["She\t should\t help,\t not\t cower\t in\t the\t trees.\t She\t had\t learned\t to\t hold\t a\t knife\t and\t a\t small sword.\tShe\tshould\thelp. The\t man\t lunged\t for\t Marion,\t but\t she\t darted\t out\t of\t the\t way\u2014and\t then\t leapt\t on\t him, slicing\tand\ttearing\tand\tbiting. And\tthen\tsomething\tbroke\u2014something\tbroke\tso\tfundamentally\tshe\tknew\tthere\twas\tno coming\tback\tfrom\tit,\teither\tfor\ther\tor\tLady\tMarion\u2014as\tthe\tman\tgrabbed\tthe\twoman\tand threw\ther\tagainst\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\ttable.\tA\tcrack\tof\tbone,\tthen\tthe\tarc\tof\this\tblade\tgoing\tfor her\tstunned\tform\u2014for\ther\thead.\tRed\tsprayed. She\t knew\t enough\t about\t death\t to\t understand\t that\t once\t a\t head\t was\t severed\t like\t that,\t it was\tover.\tKnew\tthat\tLady\tMarion,\twho\thad\tloved\ther\thusband\tand\tdaughter\tso\tmuch,\twas gone.\tKnew\tthat\tthis\u2014this\twas\tcalled\tsacrifice. She\tran.\tRan\tthrough\tthe\tbarren\ttrees,\tthe\tbrush\tripping\ther\tclothes,\ther\thair,\tshredding and\tbiting.\tThe\tman\tdidn\u2019t\tbother\tto\tbe\tquiet\tas\the\tflung\topen\tthe\tkitchen\tdoor,\tmounted his\t horse,\t and\t galloped\t after\t her.\t The\t hoofbeats\t were\t so\t powerful\t they\t seemed\t to\t echo through\tthe\tforest\u2014the\thorse\thad\tto\tbe\ta\tmonster. She\t tripped\t over\t a\t root\t and\t slammed\t into\t the\t earth.\t In\t the\t distance,\t the\t melting\t river was\t roaring.\t So\t close,\t but\u2014her\t ankle\t gave\t a\t bolt\t of\t agony.\t Stuck\u2014she\t was\t stuck\t in\t the mud\t and\t roots.\t She\t yanked\t at\t the\t roots\t that\t held\t her,\t wood\t ripping\t her\t nails,\t and\t when that\tdid\tnothing,\tshe\tclawed\tat\tthe\tmuddy\tground.\tHer\tfingers\tburned. A\tsword\twhined\tas\tit\twas\tdrawn\tfrom\tits\tsheath,\tand\tthe\tground\treverberated\twith\tthe pounding\thooves\tof\tthe\thorse.\tCloser,\tcloser\tit\tcame. A\tsacrifice\u2014it\thad\tbeen\ta\tsacrifice,\tand\tnow\tit\twould\tbe\tin\tvain. More\tthan\tdeath,\tthat\twas\twhat\tshe\thated\tmost\u2014the\twasted\tsacrifice\tof\tLady\tMarion. She\tclawed\tat\tthe\tground\tand\tyanked\tat\tthe\troots,\tand\tthen\u2014 Tiny\teyes\tin\tthe\tdark,\tsmall\tfingers\tat\tthe\troots,\theaving\tthem\tup,\tup.\tHer\tfoot\tslipped free\t and\t she\t was\t up\t again,\t unable\t to\t thank\t the\t Little\t Folk\t who\t had\t already\t vanished, unable\tto\tdo\tanything\tbut\trun,\tlimping\tnow.\tThe\tman\twas\tso\tclose,\tthe\tbracken\tcracking behind,\tbut\tshe\tknew\tthe\tway.\tShe\thad\tcome\tthrough\there\tso\tmany\ttimes\tthat\tthe\tdarkness was\tno\tobstacle. She\t only\t had\t to\t make\t it\t to\t the\t bridge.\t His\t horse\t could\t not\t pass,\t and\t she\t was\t fast enough\tto\toutrun\thim.\tThe\tLittle\tFolk\tmight\thelp\ther\tagain.\tShe\tonly\thad\tto\tmake\tit\tto\tthe bridge. A\t break\t in\t the\t trees\u2014and\t the\t river\u2019s\t roar\t grew\t overpowering.\t She\t was\t so\t close\t now. She\t felt\t and\t heard,\t rather\t than\t saw,\t his\t horse\t break\t through\t the\t trees\t behind\t her,\t the whoosh\tof\this\tsword\tas\the\tlifted\tit,\tpreparing\tto\tcleave\ther\thead\tright\tthere. There\t were\t the\t twin\t posts,\t faint\t on\t the\t moonless\t night.\t The\t bridge.\t She\t had\t made\t it, and\tnow\tshe\thad\tonly\tyards,\tnow\ta\tfew\tfeet,\tnow\u2014 The\tbreath\tof\this\thorse\twas\thot\ton\ther\tneck\tas\tshe\tflung\therself\tbetween\tthe\ttwo\tposts of\tthe\tbridge,\tmaking\ta\tleap\tonto\tthe\twood\tplanks. Making\ta\tleap\tonto\tthin\tair.","She\thad\tnot\tmissed\tit\u2014no,\tthose\twere\tthe\tposts\tand\u2014 He\thad\tcut\tthe\tbridge. It\twas\ther\tonly\tthought\tas\tshe\tplummeted,\tso\tfast\tshe\thad\tno\ttime\tto\tscream\tbefore\tshe hit\tthe\ticy\twater\tand\twas\tpulled\tunder. That. That\tmoment\tLady\tMarion\thad\tchosen\ta\tdesperate\thope\tfor\ther\tkingdom\tover\therself, over\ther\thusband\tand\tthe\tdaughter\twho\twould\twait\tand\twait\tfor\ta\treturn\tthat\twould\tnever come. That\t was\t the\t moment\t that\t had\t broken\t everything\t Aelin\t Galathynius\t was\t and\t had promised\tto\tbe. Celaena\twas\tlying\ton\tthe\tground\u2014on\tthe\tbottom\tof\tthe\tworld,\ton\tthe\tbottom\tof\thell. That\twas\tthe\tmoment\tshe\tcould\tnot\tface\u2014had\tnot\tfaced. For\teven\tthen,\tshe\thad\tknown\tthe\tenormity\tof\tthat\tsacrifice. There\twas\tmore,\tafter\tthe\tmoment\tshe\u2019d\thit\tthe\twater.\tBut\tthose\tmemories\twere\thazy,\ta mix\t of\t ice\t and\t black\t water\t and\t strange\t light,\t and\t then\t she\t knew\t nothing\t more\t until Arobynn\twas\tcrouched\tover\ther\ton\tthe\treedy\triverbank,\tsomewhere\tfar\taway.\tShe\tawoke in\ta\tstrange\tbed\tin\ta\tcold\tkeep,\tthe\tAmulet\tof\tOrynth\tlost\tto\tthe\triver.\tWhatever\tmagic\tit had,\twhatever\tprotection,\thad\tbeen\tused\tup\tthat\tnight. Then\t the\t process\t of\t taking\t her\t fear\t and\t guilt\t and\t despair\t and\t twisting\t them\t into something\tnew.