tbut\tyou\u2019ll\tsorely\tregret\tit\tin\tthe\tmorning.\u201d Barely\topening\ther\teyes,\tshe\tstood\tand\tshuffled\tto\tthe\tdoor.\tWhen\tshe\tnearly walked\t into\t the\t doorpost,\t he\t decided\t that\t a\t guiding\t arm\t was\t needed\t before\t she broke\tsomething.\tTrying\tnot\tto\tthink\tof\tthe\twarmth\tof\ther\tskin\tbeneath\this\thand, he\t directed\t her\t to\t her\t bedroom\t and\t watched\t her\t stagger\t into\t bed,\t where\t she collapsed\ton\ttop\tof\tthe\tblankets. \u201cYour\t books\t are\t there,\u201d\t she\t mumbled,\t pointing\t at\t a\t stack\t by\t her\t bed.\t He slowly\tentered\tthe\tchamber.\tShe\tlay\tstill,\ther\teyes\tclosed.\tThree\tcandles\tburned on\tvarious\tsurfaces.\tWith\ta\tsigh,\the\tmoved\tto\tblow\tthem\tout\tbefore\tapproaching her\tbed.\tWas\tshe\tsleeping? \u201cGood\tnight,\tCelaena,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tIt\twas\tthe\tfirst\ttime\the\u2019d\taddressed\ther\tby\ther name.\t It\t came\t off\t his\t tongue\t nicely.\t She\t mumbled\t something\t that\t sounded\t like \u201cnahnuh,\u201d\t and\t did\t not\t move.\t A\t curious\t necklace\t glittered\t in\t the\t hollow\t of\t her throat.\t He\t felt\t as\t if\t it\t were\t familiar\t somehow,\t like\t he\u2019d\t seen\t it\t before.\t With\t a","final\tglance,\the\tpicked\tup\tthe\tstack\tof\tbooks\tand\tleft\tthe\troom. If\tshe\tbecame\this\tfather\u2019s\tChampion,\tand\tlater\tgained\ther\tfreedom,\twould\tshe remain\t the\t same?\t Or\t was\t this\t all\t a\t facade\t to\t get\t what\t she\t wanted?\t But\t he couldn\u2019t\t imagine\t that\t she\t was\t pretending.\t Didn\u2019t\t want\t to\t imagine\t that\t she\t was pretending. The\tcastle\twas\tsilent\tand\tdark\tas\the\twalked\tback\tto\this\troom.","Chapter\t29 At\ttheir\tTest\tthe\tnext\tafternoon,\tCelaena\tstood\tin\tthe\ttraining\thall\twith\ther\tarms crossed,\t watching\t Cain\t spar\t with\t Grave.\t Cain\t knew\t who\t she\t was;\t all\t of\t her simpering\tand\tpretending\tand\tholding\tback\thad\tbeen\tfor\tnothing.\tIt\thad\tamused him. She\tclenched\ther\tjaw\tas\tCain\tand\tGrave\tflew\tacross\tthe\tsparring\tring,\tswords clanging.\t The\t Test\t was\t fairly\t simple:\t they\t were\t each\t given\t a\t sparring\t partner, and\t if\t they\t won\t their\t duel,\t they\t needn\u2019t\t worry\t about\t being\t eliminated.\t The losers,\t however,\t would\t face\t judgment\t by\t Brullo.\t Whoever\t had\t performed\t the worst\twould\tbe\tsent\tpacking. To\this\tcredit,\tGrave\theld\tup\twell\tagainst\tCain,\teven\tthough\tshe\tsaw\thow\this knees\ttrembled\tfrom\tthe\teffort.\tNox,\tstanding\tbeside\ther,\thissed\tas\tCain\tshoved into\tGrave\tand\tsent\thim\tstaggering\tback. Cain\tsmiled\tthroughout\tthe\tentire\tthing,\tbarely\tpanting.\tCelaena\tclenched\ther hands\tinto\tfists,\tpushing\tthem\thard\tagainst\ther\tribs.\tIn\ta\tflash\tof\tsteel,\tCain\thad his\t blade\t at\t Grave\u2019s\t throat,\t and\t the\t pockmarked\t assassin\t bared\t his\t rotting\t teeth at\thim.\t\u201cExcellent,\tCain,\u201d\tBrullo\tsaid,\tclapping.\tCelaena\tstruggled\tto\tcontrol\ther breathing. \u201cLook\tout,\tCain,\u201d\tVerin\tsaid\tfrom\tbeside\ther.\tThe\tcurly-headed\tthief\tgrinned at\t her.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t thrilled\t when\t it\t had\t been\t announced\t she\t was\t to\t spar against\tVerin.\tBut\tat\tleast\tit\twasn\u2019t\tNox.\t\u201cLittle\tlady\twants\ta\tpiece\tof\tyou.\u201d \u201cWatch\tyourself,\tVerin,\u201d\tNox\twarned,\this\tgray\teyes\tburning. \u201cWhat?\u201d\t Verin\t said.\t Now\t the\t other\t Champions\u2014and\t everyone\t else\u2014were turning\t to\t them.\t Pelor,\t who\t had\t been\t lingering\t nearby,\t retreated\t a\t few\t steps. Smart\tmove.\t\u201cDefending\ther,\tare\tyou?\u201d\tVerin\ttaunted.\t\u201cIs\tthat\tthe\tbargain?\tShe opens\ther\tlegs,\tand\tyou\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\ther\tduring\tpractice?\u201d \u201cShut\t your\t mouth,\t you\t damned\t pig,\u201d\t Celaena\t snapped.\t Chaol\t and\t Dorian pushed\t off\t from\t where\t they\t both\t leaned\t against\t the\t wall,\t coming\t closer\t to\t the ring. \u201cOr\t what?\u201d\t Verin\t said,\t nearing\t her.\t Nox\t stiffened,\t his\t hand\t drifting\t to\t his sword. But\tCelaena\trefused\tto\tback\tdown.\t\u201cOr\tI\u2019ll\trip\tout\tyour\ttongue.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tenough!\u201d\tBrullo\tbarked.\t\u201cTake\tit\tout\tin\tthe\tring.\tVerin.\tLillian.\tNow.\u201d Verin\t gave\t her\t a\t snakelike\t smile,\t and\t Cain\t clapped\t him\t on\t the\t back\t as\t he entered\tthe\tchalk-etched\tcircle,\tdrawing\this\tsword. Nox\t put\t a\t hand\t on\t her\t shoulder,\t and\t out\t of\t the\t corner\t of\t her\t eye,\t she\t spied Chaol\tand\tDorian\twatching\tthem\tclosely.\tShe\tignored\tthem.","It\twas\tenough.\tEnough\tof\tthe\tpretending\tand\tthe\tmeekness.\tEnough\tof\tCain. Verin\t raised\t his\t sword,\t shaking\t his\t blond\t curls\t out\t of\t his\t eyes.\t \u201cLet\u2019s\t see what\tyou\u2019ve\tgot.\u201d She\tstalked\ttoward\thim,\tkeeping\ther\tsword\tsheathed\tat\ther\tside.\tVerin\u2019s\tgrin widened\tas\the\tlifted\this\tblade. He\t swung,\t but\t Celaena\t struck,\t ramming\t her\t fist\t into\t his\t arm,\t sending\t the blade\t soaring\t through\t the\t air.\t In\t the\t same\t breath,\t her\t palm\t hit\t his\t left\t arm, knocking\tit\taside,\ttoo.\tAs\the\tstaggered\tback,\ther\tleg\tcame\tup,\tand\tVerin\u2019s\teyes bulged\t as\t her\t foot\t slammed\t into\t his\t chest.\t The\t kick\t sent\t him\t flying,\t and\t his body\t crunched\t as\t it\t hit\t the\t floor\t and\t slid\t out\t of\t the\t ring,\t instantly\t eliminating him.\tThe\thall\twas\tutterly\tsilent. \u201cMock\tme\tagain,\u201d\tshe\tspat\tat\tVerin,\t\u201cand\tI\u2019ll\tdo\tthat\twith\tmy\tsword\tthe\tnext time.\u201d\tShe\tturned\tfrom\thim,\tand\tfound\tBrullo\u2019s\tface\tslack.\t\u201cHere\u2019s\ta\tlesson\tfor you,\tWeapons\tMaster,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tstalking\tpast\thim.\t\u201cGive\tme\treal\tmen\tto\tfight. Then\tmaybe\tI\u2019ll\tbother\ttrying.\u201d She\tstrode\taway,\tpast\tthe\tgrinning\tNox,\tand\tstopped\tbefore\tCain.\tShe\tstared up\tat\this\tface\u2014a\tface\tthat\tmight\thave\tbeen\thandsome\thad\the\tnot\tbeen\ta\tbastard \u2014and\tsmiled\twith\tsweet\tvenom.\t\u201cHere\tI\tam,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tsquaring\ther\tshoulders. \u201cJust\ta\tlittle\tlapdog.\u201d Cain\u2019s\tblack\teyes\tgleamed.\t\u201cAll\tI\thear\tis\tyapping.\u201d Her\thand\titched\ttoward\ther\tsword,\tbut\tshe\tkept\tit\tat\ther\tside.\t\u201cLet\u2019s\tsee\tif\tyou still\t hear\t yapping\t when\t I\t win\t this\t competition.\u201d\t Before\t he\t could\t say\t more,\t she stalked\tto\tthe\twater\ttable. Only\t Nox\t dared\t speak\t to\t her\t after\t that.\t Surprisingly,\t Chaol\t didn\u2019t\t reprimand her,\teither. \u2022 When\t she\t was\t safely\t back\t in\t her\t rooms\t after\t the\t Test,\t Celaena\t watched\t the snowflakes\t drift\t from\t the\t hills\t beyond\t Rifthold.\t They\t swept\t toward\t her, harbingers\t of\t the\t storm\t that\t was\t to\t come.\t The\t late\t afternoon\t sun,\t trapped beneath\t a\t wall\t of\t pewter,\t stained\t the\t clouds\t a\t yellowish\t gray,\t making\t the\t sky unusually\t bright.\t It\t felt\t surreal,\t as\t if\t the\t horizon\t had\t disappeared\t beyond\t the hills.\tShe\twas\tstranded\tin\ta\tworld\tof\tglass. Celaena\t left\t the\t window,\t but\t stopped\t before\t the\t tapestry\t and\t its\t depiction\t of Queen\t Elena.\t She\t had\t often\t wished\t for\t adventure,\t for\t old\t spells\t and\t wicked kings.\tBut\tshe\thadn\u2019t\trealized\tit\twould\tbe\tlike\tthis\u2014a\tfight\tfor\ther\tfreedom.\tAnd she\u2019d\talways\timagined\tthat\tthere\u2019d\tbe\tsomeone\tto\thelp\ther\u2014a\tloyal\tfriend\tor\ta one-armed\tsoldier\tor\tsomething.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\timagined\tshe\twould\tbe\tso\t.\t.\t.\talone.","She\t wished\t Sam\t were\t with\t her.\t He\u2019d\t always\t known\t what\t to\t do,\t always\t had her\tback,\twhether\tshe\twanted\thim\tto\tor\tnot.\tShe\twould\tgive\tanything\u2014anything in\tthe\tworld\u2014to\thave\thim\tstill\twith\ther. Her\teyes\tburned,\tand\tCelaena\tput\ta\thand\tto\tthe\tamulet.\tThe\tmetal\twas\twarm beneath\t her\t fingers\u2014comforting,\t somehow.\t She\t took\t a\t step\t back\t from\t the tapestry\tto\tbetter\tstudy\tthe\tentire\tscope\tof\tit. In\t the\t center\t stood\t a\t stag,\t magnificent\t and\t virile,\t gazing\t sideways\t at\t Elena. The\t symbol\t of\t the\t royal\t house\t of\t Terrasen,\t of\t the\t kingdom\t that\t Brannon, Elena\u2019s\tfather,\thad\tfounded.\tA\treminder\tthat\tthough\tElena\thad\tbecome\tQueen\tof Adarlan,\t she\t still\t belonged\t to\t Terrasen.\t Like\t Celaena,\t no\t matter\t where\t Elena went,\tno\tmatter\thow\tfar,\tTerrasen\twould\talways\town\ta\tpart\tof\ther. Celaena\tlistened\tto\tthe\twind\thowl.\tWith\ta\tsigh,\tshe\tshook\ther\thead\tand\tturned away. Find\tthe\tevil\tin\tthe\tcastle\t.\t.\t.\tBut\tthe\tonly\ttruly\tevil\tthing\tin\tthis\tworld\tis\tthe man\truling\tit. \u2022 Across\t the\t castle,\t Kaltain\t Rompier\t clapped\t lightly\t as\t a\t troupe\t of\t acrobats finished\t their\t tumbling.\t The\t performance\t had\t stopped\t at\t last.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t feel inclined\tto\twatch\tpeasants\tbouncing\tabout\tin\tbright\tcolors\tfor\thours,\tbut\tQueen Georgina\tenjoyed\tit,\tand\thad\tinvited\ther\tto\tsit\tbeside\tthe\tthrone\ttoday.\tIt\twas\tan honor,\tand\thad\tbeen\tarranged\tthrough\tPerrington. Perrington\t wanted\t her;\t she\t knew\t it.\t And\t if\t she\t pushed,\t she\t could\t easily\t get him\t to\t offer\t to\t make\t her\t his\t duchess.\t But\t duchess\t wasn\u2019t\t enough\u2014not\t when Dorian\twas\tstill\tunmarried.\tHer\thead\thad\tbeen\tpounding\tfor\tthe\tpast\tweek,\tand today\t it\t seemed\t to\t throb\t with\t the\t words:\t Not\t enough.\t Not\t enough.\t Not\t enough. Even\t in\t her\t sleep,\t the\t pain\t seeped\t in,\t warping\t her\t dreams\t into\t nightmares\t so vivid\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tremember\twhere\tshe\twas\twhen\tshe\tawoke. \u201cHow\t delightful,\t Your\t Majesty,\u201d\t Kaltain\t said\t as\t the\t acrobats\t gathered\t their things. \u201cYes,\tthey\twere\trather\texciting,\tweren\u2019t\tthey?\u201d\tThe\tqueen\u2019s\tgreen\teyes\twere bright,\tand\tshe\tsmiled\tat\tKaltain.\tJust\tthen\tKaltain\u2019s\thead\tgave\ta\tbolt\tof\tpain\tso strong\t she\t clenched\t her\t fists,\t hiding\t them\t in\t the\t folds\t of\t her\t tangerine-colored gown. \u201cI\t do\t wish\t Prince\t Dorian\t could\t have\t seen\t them,\u201d\t Kaltain\t got\t out.\t \u201cHis Highness\t told\t me\t only\t yesterday\t how\t much\t he\t enjoyed\t coming\t here.\u201d\t The\t lie was\teasy\tenough,\tand\tit\tsomehow\tmade\tthe\tpain\tof\tthe\theadache\tease. \u201cDorian\tsaid\tthat?\u201d\tQueen\tGeorgina\traised\tan\tauburn\teyebrow.","\u201cDoes\tthat\tsurprise\tYour\tMajesty?\u201d The\tqueen\tput\ta\thand\tto\ther\tchest.\t\u201cI\tthought\tmy\tson\thad\ta\tdistaste\tfor\tsuch things.\u201d \u201cYour\tMajesty,\u201d\tshe\twhispered,\t\u201cwill\tyou\tswear\tnot\tto\tsay\ta\tword?\u201d \u201cA\tword\tabout\twhat?\u201d\tthe\tqueen\twhispered\tback. \u201cWell,\tPrince\tDorian\ttold\tme\tsomething.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\the\tsay?\u201d\tThe\tqueen\ttouched\tKaltain\u2019s\tarm. \u201cHe\t said\t that\t the\t reason\t he\t doesn\u2019t\t come\t to\t court\t so\t often\t is\t because\t he\u2019s rather\tshy.\u201d The\t queen\t withdrew,\t the\t light\t in\t her\t eyes\t fading.\t \u201cOh,\t he\u2019s\t told\t me\t that\t a hundred\t times.\t I\t was\t so\t hoping\t you\u2019d\t tell\t me\t something\t interesting,\t Lady Kaltain.\tLike\tif\the\u2019s\tfound\ta\tyoung\twoman\the\tfavors.\u201d Kaltain\u2019s\tface\twarmed,\tand\ther\thead\tpounded\tmercilessly.\tShe\twished\tfor\ther pipe,\tbut\thours\tremained\tof\tthis\tcourt\tsession,\tand\tit\twouldn\u2019t\tbe\tproper\tto\tleave until\tGeorgina\tdeparted. \u201cI\theard,\u201d\tsaid\tthe\tqueen\tunder\ther\tbreath,\t\u201cthat\tthere\u2019s\ta\tyoung\tlady,\tbut\tno one\tknows\twho!\tOr\tat\tleast\twhen\tthey\thear\ther\tname,\tit\u2019s\tnothing\tfamiliar.\tDo you\tknow\ther?\u201d \u201cNo,\tYour\tMajesty.\u201d\tKaltain\tfought\tto\tkeep\tthe\tfrustration\tfrom\ther\tface. \u201cWhat\t a\t pity.\t I\t had\t hoped\t that\t you\t of\t all\t people\t would\t know.\t You\u2019re\t such\t a clever\tgirl,\tKaltain.\u201d \u201cThank\tyou,\tYour\tMajesty.\tYou\tare\ttoo\tkind.\u201d \u201cNonsense.\tI\u2019m\tan\texcellent\tjudge\tof\tcharacter;\tI\tknew\thow\textraordinary\tyou were\t the\t moment\t you\t entered\t the\t court.\t Only\t you\t are\t suitable\t for\t a\t man\t of Perrington\u2019s\tprowess.\tWhat\ta\tpity\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tmeet\tmy\tDorian\tfirst!\u201d Not\t enough,\t not\t enough,\t the\t pain\t sang.\t This\t was\t her\t time.\t \u201cEven\t if\t I\t had,\u201d Kaltain\t chuckled,\t \u201cYour\t Majesty\t surely\t would\t not\t have\t approved\u2014I\u2019m\t far\t too lowly\tfor\tthe\tattentions\tof\tyour\tson.\u201d \u201cYour\tbeauty\tand\twealth\tcompensate\tfor\tit.\u201d \u201cThank\tyou,\tYour\tMajesty.\u201d\tKaltain\u2019s\theart\tpounded\tquickly. If\t the\t queen\t approved\t of\t her\t .\t .\t .\t Kaltain\t could\t scarcely\t think\t as\t the\t queen nestled\tinto\ther\tthrone,\tthen\tclapped\ther\thands\ttwice.\tThe\tmusic\tbegan.\tKaltain didn\u2019t\thear\tit. Perrington\thad\tgiven\ther\tthe\tshoes.\tNow\twas\ther\ttime\tto\tdance.","Chapter\t30 \u201cYou\u2019re\tnot\tfocusing.\u201d \u201cYes,\tI\tam!\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tthrough\ther\tteeth,\tpulling\tthe\tbowstring\tback\teven farther. \u201cThen\tgo\tahead,\u201d\tChaol\tsaid,\tpointing\tto\ta\tdistant\ttarget\talong\tthe\tfar\twall\tof the\t abandoned\t hallway.\t An\t outrageous\t distance\t for\t anyone\u2014except\t her.\t \u201cLet\u2019s see\tyou\tmake\tthat.\u201d She\trolled\ther\teyes\tand\tstraightened\ther\tspine\ta\tbit.