\tThen\tthe\thate\u2014the\thate\tthat\thad\trebuilt\ther,\tthe\trage\tthat\thad\tfueled\ther, smothering\tthe\tmemories\tshe\tburied\tin\ta\tgrave\twithin\ther\theart\tand\tnever\tlet\tout. She\thad\ttaken\tLady\tMarion\u2019s\tsacrifice\tand\tbecome\ta\tmonster,\talmost\tas\tbad\tas\tthe\tone who\thad\tmurdered\tLady\tMarion\tand\ther\town\tfamily. That\twas\twhy\tshe\tcould\tnot,\tdid\tnot,\tgo\thome. She\thad\tnever\tlooked\tfor\tthe\tdeath\ttolls\tin\tthose\tinitial\tweeks\tof\tslaughter,\tor\tthe\tyears afterward.\t But\t she\t knew\t Lord\t Lochan\t had\t been\t executed.\t Quinn\t and\t his\t men.\t And\t so many\tof\tthose\tchildren\t\u2026\tsuch\tbright\tlights,\tall\thers\tto\tprotect.\tAnd\tshe\thad\tfailed. Celaena\tclung\tto\tthe\tground. It\t was\t what\t she\t had\t not\t been\t able\t to\t tell\t Chaol,\t or\t Dorian,\t or\t Elena:\t that\t when Nehemia\tarranged\tfor\ther\town\tdeath\tso\tit\twould\tspur\ther\tinto\taction,\tthat\tsacrifice\t\u2026\tthat worthless\tsacrifice\t\u2026 She\tcould\tnot\tlet\tgo\tof\tthe\tground.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tbeneath\tit,\tnowhere\telse\tto\tgo, nowhere\tto\toutrun\tthis\ttruth. She\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\thow\tlong\tshe\tlay\ton\tthe\tbottom\tof\twherever\tthis\twas,\tbut\teventually the\tValg\tprinces\tstarted\tup\tagain,\tbarely\tmore\tthan\tshadows\tof\tthought\tand\tmalice\tas\tthey stalked\tfrom\tmemory\tto\tmemory\tas\tif\tsampling\tplatters\tat\ta\tfeast.\tLittle\tbites\u2014sips.\tThey did\t not\t even\t look\t her\t way,\t for\t they\t had\t won.\t And\t she\t was\t glad\t of\t it.\t Let\t them\t do\t what they\twanted,\tlet\tNarrok\tcarry\ther\tback\tto\tAdarlan\tand\tthrow\ther\tat\tthe\tking\u2019s\tfeet.","There\twas\ta\tscrape\tand\tcrunch\tof\tshoes,\tthen\ta\tsmall,\tsmooth\thand\tslid\ttoward\ther.\tBut it\twas\tnot\tChaol\tor\tSam\tor\tNehemia\twho\tlay\tacross\tfrom\ther,\twatching\ther\twith\tthose\tsad turquoise\teyes. Her\t cheek\t against\t the\t moss,\t the\t young\t princess\t she\t had\t been\u2014Aelin\t Galathynius\u2014 reached\ta\thand\tfor\ther.\t\u201cGet\tup,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tsoftly. Celaena\tshook\ther\thead. Aelin\t strained\t for\t her,\t bridging\t that\t rift\t in\t the\t foundation\t of\t the\t world.\t \u201cGet\t up.\u201d\t A promise\u2014a\tpromise\tfor\ta\tbetter\tlife,\ta\tbetter\tworld. The\tValg\tprinces\tpaused. She\t had\t wasted\t her\t life,\t wasted\t Marion\u2019s\t sacrifice.\t Those\t slaves\t had\t been\t butchered because\tshe\thad\tfailed\u2014because\tshe\thad\tnot\tbeen\tthere\tin\ttime. \u201cGet\t up,\u201d\t someone\t said\t beyond\t the\t young\t princess.\t Sam.\t Sam,\t standing\t just\t beyond where\tshe\tcould\tsee,\tsmiling\tfaintly. \u201cGet\tup,\u201d\tsaid\tanother\tvoice\u2014a\twoman\u2019s.\tNehemia. \u201cGet\tup.\u201d\tTwo\tvoices\ttogether\u2014her\tmother\tand\tfather,\tfaces\tgrave\tbut\teyes\tbright.\tHer uncle\t was\t beside\t them,\t the\t crown\t of\t Terrasen\t on\t his\t silver\t hair.\t \u201cGet\t up,\u201d\t he\t told\t her gently. One\t by\t one,\t like\t shadows\t emerging\t from\t the\t mist,\t they\t appeared.\t The\t faces\t of\t the people\tshe\thad\tloved\twith\ther\theart\tof\twildfire. And\t then\t there\t was\t Lady\t Marion,\t smiling\t beside\t her\t husband.\t \u201cGet\t up,\u201d\t she whispered,\ther\tvoice\tfull\tof\tthat\thope\tfor\tthe\tworld,\tand\tfor\tthe\tdaughter\tshe\twould\tnever seen\tagain. A\ttremor\tin\tthe\tdarkness. Aelin\tstill\tlay\tbefore\ther,\thand\tstill\treaching.\tThe\tValg\tprinces\tturned. As\tthe\tdemon\tprinces\tmoved,\ther\tmother\tstepped\ttoward\ther,\tface\tand\thair\tand\tbuild\tso like\ther\town.\t\u201cYou\tare\ta\tdisappointment,\u201d\tshe\thissed. Her\tfather\tcrossed\this\tmuscular\tarms.\t\u201cYou\tare\teverything\tI\thated\tabout\tthe\tworld.\u201d Her\tuncle,\tstill\twearing\tthe\tantler\tcrown\tlong\tsince\tburned\tto\tash:\t\u201cBetter\tthat\tyou\thad died\twith\tus\tthan\tshame\tus,\tdegrade\tour\tmemory,\tbetray\tour\tpeople.\u201d Their\t voices\t swirled\t together.\t \u201cTraitor.\t Murderer.\t Liar.\t Thief.\t Coward.\u201d\t Again\t and again,\t worming\t in\t just\t as\t the\t King\t of\t Adarlan\u2019s\t power\t had\t wriggled\t in\t her\t mind\t like\t a maggot. The\tking\thadn\u2019t\tdone\tit\tmerely\tto\tcause\ta\tdisruption\tand\thurt\ther.\tHe\thad\talso\tdone\tit to\tseparate\ther\tfamily,\tto\tget\tthem\tout\tof\tthe\tcastle\u2014to\ttake\tthe\tblame\taway\tfrom\tAdarlan and\tmake\tit\tlook\tlike\tan\toutside\tattack. She\thad\tblamed\therself\tfor\tdragging\tthem\tto\tthe\tmanor\thouse\tto\tbe\tbutchered.\tBut\tthe king\thad\tplanned\tit\tall,\tevery\tminute\tdetail.\tExcept\tfor\tthe\tmistake\tof\tleaving\ther\talive\u2014 perhaps\tbecause\tthe\tpower\tof\tthe\tamulet\tdid\tindeed\tsave\ther.","\u201cCome\twith\tus,\u201d\ther\tfamily\twhispered.\t\u201cCome\twith\tus\tinto\tthe\tageless\tdark.\u201d They\t reached\t for\t her,\t faces\t shadowed\t and\t twisted.\t Yet\u2014yet\t even\t those\t faces,\t so warped\t with\t hatred\t \u2026\t she\t still\t loved\t them\u2014even\t if\t they\t loathed\t her,\t even\t if\t it\t ached; loved\t them\t until\t their\t hissing\t faded,\t until\t they\t vanished\t like\t smoke,\t leaving\t only\t Aelin lying\tbeside\ther,\tas\tshe\thad\tbeen\tall\talong. She\t looked\t at\t Aelin\u2019s\t face\u2014the\t face\t she\u2019d\t once\t worn\u2014and\t at\t her\t still\t outstretched hand,\tso\tsmall\tand\tunscarred.\tThe\tdarkness\tof\tthe\tValg\tprinces\tflickered. There\t was\t solid\t ground\t beneath\t her.\t Moss\t and\t grass.\t Not\t hell\u2014earth.\t The\t earth\t on which\t her\t kingdom\t lay,\t green\t and\t mountainous\t and\t as\t unyielding\t as\t its\t people.\t Her people. Her\tpeople,\twaiting\tfor\tten\tyears,\tbut\tno\tlonger. She\tcould\tsee\tthe\tsnow-capped\tStaghorns,\tthe\twild\ttangle\tof\tOakwald\tat\ttheir\tfeet,\tand \u2026\tand\tOrynth,\tthat\tcity\tof\tlight\tand\tlearning,\tonce\ta\tpillar\tof\tstrength\u2014and\ther\thome. It\twould\tbe\tboth\tagain. She\twould\tnot\tlet\tthat\tlight\tgo\tout. She\t would\t fill\t the\t world\t with\t it,\t with\t her\t light\u2014her\t gift.\t She\t would\t light\t up\t the darkness,\tso\tbrightly\tthat\tall\twho\twere\tlost\tor\twounded\tor\tbroken\twould\tfind\ttheir\tway\tto it,\t a\t beacon\t for\t those\t who\t still\t dwelled\t in\t that\t abyss.\t It\t would\t not\t take\t a\t monster\t to destroy\ta\tmonster\u2014but\tlight,\tlight\tto\tdrive\tout\tdarkness. She\twas\tnot\tafraid. She\t would\t remake\t the\t world\u2014remake\t it\t for\t them,\t those\t she\t had\t loved\t with\t this glorious,\tburning\theart;\ta\tworld\tso\tbrilliant\tand\tprosperous\tthat\twhen\tshe\tsaw\tthem\tagain in\tthe\tAfterworld,\tshe\twould\tnot\tbe\tashamed.\tShe\twould\tbuild\tit\tfor\ther\tpeople,\twho\thad survived\t this\t long,\t and\t whom\t she\t would\t not\t abandon.\t She\t would\t make\t for\t them\t a kingdom\tsuch\tas\tthere\thad\tnever\tbeen,\teven\tif\tit\ttook\tuntil\ther\tlast\tbreath. She\twas\ttheir\tqueen,\tand\tshe\tcould\toffer\tthem\tnothing\tless. Aelin\tGalathynius\tsmiled\tat\ther,\thand\tstill\toutreached.\t\u201cGet\tup,\u201d\tthe\tprincess\tsaid. Celaena\treached\tacross\tthe\tearth\tbetween\tthem\tand\tbrushed\ther\tfingers\tagainst\tAelin\u2019s. And\tarose.","Chapter\t55 The\tbarrier\tfell. But\t the\t darkness\t did\t not\t advance\t over\t the\t ward-stones,\t and\t Rowan,\t who\t had\t been restrained\tby\tGavriel\tand\tLorcan\tin\tthe\tgrass\toutside\tthe\tfortress,\tknew\twhy. The\tcreatures\tand\tNarrok\thad\tcaptured\ta\tprize\tfar\tgreater\tthan\tthe\tdemi-Fae.\tThe\tjoy\tof feeding\t on\t her\t was\t something\t they\t planned\t to\t relish\t for\t a\t long,\t long\t while.\t Everything else\twas\tsecondary\u2014as\tif\tthey\u2019d\tforgotten\tto\tcontinue\tadvancing,\tswept\tup\tin\tthe\tfrenzy of\tfeasting. Behind\t them,\t the\t fighting\t continued,\t as\t it\t had\t for\t the\t past\t twenty\t minutes.\t Wind\t and ice\t were\t of\t no\t use\t against\t the\t darkness,\t though\t Rowan\t had\t hurled\t both\t against\t it\t the moment\t the\t barrier\t fell.\t Again\t and\t again,\t anything\t to\t pierce\t that\t eternal\t black\t and\t see what\t was\t left\t of\t the\t princess.\t Even\t as\t he\t started\t hearing\t a\t soft,\t warm\t female\t voice, beckoning\tto\thim\tfrom\tthe\tdarkness\u2014that\tvoice\the\thad\tspent\tcenturies\tforgetting,\twhich now\ttore\thim\tto\tshreds. Rowan\t had\t hurled\t both\t against\t it\t the\t moment\t the\t barrier\t fell.\t Again\t and\t again, anything\t to\t pierce\t that\t eternal\t black\t and\t see\t what\t was\t left\t of\t the\t princess.\t Even\t as\t he started\thearing\ta\tsoft,\twarm\tfemale\tvoice,\tbeckoning\tto\thim\tfrom\tthe\tdarkness\u2014that\tvoice he\thad\tspent\tcenturies\tforgetting,\twhich\tnow\ttore\thim\tto\tshreds. \u201cRowan,\u201d\t Gavriel\t murmured,\t tightening\t his\t grip\t on\t Rowan\u2019s\t arm.\t Rain\t had\t begun pouring.\t\u201cWe\tare\tneeded\tinside.\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\t he\t snarled.\t He\t knew\t Aelin\t was\t alive,\t because\t during\t all\t these\t weeks\t that\t they had\tbeen\tbreathing\teach\tother\u2019s\tscents,\tthey\thad\tbecome\tbonded.\tShe\twas\talive,\tbut\tcould be\tin\tany\tlevel\tof\ttorment\tor\tdecay.\tThat\twas\twhy\tGavriel\tand\tLorcan\twere\tholding\thim back.\tIf\tthey\tdidn\u2019t,\the\twould\trun\tfor\tthe\tdarkness,\twhere\tLyria\tbeckoned. But\tfor\tAelin,\the\thad\ttried\tto\tbreak\tfree. \u201cRowan,\tthe\tothers\u2014\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d Lorcan\t swore\t over\t the\t roar\t of\t the\t torrential\t rain.\t \u201cShe\t is\t dead,\t you\t fool,\t or\t close enough\tto\tit.