\tThe\tbowstring\tquivered\tin her\thand,\tand\tshe\tlifted\tthe\ttip\tof\ther\tarrow\tslightly. \u201cYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thit\tthe\tleft\twall,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tcrossing\this\tarms. \u201cI\u2019m\tgoing\tto\thit\tyou\tin\tthe\thead\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tshut\tup.\u201d\tShe\tturned\ther\thead\tto meet\t his\t gaze.\t His\t brows\t rose,\t and,\t still\t staring\t at\t him,\t she\t smiled\t wickedly\t as she\tblindly\tfired\tthe\tarrow. The\t whiz\t of\t the\t arrow\u2019s\t flight\t filled\t the\t stone\t hallway\t before\t the\t faint,\t dull thud\t of\t impact.\t But\t they\t remained\t gazing\t at\t each\t other.\t His\t eyes\t were\t slightly purple\tbeneath\u2014hadn\u2019t\the\tgotten\tany\tsleep\tin\tthe\tthree\tweeks\tsince\tXavier\thad died? She\t certainly\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t sleeping\t well,\t either.\t Every\t noise\t woke\t her,\t and Chaol\thadn\u2019t\tyet\tdiscovered\twho\tmight\tbe\ttargeting\tthe\tChampions\tone\tby\tone. The\twho\tdidn\u2019t\tmatter\tas\tmuch\tto\ther\tas\tthe\thow\u2014how\twas\tthe\tkiller\tselecting them?\tThere\twas\tno\tpattern;\tfive\twere\tdead,\tand\tthey\thad\tno\tconnection\tto\teach other,\t aside\t from\t the\t competition.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t able\t to\t see\t another\t crime scene\t to\t determine\t if\t Wyrdmarks\t had\t been\t painted\t in\t blood\t there\t as\t well. Celaena\tsighed,\trolling\ther\tshoulders.\t\u201cCain\tknows\twho\tI\tam,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tquietly, lowering\ther\tbow. His\tface\tremained\tblank.\t\u201cHow?\u201d \u201cPerrington\ttold\thim.\tAnd\tCain\ttold\tme.\u201d \u201cWhen?\u201d\tShe\u2019d\tnever\tseen\thim\tlook\tso\tserious.\tIt\tmade\tsomething\twithin\ther strain. \u201cA\t few\t days\t ago,\u201d\t she\t lied.\t It\t had\t been\t weeks\t since\t their\t confrontation.\t \u201cI was\t in\t the\t garden\t with\t Nehemia\u2014with\t my\t guards,\t don\u2019t\t worry\u2014and\t he approached\tus.\tHe\tknows\tall\tabout\tme\u2014and\tknows\tthat\tI\thold\tback\twhen\twe\u2019re with\tthe\tother\tChampions.\u201d \u201cDid\the\tlead\tyou\tto\tbelieve\tthat\tthe\tother\tChampions\tknow\tabout\tyou?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tthey\tdo.\tNox\tdoesn\u2019t\thave\ta\tclue.\u201d Chaol\tput\ta\thand\ton\tthe\thilt\tof\this\tsword.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tbe\tfine.\tThe\telement of\tsurprise\tis\tgone,\tthat\u2019s\tall.\tYou\u2019ll\tstill\tbeat\tCain\tin\tthe\tduels.\u201d","She\thalf\tsmiled.\t\u201cYou\tknow,\tit\u2019s\tstarting\tto\tsound\tlike\tyou\tactually\tbelieve\tin me.\tYou\u2019d\tbetter\tbe\tcareful.\u201d He\t began\t to\t say\t something,\t but\t running\t footsteps\t sounded\t from\t around\t the corner,\t and\t he\t paused.\t Two\t guards\t skidded\t to\t a\t stop\t and\t saluted\t them.\t Chaol gave\tthem\ta\tmoment\tto\tcollect\ttheir\tbreath\tbefore\the\tsaid,\t\u201cYes?\u201d One\tof\tthe\tguards,\tan\taging\tman\twith\tthinning\thair,\tsaluted\ta\tsecond\ttime\tand said,\t\u201cCaptain\u2014you\u2019re\tneeded.\u201d Though\this\tfeatures\tremained\tneutral,\tChaol\u2019s\tshoulders\tshifted,\tand\this\tchin rose\ta\tbit\thigher.\t\u201cWhat\tis\tit?\u201d\the\tsaid,\ta\tbit\ttoo\tquickly\tto\tpass\tfor\tunconcerned. \u201cAnother\tbody,\u201d\treplied\tthe\tguard.\t\u201cIn\tthe\tservant\u2019s\tpassages.\u201d The\tsecond\tguard,\ta\tslender,\tfrail-looking\tyoung\tman,\twas\tdeathly\tpale.\t\u201cYou saw\tthe\tbody?\u201d\tCelaena\tasked\thim.\tThe\tguard\tnodded.\t\u201cHow\tfresh?\u201d Chaol\tgave\ther\ta\tsharp\tlook.\tThe\tguard\tsaid,\t\u201cThey\tthink\tit\u2019s\tfrom\tlast\tnight \u2014from\tthe\tway\tthe\tblood\u2019s\thalf-dried.\u201d Chaol\u2019s\teyes\twere\tunfocused.\tThinking\u2014he\twas\tfiguring\tout\twhat\tto\tdo.\tHe straightened.\t\u201cYou\twant\tto\tprove\thow\tgood\tyou\tare?\u201d\the\tasked\ther. She\tput\ther\thands\ton\ther\thips.\t\u201cDo\tI\teven\tneed\tto?\u201d He\tmotioned\tthe\tguards\tto\tlead\tthe\tway.\t\u201cCome\twith\tme,\u201d\the\tsaid\tto\ther\tover his\tshoulder,\tand\u2014despite\tthe\tbody\u2014she\tsmiled\ta\tbit\tand\tfollowed\thim. As\tthey\tdeparted,\tCelaena\tlooked\tback\tat\tthe\ttarget. Chaol\thad\tbeen\tright.\tShe\u2019d\tmissed\tthe\tcenter\tby\tsix\tinches\u2014to\tthe\tleft. \u2022 Thankfully,\t someone\t had\t created\t some\t semblance\t of\t order\t before\t they\t arrived. Even\t still,\t Chaol\t had\t to\t push\t his\t way\t through\t a\t crowd\t of\t gathered\t guards\t and servants,\tCelaena\tkeeping\tclose\tbehind\thim.\tWhen\tthey\treached\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe crowd\tand\tbeheld\tthe\tbody,\ther\thands\tslackened\tat\ther\tsides.\tChaol\tcursed\twith impressive\tviolence. She\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhere\tto\tlook\tfirst.\tAt\tthe\tbody,\twith\tthe\tgaping\tchest\tcavity and\tmissing\tbrain\tand\tface,\tat\tthe\tclaw\tmarks\tgouged\tinto\tthe\tground,\tor\tat\tthe two\tWyrdmarks,\tdrawn\ton\teither\tside\tof\tthe\tbody\tin\tchalk.\tHer\tblood\twent\tcold. There\twas\tno\tdenying\ttheir\tconnection\tnow. The\tcrowd\tcontinued\ttalking\tas\tthe\tcaptain\tapproached\tthe\tbody,\tthen\tturned to\tone\tof\tthe\tguards\twatching\thim.\t\u201cWho\tis\tit?\u201d \u201cVerin\tYsslych,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tbefore\tthe\tguard\tcould\treply.\tShe\u2019d\trecognize Verin\u2019s\t curly\t hair\t anywhere.\t Verin\t had\t been\t at\t the\t head\t of\t the\t pack\t since\t this competition\tstarted.\tWhatever\thad\tkilled\thim\t.\t.\t. \u201cWhat\t kind\t of\t animal\t makes\t scratches\t like\t those?\u201d\t she\t asked\t Chaol,\t but","didn\u2019t\t need\t to\t hear\t his\t reply\t to\t know\t that\t his\t guess\t was\t as\t good\t as\t hers.\t The claw\t marks\t were\t deep\u2014a\t quarter\t of\t an\t inch\t at\t least.\t She\t crouched\t beside\t one and\t ran\t her\t finger\t along\t the\t interior\t edge.\t It\t was\t jagged,\t but\t cut\t clean\t into\t the stone\tfloor.\tHer\tbrows\tknotting,\tshe\tscanned\tthe\tother\tclaw\tmarks. \u201cThere\u2019s\t no\t blood\t in\t these\t claw\t marks,\u201d\t she\t said,\t twisting\t her\t head\t to\t look over\ther\tshoulder\tat\tChaol.\tHe\tknelt\tbeside\ther\tas\tshe\tpointed\tto\tthem.\t\u201cThey\u2019re clean.\u201d \u201cWhich\tmeans?\u201d She\t frowned,\t fighting\t the\t chill\t that\t ran\t down\t her\t arms.\t \u201cWhatever\t did\t this sharpened\tits\tnails\tbefore\tit\tgutted\thim.\u201d \u201cAnd\twhy\tis\tthat\timportant?\u201d She\t stood,\t looking\t up\t and\t down\t the\t hallway,\t then\t squatted\t again.\t \u201cIt\t means this\tthing\thad\ttime\tto\tdo\tthat\tbefore\tit\tattacked\thim.\u201d \u201cIt\tcould\thave\tdone\tit\twhile\tlying\tin\twait.\u201d She\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cThose\ttorches\talong\tthe\twall\tare\talmost\tburnt\tto\tstubs. There\t aren\u2019t\t any\t signs\t of\t them\t being\t extinguished\t before\t the\t attack\u2014there\t are no\t traces\t of\t sooty\t water.\t If\t Verin\t died\t last\t night,\t then\t those\t torches\t were\t still burning\twhen\the\tdied.\u201d \u201cAnd?\u201d \u201cAnd\t look\t at\t this\t hallway.\t The\t nearest\t doorway\t is\t fifty\t feet\t down,\t and\t the nearest\tcorner\tis\ta\tbit\tfarther\tthan\tthat.\tIf\tthose\ttorches\twere\tburning\u2014\u201d \u201cThen\tVerin\twould\thave\tseen\twhatever\tit\twas\tlong\tbefore\the\tgot\tto\tthis\tspot.\u201d \u201cSo\t why\t get\t near\t it?\u201d\t she\t asked,\t more\t to\t herself\t than\t anything.\t \u201cWhat\t if\t it wasn\u2019t\t an\t animal,\t but\t a\t person?\t And\t what\t if\t that\t person\t disabled\t Verin\t long enough\tfor\tthem\tto\tsummon\tthis\tcreature?\u201d\tShe\tpointed\tto\tVerin\u2019s\tlegs.\t\u201cThose are\t clean\t cuts\t around\t his\t ankles.\t His\t tendons\t were\t snapped\t by\t a\t knife,\t to\t keep him\t from\t running.\u201d\t She\t moved\t next\t to\t the\t body,\t taking\t care\t not\t to\t disturb\t the Wyrdmarks\tetched\tinto\tthe\tground\tas\tshe\tlifted\tVerin\u2019s\trigid,\tcold\thand.\t\u201cLook at\t his\t fingernails.\u201d\t She\t swallowed\t hard.\t \u201cThe\t tips\t are\t cracked\t and\t shattered.\u201d She\t used\t her\t own\t nail\t to\t scrape\t out\t the\t dirt\t beneath\t his\t nails,\t and\t smeared\t it across\t her\t palm.\t \u201cSee?\u201d\t She\t held\t out\t her\t hand\t out\t for\t Chaol\t to\t observe.\t \u201cDust and\tbits\tof\tstone.\u201d\tShe\tpulled\taside\tVerin\u2019s\tarm,\trevealing\tfaint\tlines\tin\tthe\tstone beneath.\t \u201cFingernail\t marks.\t He\t was\t desperate\t to\t get\t away\u2014to\t drag\t himself\t by his\tfingertips,\tif\tnecessary.\tHe\twas\talive\tthe\tentire\ttime\tthat\tthing\tsharpened\tits claws\ton\tthe\tstone\twhile\tits\tmaster\twatched.\u201d \u201cSo\twhat\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u201d She\tsmiled\tgrimly\tat\thim.\t\u201cIt\tmeans\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tin\ta\tlot\tof\ttrouble.\u201d And,\t as\t Chaol\u2019s\t face\t paled,\t Celaena\t realized\t with\t a\t jolt\t that\t perhaps\t the Champions\u2019\tkiller\tand\tElena\u2019s\tmysterious\tevil\tforce\tmight\tbe\tone\tand\tthe\tsame.","\u2022 Seated\tat\tthe\tdining\ttable,\tCelaena\tflipped\tthrough\tthe\tbook. Nothing,\t nothing,\t nothing.\t She\t scanned\t page\t after\t page\t for\t any\t sign\t of\t the two\t Wyrdmarks\t that\t had\t been\t drawn\t beside\t Verin\u2019s\t body.\t There\t had\t to\t be\t a connection. She\t stopped\t as\t a\t map\t of\t Erilea\t appeared.\t Maps\t had\t always\t interested\t her; there\twas\tsomething\tbewitching\tin\tknowing\tone\u2019s\tprecise\tlocation\tin\trelation\tto others\ton\tthe\tearth.\tShe\tgently\ttraced\ta\tfinger\talong\tthe\teastern\tcoast.\tShe\tbegan in\tthe\tsouth\u2014at\tBanjali,\tthe\tEyllwe\tcapital,\tthen\twent\tup,\tcurving\tand\tsnaking, all\t the\t way\t to\t Rifthold.\t Her\t finger\t then\t traveled\t through\t Meah,\t then\t north\t and inland\t to\t Orynth,\t then\t back,\t back\t to\t the\t sea,\t to\t the\t Sorian\t Coast,\t and\t finally to\tthe\tvery\ttip\tof\tthe\tcontinent\tand\tthe\tNorth\tSea\tbeyond. She\t stared\t at\t Orynth,\t that\t city\t of\t light\t and\t learning,\t the\t pearl\t of\t Erilea\t and capital\tof\tTerrasen.\tHer\tbirthplace.\tCelaena\tslammed\tshut\tthe\tbook. Glancing\t around\t her\t room,\t the\t assassin\t let\t out\t a\t long\t sigh.\t When\t she managed\t to\t sleep,\t her\t dreams\t were\t haunted\t by\t ancient\t battles,\t by\t swords\t with eyes,\t by\t Wyrdmarks\t that\t swirled\t around\t her\t head\t and\t blinded\t her\t with\t their bright\tcolors.\tShe\tcould\tsee\tthe\tgleaming\tarmor\tof\tFae\tand\tmortal\twarriors,\thear the\t clash\t of\t shields\t and\t the\t snarl\t of\t vicious\t beasts,\t and\t smell\t blood\t and\t rotting corpses\t all\t around\t her.\t Carnage\t trailed\t in\t her\t wake.\t Adarlan\u2019s\t Assassin shuddered. \u201cOh,\tgood.\tI\thoped\tyou\u2019d\tstill\tbe\tawake,\u201d\tthe\tCrown\tPrince\tsaid,\tand\tCelaena jumped\t from\t her\t seat\t to\t find\t Dorian\t approaching.\t He\t looked\t tired\t and\t a\t bit ruffled. She\t opened\t her\t mouth,\t then\t shook\t her\t head.\t \u201cWhat\t are\t you\t doing\t here?\t It\u2019s almost\tmidnight,\tand\tI\u2019ve\tgot\ta\tTest\ttomorrow.\u201d\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\tdeny\thaving\thim here\twas\ta\tbit\tof\ta\trelief\u2014the\tmurderer\tonly\tseemed\tto\tattack\tChampions\twhen they\twere\talone. \u201cHave\t you\t moved\t from\t literature\t to\t history?\u201d\t He\t surveyed\t the\t books\t on\t the table.\t\u201cA\tBrief\tHistory\tof\tModern\tErilea,\u201d\the\tread.\t\u201cSymbols\tand\tPower.\tEyllwe Culture\tand\tCustoms.\u201d\tHe\traised\tan\teyebrow. \u201cI\tread\twhat\tI\tlike.\u201d He\t slid\t into\t the\t seat\t beside\t her,\t his\t leg\t brushing\t hers.\t \u201cIs\t there\t a\t connection between\tall\tof\tthese?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t quite\t a\t lie\u2014though\t she\t had\t hoped\t for\t all\t of\t them\t to\t contain something\tabout\tWyrdmarks,\tor\twhat\tthey\tmeant\tbeside\ta\tcorpse.\t\u201cI\tassume\tyou heard\tabout\tVerin\u2019s\tdeath.\u201d \u201cOf\tcourse,\u201d\the\tsaid,\ta\tdark\texpression\tcrossing\this\thandsome\tface.\tShe\twas","all\t too\t aware\t of\t how\t close\t his\t leg\t was,\t but\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t bring\t herself\t to\t shift away. \u201cAnd\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tat\tall\tconcerned\tthat\tso\tmany\tChampions\thave\tbeen\tbrutally murdered\tat\tthe\thands\tof\tsomeone\u2019s\tferal\tbeast?\u201d Dorian\t leaned\t in,\t his\t eyes\t fixed\t on\t hers.\t \u201cAll\t of\t those\t murders\t occurred\t in dark,\t isolated\t hallways.\t You\u2019re\t never\t without\t guards\u2014and\t your\t chambers\t are well-watched.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t concerned\t for\t myself,\u201d\t she\t said\t sharply,\t pulling\t back\t a\t bit.\t Which wasn\u2019t\t entirely\t true.\t \u201cI\t just\t think\t it\t reflects\t poorly\t on\t your\t esteemed\t father\t to have\tall\tof\tthis\tgoing\ton.\u201d \u201cWhen\t was\t the\t last\t time\t you\t bothered\t to\t care\t for\t the\t reputation\t of\t my \u2018esteemed\u2019\tfather?\u201d \u201cSince\t I\t became\t his\t son\u2019s\t Champion.\t So\t perhaps\t you\t ought\t to\t devote\t some additional\t resources\t to\t solving\t these\t murders,\t before\t I\t win\t this\t absurd competition\tjust\tbecause\tI\u2019m\tthe\tlast\tone\tleft\talive.\u201d \u201cAny\tmore\tdemands?\u201d\the\tasked,\tstill\tclose\tenough\tfor\ther\tlips\tto\tgraze\this\tif she\tdared. \u201cI\u2019ll\t let\t you\t know\t if\t I\t think\t of\t any.\u201d\t Their\t eyes\t locked.\t A\t slow\t smile\t spread across\t her\t face.\t What\t sort\t of\t a\t man\t was\t the\t Crown\t Prince?\t Though\t she\t didn\u2019t want\t to\t admit\t it,\t it\t was\t nice\t to\t have\t someone\t around,\t even\t if\t he\t was\t a Havilliard. She\t pushed\t claw\t marks\t and\t brainless\t corpses\t from\t her\t thoughts.\t \u201cWhy\t are you\tso\tdisheveled?\tHas\tKaltain\tbeen\tclawing\tat\tyou?\u201d \u201cKaltain?\tThankfully,\tnot\trecently.\tBut\twhat\ta\tmiserable\tday\tit\twas!\tThe\tpups are\tmutts,\tand\u2014\u201d\tHe\tput\this\thead\tin\this\thands. \u201cPups?\u201d \u201cOne\t of\t my\t bitches\t gave\t birth\t to\t a\t litter\t of\t mongrels.\t Before,\t they\t were\t too young\tto\ttell.\tBut\tnow\t.\t.\t.\tWell,\tI\u2019d\thoped\tfor\tpurebreds.\u201d \u201cAre\twe\tspeaking\tof\tdogs\tor\tof\twomen?\u201d \u201cWhich\twould\tyou\tprefer?\u201d\tHe\tgave\ther\tan\timpish\tgrin. \u201cOh,\thush\tup,\u201d\tshe\thissed,\tand\the\tchuckled. \u201cWhy,\tmight\tI\task,\tare\tyou\tso\tdisheveled?\u201d\tHis\tsmile\tfaltered.\t\u201cChaol\ttold\tme he\ttook\tyou\tto\tsee\tthe\tbody;\tI\thope\tit\twasn\u2019t\ttoo\tharrowing.\u201d \u201cNot\tat\tall.\tIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat\tI\thaven\u2019t\tslept\twell.\u201d \u201cMe,\tneither,\u201d\the\tadmitted.\tHe\tstraightened.\t\u201cWill\tyou\tplay\tthe\tpianoforte\tfor me?\u201d\tCelaena\ttapped\ther\tfoot\ton\tthe\tfloor,\twondering\thow\the\thad\tmoved\ton\tto such\ta\tdifferent\tsubject. \u201cOf\tcourse\tnot.\u201d \u201cYou\tplayed\tbeautifully.\u201d","\u201cIf\tI\thad\tknown\tsomeone\twas\tspying\ton\tme,\tI\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tplayed\tat\tall.\u201d \u201cWhy\tis\tplaying\tso\tpersonal\tfor\tyou?\u201d\tHe\tleaned\tback\tin\this\tchair. \u201cI\tcan\u2019t\thear\tor\tplay\tmusic\twithout\u2014\tNever\tmind.\u201d \u201cNo,\ttell\tme\twhat\tyou\twere\tgoing\tto\tsay.\u201d \u201cNothing\tinteresting,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tstacking\tthe\tbooks. \u201cDoes\tit\tstir\tup\tmemories?\u201d She\teyed\thim,\tsearching\tfor\tany\tsign\tof\tmockery.\t\u201cSometimes.\u201d \u201cMemories\t of\t your\t parents?\u201d\t He\t reached\t to\t help\t her\t stack\t the\t remaining books. Celaena\tstood\tsuddenly.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\task\tsuch\tstupid\tquestions.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry\tif\tI\tpried.\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\trespond.\tThe\tdoor\tin\ther\tmind\tthat\tshe\tkept\tlocked\tat\tall\ttimes\thad been\t cracked\t open\t by\t the\t question,\t and\t now\t she\t tried\t frantically\t to\t close\t it. Seeing\this\tface,\tseeing\thim\tso\tnear\tto\ther\t.\t.\t.\tThe\tdoor\tshut\tand\tshe\tturned\tthe key. \u201cIt\u2019s\tjust,\u201d\the\tsaid,\toblivious\tto\tthe\tbattle\tthat\thad\tjust\toccurred,\t\u201cit\u2019s\tjust\tthat I\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanything\tabout\tyou.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tan\tassassin.\u201d\tHer\theartbeat\tcalmed.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tall\tthere\tis\tto\tknow.\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\t he\t said\t with\t a\t sigh.\t \u201cBut\t why\t is\t it\t so\t wrong\t for\t me\t to\t want\t to\t know more?\t Like\t how\t you\t became\t an\t assassin\u2014and\t what\t things\t were\t like\t for\t you before\tthat.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\tinteresting.\u201d \u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\tfind\tit\tboring.\u201d\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tsay\tanything.\t\u201cPlease?\tOne\tquestion\u2014 and\tI\tpromise,\tnothing\ttoo\tsensitive.\u201d Her\t mouth\t twisted\t to\t the\t side\t and\t she\t looked\t at\t the\t table.\t What\t harm\t was there\tin\ta\tquestion?\tShe\tcould\tchoose\tnot\tto\treply.\t\u201cVery\twell.\u201d He\t grinned.\t \u201cI\t need\t a\t moment\t to\t think\t of\t a\t good\t one.\u201d\t She\t rolled\t her\t eyes, but\tsat\tdown.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tseconds,\the\tasked,\t\u201cWhy\tdo\tyou\tlike\tmusic\tso\tmuch?\u201d She\tmade\ta\tface.\t\u201cYou\tsaid\tnothing\tsensitive!\u201d \u201cIs\tit\tthat\tprying?\tHow\tdifferent\tis\tthat\tfrom\tasking\twhy\tyou\tlike\tto\tread?\u201d \u201cNo,\tno.\tThat\tquestion\tis\tfine.\u201d\tShe\tlet\tout\ta\tlong\tbreath\tthrough\ther\tnose\tand stared\tat\tthe\ttable.\t\u201cI\tlike\tmusic,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tslowly,\t\u201cbecause\twhen\tI\thear\tit,\tI\t.\t.\t. I\tlose\tmyself\twithin\tmyself,\tif\tthat\tmakes\tsense.\tI\tbecome\tempty\tand\tfull\tall\tat once,\tand\tI\tcan\tfeel\tthe\twhole\tearth\troiling\taround\tme.\tWhen\tI\tplay,\tI\u2019m\tnot\t.\t.\t. for\t once,\t I\u2019m\t not\t destroying.\t I\u2019m\t creating.\u201d\t She\t chewed\t on\t her\t lip.\t \u201cI\t used\t to want\t to\t be\t a\t healer.\t Back\t when\t I\t was\t .\t .\t .\t Back\t before\t this\t became\t my profession,\twhen\tI\twas\talmost\ttoo\tyoung\tto\tremember,\tI\twanted\tto\tbe\ta\thealer.\u201d She\t shrugged.\t \u201cMusic\t reminds\t me\t of\t that\t feeling.\u201d\t She\t laughed\t under\t her breath.\t \u201cI\u2019ve\t never\t told\t anyone\t that,\u201d\t she\t admitted,\t then\t saw\t his\t smile.\t \u201cDon\u2019t","mock\tme.\u201d He\t shook\t his\t head,\t wiping\t the\t smile\t from\t his\t lips.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t mocking\t you\u2014 I\u2019m\tjust\t.\t.\t.\u201d \u201cUnused\tto\thearing\tpeople\tspeak\tfrom\tthe\theart?\u201d \u201cWell,\tyes.\u201d She\tsmiled\tslightly.\t\u201cNow\tit\u2019s\tmy\tturn.\tAre\tthere\tany\tlimitations?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\tHe\ttucked\this\thands\tbehind\this\thead.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tnearly\tas\tprivate\tas\tyou are.\u201d She\t made\t a\t face\t as\t she\t thought\t of\t the\t question.\t \u201cWhy\t aren\u2019t\t you\t married yet?\u201d \u201cMarried?\tI\u2019m\tnineteen!\u201d \u201cYes,\tbut\tyou\u2019re\tthe\tCrown\tPrince.\u201d He\tcrossed\this\tarms.\tShe\ttried\tnot\tto\tnotice\tthe\tcut\tof\tmuscle\tthat\tshifted\tjust beneath\tthe\tfabric\tof\this\tshirt.\t\u201cAsk\tanother\tquestion.\u201d \u201cI\t want\t to\t hear\t your\t answer\u2014it\t must\t be\t interesting\t if\t you\u2019re\t so\t ardently resisting.\u201d He\t looked\t at\t the\t window\t and\t the\t snow\t that\t swirled\t beyond.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t not married,\u201d\the\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u201cbecause\tI\tcan\u2019t\tstomach\tthe\tidea\tof\tmarrying\ta\twoman inferior\tto\tme\tin\tmind\tand\tspirit.\tIt\twould\tmean\tthe\tdeath\tof\tmy\tsoul.\u201d \u201cMarriage\t is\t a\t legal\t contract\u2014it\u2019s\t not\t a\t sacred\t thing.\t As\t Crown\t Prince,\t you should\thave\tgiven\tup\tsuch\tfanciful\tnotions.\tWhat\tif\tyou\u2019re\tordered\tto\tmarry\tfor the\tsake\tof\talliance?\tWould\tyou\tstart\ta\twar\tbecause\tof\tyour\tromantic\tideals?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\tlike\tthat.\u201d \u201cOh?\tYour\tfather\twouldn\u2019t\tcommand\tyou\tto\tmarry\tsome\tprincess\tin\torder\tto strengthen\this\tempire?\u201d \u201cMy\tfather\thas\tan\tarmy\tto\tdo\tthat\tfor\thim.\u201d \u201cYou\tcould\teasily\tlove\tsome\twoman\ton\tthe\tside.\tMarriage\tdoesn\u2019t\tmean\tyou can\u2019t\tlove\tother\tpeople.\u201d His\tsapphire\teyes\tflashed.\t\u201cYou\tmarry\tthe\tperson\tyou\tlove\u2014and\tnone\tother,\u201d he\tsaid,\tand\tshe\tlaughed.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tmocking\tme!\tYou\u2019re\tlaughing\tin\tmy\tface!\u201d \u201cYou\t deserve\t to\t be\t laughed\t at\t for\t such\t foolish\t thoughts!\t I\t spoke\t from\t my soul;\tyou\tspeak\tonly\tfrom\tselfishness.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tremarkably\tjudgmental.\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tpoint\tin\thaving\ta\tmind\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tuse\tit\tto\tmake\tjudgments?\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tpoint\tin\thaving\ta\theart\tif\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tuse\tit\tto\tspare\tothers\tfrom\tthe harsh\tjudgments\tof\tyour\tmind?\u201d \u201cOh,\t well\t said,\t Your\t Highness!\u201d\t He\t stared\t at\t her\t sullenly.\t \u201cCome\t now.\t I didn\u2019t\twound\tyou\tthat\tseverely.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve\t attempted\t to\t ruin\t my\t dreams\t and\t ideals.\t I\t get\t enough\t from\t my","mother\tas\tit\tis.\tYou\u2019re\tjust\tbeing\tcruel.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t being\t practical.\t There\u2019s\t a\t difference.\t And\t you\u2019re\t the\t Crown\t Prince\t of Adarlan.\tYou\u2019re\tin\ta\tposition\twhere\tit\u2019s\tpossible\tfor\tyou\tto\tchange\tErilea\tfor\tthe better.\t You\t could\t help\t create\t a\t world\t where\t true\t love\t isn\u2019t\t needed\t to\t secure\t a happy\tending.\u201d \u201cAnd\twhat\tsort\tof\tworld\twould\tI\tneed\tto\tcreate\tfor\tthat\tto\thappen?\u201d \u201cA\tworld\twhere\tmen\tgovern\tthemselves.\u201d \u201cYou\tspeak\tof\tanarchy\tand\ttreason.\u201d \u201cI\tdo\tnot\tspeak\tof\tanarchy.\tCall\tme\ta\ttraitor\tall\tyou\tlike\u2014I\u2019ve\tbeen\tconvicted as\tan\tassassin\talready.\u201d He\t sidled\t closer\t to\t her,\t and\t his\t fingers\t brushed\t hers\u2014calloused,\t warm,\t and hard.\t\u201cYou\tcan\u2019t\tresist\tthe\topportunity\tto\trespond\tto\teverything\tI\tsay,\tcan\tyou?\u201d She\tfelt\trestless\u2014but\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime\tremarkably\tstill.\tSomething\twas\tbrought to\tlife\tand\tlaid\tto\tsleep\tin\this\tgaze.\t\u201cYour\teyes\tare\tvery\tstrange,\u201d\the\tsaid.\t\u201cI\u2019ve never\tseen\tany\twith\tsuch\ta\tbright\tring\tof\tgold.\u201d \u201cIf\tyou\u2019re\tattempting\tto\twoo\tme\twith\tflattery,\tI\u2019m\tafraid\tit\twon\u2019t\twork.\u201d \u201cI\t was\t merely\t observing;\t I\t have\t no\t agenda.\u201d\t He\t looked\t at\t his\t hand,\t still touching\thers.\t\u201cWhere\tdid\tyou\tget\tthat\tring?\u201d She\t contracted\t her\t hand\t into\t a\t fist\t as\t she\t pulled\t it\t away\t from\t him.\t The amethyst\tin\ther\tring\tglowed\tin\tthe\tfirelight.\t\u201cIt\twas\ta\tgift.\u201d \u201cFrom\twhom?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tnone\tof\tyour\tconcern.\u201d He\tshrugged,\tthough\tshe\tknew\tbetter\tthan\tto\ttell\thim\twho\u2019d\treally\tgiven\tit\tto her\u2014rather,\t she\t knew\t Chaol\t wouldn\u2019t\t want\t Dorian\t to\t know.\t \u201cI\u2019d\t like\t to\t know who\u2019s\tbeen\tgiving\trings\tto\tmy\tChampion.\u201d The\tway\tthe\tcollar\tof\this\tblack\tjacket\tlay\tacross\this\tneck\tmade\ther\tunable\tto sit\t still.\t She\t wanted\t to\t touch\t him,\t to\t trace\t the\t line\t between\t his\t tan\t skin\t and\t the golden\tlining\tof\tthe\tfabric. \u201cBilliards?\u201d\tshe\tasked,\trising\tto\ther\tfeet.\t\u201cI\tcould\tuse\tanother\tlesson.\u201d\tCelaena didn\u2019t\twait\tfor\this\tanswer\tas\tshe\tstrode\ttoward\tthe\tgaming\troom.\tShe\tvery\tmuch wanted\tto\tstand\tclose\tto\thim\tand\thave\ther\tskin\twarm\tunder\this\tbreath.\tShe\tliked that.\tWorse\tthan\tthat,\tshe\trealized,\tshe\tliked\thim. \u2022 Chaol\t watched\t Perrington\t at\t his\t table\t in\t the\t dining\t hall.\t When\t he\t had approached\t the\t duke\t about\t Verin\u2019s\t death,\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t seemed\t bothered.\t Chaol looked\taround\tthe\tcavernous\thall;\tin\tfact,\tmost\tof\tthe\tChampions\u2019\tsponsors\twent about\t as\t usual.\t Idiots.\t If\t Celaena\t was\t actually\t right\t about\t it,\t then\t whoever\t was","responsible\t for\t killing\t the\t Champions\t could\t be\t among\t them.\t But\t which\t of\t the members\tof\tthe\tking\u2019s\tcouncil\twould\tbe\tso\tdesperate\tto\twin\tthat\the\u2019d\tdo\tsuch\ta thing?\tChaol\tstretched\this\tlegs\tbeneath\tthe\ttable\tand\tshifted\this\tattention\tback\tto Perrington. He\u2019d\t seen\t how\t the\t duke\t used\t his\t size\t and\t title\t to\t win\t allies\t on\t the\t king\u2019s council\t and\t keep\t opponents\t from\t challenging\t him.\t But\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t his maneuverings\tthat\thad\tcaptured\tthe\tinterest\tof\tthe\tCaptain\tof\tthe\tGuard\ttonight. Rather,\t it\t was\t the\t moments\t between\t the\t grins\t and\t laughter,\t when\t a\t shadow passed\tacross\tthe\tduke\u2019s\tface.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\tan\texpression\tof\tanger\tor\tof\tdisgust,\tbut a\tshade\tthat\tclouded\this\teyes.\tIt\twas\tso\tstrange\tthat\twhen\tChaol\thad\tfirst\tseen\tit, he\u2019d\textended\this\tdinner\tjust\tto\tsee\tif\tit\thappened\tagain. A\t few\t moments\t later,\t it\t did.\t Perrington\u2019s\t eyes\t became\t dark\t and\t his\t face cleared,\tas\tif\the\tsaw\teverything\tin\tthe\tworld\tfor\twhat\tit\twas\tand\tfound\tno\tjoy\tor amusement\tin\tit.\tChaol\tleaned\tback\tin\this\tchair,\tsipping\this\twater. He\t knew\t little\t of\t the\t duke,\t and\t had\t never\t entirely\t trusted\t him.\t Neither\t had Dorian,\tespecially\tnot\tafter\tall\this\ttalk\tof\tusing\tNehemia\tas\ta\thostage\tto\tget\tthe Eyllwe\t rebels\t to\t cooperate.\t But\t the\t duke\t was\t the\t king\u2019s\t most\t trusted\t advisor\u2014 and\thad\toffered\tno\tcause\tfor\tmistrust\tother\tthan\ta\tfierce\tbelief\tin\tAdarlan\u2019s\tright to\tconquest. Kaltain\tRompier\tsat\ta\tfew\tchairs\taway.\tChaol\u2019s\tbrows\trose\tslightly.\tHer\teyes were\tupon\tPerrington\tas\twell\u2014filled\tnot\twith\tthe\tlonging\tof\ta\tbeloved,\tbut\twith cold\tcontemplation.\tChaol\tstretched\tagain,\tlifting\this\tarms\tover\this\thead.\tWhere was\t Dorian?\t The\t prince\t hadn\u2019t\t come\t to\t dinner,\t nor\t was\t he\t in\t the\t kennels\t with the\t bitch\t and\t her\t pups.\t His\t gaze\t returned\t to\t the\t duke.\t There\t it\t was\u2014for\t a moment! Perrington\u2019s\teyes\tfell\tupon\tthe\tblack\tring\ton\this\tleft\thand\tand\tdarkened,\tas\tif his\t pupils\t had\t expanded\t to\t encompass\t all\t of\t each\t eye.\t Then\t it\t was\t gone\u2014his eyes\t returned\t to\t normal.\t Chaol\t looked\t to\t Kaltain.\t Had\t she\t noticed\t the\t odd change? No\u2014her\t face\t remained\t the\t same.\t There\t was\t no\t bewilderment,\t no\t surprise. Her\tlook\tbecame\tshallow,\tas\tif\tshe\twere\tmore\tinterested\tin\thow\this\tjacket\tmight complement\ther\tdress.\tChaol\tstretched\tand\trose,\tfinishing\this\tapple\tas\the\tstrode from\tthe\tdining\thall.\tStrange\tas\tit\twas,\the\thad\tenough\tto\tworry\tabout.\tThe\tduke was\tambitious,\tbut\tcertainly\tnot\ta\tthreat\tto\tthe\tcastle\tor\tits\tinhabitants.