\tYou\tcan\tstill\tsave\tother\tlives.\u201d They\tbegan\thauling\thim\tto\this\tfeet,\taway\tfrom\ther.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tlet\tme\tgo,\tI\u2019ll\trip\tyour head\t from\t your\t body,\u201d\t he\t snarled\t at\t Lorcan,\t the\t commander\t who\t had\t offered\t him\t a company\tof\twarriors\twhen\the\thad\tnothing\tand\tno\tone\tleft. Gavriel\t flicked\t his\t eyes\t to\t Lorcan\t in\t some\t silent\t conversation.\t Rowan\t tensed, preparing\t to\t fling\t them\t off.\t They\t would\t knock\t him\t unconscious\t sooner\t than\t allow\t him into\tthat\tdark,\twhere\tLyria\u2019s\tbeckoning\thad\tnow\tturned\tto\tscreaming\tfor\tmercy.\tIt\twasn\u2019t real.\tIt\twasn\u2019t\treal.","But\tAelin\twas\t real,\t and\t was\t being\t drained\t of\t life\t with\t every\t moment\t they\t held\t him here.\tAll\the\tneeded\tto\tget\tthem\tunconscious\twas\tfor\tGavriel\tto\tdrop\this\tmagical\tshield\u2014 which\the\u2019d\thad\tup\tagainst\tRowan\u2019s\town\tpower\tfrom\tthe\tmoment\the\u2019d\tpinned\thim.\tHe\thad to\tget\tinto\tthat\tdark,\thad\tto\tfind\ther.\t\u201cLet\tgo,\u201d\the\tgrowled\tagain. A\t rumbling\t shook\t the\t earth,\t and\t they\t froze.\t Beneath\t them\t some\t huge\t power\t was surging\u2014a\tbehemoth\trising\tfrom\tthe\tdeep. They\t turned\t toward\t the\t darkness.\t And\t Rowan\t could\t have\t sworn\t that\t a\t golden\t light arced\tthrough\tit,\tthen\tdisappeared. \u201cThat\u2019s\timpossible,\u201d\tGavriel\tbreathed.\t\u201cShe\tburned\tout.\u201d Rowan\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t blink.\t Her\t burnouts\t had\t always\t been\t self-imposed,\t some\t inner barrier\tcomposed\tof\tfear\tand\ta\tlingering\tdesire\tfor\tnormalcy\tthat\tkept\ther\tfrom\taccepting the\ttrue\tdepth\tof\ther\tpower. The\tcreatures\tfed\ton\tdespair\tand\tpain\tand\tterror.\tBut\twhat\tif\u2014what\tif\tthe\tvictim\tlet\tgo of\tthose\tfears?\tWhat\tif\tthe\tvictim\twalked\tthrough\tthem\u2014embraced\tthem? As\tif\tin\tanswer,\tflame\terupted\tfrom\tthe\twall\tof\tdarkness. The\t fire\t unfurled,\t filling\t the\t rainy\t night,\t vibrant\t as\t a\t red\t opal.\t Lorcan\t swore,\t and Gavriel\tthrew\tup\tadditional\tshields\tof\this\town\tmagic.\tRowan\tdidn\u2019t\tbother. They\t did\t not\t fight\t him\t as\t he\t shrugged\t off\t their\t grip,\t surging\t to\t his\t feet.\t The\t flame didn\u2019t\tsinge\ta\thair\ton\this\thead.\tIt\tflowed\tabove\tand\tpast\thim,\tglorious\tand\timmortal\tand unbreakable. And\t there,\t beyond\t the\t stones,\t standing\t between\t two\t of\t those\t creatures,\t was\t Aelin,\t a strange\t mark\t glowing\t on\t her\t brow.\t Her\t hair\t flowed\t around\t her,\t shorter\t now\t and\t bright like\t her\t fire.\t And\t her\t eyes\u2014though\t they\t were\t red-rimmed,\t the\t gold\t in\t her\t eyes\t was\t a living\tflame. The\ttwo\tcreatures\tlunged\tfor\ther,\tthe\tdarkness\tsweeping\tin\taround\tthem. Rowan\tran\tall\tof\tone\tstep\tbefore\tshe\tflung\tout\ther\tarms,\tgrabbing\tthe\tcreatures\tby\ttheir flawless\tfaces\u2014her\tpalms\tover\ttheir\topen\tmouths\tas\tshe\texhaled\tsharply. As\tif\tshe\u2019d\tbreathed\tfire\tinto\ttheir\tcores,\tflames\tshot\tout\tof\ttheir\teyes,\ttheir\tears,\ttheir fingers.\tThe\ttwo\tcreatures\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\tchance\tto\tscream\tas\tshe\tburned\tthem\tinto\tcinders. She\t lowered\t her\t arms.\t Her\t magic\t was\t raging\t so\t fiercely\t that\t the\t rain\t turned\t to\t steam before\tit\thit\ther.\tA\tweapon\tbright\tfrom\tthe\tforging. He\t forgot\t Gavriel\t and\t Lorcan\t as\t he\t bolted\t for\t her\u2014the\t gold\t and\t red\t and\t blue\t flames utterly\thers,\tthis\their\tof\tfire.\tSpying\thim\tat\tlast,\tshe\tsmiled\tfaintly.\tA\tqueen\u2019s\tsmile. But\t there\t was\t exhaustion\t in\t that\t smile,\t and\t her\t bright\t magic\t flickered.\t Behind\t her, Narrok\tand\tthe\tremaining\tcreature\u2014the\tone\tthey\thad\tfaced\tin\tthe\twoods\u2014were\tspooling the\t darkness\t into\t themselves,\t as\t if\t readying\t for\t attack.\t She\t turned\t toward\t them,\t swaying slightly,\t her\t skin\t deathly\t pale.\t They\t had\t fed\t on\t her,\t and\t she\t was\t drained\t after\t shredding apart\ttheir\tbrethren.\tA\tvery\treal,\tvery\tfinal\tburnout\twas\tsteadily\tapproaching. The\twall\tof\tblack\tswelled,\tone\tfinal\thammer\tblow\tto\tsquash\ther,\tbut\tshe\tstood\tfast,\ta","golden\t light\t in\t the\t darkness.\t That\t was\t all\t Rowan\t needed\t to\t see\t before\t he\t knew\t what\t he had\tto\tdo.\tWind\tand\tice\twere\tof\tno\tuse\there,\tbut\tthere\twere\tother\tways. Rowan\t drew\t his\t dagger\t and\t sliced\t his\t palm\t open\t as\t he\t sprinted\t through\t the\t gate- stones. The\tdarkness\tbuilt\tand\tbuilt,\tand\tshe\tknew\tit\twould\thurt,\tknew\tit\twould\tlikely\tkill\ther\tand Rowan\twhen\tit\tcame\tcrashing\tdown.\tBut\tshe\twould\tnot\trun\tfrom\tit. Rowan\treached\ther,\tpanting\tand\tbloody.\tShe\tdid\tnot\tdishonor\thim\tby\tasking\thim\tto\tflee as\the\textended\this\tbleeding\tpalm,\toffering\this\traw\tpower\tto\tharness\tnow\tthat\tshe\twas\twell and\ttruly\temptied.\tShe\tknew\tit\twould\twork.\tShe\thad\tsuspected\tit\tfor\tsome\ttime\tnow.\tThey were\tcarranam. He\t had\t come\t for\t her.\t She\t held\t his\t gaze\t as\t she\t grabbed\t her\t own\t dagger\t and\t cut\t her palm,\tright\tover\tthe\tscar\tshe\u2019d\tgiven\therself\tat\tNehemia\u2019s\tgrave.\tAnd\tthough\tshe\tknew\the could\tread\tthe\twords\ton\ther\tface,\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201cTo\twhatever\tend?\u201d He\t nodded,\t and\t she\t joined\t hands\t with\t him,\t blood\t to\t blood\t and\t soul\t to\t soul,\t his\t other arm\t coming\t around\t to\t grip\t her\t tightly.\t Their\t hands\t clasped\t between\t them,\t he\t whispered into\ther\tear,\t\u201cI\tclaim\tyou,\ttoo,\tAelin\tGalathynius.\u201d The\twave\tof\timpenetrable\tblack\tdescended,\troaring\tas\tit\tmade\tto\tdevour\tthem. Yet\t this\t was\t not\t the\t end\u2014this\t was\t not\t her\t end.\t She\t had\t survived\t loss\t and\t pain\t and torture;\t she\t had\t survived\t slavery\t and\t hatred\t and\t despair;\t she\t would\t survive\t this,\t too. Because\thers\twas\tnot\ta\tstory\tof\tdarkness.\tSo\tshe\twas\tnot\tafraid\tof\tthat\tcrushing\tblack,\tnot with\t the\t warrior\t holding\t her,\t not\t with\t the\t courage\t that\t having\t one\t true\t friend\t offered\u2014a friend\twho\tmade\tliving\tnot\tso\tawful\tafter\tall,\tnot\tif\tshe\twere\twith\thim. Rowan\u2019s\t magic\t punched\t into\t her,\t old\t and\t strange\t and\t so\t vast\t her\t knees\t buckled.\t He held\ther\twith\tthat\tunrelenting\tstrength,\tand\tshe\tharnessed\this\twild\tpower\tas\the\topened\this innermost\tbarriers,\tletting\tit\tflow\tthrough\ther. The\tblack\twave\twas\tnot\thalfway\tfallen\twhen\tthey\tshattered\tit\tapart\twith\tgolden\tlight, leaving\tNarrok\tand\this\tremaining\tprince\tgaping. She\tdid\tnot\tgive\tthem\ta\tmoment\tto\tspool\tthe\tdarkness\tback.\tDrawing\tpower\tfrom\tthe endless\twell\twithin\tRowan,\tshe\tpulled\tup\tfire\tand\tlight,\tembers\tand\twarmth,\tthe\tglow\tof\ta thousand\tdawns\tand\tsunsets.\tIf\tthe\tValg\tcraved\tthe\tsunshine\tof\tErilea,\tthen\tshe\twould\tgive it\tto\tthem. Narrok\tand\tthe\tprince\twere\tshrieking.\tThe\tValg\tdid\tnot\twant\tto\tgo\tback;\tthey\tdid\tnot want\tto\tbe\tended,\tnot\tafter\tso\tlong\tspent\twaiting\tto\treturn\tto\ther\tworld.\tBut\tshe\tcrammed the\tlight\tdown\ttheir\tthroats,\tburning\tup\ttheir\tblack\tblood. She\tclung\tto\tRowan,\tgritting\ther\tteeth\tagainst\tthe\tsounds.\tThere\twas\ta\tsudden\tsilence, and\t she\t looked\t to\t Narrok,\t standing\t so\t still,\t watching,\t waiting.\t A\t spear\t of\t black\t punched into\ther\thead\u2014offering\tone\tmore\tvision\tin\ta\tmere\theartbeat.\tNot\ta\tmemory,\tbut\ta\tglimpse of\tthe\tfuture.\tThe\tsounds\tand\tsmell\tand\tlook\tof\tit\twere\tso\treal\tthat\tonly\ther\tgrip\ton\tRowan kept\t her\t anchored\t in\t the\t world.\t Then\t it\t was\t gone,\t and\t the\t light\t was\t still\t building, enveloping\tthem\tall.","The\tlight\tbecame\tunbearable\tas\tshe\twilled\tit\tinto\tthe\ttwo\tValg\twho\thad\tnow\tdropped\tto their\tknees,\tpouring\tit\tinto\tevery\tshadowy\tcorner\tof\tthem.\tAnd\tshe\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthat the\t blackness\t in\t Narrok\u2019s\t eyes\t faded.\t Could\t have\t sworn\t that\t his\t eyes\t became\t a\t mortal brown,\tand\tthat\tgratitude\tflickered\tjust\tfor\ta\tmoment.\tJust\tfor\ta\tmoment;\tthen\tshe\tburned both\tdemon\tand\tNarrok\tto\tash. The\t remaining\t Valg\t prince\t crawled\t only\t two\t steps\t before\t he\t followed\t suit,\t a\t silent scream\t on\t his\t perfect\t face\t as\t he\t was\t incinerated.\t When\t the\t light\t and\t flames\t receded,\t all that\t remained\t of\t Narrok\t and\t the\t Valg\t were\t four\t Wyrdstone\t collars\t steaming\t in\t the\t wet grass.","Chapter\t56 A\tfew\tdays\tafter\tthe\tunforgivable,\tdespicable\tslave\tmassacre,\tSorscha\twas\tfinishing\tup\ta letter\tto\ther\tfriend\twhen\tthere\twas\ta\tknock\ton\ther\tworkroom\tdoor.\tShe\tjumped,\tscrawling a\tline\tof\tink\tdown\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\tpage. Dorian\t popped\t his\t head\t in,\t grinning,\t but\t the\t grin\t faltered\t when\t he\t saw\t the\t letter.\t \u201cI hope\t I\u2019m\t not\t interrupting,\u201d\t he\t said,\t slipping\t in\t and\t shutting\t the\t door.\t As\t he\t turned,\t she balled\tup\tthe\truined\tpaper\tand\tchucked\tit\tinto\tthe\trubbish\tpail. \u201cNot\tat\tall,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\ttoes\tcurling\tas\the\tnuzzled\ther\tneck\tand\tslipped\this\tarms\taround her\t waist.\t \u201cSomeone\t might\t walk\t in,\u201d\t she\t protested,\t squirming\t out\t of\t his\t grip.