\tBut\teven as\t the\t Captain\t of\t the\t Guard\t walked\t to\t his\t rooms,\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t shake\t the\t feeling that\tDuke\tPerrington\thad\tbeen\twatching\thim,\ttoo.","Chapter\t31 Someone\twas\tstanding\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\ther\tbed. Celaena\tknew\tthis\tlong\tbefore\t she\topened\ther\teyes,\tand\tshe\teased\ther\t hand beneath\ther\tpillow,\tpulling\tout\tthe\tmakeshift\tknife\tshe\u2019d\tcrafted\tof\tpins,\tstring, and\tsoap. \u201cThat\u2019s\tunnecessary,\u201d\ta\twoman\tsaid,\tand\tCelaena\tsat\tupright\tat\tthe\tsound\tof Elena\u2019s\tvoice.\t\u201cAnd\twould\tbe\twholly\tineffective.\u201d Her\tblood\twent\tcold\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tthe\tshimmering\tspecter\tof\tthe\tfirst\tQueen of\t Adarlan.\t Though\t Elena\t looked\t fully\t formed,\t the\t edges\t of\t her\t body\t gleamed as\tthough\tmade\tfrom\tstarlight.\tHer\tlong,\tsilver\thair\tflowed\taround\ther\tbeautiful face,\t and\t she\t smiled\t as\t Celaena\t set\t down\t her\t miserably\t pathetic\t knife.\t \u201cHello, child,\u201d\tthe\tqueen\tsaid. \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t want?\u201d\t Celaena\t demanded,\t but\t kept\t her\t voice\t down.\t Was\t she dreaming,\t or\t could\t the\t guards\t hear\t her?\t She\t tensed,\t her\t legs\t preparing\t to\t leap from\t the\t bed\u2014perhaps\t toward\t the\t balcony,\t since\t Elena\t stood\t between\t her\t and the\tdoor. \u201cSimply\tto\tremind\tyou\tthat\tyou\tmust\twin\tthis\tcompetition.\u201d \u201cI\talready\tplan\tto.\u201d\tShe\u2019d\tbeen\twoken\tup\tfor\tthis?\t\u201cAnd\tit\u2019s\tnot\tfor\tyou,\u201d\tshe added\tcoldly.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tdoing\tit\tfor\tmy\tfreedom.\tDo\tyou\thave\tanything\tuseful\tto\tsay, or\t are\t you\t just\t here\t to\t bother\t me?\t Or\t maybe\t you\t could\t just\t tell\t me\t more\t about this\tevil\tthing\tthat\u2019s\thunting\tthe\tChampions\tdown\tone\tby\tone.\u201d Elena\t sighed,\t lifting\t her\t eyes\t to\t the\t ceiling.\t \u201cI\t know\t as\t little\t as\t you.\u201d\t When Celaena\u2019s\t frown\t didn\u2019t\t disappear,\t Elena\t said,\t \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t trust\t me\t yet.\t I understand.\t But\t you\t and\t I\t are\t on\t the\t same\t side,\t whether\t you\t allow\t yourself\t to believe\t it\t or\t not.\u201d\t She\t lowered\t her\t gaze\t to\t the\t assassin,\t pinning\t her\t with\t the intensity\tof\tit.\t\u201cI\tcame\there\tto\twarn\tyou\tto\tkeep\tan\teye\ton\tyour\tright.\u201d \u201cExcuse\tme?\u201d\tCelaena\tcocked\ther\thead.\t\u201cWhat\tdoes\tthat\tmean?\u201d \u201cLook\tto\tyour\tright.\tYou\u2019ll\tfind\tthe\tanswers\tthere.\u201d Celaena\tlooked\tto\ther\tright,\tbut\tall\tshe\tsaw\twas\tthe\ttapestry\tthat\tconcealed\tthe tomb.\t She\t opened\t her\t mouth\t to\t snap\t a\t response,\t but\t when\t she\t looked\t back\t at Elena,\tthe\tqueen\twas\tgone. \u2022 At\t her\t Test\t the\t next\t day,\t Celaena\t studied\t the\t small\t table\t before\t her\t and\t all\t the goblets\t it\t contained.\t It\t had\t been\t over\t two\t weeks\t since\t Samhuinn,\t and\t while she\u2019d\tpassed\tyet\tanother\tTest\u2014knife-throwing,\tto\ther\trelief\u2014another\tChampion","had\tbeen\tfound\tdead\tjust\ttwo\tdays\tago.\tTo\tsay\tshe\twas\tgetting\tlittle\tsleep\tthese days\t was\t an\t understatement.\t When\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t searching\t for\t an\t indication\t of what\tthe\tWyrdmarks\taround\tthe\tcorpses\thad\tmeant,\tshe\tspent\tmost\tof\tthe\tnight wide\t awake,\t watching\t her\t windows\t and\t doors,\t listening\t for\t the\t scrape\t of\t claw on\t stone.\t The\t royal\t guards\t outside\t her\t rooms\t didn\u2019t\t help;\t if\t this\t beast\t was capable\tof\tgouging\tmarble,\tit\tcould\ttake\tdown\ta\tfew\tmen. Brullo\t stood\t at\t the\t front\t of\t the\t sparring\t hall,\t his\t hands\t clasped\t behind\t his back,\twatching\tthe\tthirteen\tremaining\tcompetitors\tstanding\tat\tthirteen\tindividual tables.\t He\t glanced\t at\t the\t clock.\t Celaena\t looked\t at\t it,\t too.\t She\t had\t five\t minutes left\u2014five\tminutes\tduring\twhich\tshe\tnot\tonly\thad\tto\tidentify\tthe\tpoisons\tin\tseven goblets,\tbut\tarrange\tthem\tin\tthe\torder\tof\tthe\tmost\tbenign\tto\tthe\tdeadliest. The\ttrue\ttest,\thowever,\twould\tcome\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tfive\tminutes,\twhen\tthey were\t to\t drink\t from\t the\t goblet\t they\t deemed\t the\t most\t harmless.\t If\t they\t got\t the answer\twrong\t.\t.\t.\tEven\twith\tantidotes\ton\thand,\tit\twould\tbe\tunpleasant.\tCelaena rolled\t her\t neck\t and\t lifted\t one\t of\t the\t goblets\t to\t her\t nose,\t sniffing.\t Sweet\u2014too sweet.\tShe\tswirled\tthe\tdessert\twine\tthey\u2019d\tused\tto\tconceal\tthe\tsweetness,\tbut\tin the\tbronze\tgoblet,\tit\twas\tdifficult\tto\tsee\tthe\tcolor.\tShe\tdipped\ther\tfinger\tinto\tthe cup,\tstudying\tthe\tpurple\tliquid\tas\tit\tdripped\toff\ther\tnail.\tDefinitely\tbelladonna. She\t looked\t at\t the\t other\t goblets\t she\u2019d\t identified.\t Hemlock.\t Bloodroot. Monkshood.\t Oleander.\t She\t shifted\t the\t goblets\t into\t order,\t squeezing\t in belladonna\t just\t before\t the\t goblet\t containing\t a\t lethal\t dose\t of\t oleander.\t Three minutes\tleft. Celaena\t picked\t up\t the\t penultimate\t goblet\t and\t sniffed.\t And\t sniffed\t again.\t It didn\u2019t\tsmell\tlike\tanything. She\t shifted\t her\t face\t away\t from\t the\t table\t and\t sniffed\t the\t air,\t hoping\t to\t clear her\t nostrils.\t When\t trying\t perfumes,\t people\t sometimes\t lose\t their\t sense\t of\t smell after\t sniffing\t too\t many.\t Which\t was\t why\t perfumers\t usually\t kept\t something\t on site\t to\t help\t clear\t the\t scent\t from\t the\t nose.\t She\t sniffed\t the\t goblet\t again,\t and dunked\ther\tfinger.\tIt\tsmelled\tlike\twater,\tlooked\tlike\twater\t.\t.\t. Perhaps\t it\t was\t just\t water.\t She\t set\t down\t the\t glass\t and\t picked\t up\t the\t final goblet.\tBut\twhen\tshe\tsniffed\tit,\tthe\twine\tinside\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tany\tunusual\tsmell.\tIt seemed\tfine.\tShe\tbit\ther\tlip\tand\tglanced\tat\tthe\tclock.\tTwo\tminutes\tleft. Some\t of\t the\t other\t Champions\t were\t cursing\t under\t their\t breath.\t Whoever\t got the\torder\tmost\twrong\twent\thome. Celaena\t sniffed\t the\t water\t goblet\t again,\t racing\t through\t a\t list\t of\t odorless poisons.\t None\t of\t them\t could\t be\t combined\t with\t water,\t not\t without\t coloring\t it. She\t picked\t up\t the\t wine\t goblet,\t swirling\t the\t liquid.\t Wine\t could\t conceal\t any number\tof\tadvanced\tpoisons\u2014but\twhich\tone\twas\tit? At\tthe\ttable\tto\tthe\tleft\tof\ther,\tNox\tran\this\thands\tthrough\this\tdark\thair.\tHe\thad","three\tgoblets\tin\tfront\tof\thim,\tthe\tother\tfour\tin\tline\tbehind\tthem.\tNinety\tseconds left. Poisons,\tpoisons,\tpoisons.\tHer\tmouth\twent\tdry.\tIf\tshe\tlost,\twould\tElena\thaunt her\tfrom\tspite? Celaena\t glanced\t to\t the\t right\t to\t find\t Pelor,\t the\t gangly\t young\t assassin, watching\ther.\tHe\twas\tdown\tto\tthe\tsame\ttwo\tgoblets\tthat\tshe\tstruggled\twith,\tand she\twatched\tas\the\tput\tthe\twater\tglass\tat\tthe\tvery\tend\tof\tthe\tspectrum\u2014the\tmost poisonous\u2014and\tthe\twine\tglass\tat\tthe\tother. His\t eyes\t flicked\t to\t hers,\t and\t his\t chin\t drooped\t in\t a\t barely\t detectible\t nod.\t He put\t his\t hands\t in\t his\t pockets.\t He\t was\t done.\t Celaena\t turned\t to\t her\t own\t goblets before\tBrullo\tcould\tcatch\ther. Poisons.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tPelor\thad\tsaid\tduring\ttheir\tfirst\tTest.\tHe\twas\ttrained\tin poisons. She\tglanced\tat\thim\tsidelong.\tHe\tstood\tto\ther\tright. Look\tto\tyour\tright.\tYou\u2019ll\tfind\tthe\tanswers\tthere. A\tchill\twent\tdown\ther\tspine.\tElena\thad\tbeen\ttelling\tthe\ttruth. Pelor\t stared\t at\t the\t clock,\t watching\t it\t count\t down\t the\t seconds\t until\t the\t Test was\tover.\tBut\twhy\thelp\ther? She\tmoved\tthe\twater\tglass\tto\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tline,\tand\tput\tthe\twine\tglass\tfirst. Because\taside\tfrom\ther,\tCain\u2019s\tfavorite\tChampion\tto\ttorment\twas\tPelor.\tAnd because\t when\t she\u2019d\t been\t in\t Endovier,\t the\t allies\t she\u2019d\t made\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t the darlings\t of\t the\t overseers,\t but\t the\t ones\t the\t overseers\t had\t hated\t most.\t The outsiders\tlooked\tout\tfor\teach\tother.\tNone\tof\tthe\tother\tChampions\thad\tbothered to\t pay\t attention\t to\t Pelor\u2014even\t Brullo,\t it\t seemed,\t had\t forgotten\t Pelor\u2019s\t claim that\t first\t day.\t If\t he\u2019d\t known,\t he\t never\t would\t have\t allowed\t them\t to\t do\t the\t Test so\tpublicly. \u201cTime\u2019s\t up.\t Make\t your\t final\t order,\u201d\t Brullo\t said,\t and\t Celaena\t stared\t at\t her line\tof\tgoblets\tfor\ta\tmoment\tlonger.\tOn\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\troom,\tDorian\tand\tChaol watched\twith\tcrossed\tarms.\tHad\tthey\tnoticed\tPelor\u2019s\thelp? Nox\tcursed\tcolorfully\tand\tshoved\this\tremaining\tglasses\tinto\tthe\tline,\tmany\tof the\t competitors\t doing\t the\t same.\t Antidotes\t were\t on\t hand\t in\t case\t mistakes\t were made\u2014and\t as\t Brullo\t began\t going\t through\t the\t tables,\t telling\t the\t Champions\t to drink,\the\thanded\tthem\tout\tfrequently.\tMost\tof\tthem\thad\tassumed\tthe\twine\twith nothing\tin\tit\twas\ta\ttrap\tand\tplaced\tit\ttoward\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tspectrum.\tEven\tNox wound\tup\tchugging\ta\tvial\tof\tantidote;\the\u2019d\tput\tmonkshood\tfirst. And\tCain,\tto\ther\tdelight,\twound\tup\tgoing\tpurple\tin\tthe\tface\tafter\tconsuming belladonna.\t As\t he\t guzzled\t down\t the\t antidote,\t she\t wished\t Brullo\t had\t somehow run\t out.\t So\t far,\t no\t one\t had\t won\t the\t Test.\t One\t Champion\t drank\t the\t water\t and was\t on\t the\t ground\t before\t Brullo\t could\t hand\t him\t the\t antidote.\t Bloodbane\u2014a","horrible,\t painful\t poison.\t Even\t consuming\t just\t a\t little\t could\t cause\t vivid hallucinations\tand\tdisorientation.\tThankfully,\tthe\tWeapons\tMaster\tforced\thim\tto swallow\t the\t antidote,\t though\t the\t Champion\t still\t had\t to\t be\t rushed\t to\t the\t castle infirmary. At\t last,\t Brullo\t stopped\t at\t her\t table\t to\t survey\t her\t line\t of\t goblets.\t His\t face revealed\tnothing\tas\the\tsaid,\t\u201cOn\twith\tit,\tthen.\u201d Celaena\t glanced\t at\t Pelor,\t whose\t hazel\t eyes\t shone\t as\t she\t lifted\t the\t glass\t of wine\tto\ther\tlips\tand\tdrank\ta\tsip. Nothing.\t No\t strange\t taste,\t no\t immediate\t sensation.\t Some\t poisons\t could\t take longer\tto\taffect\tyou,\tbut\t.\t.\t. Brullo\t extended\t a\t fist\t to\t her,\t and\t her\t stomach\t clenched.\t Was\t the\t antidote inside? But\this\tfingers\tsplayed,\tand\the\tonly\tclapped\ther\ton\tthe\tback.\t\u201cThe\tright\tone\u2014 just\twine,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tand\tthe\tChampions\tmurmured\tbehind\thim. He\tmoved\ton\tto\tPelor\u2014the\tlast\tChampion\u2014and\tthe\tyouth\tdrank\tthe\tglass\tof wine.\tBrullo\tgrinned\tat\thim,\tgrasping\this\tshoulder.\t\u201cAnother\twinner.\u201d Applause\t rippled\t through\t the\t sponsors\t and\t trainers,\t and\t Celaena\t flashed\t an appreciative\tgrin\tin\tthe\tassassin\u2019s\tdirection.\tHe\tgrinned\tback,\tgoing\tred\tfrom\this neck\tto\this\tcopper\thair. So\tshe\u2019d\tcheated\ta\tlittle,\tbut\tshe\u2019d\twon.\tShe\tcould\thandle\tsharing\tthe\tvictory with\t an\t ally.\t And,\t yes,\t Elena\t was\t looking\t out\t for\t her\u2014but\t that\t didn\u2019t\t change anything.\tEven\tif\ther\tpath\tand\tElena\u2019s\tdemands\twere\tnow\ttied\tclosely\ttogether, she\twouldn\u2019t\tbecome\tthe\tKing\u2019s\tChampion\tjust\tto\tserve\tsome\tghost\u2019s\tagenda\u2014 an\tagenda\tthat\tElena\thad\ttwice\tnow\tfailed\tto\treveal. Even\tif\tElena\thad\ttold\ther\thow\tto\twin\tthe\tTest.","Chapter\t32 After\tcutting\tshort\ttheir\tlesson\tin\tfavor\tof\ta\tstroll,\tCelaena\tand\tNehemia\twalked through\t the\tspacious\t halls\tof\tthe\t castle,\t guards\ttrailing\t behind\tthem.\tWhatever Nehemia\t thought\t of\t the\t flock\t of\t guards\t that\t followed\t Celaena\t everywhere,\t she didn\u2019t\t say\t anything.\t Despite\t the\t fact\t that\t Yulemas\t was\t a\t month\t away\u2014and\t the final\tduel\tfive\tdays\tafter\tthat\u2014every\tevening,\tfor\tan\thour\tbefore\tdinner,\tCelaena and\t the\t princess\t divided\t their\t time\t equally\t between\t Eyllwe\t and\t the\t common tongue.\t Celaena\t had\t Nehemia\t read\t from\t her\t library\t books,\t and\t then\t forced\t her to\tcopy\tletter\tafter\tletter\tuntil\tthey\tlooked\tflawless. Since\t they\u2019d\t begun\t their\t lessons,\t the\t princess\t had\t greatly\t improved\t her fluency\t in\t the\t common\t tongue,\t though\t the\t girls\t still\t spoke\t Eyllwe.\t Perhaps\t it was\tfor\tease\tand\tcomfort,\tperhaps\tit\twas\tto\tsee\tthe\traised\teyebrows\tand\tgaping mouths\twhen\tothers\toverheard\tthem,\tperhaps\tit\twas\tto\tkeep\ttheir\tconversations private\u2014whichever\t reason,\t the\t assassin\t found\t the\t language\t preferable.\t At\t least Endovier\thad\ttaught\ther\tsomething. \u201cYou\u2019re\tquiet\ttoday,\u201d\tNehemia\tsaid.\t\u201cIs\tsomething\tthe\tmatter?\u201d Celaena\t smiled\t weakly.\t Something\t was\t the\t matter.\t She\u2019d\t slept\t so\t poorly\t the previous\t night\t that\t she\u2019d\t wished\t for\t dawn\t to\t arrive\t early.\t Another\t Champion was\t dead.\t Not\t to\t mention,\t there\t was\t still\t the\t matter\t of\t Elena\u2019s\t commands.\t \u201cI was\tup\tlate\treading,\tis\tall.\u201d They\tentered\ta\tpart\tof\tthe\tcastle\tthat\tCelaena\thad\tnever\tseen\tbefore.\t\u201cI\tsense much\tworry\tin\tyou,\u201d\tNehemia\tsaid\tsuddenly,\t\u201cand\tI\thear\tmuch\tthat\tyou\tdo\tnot say.\tYou\tnever\tvoice\tany\tof\tyour\ttroubles,\tthough\tyour\teyes\tbetray\tthem.\u201d\tWas she\t so\t transparent?\t \u201cWe\u2019re\t friends,\u201d\t Nehemia\t said\t softly.\t \u201cWhen\t you\t need\t me, I\u2019ll\tbe\tthere.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t throat\t tightened,\t and\t she\t put\t a\t hand\t on\t Nehemia\u2019s\t shoulder.