\t He\t let\t her go,\t but\t his\t eyes\t gleamed\t in\t a\t way\t that\t told\t her\t when\t they\t were\t alone\t again\t tonight,\t he might\tnot\tbe\tso\teasy\tto\tconvince.\tShe\tsmiled. \u201cDo\tthat\tagain,\u201d\the\tbreathed. So\t Sorscha\t smiled\t again,\t laughing.\t And\t he\t looked\t so\t baffled\t by\t it\t that\t she\t asked, \u201cWhat?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tthe\tmost\tbeautiful\tthing\tI\u2019ve\tever\tseen,\u201d\the\tsaid. She\thad\tto\tlook\taway,\tgo\tfind\tsomething\tto\tdo\twith\ther\thands.\tThey\tworked\ttogether\tin silence,\tas\tthey\twere\tprone\tto\tdoing\tnow\tthat\tDorian\tknew\this\tway\taround\tthe\tworkroom. He\tliked\thelping\ther\twith\ther\ttonics\tfor\tother\tpatients. Someone\tcoughed\tfrom\tthe\tdoorway,\tand\tthey\tstraightened,\tSorscha\u2019s\theart\tflying\tinto her\t throat.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t even\t noticed\t the\t door\t opening\u2014or\t the\t Captain\t of\t the\t Guard\t now standing\tin\tit. The\tcaptain\twalked\tright\tin,\tand\tDorian\tstiffened\tbeside\ther. \u201cCaptain,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201care\tyou\tin\tneed\tof\tmy\tassistance?\u201d Dorian\tsaid\tnothing,\this\tface\tunusually\tgrim\u2014those\tbeautiful\teyes\thaunted\tand\theavy. He\tslipped\ta\twarm\thand\taround\ther\twaist,\tresting\tit\ton\ther\tback.\tThe\tcaptain\tquietly\tshut the\tdoor,\tand\tseemed\tto\tlisten\tto\tthe\toutside\thall\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tspeaking. He\t looked\t even\t graver\t than\t her\t prince\u2014his\t broad\t shoulders\t seeming\t to\t sag\t under\t an invisible\t burden.\t But\t his\t golden-brown\t eyes\t were\t clear\t as\t they\t met\t Dorian\u2019s.\t \u201cYou\t were right.\u201d Chaol\t supposed\t it\t was\t a\t miracle\t in\t itself\t that\t Dorian\t had\t agreed\t to\t do\t this.\t The\t grief\t on Dorian\u2019s\tface\tthis\tmorning\thad\ttold\thim\the\tcould\task.\tAnd\tthat\tDorian\twould\tsay\tyes. Dorian\tmade\tChaol\texplain\teverything\u2014to\tboth\tof\tthem.\tThat\twas\tDorian\u2019s\tprice:\tthe truth\towed\tto\thim,\tand\tto\tthe\twoman\twho\tdeserved\tto\tknow\twhat\tshe\twas\trisking\therself for. Chaol\tquietly,\tquickly,\texplained\teverything:\tthe\tmagic,\tthe\tWyrdkeys,\tthe\tthree\ttowers","\u2026\tall\tof\tit.\tTo\ther\tcredit,\tSorscha\tdidn\u2019t\tfall\tapart\tor\tdoubt\thim.\tHe\twondered\tif\tshe\twas reeling,\t if\t she\t was\t upset\t with\t Dorian\t for\t not\t telling\t her.\t She\t revealed\t nothing,\t not\t with that\thealer\u2019s\ttraining\tand\tself-control.\tBut\tthe\tprince\twatched\tSorscha\tas\tif\the\tcould\tread her\timpregnable\tmask\tand\tsee\twhat\twas\tbrewing\tbeneath. The\t prince\t had\t somewhere\t to\t be.\t He\t kissed\t Sorscha\t before\t he\t left,\t murmuring something\t in\t her\t ear\t that\t made\t her\t smile.\t Chaol\t hadn\u2019t\t suspected\t to\t find\t Dorian\t so\t \u2026 happy\twith\this\thealer.\tSorscha.\tIt\twas\tan\tembarrassment\tthat\tChaol\thad\tnever\tknown\ther name\t until\t today.\t And\t from\t the\t way\t Dorian\t looked\t at\t her,\t and\t she\t him\t \u2026\t He\t was\t glad that\this\tfriend\thad\tfound\ther. When\tDorian\thad\tgone,\tSorscha\twas\tstill\tsmiling,\tdespite\twhat\tshe\u2019d\tlearned.\tIt\tmade her\ttruly\tstunning\u2014it\tmade\ther\twhole\tface\topen\tup. \u201cI\tthink,\u201d\tChaol\tsaid,\tand\tSorscha\tturned,\tbrows\thigh,\tready\tto\tget\tto\twork.\t\u201cI\tthink,\u201d he\tsaid\tagain,\tsmiling\tfaintly,\t\u201cthat\tthis\tkingdom\tcould\tuse\ta\thealer\tas\tits\tqueen.\u201d She\t did\t not\t smile\t at\t him,\t as\t he\u2019d\t hoped.\t Instead\t she\t looked\t unfathomably\t sad\t as\t she returned\tto\ther\twork.\tChaol\tleft\twithout\tfurther\tword\tto\tready\thimself\tfor\this\texperiment with\t Dorian\u2014the\t only\t person\t in\t this\t castle,\t perhaps\t in\t the\t world,\t who\t could\t help\t him. Help\tthem\tall. Dorian\thad\traw\tpower,\tCelaena\thad\tsaid,\tpower\tto\tbe\tshaped\tas\the\twilled\tit.\tThat\twas the\t only\t thing\t similar\t enough\t to\t the\t power\t of\t the\t Wyrdkeys,\t neither\t good\t nor\t evil.\t And crystals,\tChaol\thad\tonce\tread\tin\tCelaena\u2019s\tmagic\tbooks,\twere\tgood\tconduits\tfor\tmagic.\tIt hadn\u2019t\tbeen\thard\tto\tbuy\tseveral\tfrom\tthe\tmarket\u2014each\tabout\tas\tlong\tas\this\tfinger,\twhite as\tfresh\tsnow. Everything\t was\t nearly\t ready\t when\t Dorian\t finally\t arrived\t in\t one\t of\t the\t secret\t tunnels and\ttook\ta\tseat\ton\tthe\tground.\tCandles\tburned\taround\tthem,\tand\tChaol\texplained\this\tplan as\t he\t finished\t pouring\t the\t last\t line\t of\t red\t sand\u2014from\t the\t Red\t Desert,\t the\t merchant\t had claimed\u2014between\t the\t three\t crystals.\t Equidistant\t from\t one\t another,\t they\t made\t the\t shape Murtaugh\thad\tdrawn\ton\tthe\tmap\tof\ttheir\tcontinent.