\t \u201cNo one\thas\tcalled\tme\tfriend\tin\ta\tlong\ttime,\u201d\tthe\tassassin\tsaid.\t\u201cI\u2014\u201d\tAn\tinky\tblack crept\t into\t the\t corner\t of\t her\t memory,\t and\t she\t struggled\t against\t it.\t \u201cThere\t are parts\t of\t me\t that\t I\t .\t .\t .\u201d\t She\t heard\t it\t then,\t the\t sound\t that\t haunted\t her\t dreams. Hooves\t pounding,\t thunderous\t hooves.\t Celaena\t shook\t her\t head\t and\t the\t sound stopped.\t\u201cThank\tyou,\tNehemia,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\twith\tsincerity.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\ta\ttrue\tfriend.\u201d Her\theart\twas\traw\tand\ttrembling,\tand\tthe\tdarkness\tfaded. Nehemia\t suddenly\t groaned.\t \u201cThe\t queen\t asked\t me\t to\t watch\t some\t acting troupe\t perform\t one\t of\t her\t favorite\t plays\t tonight.\t Will\t you\t go\t with\t me?\t I\t could use\ta\ttranslator.\u201d Celaena\tfrowned.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tafraid\tthat\u2014\u201d \u201cYou\t cannot\t go.\u201d\t Nehemia\u2019s\t voice\t was\t tinted\t with\t annoyance,\t and\t Celaena","gave\ther\tfriend\tan\tapologetic\tlook. \u201cThere\t are\t certain\t things\t that\u2014\u201d\t Celaena\t began,\t but\t the\t princess\t shook\t her head. \u201cWe\tall\thave\tour\tsecrets\u2014though\tI\u2019m\tcurious\twhy\tyou\u2019re\tso\tclosely\twatched by\tthat\tcaptain\tand\tlocked\tin\tyour\trooms\tat\tnight.\tIf\tI\twere\ta\tfool,\tI\u2019d\tsay\tthey\u2019re afraid\tof\tyou.\u201d The\t assassin\t smiled.\t \u201cMen\t will\t always\t be\t silly\t about\t such\t things.\u201d\t She thought\t about\t what\t the\t princess\t had\t said,\t and\t worry\t slipped\t into\t her\t stomach. \u201cSo\t are\t you\t actually\t on\t good\t terms\t with\t the\t Queen\t of\t Adarlan?\t You\t didn\u2019t really\t.\t.\t.\tmake\tan\teffort\tto\tstart\toff\tthat\tway.\u201d The\t princess\t nodded,\t lifting\t her\t chin.\t \u201cYou\t know\t that\t the\t situation\t between our\t countries\t isn\u2019t\t pleasant\t right\t now.\t While\t I\t might\t have\t been\t a\t little\t distant with\t Georgina\t at\t first,\t I\t realized\t that\t it\t might\t be\t in\t Eyllwe\u2019s\t best\t interest\t if\t I make\t more\t of\t an\t effort.\t So,\t I\u2019ve\t been\t speaking\t with\t her\t for\t some\t weeks\t now, hoping\t to\t make\t her\t aware\t of\t how\t we\t might\t improve\t our\t relations.\t I\t think inviting\t me\t tonight\t is\t a\t sign\t that\t I\t might\t be\t making\t some\t progress.\u201d\t And, Celaena\t realized,\t through\t Georgina,\t Nehemia\t would\t also\t get\t the\t King\t of Adarlan\u2019s\tear. Celaena\t bit\t her\t lip,\t but\t then\t quickly\t smiled.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sure\t your\t parents\t are pleased.\u201d\t They\t turned\t down\t a\t hall\t and\t the\t sound\t of\t barking\t dogs\t filled\t the\t air. \u201cWhere\tare\twe?\u201d \u201cThe\tkennels.\u201d\tNehemia\tbeamed.\t\u201cThe\tprince\tshowed\tme\tthe\tpups\tyesterday \u2014though\t I\t think\t he\t was\t just\t looking\t for\t an\t excuse\t to\t get\t out\t of\t his\t mother\u2019s court\tfor\ta\twhile.\u201d It\twas\tbad\tenough\tthey\twere\twalking\ttogether\twithout\tChaol,\tbut\tto\tenter\tthe kennels\t.\t.\t.\t\u201cAre\twe\tallowed\tto\tbe\there?\u201d Nehemia\t straightened.\t \u201cI\t am\t Princess\t of\t Eyllwe,\u201d\t she\t said.\t \u201cI\t can\t go wherever\tI\tplease.\u201d Celaena\t followed\t the\t princess\t through\t a\t large\t wooden\t door.\t Wrinkling\t her nose\t at\t the\t sudden\t smell,\t the\t assassin\t walked\t past\t cages\t and\t stalls\t filled\t with dogs\tof\tmany\tdifferent\tbreeds. Some\t were\t so\t large\t that\t they\t came\t up\t to\t her\t hip,\t while\t others\t had\t legs\t the length\t of\t her\t hand\t with\t bodies\t as\t long\t as\t her\t arm.\t The\t breeds\t were\t all fascinating\t and\t beautiful,\t but\t the\t sleek\t hounds\t aroused\t awe\t within\t her\t breast. Their\tarched\tundersides\tand\tslender,\tlong\tlegs\twere\tfull\tof\tgrace\tand\tspeed;\tthey did\t not\t yap\t as\t the\t other\t dogs\t did,\t but\t sat\t perfectly\t still\t and\t watched\t her\t with dark,\twise\teyes. \u201cAre\t these\t all\t hunting\t dogs?\u201d\t Celaena\t asked,\t but\t Nehemia\t had\t disappeared. She\t could\t hear\t her\t voice,\t and\t the\t voice\t of\t another,\t and\t then\t saw\t a\t hand","extended\t from\t within\t a\t stall\t to\t beckon\t Celaena\t inside.\t The\t assassin\t hurried\t to the\tpen\tand\tlooked\tdown\tover\tthe\tgate. Dorian\t Havilliard\t smiled\t at\t her\t as\t Nehemia\t took\t a\t seat.\t \u201cWhy,\t hello,\t Lady Lillian,\u201d\the\tpurred,\tand\tset\taside\ta\tbrown-and-gold\tpuppy.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\texpect\tto\tsee you\there.\tThough\twith\tNehemia\u2019s\tpassion\tfor\thunting,\tI\tcan\u2019t\tsay\tI\u2019m\tsurprised she\tfinally\tdragged\tyou\talong.\u201d Celaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tfour\tdogs.\t\u201cThese\tare\tthe\tmutts?\u201d Dorian\t picked\t one\t up\t and\t stroked\t its\t head.\t \u201cPity,\t isn\u2019t\t it?\t I\t still\t can\u2019t\t resist their\tcharm.\u201d Carefully,\twatching\tNehemia\tlaugh\tas\ttwo\tdogs\tleapt\tupon\ther\tand\tburied\ther beneath\ttongues\tand\twagging\ttails,\tthe\tassassin\topened\tthe\tpen\tdoor\tand\tslipped inside. Nehemia\t pointed\t to\t the\t corner.\t \u201cIs\t that\t dog\t sick?\u201d\t she\t asked.\t There\t was\t a fifth\t pup,\t a\t bit\t larger\t than\t the\t others,\t and\t its\t coat\t was\t a\t silky,\t silvery\t gold\t that shimmered\t in\t the\t shadows.\t It\t opened\t its\t dark\t eyes,\t as\t if\t it\t knew\t it\t was\t being spoken\tabout,\tand\twatched\tthem.\tIt\twas\ta\tbeautiful\tanimal,\tand\thad\tCelaena\tnot known\tbetter,\tshe\twould\thave\tthought\tit\tpurebred. \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\tsick,\u201d\tDorian\tsaid.\t\u201cIt\tjust\thas\ta\tfoul\tdisposition.\tIt\twon\u2019t\tcome\tnear anyone\u2014human\tor\tcanine.\u201d \u201cWith\tgood\treason,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid,\tstepping\tover\tthe\tlegs\tof\tthe\tCrown\tPrince and\tnearing\tthe\tfifth\tpup.\t\u201cWhy\tshould\tit\ttouch\tsomeone\tlike\tyou?\u201d \u201cIf\t it\t won\u2019t\t respond\t to\t humans,\t then\t it\t will\t have\t to\t be\t killed,\u201d\t Dorian\t said offhandedly,\tand\ta\tspark\twent\tthrough\tCelaena. \u201cKill\tit?\tKill\tit?\tFor\twhat\treason?\tWhat\tdid\tit\tdo\tto\tyou?\u201d \u201cIt\twon\u2019t\tmake\ta\tsuitable\tpet,\twhich\tis\twhat\tall\tof\tthese\tdogs\twill\tbecome.\u201d \u201cSo\t you\u2019d\t kill\t it\t because\t of\t its\t temperament?\t It\t can\u2019t\t help\t being\t that\t way!\u201d She\tlooked\taround.\t\u201cWhere\u2019s\tits\tmother?\tPerhaps\tit\tneeds\ther.\u201d \u201cIts\t mother\t only\t sees\t them\t to\t nurse\t and\t for\t a\t few\t hours\t of\t socialization.\t I usually\traise\tthese\tdogs\tfor\tracing\tand\thunting\u2014not\tfor\tcuddling.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t cruel\t to\t keep\t it\t from\t its\t mother!\u201d\t The\t assassin\t reached\t into\t the\t shadow and\tscooped\tthe\tpuppy\tinto\ther\tarms.\tShe\theld\tit\tagainst\ther\tchest.\t\u201cI\twon\u2019t\tlet you\tharm\tit.\u201d \u201cIf\tits\tspirit\tis\tstrange,\u201d\tNehemia\toffered,\t\u201cit\twould\tbe\ta\tburden.\u201d \u201cA\tburden\tto\twhom?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t nothing\t to\t be\t upset\t about,\u201d\t Dorian\t said.\t \u201cPlenty\t of\t dogs\t are\t painlessly laid\tto\trest\teach\tday.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tsee\twhy\tyou\twould\tobject\tto\tthat.\u201d \u201cWell,\tdon\u2019t\tkill\tthis\tone!\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cLet\tme\tkeep\tit\u2014if\tonly\tso\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tkill it.\u201d Dorian\t observed\t her.\t \u201cIf\t it\t upsets\t you\t so\t much,\t I\t won\u2019t\t have\t it\t killed.\t I\u2019ll","arrange\t for\t a\t home,\t and\t I\u2019ll\t even\t ask\t for\t your\t approval\t before\t I\t make\t a\t final decision.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019d\tdo\tthat?\u201d \u201cWhat\u2019s\tthe\tdog\u2019s\tlife\tto\tme?\tIf\tit\tpleases\tyou,\tthen\tit\tshall\thappen.\u201d Her\tface\tburned\tas\the\trose\tto\this\tfeet,\tstanding\tclose.\t\u201cYou\u2014you\tpromise?\u201d He\tput\ta\thand\ton\this\theart.\t\u201cI\tswear\ton\tmy\tcrown\tthat\tthe\tpup\tshall\tlive.\u201d She\twas\tsuddenly\taware\tof\thow\tnear\tto\ttouching\tthey\twere.\t\u201cThank\tyou.\u201d Nehemia\t watched\t them\t from\t the\t floor,\t her\t brows\t raised,\t until\t one\t of\t her personal\t guards\t appeared\t at\t the\t gate.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t time\t to\t go,\t Princess,\u201d\t he\t said\t in Eyllwe.\t\u201cYou\tmust\tdress\tfor\tyour\tevening\twith\tthe\tqueen.\u201d\tThe\tprincess\tstood, pushing\tpast\tthe\tbouncing\tpuppies. \u201cDo\t you\t want\t to\t walk\t with\t me?\u201d\t Nehemia\t said\t in\t the\t common\t tongue\t to Celaena. Celaena\t nodded\t and\t opened\t the\t gate\t for\t them.\t Shutting\t the\t gate,\t she\t looked back\tat\tthe\tCrown\tPrince.\t\u201cWell?\tAren\u2019t\tyou\tcoming\twith\tus?\u201d He\t slumped\t down\t into\t the\t pen,\t and\t the\t puppies\t immediately\t leapt\t on\t him. \u201cPerhaps\tI\u2019ll\tsee\tyou\tlater\ttonight.\u201d \u201cIf\tyou\u2019re\tlucky,\u201d\tCelaena\tpurred,\tand\twalked\taway.\tShe\tsmiled\tto\therself\tas they\tstrode\tthrough\tthe\tcastle. Eventually\tNehemia\tturned\tto\ther.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tlike\thim?\u201d Celaena\tmade\ta\tface.\t\u201cOf\tcourse\tnot.\tWhy\twould\tI?\u201d \u201cYou\tconverse\teasily.\tIt\tseems\tas\tif\tyou\thave\t.\t.\t.\ta\tconnection.\u201d \u201cA\tconnection?\u201d\tCelaena\tchoked\ton\tthe\tword.\t\u201cI\tjust\tenjoy\tteasing\thim.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\t not\t a\t crime\t if\t you\t consider\t him\t handsome.\t I\u2019ll\t admit\t I\t judged\t him wrong;\tI\tthought\thim\tto\tbe\ta\tpompous,\tselfish\tidiot,\tbut\the\u2019s\tnot\tso\tbad.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s\ta\tHavilliard.\u201d \u201cMy\t mother\t was\t the\t daughter\t of\t a\t chief\t who\t sought\t to\t overthrow\t my grandfather.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re\tboth\tsilly.\tIt\u2019s\tnothing.\u201d \u201cHe\tseems\tto\ttake\tgreat\tinterest\tin\tyou.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\thead\twhipped\taround,\ther\teyes\tfull\tof\tlong-forgotten\tfury\tthat\tmade her\t belly\t ache\t and\t twist.\t \u201cI\t would\t sooner\t cut\t out\t my\t own\t heart\t than\t love\t a Havilliard,\u201d\tshe\tsnarled. They\t completed\t their\t walk\t in\t silence,\t and\t when\t they\t parted\t ways,\t Celaena quickly\t wished\t Nehemia\t a\t pleasant\t evening\t before\t striding\t to\t her\t part\t of\t the castle. The\t few\t guards\t that\t followed\t her\t remained\t a\t respectful\t distance\t away\u2014a distance\t that\t grew\t greater\t each\t day.\t Based\t on\t Chaol\u2019s\t orders?\t Night\t had recently\t fallen,\t and\t the\t sky\t remained\t a\t deep\t blue,\t staining\t the\t snow\t piled\t upon","the\tpanes\tof\tthe\twindows.\tShe\tcould\teasily\twalk\tright\tout\tof\tthe\tcastle,\tstock\tup on\tsupplies\tin\tRifthold,\tand\tbe\ton\ta\tship\tto\tthe\tsouth\tby\tmorning. Celaena\t stopped\t at\t a\t window,\t leaning\t in\t close\t to\t the\t panes.\t The\t guards stopped,\ttoo,\tand\tsaid\tnothing\tas\tthey\twaited.\tThe\tcoldness\tfrom\toutside\tseeped in,\t kissing\t her\t face.\t Would\t they\t expect\t her\t to\t go\t south?\t Perhaps\t going\t north would\tbe\tthe\tunexpected\tchoice;\tno\tone\twent\tnorth\tin\twinter\tunless\tthey\thad\ta death\twish. Something\t shifted\t in\t the\t reflection\t of\t the\t window,\t and\t she\t whirled\t as\t she beheld\tthe\tman\tstanding\tbehind\ther. But\tCain\tdidn\u2019t\tsmile\tat\ther,\tnot\tin\tthat\tmocking\tway.\tInstead,\the\tpanted,\this mouth\topening\tand\tclosing\tlike\ta\tfish\twrenched\tfrom\twater.\tHis\tdark\teyes\twere wide,\tand\the\thad\ta\thand\taround\this\tenormous\tthroat.\tHopefully,\the\twas\tchoking to\tdeath. \u201cIs\t something\t wrong?\u201d\t she\t asked\t sweetly,\t leaning\t against\t the\t wall.\t He glanced\tfrom\tside\tto\tside,\tat\tthe\tguards,\tat\tthe\twindow,\tbefore\this\teyes\tsnapped to\thers.\tHis\tgrip\ton\this\tthroat\ttightened,\tas\tif\tto\tsilence\tthe\twords\tthat\tfought\tto come\tout,\tand\tthe\tebony\tring\ton\this\tfinger\tgleamed\tdully.\tEven\tthough\tit\tshould have\tbeen\timpossible,\the\tseemed\tto\thave\tpacked\ton\tan\tadditional\tten\tpounds\tof muscle\tin\tthe\tpast\tfew\tdays.\tIn\tfact,\tevery\ttime\tshe\tsaw\thim,\tCain\tseemed\tbigger and\tbigger. Her\tbrows\tknotted,\tand\tshe\tuncrossed\ther\tarms.\t\u201cCain,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tbut\the\ttook off\tdown\tthe\thall\tlike\ta\tjackrabbit,\tfaster\tthan\the\tshould\thave\tany\tability\tto\trun. He\t peered\t a\t few\t times\t over\t his\t shoulder\u2014not\t at\t her,\t or\t the\t confused\t and murmuring\tguards,\tbut\tat\tsomething\tbeyond. Celaena\t waited\t until\t the\t sounds\t of\t his\t fleeing\t footsteps\t faded,\t then\t hurried back\t to\t her\t own\t rooms.\t She\t sent\t messages\t to\t Nox\t and\t Pelor,\t not\t explaining why,\t but\t just\t telling\t them\t to\t stay\t in\t their\t chambers\t that\t night\t and\t not\t open\t the door\tfor\tanyone.","Chapter\t33 Kaltain\tpinched\ther\tcheeks\tas\tshe\temerged\tfrom\tthe\tdressing\troom.\tHer\tservants sprayed\tperfume,\tand\tthe\tyoung\twoman\tgulped\tdown\tsugar\twater\tbefore\tputting her\t hand\t on\t the\t door.\t She\u2019d\t been\t in\t the\t midst\t of\t smoking\t a\t pipe\t when\t Duke Perrington\thad\tbeen\tannounced.\tShe\u2019d\tfled\tinto\tthe\tdressing\troom\tand\tchanged her\t clothes,\t hoping\t the\t scent\t wouldn\u2019t\t linger.\t If\t he\t found\t out\t about\t the\t opium, she\t could\t just\t blame\t it\t on\t the\t horrible\t headaches\t she\u2019d\t been\t having\t lately. Kaltain\t passed\t through\t her\t bedroom\t into\t the\t foyer,\t and\t then\t into\t the\t sitting room. He\tlooked\tready\tfor\tbattle,\tas\talways.\t\u201cYour\tGrace,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tcurtsying.