\tIn\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\ttriangle\tsat\ta\tsmall bowl\tof\twater. Dorian\tpinned\thim\twith\ta\tstare.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tblame\tme\tif\tthey\tshatter.\u201d \u201cI\thave\treplacements.\u201d\tHe\tdid.\tHe\u2019d\tbought\ta\tdozen\tcrystals. Dorian\tstared\tat\tthe\tfirst\tcrystal.\t\u201cYou\tjust\twant\tme\tto\t\u2026\tfocus\tmy\tpower\ton\tit?\u201d \u201cThen\tdraw\ta\tline\tof\tpower\tto\tthe\tnext\tcrystal,\tthen\tthe\tnext,\timagining\tthat\tyour\tgoal is\tto\tfreeze\tthe\twater\tin\tthe\tbowl.\tThat\u2019s\tall.\u201d A\traised\tbrow.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tnot\teven\ta\tspell.\u201d \u201cJust\thumor\tme,\u201d\tChaol\tsaid.\t\u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tasked\tif\tthis\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tonly\tway.\u201d\tHe dipped\t a\t finger\t in\t the\t bowl\t of\t water,\t setting\t it\t rippling.\t Something\t in\t his\t gut\t said\t that maybe\tthe\tspell\trequired\tnothing\tmore\tthan\tpower\tand\tsheer\twill. The\t prince\u2019s\t sigh\t filled\t the\t stone\t hall,\t echoing\t off\t the\t stones\t and\t vaulted\t ceiling. Dorian\t gazed\t at\t the\t first\t crystal,\t roughly\t representing\t Rifthold.\t For\t minutes,\t there\t was nothing.\tBut\tthen\tDorian\tbegan\tsweating,\tswallowing\trepeatedly.","\u201cAre\tyou\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tDorian\tgasped,\tand\tthe\tfirst\tcrystal\tbegan\tto\tglow\twhite. The\tlight\tgrew\tbrighter,\tDorian\tsweating\tand\tgrunting\tas\tif\the\twere\tin\tpain.\tChaol\twas about\t to\t ask\t him\t to\t stop\t when\t a\t line\t shot\t toward\t the\t next\t crystal\u2014so\t fast\t it\t was\t nearly undetectable\t save\t for\t the\t slight\t ripple\t in\t the\t sand.\t The\t crystal\t flashed\t bright,\t and\t then another\tline\tshot\tout,\theading\tsouth.\tAgain,\tthe\tsand\trippled\tin\tits\twake. The\t water\t remained\t fluid.\t The\t third\t crystal\t glowed,\t and\t the\t final\t line\t completed\t the triangle,\t making\t all\t three\t crystals\t flash\t for\t a\t moment.\t And\t then\t \u2026\t slowly,\t crackling softly,\t the\t water\t froze.\t Chaol\t shoved\t back\t against\t his\t horror\u2014horror\t and\t awe\t at\t how much\tDorian\u2019s\tcontrol\thad\tgrown. Dorian\u2019s\tskin\twas\tpasty\tand\tgleamed\twith\tsweat.\t\u201cThis\tis\thow\the\tdid\tit,\tisn\u2019t\tit?\u201d Chaol\tnodded.\t\u201cTen\tyears\tago,\twith\tthose\tthree\ttowers.\tThey\twere\tall\tbuilt\tyears\tbefore so\tthat\tthis\tcould\thappen\tprecisely\twhen\this\tinvading\tforces\twere\tready,\tso\tno\tone\tcould strike\t back.\t Your\t father \u2019s\t spell\t must\t be\t far\t more\t complex,\t to\t have\t frozen\t magic\t entirely, but\ton\ta\tbasic\tlevel,\tthis\tis\tprobably\tsimilar\tto\twhat\toccurred.\u201d \u201cI\t want\t to\t see\t where\t they\t are\u2014the\t towers.\u201d\t Chaol\t shook\t his\t head,\t but\t Dorian\t said, \u201cYou\u2019ve\ttold\tme\teverything\telse\talready.\tShow\tme\tthe\tdamn\tmap.\u201d With\t a\t wipe\t of\t his\t hand,\t a\t god\t destroying\t a\t world,\t Dorian\t knocked\t down\t a\t crystal, releasing\tthe\tpower.\tThe\tice\tmelted,\tthe\twater\trippling\tand\tsloshing\tagainst\tthe\tbowl.\tJust like\tthat.\tChaol\tblinked. If\tthey\tcould\tknock\tout\tone\ttower\t\u2026\tIt\twas\tsuch\ta\trisk.\tThey\tneeded\tto\tbe\tsure\tbefore acting.\t Chaol\t pulled\t out\t the\t map\t Murtaugh\t had\t marked,\t the\t map\t he\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t to\t leave anywhere.\t \u201cHere,\t here,\t and\t here,\u201d\t he\t said,\t pointing\t to\t Rifthold,\t Amaroth,\t and\t Noll. \u201cThat\u2019s\twhere\twe\tknow\ttowers\twere\tbuilt.\tWatchtowers,\tbut\tall\tthree\thad\tthe\tsame\ttraits: black\tstone,\tgargoyles\t\u2026\u201d \u201cYou\tmean\tto\ttell\tme\tthat\tthe\tclock\ttower\tin\tthe\tgarden\tis\tone\tof\tthem?\u201d Chaol\tnodded,\tignoring\tthe\tlaugh\tof\tdisbelief.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\twhat\twe\tthink.\u201d The\tprince\tleaned\tover\tthe\tmap,\tbracing\ta\thand\tagainst\tthe\tfloor.\tHe\ttraced\ta\tline\tfrom Rifthold\t to\t Amaroth,\t then\t from\t Rifthold\t to\t Noll.\t \u201cThe\t northward\t line\t cuts\t through\t the Ferian\tGap;\tthe\tsouthern\tcuts\tdirectly\tthrough\tMorath.\tYou\ttold\tAedion\tthat\tyou\tthought my\tfather\thad\tsent\tRoland\tand\tKaltain\tto\tMorath,\talong\twith\tany\tother\tnobles\twith\tmagic in\ttheir\tblood.\tWhat\tare\tthe\todds\tthat\tit\u2019s\ta\tmere\tcoincidence?\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tFerian\tGap\u2026\u201d\tChaol\thad\tto\tswallow.\t\u201cCelaena\tsaid\tshe\u2019d\theard\tof\twings\tin the\tGap.\tNehemia\tsaid\ther\tscouts\tdid\tnot\tcome\tback,\tthat\tsomething\twas\tbrewing\tthere.\u201d \u201cTwo\t spots\t for\t him\t to\t breed\t whatever\t army\t he\u2019s\t making,\t perhaps\t drawing\t on\t this power\tas\tit\tmakes\ta\tcurrent\tthrough\tthem.