\tThe world\twas\tfoggy\taround\tthe\tedges,\tand\ther\tbody\tfelt\theavy.\tHe\tkissed\ther\thand when\tshe\toffered\tit,\this\tlips\tsoggy\tagainst\ther\tskin.\tTheir\teyes\tmet\tas\the\tlooked up\tfrom\ther\thand,\tand\ta\tpiece\tof\tthe\tworld\tslipped\taway.\tHow\tfar\twould\tshe\tgo to\tsecure\ther\tposition\tat\tDorian\u2019s\tside? \u201cI\t hope\t I\t didn\u2019t\t disturb\t you,\u201d\t he\t said,\t releasing\t her\t hand.\t The\t walls\t of\t the room\t appeared,\t and\t then\t the\t floor\t and\t the\t ceiling,\t and\t she\t had\t the\t distinct feeling\t that\t she\t was\t trapped\t in\t a\t box,\t a\t lovely\t cage\t filled\t with\t tapestries\t and cushions. \u201cI\twas\tonly\tnapping,\tmilord,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tsitting\tdown.\tHe\tsniffed,\tand\tKaltain would\t have\t felt\t immensely\t nervous\t were\t it\t not\t for\t the\t drug\t curling\t around\t her mind.\t\u201cTo\twhat\tdo\tI\towe\tthe\tpleasure\tof\tthis\tunexpected\tvisit?\u201d \u201cI\twished\tto\tinquire\tafter\tyou\u2014I\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tyou\tat\tdinner.\u201d\tPerrington\tcrossed his\tarms\u2014arms\tthat\tlooked\tcapable\tof\tcrushing\ther\tskull. \u201cI\t was\t indisposed.\u201d\t She\t resisted\t the\t urge\t to\t rest\t her\t too-heavy\t head\t on\t the couch. He\tsaid\tsomething\tto\ther,\tbut\tshe\tfound\tthat\ther\tears\thad\tstopped\thearing.\tHis skin\tseemed\tto\tharden\tand\tglaze\tover,\tand\this\teyes\tbecame\tunforgiving\tmarble orbs.\tEven\tthe\tthinning\thair\twas\tfrozen\tin\tstone.\tShe\tgaped\tas\tthe\twhite\tmouth continued\t to\t move,\t revealing\t a\t throat\t of\t carved\t marble.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t she\t said. \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tfeeling\twell.\u201d \u201cShall\tI\tfetch\tyou\twater?\u201d\tThe\tduke\tstood.\t\u201cOr\tshall\tI\tgo?\u201d \u201cNo!\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\talmost\tcrying\tout.\tHer\theart\ttwitched.\t\u201cWhat\tI\tmean\tis\u2014I\u2019m well\t enough\t to\t enjoy\t your\t company,\t but\t you\t must\t forgive\t my absentmindedness.\u201d \u201cI\t wouldn\u2019t\t call\t you\t absentminded,\t Lady\t Kaltain,\u201d\t he\t said,\t sitting\t down. \u201cYou\u2019re\t one\t of\t the\t cleverest\t women\t I\u2019ve\t met.\t His\t Highness\t told\t me\t the\t same thing\tyesterday.\u201d","Kaltain\u2019s\t spine\t snapped\t and\t straightened.\t She\t saw\t Dorian\u2019s\t face\t and\t the crown\tthat\tsat\tupon\this\thead.\t\u201cThe\tprince\tsaid\tthat\u2014about\tme?\u201d The\tduke\tput\ta\thand\ton\ther\tknee,\tstroking\tit\twith\this\tthumb.\t\u201cOf\tcourse,\tthen Lady\tLillian\tinterrupted\tbefore\the\tcould\tsay\tmore.\u201d Her\thead\tspun.\t\u201cWhy\twas\tshe\twith\thim?\u201d \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\twish\tit\twere\totherwise.\u201d She\tmust\tdo\tsomething,\tsomething\tto\tstop\tthis.\tThe\tgirl\tmoved\tfast\u2014too\tfast for\t her\t maneuvering.\t Lillian\t had\t snared\t the\t Crown\t Prince\t in\t her\t net,\t and\t now Kaltain\t must\t cut\t him\t free.\t Perrington\t could\t do\t it.\t He\t could\t make\t Lillian disappear\tand\tnever\tbe\tfound.\tNo\u2014Lillian\twas\ta\tlady,\tand\ta\tman\twith\tas\tmuch honor\t as\t Perrington\t would\t never\t harm\t one\t of\t noble\t birth.\t Or\t would\t he? Skeletons\t danced\t in\t circles\t around\t her\t head.\t But\t what\t if\t he\t thought\t Lillian weren\u2019t\t a\t lady\t .\t .\t .\t \t Her\t headache\t flared\t to\t life\t with\t a\t sudden\t burst\t that\t sucked the\tair\tfrom\ther\tlungs. \u201cI\t had\t the\t same\t reaction,\u201d\t she\t said,\t rubbing\t her\t temple.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t hard\t to\t believe someone\tas\tdisreputable\tas\tthe\tLady\tLillian\twon\tthe\theart\tof\tthe\tprince.\u201d\tMaybe the\t headaches\t would\t stop\t once\t she\t was\t at\t Dorian\u2019s\t side.\t \u201cPerhaps\t it\t would\t do some\tgood\tif\tsomeone\tspoke\tto\tHis\tHighness.\u201d \u201cDisreputable?\u201d \u201cI\theard\tfrom\tsomeone\tthat\ther\tbackground\tis\tnot\tas\t.\t.\t.\tpure\tas\tit\tshould\tbe.\u201d \u201cWhat\thave\tyou\theard?\u201d\tPerrington\tdemanded. Kaltain\tplayed\twith\ta\tjewel\thanging\tfrom\ther\tbracelet.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tspecifics, but\t some\t of\t the\t nobility\t don\u2019t\t believe\t her\t to\t be\t a\t worthy\t companion\t of\t anyone in\tthis\tcourt.\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tlearn\tmore\tabout\tthe\tLady\tLillian,\twouldn\u2019t\tyou?\tIt\u2019s\tour duty\tas\tloyal\tsubjects\tof\tthe\tcrown\tto\tprotect\tour\tprince\tfrom\tsuch\tforces.\u201d \u201cIndeed\tit\tis,\u201d\tthe\tduke\tsaid\tquietly. Something\t wild\t and\t foreign\t issued\t a\t cry\t within\t her,\t shattering\t through\t the pain\tin\ther\thead,\tand\tthoughts\tof\tpoppies\tand\tcages\tfaded\taway. She\tmust\tdo\twhat\twas\tnecessary\tto\tsave\tthe\tcrown\u2014and\ther\tfuture. \u2022 Celaena\t looked\t up\t from\t an\t ancient\t book\t of\t Wyrdmark\t theories\t as\t the\t door creaked\t open,\t the\t hinges\t squealing\t loud\t enough\t to\t wake\t the\t dead.\t Her\t heart skipped\t a\t beat,\t and\t she\t tried\t to\t appear\t as\t casual\t as\t possible.\t But\t it\t was\t not Dorian\tHavilliard\twho\tentered,\tnor\twas\tit\ta\tferocious\tcreature. The\tdoor\tfinished\topening\tand\tNehemia,\tclad\tin\ta\tgold-worked\twonder,\tstood before\t her.\t She\t didn\u2019t\t look\t at\t Celaena,\t nor\t did\t she\t move\t as\t she\t stood\t in\t the doorway.\tHer\teyes\twere\tupon\tthe\tfloor,\tand\trivers\tof\tkohl\tran\tdown\ther\tcheeks.","\u201cNehemia?\u201d\tCelaena\tasked,\tgetting\tto\ther\tfeet.\t\u201cWhat\thappened\tto\tthe\tplay?\u201d Nehemia\u2019s\tshoulders\trose\tand\tfell.\tSlowly,\tshe\tlifted\ther\thead,\trevealing\tred- rimmed\teyes.\t\u201cI\u2014I\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhere\telse\tto\tgo,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\tEyllwe. Celaena\tfound\tbreathing\ta\tbit\tdifficult\tas\tshe\tasked,\t\u201cWhat\thappened?\u201d It\t was\t then\t that\t Celaena\t noticed\t the\t piece\t of\t paper\t in\t Nehemia\u2019s\t hands.\t It trembled\tin\ther\tgrasp. \u201cThey\t massacred\t them,\u201d\t Nehemia\t whispered,\t her\t eyes\t wide.\t She\t shook\t her head,\tas\tif\tshe\twere\tdenying\ther\town\twords. Celaena\twent\tstill.\t\u201cWho?\u201d Nehemia\t let\t out\t a\t strangled\t sob,\t and\t a\t part\t of\t Celaena\t broke\t at\t the\t agony\t in the\tsound. \u201cA\t legion\t of\t Adarlan\u2019s\t army\t captured\t five\t hundred\t Eyllwe\t rebels\t hiding\t on the\t border\t of\t Oakwald\t Forest\t and\t the\t Stone\t Marshes.\u201d\t Tears\t dripped\t from Nehemia\u2019s\tcheeks\tand\tonto\ther\twhite\tdress.\tShe\tcrumpled\tthe\tpiece\tof\tpaper\tin her\thand.\t\u201cMy\tfather\tsays\tthey\twere\tto\tgo\tto\tCalaculla\tas\tprisoners\tof\twar.\tBut some\t of\t the\t rebels\t tried\t to\t escape\t on\t the\t journey,\t and\t .\t .\t .\u201d\t Nehemia\t breathed hard,\t fighting\t to\t get\t the\t words\t out.\t \u201cAnd\t the\t soldiers\t killed\t them\t all\t as punishment,\teven\tthe\tchildren.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\tdinner\trose\tin\ther\tthroat.\tFive\thundred\u2014butchered. Celaena\t became\t aware\t of\t Nehemia\u2019s\t personal\t guards\t standing\t in\t the doorway,\ttheir\teyes\tgleaming.\tHow\tmany\tof\tthe\trebels\thad\tbeen\tpeople\tthat\tthey knew\u2014that\tNehemia\thad\tsomehow\thelped\tand\tprotected? \u201cWhat\tis\tthe\tpoint\tin\tbeing\ta\tprincess\tof\tEyllwe\tif\tI\tcannot\thelp\tmy\tpeople?\u201d Nehemia\tsaid.\t\u201cHow\tcan\tI\tcall\tmyself\ttheir\tprincess,\twhen\tsuch\tthings\thappen?\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tso\tsorry,\u201d\tCelaena\twhispered.\tAs\tif\tthose\twords\tbroke\tthe\tspell\tthat\thad been\t holding\t the\t princess\t in\t place,\t Nehemia\t rushed\t into\t her\t arms.\t Her\t gold jewelry\tpressed\thard\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s\tskin.\tNehemia\twept.\tUnable\tto\tsay\tanything, the\tassassin\tsimply\theld\ther\u2014for\tas\tlong\tas\tit\ttook\tfor\tthe\tpain\tto\tease.","Chapter\t34 Celaena\tsat\tby\ta\twindow\tin\ther\tbedroom,\twatching\tthe\tsnow\tdance\tin\tthe\tnight air.\t Nehemia\t had\t long\t since\t returned\t to\t her\t own\t rooms,\t tears\t dried\t and shoulders\t squared\t once\t more.\t The\t clock\t chimed\t eleven\t and\t Celaena\t stretched, but\t then\t stopped\t as\t pain\t seized\t her\t stomach.\t She\t bent\t over,\t focusing\t on\t her breathing,\tand\twaited\tfor\tthe\tcramp\tto\tpass.\tShe\u2019d\tbeen\tlike\tthis\tfor\tover\tan\thour now,\t and\t she\t pulled\t her\t blanket\t tighter\t around\t herself,\t the\t heat\t of\t the\t roaring fire\t not\t adequately\t reaching\t her\t seat\t by\t the\t window.\t Thankfully,\t Philippa entered,\textending\ta\tcup\tof\ttea. \u201cHere,\tchild,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cThis\twill\thelp.\u201d\tShe\tplaced\tit\ton\tthe\ttable\tbeside\tthe assassin\tand\trested\ta\thand\ton\tthe\tarmchair.\t\u201cPity\twhat\thappened\tto\tthose\tEyllwe rebels,\u201d\t she\t said\t quietly\t enough\t that\t no\t listening\t ears\t might\t hear.\t \u201cI\t can\u2019t imagine\twhat\tthe\tprincess\tmust\tbe\tfeeling.\u201d\tCelaena\tfelt\tanger\tbubble\talongside the\t pain\t in\t her\t stomach.\t \u201cShe\u2019s\t fortunate\t to\t have\t a\t good\t friend\t like\t you, though.\u201d Celaena\t touched\t Philippa\u2019s\t hand.\t \u201cThank\t you.\u201d\t She\t grabbed\t her\t teacup\t and hissed,\talmost\tdropping\tit\tinto\ther\tlap\tas\tthe\tscalding-hot\tcup\tbit\tinto\ther\thand. \u201cCareful\t now.\u201d\t Philippa\t chuckled.\t \u201cI\t didn\u2019t\t know\t assassins\t could\t be\t so clumsy.\t If\t you\t need\t anything,\t send\t word.\t I\u2019ve\t had\t my\t fair\t share\t of\t monthly pains.\u201d\tPhilippa\truffled\tCelaena\u2019s\thair\tand\tleft.\tCelaena\twould\thave\tthanked\ther again,\t but\t another\t wave\t of\t cramping\t took\t over\t and\t she\t leaned\t forward\t as\t the door\tclosed. Her\t weight\t gain\t over\t the\t past\t three\t and\t a\t half\t months\t had\t allowed\t for\t her monthly\tcycles\tto\treturn\tafter\tnear-starvation\tin\tEndovier\thad\tmade\tthem\tvanish. Celaena\tgroaned.\tHow\twas\tshe\tgoing\tto\ttrain\tlike\tthis?\tThe\tduel\twas\tfour\tweeks away. The\t snowflakes\t sparkled\t and\t shimmered\t beyond\t the\t glass\t panes\t of\t the window,\t twirling\t and\t weaving\t as\t they\t flew\t to\t the\t ground\t in\t a\t waltz\t that\t was beyond\thuman\tcomprehension. How\tcould\tElena\texpect\ther\tto\tdefeat\tsome\tevil\tin\tthis\tcastle,\twhen\tthere\twas so\t much\t more\t of\t it\t out\t there?\t What\t was\t any\t of\t this\t compared\t to\t what\t was occurring\t in\t other\t kingdoms?\t As\t close\t as\t Endovier\t and\t Calaculla,\t even?\t The door\tto\ther\tbedroom\topened,\tand\tsomeone\tapproached. \u201cI\theard\tabout\tNehemia.\u201d\tIt\twas\tChaol. \u201cWhat\t are\t you\u2014isn\u2019t\t it\t late\t for\t you\t to\t be\t here?\u201d\t she\t asked,\t pulling\t the blankets\ttight. \u201cI\u2014are\tyou\tsick?\u201d","\u201cI\u2019m\tindisposed.\u201d \u201cBecause\tof\twhat\thappened\tto\tthose\trebels?\u201d Didn\u2019t\the\tget\tit?\tCelaena\tgrimaced.\t\u201cNo.\tI\u2019m\ttruly\tfeeling\tunwell.\u201d \u201cIt\tmakes\tme\tsick,\ttoo,\u201d\tChaol\tmurmured,\tglaring\tat\tthe\tfloor.\t\u201cAll\tof\tit.\tAnd after\t seeing\t Endovier\t .\t .\t .\u201d\t He\t rubbed\t his\t face,\t as\t if\t he\t could\t clear\t away\t the memories\t of\t it.\t \u201cFive\t hundred\t people,\u201d\t he\t whispered.\t Stunned\t at\t what\t he\t was admitting,\tshe\tcould\tonly\twatch. \u201cListen,\u201d\t he\t began,\t and\t started\t to\t pace.\t \u201cI\t know\t that\t I\u2019m\t sometimes\t aloof with\tyou,\tand\tI\tknow\tyou\tcomplain\tabout\tit\tto\tDorian,\tbut\u2014\u201d\tHe\tturned\tto\ther. \u201cIt\u2019s\ta\tgood\tthing\tthat\tyou\tbefriended\tthe\tprincess,\tand\tI\tappreciate\tyour\thonesty and\t unwavering\t friendship\t with\t her.\t I\t know\t there\t are\t rumors\t about\t Nehemia\u2019s connection\tto\tthe\trebels\tin\tEyllwe,\tbut\t.\t.\t.\tbut\tI\u2019d\tlike\tto\tthink\tthat\tif\tmy\tcountry was\tconquered,\tI\twould\tstop\tat\tnothing\tto\twin\tback\tmy\tpeople\u2019s\tfreedom,\ttoo.\u201d She\twould\thave\treplied\twere\tit\tnot\tfor\tthe\tdeep\tpain\tthat\twrapped\taround\ther lower\tspine,\tand\tthe\tsudden\tchurning\tin\ther\tstomach. \u201cI\t might\u2014\u201d\t he\t started,\t looking\t at\t the\t window.\t \u201cI\t might\t have\t been\t wrong.\u201d The\tworld\tbegan\tto\tspin\tand\ttilt,\tand\tCelaena\tclosed\ther\teyes.\tShe\u2019d\talways\thad horrible\tcramping,\tusually\taccompanied\tby\tnausea.\tBut\tshe\twouldn\u2019t\tvomit.\tNot right\tnow. \u201cChaol,\u201d\tshe\tbegan,\tputting\ta\thand\tover\ther\tmouth\tas\tnausea\tswelled\tand\ttook control. \u201cIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat\tI\ttake\tgreat\tpride\tin\tmy\tjob,\u201d\the\tcontinued. \u201cChaol,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tagain.\tOh,\tshe\twas\tgoing\tto\tvomit. \u201cAnd\t you\u2019re\t Adarlan\u2019s\t Assassin.\t But\t I\t was\t wondering\t if\u2014if\t you\t wanted\t to \u2014\u201d \u201cChaol,\u201d\tshe\twarned.\tAs\the\tpivoted,\tCelaena\tvomited\tall\tover\tthe\tfloor. He\tmade\ta\tdisgusted\tnoise,\tjumping\tback\ta\tfoot.\tTears\tsprang\tup\tas\tthe\tbitter, sharp\ttaste\tfilled\ther\tmouth.\tShe\thung\tover\ther\tknees,\tletting\tdrool\tand\tbile\tspill on\tthe\tfloor. \u201cAre\t you\u2014by\t the\t Wyrd,\t you\u2019re\t really\t sick,\t aren\u2019t\t you?\u201d\t He\t called\t for\t a servant,\t helping\t her\t from\t the\t chair.\t The\t world\t was\t clearer\t now.\t What\t had\t he been\tasking?\t\u201cCome\ton.\tLet\u2019s\tget\tyou\tinto\tbed.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t ill\t like\t that,\u201d\t she\t groaned.\t He\t sat\t her\t on\t the\t bed,\t peeling\t back\t the blanket.\t A\t servant\t entered,\t frowning\t at\t the\t mess\t on\t the\t floor,\t and\t shouted\t for help. \u201cThen\tin\twhat\tway?\u201d \u201cI,\tuh\t.\t.\t.\u201d\tHer\tface\twas\tso\thot\tshe\tthought\tit\twould\tmelt\tonto\tthe\tfloor.\tOh, you\tidiot!\t\u201cMy\tmonthly\tcycles\tfinally\tcame\tback.\u201d His\t face\t suddenly\t matched\t hers\t and\t he\t stepped\t away,\t dragging\t a\t hand","through\this\tshort\tbrown\thair.\t\u201cI\u2014if\t.\t.\t.\tThen\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tmy\tleave,\u201d\the\tstammered, and\t bowed.\t Celaena\t raised\t an\t eyebrow,\t and\t then,\t despite\t herself,\t smiled\t as\t he left\tthe\troom\tas\tquickly\tas\this\tfeet\tcould\tgo\twithout\trunning,\ttripping\tslightly\tin the\tdoorway\tas\the\tstaggered\tinto\tthe\trooms\tbeyond. Celaena\t looked\t at\t the\t servants\t cleaning.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t so\t sorry,\u201d\t she\t started,\t but\t they waved\t her\t off.\t Embarrassed\t and\t aching,\t the\t assassin\t climbed\t farther\t onto\t her bed\tand\tnestled\tbeneath\tthe\tcovers,\thoping\tsleep\twould\tsoon\tcome. But\tsleep\twouldn\u2019t\tsoon\tcome,\tand\ta\twhile\tlater,\tthe\tdoor\topened\tagain,\tand someone\tlaughed.\t\u201cI\tintercepted\tChaol,\tand\the\tinformed\tme\tof\tyour\t\u2018condition.\u2019 You\u2019d\t think\t a\t man\t in\t his\t position\t wouldn\u2019t\t be\t so\t squeamish,\t especially\t after examining\tall\tof\tthose\tcorpses.\u201d Celaena\topened\tan\teye\tand\tfrowned\tas\tDorian\tsat\ton\ther\tbed.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tin\ta\tstate of\tabsolute\tagony\tand\tI\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tbothered.\u201d \u201cIt\tcan\u2019t\tbe\tthat\tbad,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tfishing\ta\tdeck\tof\tcards\tfrom\this\tjacket.\t\u201cWant to\tplay?\u201d \u201cI\talready\ttold\tyou\tthat\tI\tdon\u2019t\tfeel\twell.\u201d \u201cYou\tlook\tfine\tto\tme.\u201d\tHe\tskillfully\tshuffled\tthe\tdeck.\t\u201cJust\tone\tgame.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tpay\tpeople\tto\tentertain\tyou?\u201d He\tglowered,\tbreaking\tthe\tdeck.\t\u201cYou\tshould\tbe\thonored\tby\tmy\tcompany.\u201d \u201cI\u2019d\tbe\thonored\tif\tyou\twould\tleave.\u201d \u201cFor\tsomeone\twho\trelies\ton\tmy\tgood\tgraces,\tyou\u2019re\tvery\tbold.\u201d \u201cBold?\t I\u2019ve\t barely\t begun.\u201d\t Lying\t on\t her\t side,\t she\t curled\t her\t knees\t to\t her chest. He\t laughed,\t pocketing\t the\t deck\t of\t cards.\t \u201cYour\t new\t canine\t companion\t is doing\twell,\tif\tyou\twish\tto\tknow.\u201d She\tmoaned\tinto\ther\tpillow.\t\u201cGo\taway.\tI\tfeel\tlike\tdying.\u201d \u201cNo\t fair\t maiden\t should\t die\t alone,\u201d\t he\t said,\t putting\t a\t hand\t on\t hers.\t \u201cShall\t I read\tto\tyou\tin\tyour\tfinal\tmoments?\tWhat\tstory\twould\tyou\tlike?\u201d She\t snatched\t her\t hand\t back.\t \u201cHow\t about\t the\t story\t of\t the\t idiotic\t prince\t who won\u2019t\tleave\tthe\tassassin\talone?\u201d \u201cOh!\tI\tlove\tthat\tstory!\tIt\thas\tsuch\ta\thappy\tending,\ttoo\u2014why,\tthe\tassassin\twas really\tfeigning\ther\tillness\tin\torder\tto\tget\tthe\tprince\u2019s\tattention!\tWho\twould\thave guessed\t it?\t Such\t a\t clever\t girl.\t And\t the\t bedroom\t scene\t is\t so\t lovely\u2014it\u2019s\t worth reading\tthrough\tall\tof\ttheir\tceaseless\tbanter!\u201d \u201cOut!\tOut!\tOut!\tLeave\tme\tbe\tand\tgo\twomanize\tsomeone\telse!\u201d\tShe\tgrabbed\ta book\t and\t chucked\t it\t at\t him.\t He\t caught\t it\t before\t it\t broke\t his\t nose,\t and\t her\t eyes widened.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\u2014that\twasn\u2019t\tan\tattack!\tIt\twas\ta\tjoke\u2014I\tdidn\u2019t\tmean\tto actually\thurt\tyou,\tYour\tHighness,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\ta\tjumble. \u201cI\u2019d\t hope\t that\t Adarlan\u2019s\t Assassin\t would\t choose\t to\t attack\t me\t in\t a\t more","dignified\tmanner.\tAt\tleast\twith\ta\tsword\tor\ta\tknife,\tthrough\tpreferably\tnot\tin\tthe back.\u201d She\tclutched\ther\tbelly\tand\tbent\tover.\tSometimes\tshe\thated\tbeing\ta\twoman. \u201cIt\u2019s\tDorian,\tby\tthe\tway.\tNot\t\u2018Your\tHighness.\u2019\t\u201d \u201cVery\twell.\u201d \u201cSay\tit.\u201d \u201cSay\twhat?\u201d \u201cSay\tmy\tname.\tSay,\t\u2018Very\twell,\tDorian.\u2019\t\u201d She\t rolled\t her\t eyes.\t \u201cIf\t it\t pleases\t Your\t Magnanimous\t Holiness,\t I\t shall\t call you\tby\tyour\tfirst\tname.\u201d \u201c\t\u2018Magnanimous\tHoliness\u2019?\tOh,\tI\tlike\tthat\tone.\u201d\tA\tghost\tof\ta\tsmile\tappeared on\t her\t face,\t and\t Dorian\t looked\t down\t at\t the\t book.\t \u201cThis\t isn\u2019t\t one\t of\t the\t books that\tI\tsent\tyou!\tI\tdon\u2019t\teven\town\tbooks\tlike\tthese!\u201d She\tlaughed\tweakly\tand\ttook\tthe\ttea\tfrom\tthe\tservant\tas\tshe\tapproached.\t\u201cOf course\tyou\tdon\u2019t,\tDorian.\tI\thad\tthe\tmaids\tsend\tfor\ta\tcopy\ttoday.\u201d \u201cSunset\u2019s\t Passions,\u201d\t he\t read,\t and\t opened\t the\t book\t to\t a\t random\t page\t to\t read aloud.\t \u201c\t \u2018His\t hands\t gently\t caressed\t her\t ivory,\t silky\t br\u2014\u2019\t \u201d\t His\t eyes\t widened. \u201cBy\t the\t Wyrd!\t Do\t you\t actually\t read\t this\t rubbish?\t What\t happened\t to\t Symbols and\tPower\tand\tEyllwe\tCustoms\tand\tCulture?\u201d She\tfinished\ther\tdrink,\tthe\tginger\ttea\teasing\ther\tstomach.\t\u201cYou\tmay\tborrow\tit when\tI\u2019m\tdone.\tIf\tyou\tread\tit,\tyour\tliterary\texperience\twill\tbe\tcomplete.\tAnd,\u201d she\tadded\twith\ta\tcoy\tsmile,\t\u201cit\twill\tgive\tyou\tsome\tcreative\tideas\tof\tthings\tto\tdo with\tyour\tlady\tfriends.\u201d He\thissed\tthrough\this\tteeth.\t\u201cI\twill\tnot\tread\tthis.\u201d She\ttook\tthe\tbook\tfrom\this\thands,\tleaning\tback.\t\u201cThen\tI\tsuppose\tyou\u2019re\tjust like\tChaol.\u201d \u201cChaol?\u201d\the\tasked,\tfalling\tinto\tthe\ttrap.\t\u201cYou\tasked\tChaol\tto\tread\tthis?\u201d \u201cHe\trefused,\tof\tcourse,\u201d\tshe\tlied.\t\u201cHe\tsaid\tit\twasn\u2019t\tright\tfor\thim\tto\tread\tthis sort\tof\tmaterial\tif\tI\tgave\tit\tto\thim.\u201d Dorian\tsnatched\tthe\tbook\tfrom\ther\thands.\t\u201cGive\tme\tthat,\tyou\tdemon-woman. I\u2019ll\t not\t have\t you\t matching\t us\t against\t each\t other.\u201d\t He\t glanced\t once\t more\t at\t the novel,\t then\t turned\t it\t over,\t concealing\t the\t title.\t She\t smiled,\t and\t resumed watching\tthe\tfalling\tsnow.\tIt\twas\tblisteringly\tcold\tnow,\tand\teven\tthe\tfire\tcould not\t warm\t the\t blasts\t of\t wind\t that\t crept\t through\t the\t cracks\t of\t her\t balcony\t doors. She\tfelt\tDorian\twatching\ther\u2014and\tnot\tin\tthe\tcautious\tway\tthat\tChaol\tsometimes watched\ther.\tRather,\tDorian\tjust\tseemed\tto\tbe\twatching\ther\tbecause\the\tenjoyed watching\ther. And\tshe\tenjoyed\twatching\thim,\ttoo. \u2022","\u2022 Dorian\t didn\u2019t\t realize\t he\u2019d\t been\t transfixed\t by\t her\t until\t she\t straightened\t and demanded,\t\u201cWhat\tare\tyou\tstaring\tat?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tbeautiful,\u201d\tDorian\tsaid\tbefore\the\tcould\tthink. \u201cDon\u2019t\tbe\tstupid.\u201d \u201cDid\tI\toffend\tyou?\u201d\tHis\tblood\tpumped\tthrough\thim\tin\ta\tstrange\trhythm. \u201cNo,\u201d\t she\t said,\t and\t quickly\t faced\t the\t window.\t Dorian\t watched\t her\t face\t turn redder\t and\t redder.\t He\u2019d\t never\t known\t an\t attractive\t woman\t for\t so\t long\t without courting\ther\u2014save\tfor\tKaltain.\tAnd\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tdeny\tthat\the\twas\taching\tto\tlearn what\tCelaena\u2019s\tlips\tfelt\tlike,\twhat\ther\tbare\tskin\tsmelled\tlike,\thow\tshe\u2019d\treact\tto the\ttouch\tof\this\tfingers\talong\ther\tbody. The\t week\t surrounding\t Yulemas\t was\t a\t time\t of\t relaxation,\t a\t time\t to\t celebrate the\t carnal\t pleasures\t that\t kept\t one\t warm\t on\t a\t winter\u2019s\t night.\t Women\t wore\t their hair\t down;\t some\t even\t refused\t to\t don\t a\t corset.\t It\t was\t a\t holiday\t to\t feast\t on\t the fruits\t of\t the\t harvest\t and\t those\t of\t the\t flesh.\t Naturally,\t he\t looked\t forward\t to\t it every\tyear.\tBut\tnow\t.\t.\t. Now\t he\thad\ta\tsinking\tfeeling\tin\this\tstomach.\tHow\tcould\the\t celebrate\t when word\t had\t just\t arrived\t of\t what\t his\t father\u2019s\t soldiers\t had\t done\t to\t those\t Eyllwe rebels?\t They\t hadn\u2019t\t spared\t a\t single\t life.\t Five\t hundred\t people\u2014all\t dead.\t How could\the\tever\tlook\tNehemia\tin\tthe\tface\tagain?\tAnd\thow\tcould\the\tsomeday\trule\ta country\twhose\tsoldiers\thad\tbeen\ttrained\tto\thave\tso\tlittle\tcompassion\tfor\thuman life? Dorian\u2019s\t mouth\t went\t dry.\t Celaena\t was\t from\t Terrasen\u2014another\t conquered country,\t and\t his\t father\u2019s\t first\t conquest.\t It\t was\t a\t miracle\t Celaena\t bothered\t to acknowledge\this\texistence\u2014or\tperhaps\tshe\u2019d\tspent\tso\tlong\tin\tAdarlan\tthat\tshe\u2019d stopped\tcaring.\tSomehow,\tDorian\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tthat\twas\tthe\tcase\u2014not\twhen\tshe had\t the\t three\t giant\t scars\t on\t her\t back\t to\t forever\t remind\t her\t of\t his\t father\u2019s brutality. \u201cIs\t there\t something\t the\t matter?\u201d\t she\t asked.\t Cautiously;\t curiously.\t As\t if\t she cared.\t He\t took\t a\t deep\t breath\t and\t walked\t to\t the\t window,\t unable\t to\t look\t at\t her. The\t glass\t was\t cold\t beneath\t his\t hand,\t and\t he\t watched\t the\t snowflakes\t come crashing\tdown\tto\tearth. \u201cYou\t must\t hate\t me,\u201d\t he\t murmured.\t \u201cHate\t me\t and\t my\t court\t for\t our\t frivolity and\tmindlessness\twhen\tso\tmany\thorrible\tthings\tare\tgoing\ton\toutside\tof\tthis\tcity. I\theard\tabout\tthose\tbutchered\trebels,\tand\tI\u2014I\u2019m\tashamed,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tleaning\this head\t against\t the\t window.\t He\t heard\t her\t rise\t and\t then\t slump\t into\t a\t chair.\t The words\t came\t out\t in\t a\t river,\t one\t flowing\t after\t the\t other,\t and\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t stop himself\t from\t speaking.\t \u201cI\t understand\t why\t you\t have\t such\t ease\t when\t killing\t my","kind.\tAnd\tI\tdon\u2019t\tblame\tyou\tfor\tit.\u201d \u201cDorian,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tgently. The\t world\t outside\t the\t castle\t was\t dark.\t \u201cI\t know\t you\u2019ll\t never\t tell\t me,\u201d\t he continued,\t voicing\t what\t he\t had\t wanted\t to\t say\t for\t some\t time.\t \u201cBut\t I\t know something\tterrible\thappened\tto\tyou\twhen\tyou\twere\tyoung,\tsomething\tperhaps\tof my\t father\u2019s\t own\t doing.\t You\t have\t a\t right\t to\t hate\t Adarlan\t for\t seizing\t control\t of Terrasen\t as\t it\t did\u2014for\t taking\t all\t of\t the\t countries,\t and\t the\t country\t of\t your friend.\u201d He\tswallowed,\this\teyes\tstinging.\t\u201cYou\twon\u2019t\tbelieve\tme.\tBut\t.\t.\t.\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant to\t be\t a\t part\t of\t that.\t I\t can\u2019t\t call\t myself\t a\t man\t when\t I\t allow\t my\t father\t to encourage\t such\t unforgivable\t atrocities.\t Yet\t even\t if\t I\t pleaded\t for\t clemency\t on behalf\tof\tthe\tconquered\tkingdoms,\the\twouldn\u2019t\tlisten.\tNot\tin\tthis\tworld.\tThis\tis the\tworld\twhere\tI\tonly\tpicked\tyou\tto\tbe\tmy\tChampion\tbecause\tI\tknew\tit\twould annoy\tmy\tfather.\u201d\tShe\tshook\ther\thead,\tbut\the\tkept\tgoing.\t\u201cBut\tif\tI\thad\trefused to\t sponsor\t a\t Champion,\t my\t father\t would\t have\t seen\t it\t as\t a\t sign\t of\t dissent,\t and I\u2019m\tnot\tyet\tenough\tof\ta\tman\tto\tstand\tagainst\thim\tlike\tthat.\tSo\tI\tchose\tAdarlan\u2019s Assassin\tto\tbe\tmy\tChampion,\tbecause\tthe\tchoice\tof\tmy\tChampion\twas\tthe\tonly choice\tI\thad.\u201d Yes,\t it\t was\t all\t clear\t now.\t \u201cLife\t shouldn\u2019t\t be\t like\t this,\u201d\t he\t said,\t their\t eyes meeting\t as\t he\t gestured\t at\t the\t room.\t \u201cAnd\t .\t .\t .\t and\t the\t world\t shouldn\u2019t\t be\t like this.\u201d The\t assassin\t was\t silent,\t listening\t to\t the\t throbbing\t of\t her\t heart\t before\t she spoke.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\thate\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tin\tlittle\tmore\tthan\ta\twhisper.\tHe\tdropped\tinto the\t chair\t across\t from\t her\t and\t put\t his\t head\t in\t a\t hand.\t He\t seemed\t remarkably lonely.\t\u201cAnd\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tlike\tthem.\tI\u2019m\u2014I\u2019m\tsorry\tif\tI\u2019ve\thurt\tyou.\tI\u2019m joking\tmost\tof\tthe\ttime.\u201d \u201cHurt\t me?\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cYou\t haven\u2019t\t hurt\t me!\t You\u2019ve\t just\t .\t .\t .\t you\u2019ve\t made things\ta\tlittle\tmore\tentertaining.\u201d She\tcocked\ther\thead.\t\u201cJust\ta\tlittle?\u201d \u201cMaybe\t a\t tad\t more\t than\t that.\u201d\t He\t stretched\t out\t his\t legs.\t \u201cAh,\t if\t only\t you could\tcome\tto\tthe\tYulemas\tball\twith\tme.\tBe\tgrateful\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tattend.\u201d \u201cWhy\tcan\u2019t\tI\tattend?\tAnd\twhat\u2019s\tthe\tYulemas\tball?\u201d He\tgroaned.\t\u201cNothing\tall\tthat\tspecial.\tJust\ta\tmasked\tball\tthat\thappens\tto\tbe\ton Yulemas.\tAnd\tI\tthink\tyou\tknow\texactly\twhy\tyou\tcan\u2019t\tcome.\u201d \u201cYou\t and\t Chaol\t really\t delight\t in\t ruining\t any\t fun\t I\t might\t have,\t don\u2019t\t you?\t I like\tattending\tparties.\u201d \u201cWhen\tyou\u2019re\tmy\tfather\u2019s\tChampion,\tyou\tcan\tattend\tall\tthe\tballs\tyou\twant.\u201d She\t made\t a\t face.\t He\t wanted\t to\t tell\t her\t then\t that\t if\t he\t could,\t he\t would\t have asked\ther\tto\tgo\twith\thim;\tthat\the\twanted\tto\tspend\ttime\twith\ther,\tthat\the\tthought","of\ther\teven\twhen\tthey\twere\tapart;\tbut\the\tknew\tshe\twould\thave\tlaughed. The\t clock\t chimed\t midnight.\t \u201cI\t should\t probably\t go,\u201d\t he\t said,\t stretching\t his arms.\t\u201cI\thave\ta\tday\tof\tcouncil\tmeetings\tto\tlook\tforward\tto\ttomorrow,\tand\tI\tdon\u2019t think\tDuke\tPerrington\twill\tbe\tpleased\tif\tI\u2019m\thalf-asleep\tfor\tall\tof\tthem.\u201d Celaena\tsmirked.\t\u201cBe\tsure\tto\tgive\tthe\tduke\tmy\twarmest\tregards.\u201d\tThere\twas no\tway\tshe\u2019d\tforgotten\thow\tthe\tduke\thad\ttreated\ther\tthat\tfirst\tday\tin\tEndovier. Dorian\t hadn\u2019t\t forgotten\t it,\t either.\t And\t the\t thought\t of\t the\t duke\t treating\t her\t like that\tagain\tmade\thim\tburn\twith\tcold\trage. Without\t thinking,\t he\t leaned\t down\t and\t kissed\t her\t cheek.\t She\t stiffened\t as\t his mouth\ttouched\ther\tskin,\tand\tthough\tthe\tkiss\twas\tbrief,\the\tbreathed\tin\tthe\tscent of\ther.\tPulling\taway\twas\tsurprisingly\thard.\t\u201cRest\twell,\tCelaena,\u201d\the\tsaid. \u201cGood\t night,\t Dorian.\u201d\t As\t he\t left,\t he\t wondered\t why\t she\t suddenly\t looked\t so sad,\t and\t why\t she\u2019d\t pronounced\t his\t name\t not\t with\t tenderness,\t but\t with resignation. \u2022 Celaena\tstared\tat\tthe\tmoonlight\tas\tit\tstreamed\tacross\tthe\tceiling.\tA\tmasked\tball on\t Yulemas!\t Even\t if\t it\t was\t the\t most\t corrupt\t and\t ostentatious\t court\t in\t Erilea,\t it sounded\t dreadfully\t romantic.\t And\t of\t course,\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t allowed\t to\t go.\t She\t let out\t a\t long\t sigh\t through\t her\t nose\t and\t tucked\t her\t hands\t beneath\t her\t head.\t Was that\t what\t Chaol\t had\t wanted\t to\t ask\t her\t before\t she\t vomited\u2014a\t true\t invitation\t to the\tball? She\tshook\ther\thead.\tNo.\tThe\tlast\tthing\the\u2019d\tever\tdo\twould\tbe\tto\tinvite\ther\tto a\t royal\t ball.\t Besides,\t both\t of\t them\t had\t more\t important\t things\t to\t worry\t about. Like\twhoever\twas\tkilling\tthe\tChampions.\tPerhaps\tshe\tshould\thave\tsent\tword\tto him\tabout\tCain\u2019s\tstrange\tbehavior\tearlier\tthat\tafternoon. Celaena\tclosed\ther\teyes\tand\tsmiled.\tShe\tcould\tthink\tof\tno\tnicer\tYulemas\tgift than\t for\t Cain\t to\t be\t found\t dead\t the\t next\t morning.\t Still,\t as\t the\t clock\t marked\t the passing\t hours,\t Celaena\t kept\t her\t vigil\u2014waiting,\t wondering\t what\t truly\t lurked\t in the\tcastle,\tand\tunable\tto\tstop\tthinking\tof\tthose\tfive\thundred\tdead\tEyllwe\trebels, buried\tin\tsome\tunmarked\tgrave.","Chapter\t35 The\tnext\tevening,\tChaol\tWestfall\tstood\ton\tthe\tsecond\tfloor\tof\tthe\tcastle,\tlooking over\t the\t courtyard.\t Below\t him,\t two\t figures\t slowly\t wove\t through\t the\t hedges. Celaena\u2019s\t white\t cloak\t made\t her\t easy\t to\t spot,\t and\t Dorian\t could\t always\t be noticed\tby\tthe\tempty\tcircle\tof\tspace\taround\thim. He\t should\t be\t down\t there,\t a\t foot\t behind,\t watching\t them,\t making\t sure\t she didn\u2019t\t seize\t Dorian\t and\t use\t him\t to\t escape.\t Logic\t and\t years\t of\t experience screamed\tat\thim\tto\tbe\twith\tthem,\teven\tthough\tsix\tguards\ttrailed\tthem.\tShe\twas deceitful,\tcunning,\tvicious. But\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tmake\this\tfeet\tmove. With\teach\tday,\the\tfelt\tthe\tbarriers\tmelting.\tHe\tlet\tthem\tmelt.\tBecause\tof\ther genuine\tlaugh,\tbecause\the\tcaught\ther\tone\tafternoon\tsleeping\twith\ther\tface\tin\tthe middle\tof\ta\tbook,\tbecause\the\tknew\tthat\tshe\twould\twin. She\t was\t a\t criminal\u2014a\t prodigy\t at\t killing,\t a\t Queen\t of\t the\t Underworld\u2014and yet\t.\t.\t.\tyet\tshe\twas\tjust\ta\tgirl,\tsent\tat\tseventeen\tto\tEndovier. It\t made\t him\t sick\t every\t time\t he\t thought\t about\t it.\t He\u2019d\t been\t training\t with\t the guards\t at\t seventeen,\t but\t he\u2019d\t still\t lived\t here,\t still\t had\t a\t roof\t over\t his\t head\t and good\tfood\tand\tfriends. Dorian\t had\t been\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t courting\t Rosamund\t when\t he\t was\t that\t age, not\tcaring\tabout\tanything. But\tshe\u2014at\tseventeen\u2014had\tgone\tto\ta\tdeath\tcamp.\tAnd\tsurvived. He\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t if\t he\t could\t survive\t Endovier,\t let\t alone\t during\t the\t winter months.\tHe\u2019d\tnever\tbeen\twhipped,\tnever\tseen\tanyone\tdie.\tHe\u2019d\tnever\tbeen\tcold and\tstarving. Celaena\tlaughed\tat\tsomething\tDorian\tsaid.\tShe\u2019d\tsurvived\tEndovier,\tand\tyet could\tstill\tlaugh. While\t it\t terrified\t him\t to\t see\t her\t down\t there,\t a\t hand\u2019s\t breadth\t from\t Dorian\u2019s unprotected\tthroat,\twhat\tterrified\thim\teven\tmore\twas\tthat\the\ttrusted\ther.\tAnd\the didn\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tthat\tmeant\tabout\thimself. \u2022 Celaena\t walked\t between\t the\t hedges,\t and\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t the\t smile\t that\t spread across\ther\tface.\tThey\twalked\tclosely,\tbut\tnot\tclose\tenough\tto\ttouch.\tDorian\thad found\t her\t just\t moments\t after\t dinner\t and\t invited\t her\t for\t a\t walk.\t In\t fact,\t he\u2019d showed\t up\t so\t quickly\t after\t the\t servants\t cleared\t away\t her\t food\t that\t she\t might have\tthought\the\u2019d\tbeen\twaiting\toutside.","Of\tcourse,\tit\twas\tdue\tentirely\tto\tthe\tcold\tthat\tshe\tlonged\tto\tlink\tarms\twith\thim and\tabsorb\this\twarmth.\tThe\twhite,\tfur-lined\tcloak\tdid\tlittle\tto\tkeep\tthe\tfrigid\tair from\t freezing\t all\t of\t her.\t She\t could\t only\t imagine\t how\t Nehemia\t would\t react\t to such\ttemperatures.\tBut\tafter\tlearning\tabout\tthe\tfate\tof\tthose\trebels,\tthe\tprincess was\t spending\t most\t of\t her\t time\t in\t her\t rooms,\t and\t had\t declined\t Celaena\u2019s repeated\toffers\tto\tgo\tfor\twalks. It\t had\t been\t over\t three\t weeks\t since\t her\t last\t encounter\t with\t Elena,\t and\t she hadn\u2019t\t seen\t or\t heard\t her\t at\t all,\t despite\t the\t three\t Tests\t she\u2019d\t had,\t the\t most exciting\t of\t which\t being\t an\t obstacle\t course,\t which\t she\t passed\t with\t only\t a\t few minor\t scratches\t and\t bruises.\t Unfortunately,\t Pelor\t hadn\u2019t\t done\t so\t well,\t and\t had been\t sent\t home\t at\t long\t last.\t But\t he\u2019d\t been\t lucky:\t three\t other\t competitors\t had died.\t All\t found\t in\t forgotten\t hallways;\t all\t mutilated\t beyond\t recognition.\t Even Celaena\thad\ttaken\tto\tjumping\tat\tevery\tstrange\tsound. There\t were\t only\t six\t of\t them\t left\t now:\t Cain,\t Grave,\t Nox,\t a\t soldier,\t and Renault,\ta\tvicious\tmercenary\twho\u2019d\tstepped\tup\tto\treplace\tVerin\tas\tCain\u2019s\tright- hand\t man.\t Not\t surprisingly,\t Renault\u2019s\t favorite\t new\t activity\t was\t taunting Celaena. She\t shoved\t thoughts\t of\t the\t murders\t aside\t as\t they\t strode\t past\t a\t fountain\t and she\tcaught\tDorian\tgiving\ther\tan\tadmiring\tglance\tfrom\tthe\tcorner\tof\this\teye.\tOf course,\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tthinking\tof\tDorian\twhen\tshe\tchose\tsuch\ta\tfine\tlavender gown\tto\twear\ttonight,\tor\twhen\tshe\tmade\tsure\ther\thair\twas\tso\tcarefully\tarranged, or\tthat\ther\twhite\tgloves\twere\tspotless. \u201cWhat\tto\tdo\tnow?\u201d\tDorian\tsaid.\t\u201cWe\u2019ve\twalked\ttwice\taround\tthe\tgarden.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\thave\tprincely\tduties\tto\tattend\tto?\u201d\tCelaena\twinced\tas\ta\tgust\tof\ticy wind\tblew\tback\ther\thood\tand\tfroze\ther\tears.\tWhen\tshe\trecovered\tthe\thood,\tshe found\t Dorian\t staring\t at\t her\t throat.\t \u201cWhat?\u201d\t she\t asked,\t pulling\t her\t cloak\t tightly around\ther. \u201cYou\t always\t wear\t that\t necklace,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cIs\t it\t another\t gift?\u201d\t Though\t she wore\tgloves,\the\tglanced\tat\ther\thand\u2014where\tthe\tamethyst\tring\talways\tsat\u2014and the\tspark\tdied\tfrom\this\teyes. \u201cNo.\u201d\t She\t covered\t the\t amulet\t with\t her\t hand.\t \u201cI\t found\t it\t in\t my\t jewelry\t box and\tliked\tthe\tlook\tof\tit,\tyou\tinsufferably\tterritorial\tman.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tvery\told\tlooking.\tBeen\trobbing\tthe\troyal\tcoffer,\thave\tyou?\u201d\tHe\twinked, but\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tany\twarmth\tbehind\tit. \u201cNo,\u201d\tshe\trepeated\tsharply.\tEven\tthough\ta\tnecklace\twouldn\u2019t\tprotect\ther\tfrom the\t murderer,\t and\t even\t though\t Elena\t had\t some\t agenda\t she\t was\t being\t cagey about,\t Celaena\t wouldn\u2019t\t take\t it\t off.\t Its\t presence\t somehow\t comforted\t her\t in\t the long\thours\tshe\tsat\tup,\twatching\ther\tdoor. He\t continued\t staring\t at\t her\t hand\t until\t she\t lowered\t it\t from\t her\t throat.\t He","studied\tthe\tnecklace.\t\u201cWhen\tI\twas\ta\tboy,\tI\tused\tto\tread\ttales\tabout\tthe\tdawn\tof Adarlan;\t Gavin\t was\t my\t hero.\t I\t must\t have\t read\t every\t legend\t regarding\t the\t war with\tErawan.\u201d How\tcan\the\tbe\tthat\tsmart?\tHe\tcan\u2019t\thave\tfigured\tit\tout\tso\tquickly.\tShe\ttried her\tbest\tto\tlook\tinnocently\tinterested.\t\u201cAnd?\u201d \u201cElena,\t First\t Queen\t of\t Adarlan,\t had\t a\t magical\t amulet.\t In\t the\t battle\t with\t the Dark\tLord,\tGavin\tand\tElena\tfound\tthemselves\tdefenseless\tagainst\thim.\tHe\twas about\tto\tkill\tthe\tprincess\twhen\ta\tspirit\tappeared\tand\tgave\ther\tthe\tnecklace.\tAnd when\tshe\tput\tit\ton,\tErawan\tcouldn\u2019t\tharm\ther.\tShe\tsaw\tthe\tDark\tLord\tfor\twhat he\twas\tand\tcalled\thim\tby\this\ttrue\tname.\tIt\tsurprised\thim\tso\tmuch\tthat\the\tbecame distracted,\tand\tGavin\tslew\thim.\u201d\tDorian\tlooked\tto\tthe\tground.\t\u201cThey\tcalled\ther necklace\tthe\tEye\tof\tElena;\tit\u2019s\tbeen\tlost\tfor\tcenturies.\u201d How\t strange\t it\t was\t to\t hear\t Dorian,\t son\t of\t the\t man\t who\t had\t banished\t and outlawed\t all\t traces\t of\t magic,\t talking\t about\t powerful\t amulets.\t Still,\t she\t laughed as\tbest\tshe\tcould.\t\u201cAnd\tyou\tthink\tthis\ttrinket\tis\tthe\tEye?\tI\tthink\tit\u2019d\tbe\tdust\tby now.\u201d \u201cI\t suppose\t not,\u201d\t he\t said,\t and\t vigorously\t rubbed\t his\t arms\t for\t warmth.\t \u201cBut I\u2019ve\tseen\ta\tfew\tillustrations\tof\tthe\tEye,\tand\tyour\tnecklace\tlooks\tlike\tit.\tPerhaps it\u2019s\ta\treplica.\u201d \u201cPerhaps.\u201d\t She\t quickly\t found\t another\t subject.\t \u201cWhen\u2019s\t your\t brother arriving?\u201d He\tlooked\tskyward.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tlucky.\tWe\treceived\ta\tletter\tthis\tmorning\tthat\tsnows in\tthe\tmountains\tprevented\tHollin\tfrom\tcoming\thome.\tHe\u2019s\tstuck\tat\tschool\tuntil after\this\tspring\tterm,\tand\the\u2019s\tbeside\thimself.\u201d \u201cYour\tpoor\tmother,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid,\thalf-smiling. \u201cShe\u2019ll\t probably\t send\t servants\t to\t deliver\t his\t Yulemas\t presents,\t regardless\t of the\tstorm.\u201d Celaena\t didn\u2019t\t hear\t him,\t and\t though\t they\t talked\t for\t a\t good\t hour\t afterward meandering\tthrough\tthe\tgrounds,\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\tget\ther\theart\tto\tcalm.\tElena\thad\tto have\tknown\tsomeone\twould\trecognize\ther\tamulet\u2014and\tif\tthis\twas\tthe\treal\tthing .\t.\t.\tThe\tking\tcould\tkill\ther\ton\tthe\tspot\tfor\twearing\tnot\tonly\tan\theirloom\tof\this house,\tbut\tsomething\tof\tpower. Yet\tagain,\tshe\tcould\tonly\twonder\twhat\tElena\u2019s\tmotives\tactually\twere. \u2022 Celaena\tglanced\tfrom\ther\tbook\tto\tthe\ttapestry\ton\tthe\twall.\tThe\tchest\tof\tdrawers remained\twhere\tshe\u2019d\tshoved\tit\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tpassageway.\tShe\tshook\ther\thead and\t returned\t to\t her\t book.\t Though\t she\t scanned\t the\t lines,\t none\t of\t the\t words","registered. What\tdid\tElena\twant\twith\ther?\tDead\tqueens\tusually\tdidn\u2019t\tcome\tback\tto\tgive orders\t to\t the\t living.\t Celaena\t clenched\t her\t book.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t like\t she\t wasn\u2019t fulfilling\t Elena\u2019s\t command\t to\t win,\t either\u2014she\t would\t have\t fought\t this\t hard\t to become\tthe\tKing\u2019s\tChampion\tanyway.\tAnd\tas\tfor\tfinding\tand\tdefeating\tthe\tevil in\t the\t castle\t .\t .\t .\t well,\t now\t that\t it\t seemed\t tied\t to\t who\t was\t murdering\t the Champions,\thow\tcould\tshe\tnot\ttry\tto\tfigure\tout\twhere\tit\twas\tcoming\tfrom? A\t door\t shut\t somewhere\t inside\t her\t rooms,\t and\t Celaena\t jumped,\t the\t book flying\tfrom\ther\thands.\tShe\tgrabbed\tthe\tbrass\tcandlestick\tbeside\ther\tbed,\tready\tto leap\t off\t the\t mattress,\t but\t lowered\t it\t as\t Philippa\u2019s\t humming\t filtered\t through\t the doors\tto\ther\tbedroom.\tShe\tgroaned\tas\tshe\tclimbed\tout\tof\tthe\twarmth\tof\ther\tbed to\tretrieve\ther\tbook. It\thad\tfallen\tunder\tthe\tbed,\tand\tCelaena\tknelt\tupon\tthe\ticy\tfloor,\tstraining\tto reach\t the\t book.\t She\t couldn\u2019t\t feel\t it\t anywhere,\t so\t she\t grabbed\t the\t candle.\t She saw\t the\t book\t immediately,\t tucked\t against\t the\t back\t wall,\t but\t as\t her\t fingers grappled\tonto\tthe\tcover,\ta\tglimmer\tof\tcandlelight\ttraced\ta\twhite\tline\tacross\tthe floor\tbeneath\ther\tbed. Celaena\t yanked\t the\t book\t back\t to\t her\t and\t stood\t with\t a\t jolt.\t Her\t hands trembled\t as\t she\t pushed\t the\t bed\t out\t of\t position,\t her\t feet\t slipping\t on\t the\t half- frozen\t floor.\t It\t moved\t slowly,\t but\t eventually,\t she\t had\t shifted\t it\t enough\t to\t see what\thad\tbeen\tsketched\ton\tthe\tfloor\tbeneath. Everything\tinside\tof\ther\tturned\tto\tice. Wyrdmarks. Dozens\t of\t Wyrdmarks\t had\t been\t drawn\t onto\t the\t floor\t with\t chalk.\t They formed\t a\t giant\t spiral,\t with\t a\t large\t mark\t in\t its\t center.\t Celaena\t stumbled\t back, slamming\tinto\ther\tdresser. What\twas\tthis?\tShe\tran\ta\tshaking\thand\tthrough\ther\thair,\tstaring\tat\tthe\tcenter mark. She\u2019d\tseen\tthat\tmark.\tIt\thad\tbeen\tetched\ton\tone\tside\tof\tVerin\u2019s\tbody. Her\tstomach\trising\tin\ther\tthroat,\tshe\trushed\tto\ther\tnightstand\tand\tgrabbed\tthe pitcher\tof\twater\tatop\tit.\tWithout\ta\tthought,\tshe\ttossed\tthe\twater\tonto\tthe\tmarks, then\t raced\t to\t her\t bathing\t chamber\t to\t draw\t more\t water.\t When\t the\t water\t had finished\t loosening\t the\t chalk,\t she\t took\t a\t towel\t and\t scrubbed\t the\t floor\t until\t her back\tached\tand\ther\tlegs\tand\thands\twere\tfrozen. Then,\tonly\tthen,\tdid\tshe\tthrow\ton\ta\tpair\tof\tpants\tand\ta\ttunic\tand\thead\tout\tthe door. \u2022"]
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