\u201d \u201cThree.\u201d\t Chaol\t pointed\t to\t the\t Dead\t Islands.\t \u201cWe\t had\t a\t report\t that\t something\t strange was\tbeing\tbred\tthere\t\u2026\tand\tthat\tit\u2019s\tbeen\tsent\tto\tWendlyn.\u201d \u201cBut\tmy\tfather\tsent\tCelaena.\u201d\tThe\tprince\tswore.\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tno\tway\tto\twarn\tthem?\u201d","\u201cWe\u2019ve\talready\ttried.\u201d Dorian\twiped\tthe\tsweat\tfrom\this\tbrow.\t\u201cSo\tyou\u2019re\tworking\twith\tthem\u2014you\u2019re\ton\ttheir side.\u201d \u201cNo.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tWe\tjust\tshare\tinformation.\tBut\tthis\tis\tall\tinformation\tthat\thelps\tus. You.\u201d Dorian\u2019s\teyes\thardened,\tand\tChaol\twinced\tas\ta\tcool\tbreeze\tswept\tin. \u201cSo\twhat\tare\tyou\tgoing\tto\tdo?\u201d\tDorian\tasked.\t\u201cJust\t\u2026\tknock\tdown\tthe\tclock\ttower?\u201d Destroying\tthe\tclock\ttower\twas\tan\tact\tof\twar\u2014an\tact\tthat\tcould\tendanger\tthe\tlives\tof too\t many\t people.\t There\t would\t be\t no\t going\t back.\t He\t didn\u2019t\t even\t want\t to\t tell\t Aedion\t or Ren,\tfor\tfear\tof\twhat\tthey\u2019d\tdo.\tThey\twouldn\u2019t\tthink\ttwice\tbefore\tincinerating\tit,\tperhaps killing\teveryone\tin\tthis\tcastle\tin\tthe\tprocess.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\twhat\tto\tdo.\tYou were\tright\tabout\tthat.\u201d He\twished\the\thad\tsomething\tmore\tto\tsay\tto\tDorian,\tbut\teven\tsmall\ttalk\twas\tan\teffort now.\t He\t was\t closing\t in\t on\t candidates\t to\t replace\t him\t as\t Captain\t of\t the\t Guard,\t sending more\ttrunks\tto\tAnielle\tevery\tweek,\tand\the\tcould\tbarely\tbring\thimself\tto\tlook\tat\this\town men.\tAs\tfor\tDorian\t\u2026\tthere\twas\tso\tmuch\tleft\tbetween\tthem. \u201cNow\u2019s\tnot\tthe\ttime,\u201d\tDorian\tsaid\tquietly,\tas\tif\the\tcould\tread\tChaol\u2019s\tmind. Chaol\tswallowed.\t\u201cI\twant\tto\tthank\tyou.\tI\tknow\twhat\tyou\u2019re\trisking\tis\u2014\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re\t all\t risking\t something.\u201d\t There\t was\t so\t little\t of\t the\t friend\t he\u2019d\t grown\t up\t with. The\t prince\t glanced\t at\t his\t pocket\t watch.\t \u201cI\t need\t to\t go.\u201d\t Dorian\t stalked\t to\t the\t stairs,\t and there\t was\t no\t fear\t in\t his\t face,\t no\t doubt,\t as\t he\t said,\t \u201cYou\t gave\t me\t the\t truth\t today,\t so\t I\u2019ll share\tmine:\teven\tif\tit\tmeant\tus\tbeing\tfriends\tagain,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\twould\twant\tto\tgo\tback to\t how\t it\t was\t before\u2014who\t I\t was\t before.\t And\t this\u2026\u201d\t He\t jerked\t his\t chin\t toward\t the scattered\tcrystals\tand\tthe\tbowl\tof\twater.\t\u201cI\tthink\tthis\tis\ta\tgood\tchange,\ttoo.\tDon\u2019t\tfear\tit.\u201d Dorian\tleft,\tand\tChaol\topened\this\tmouth,\tbut\tno\twords\tcame\tout.\tHe\twas\ttoo\tstunned. When\tDorian\thad\tspoken,\tit\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\ta\tprince\twho\tlooked\tat\thim. It\thad\tbeen\ta\tking.","Chapter\t57 Celaena\tslept\tfor\ttwo\tdays. She\t hardly\t remembered\t what\t had\t happened\t after\t she\t incinerated\t Narrok\t and\t the\t Valg prince,\t though\t she\t had\t a\t vague\t sense\t of\t Rowan\u2019s\t men\t and\t the\t others\t having\t the\t fortress under\tcontrol.\tThey\u2019d\tlost\tonly\tabout\tfifteen\tin\ttotal,\tsince\tthe\tsoldiers\thad\tnot\twanted\tto kill\tthe\tdemi-Fae\tbut\tto\tcapture\tthem\tfor\tthe\tValg\tprinces\tto\thaul\tback\tto\tAdarlan.\tWhen they\t subdued\t the\t surviving\t enemy\t soldiers,\t locking\t them\t in\t the\t dungeon,\t they\u2019d\t come back\t hours\t later\t to\t find\t them\t all\t dead.\t They\u2019d\t carried\t poison\t with\t them\u2014and\t it\t seemed they\thad\tno\tinclination\tto\tbe\tinterrogated. Celaena\tstumbled\tup\tthe\tblood-soaked\tsteps\tand\tinto\tbed,\tbriefly\tstopping\tto\tfrown\tat the\t hair\t that\t now\t fell\t just\t past\t her\t collarbones\t thanks\t to\t the\t razor-sharp\t nails\t of\t the\t Valg princes,\t and\t collapsed\t into\t a\t deep\t sleep.\t By\t the\t time\t she\t awoke,\t the\t gore\t was\t cleaned away,\t the\t soldiers\t were\t buried,\t and\t Rowan\t had\t hidden\t the\t four\t Wyrdstone\t collars somewhere\t in\t the\t woods.\t He\t would\t have\t flown\t them\t out\t to\t the\t sea\t and\t dumped\t them there,\t but\t she\t knew\t he\u2019d\t stayed\t to\t look\t after\t her\u2014and\t did\t not\t trust\t his\t friends\t to\t do anything\tbut\thand\tthem\tover\tto\tMaeve. Rowan\u2019s\t cadre\t was\t leaving\t when\t she\t finally\t awoke,\t having\t lingered\t to\t help\t with repairs\t and\t healing,\t but\t it\t was\t only\t Gavriel\t who\t bothered\t to\t acknowledge\t her.\t She\t and Rowan\twere\theading\tinto\tthe\twoods\tfor\ta\twalk\t(she\u2019d\thad\tto\tbully\thim\tinto\tletting\ther\tout of\tbed)\twhen\tthey\tpassed\tby\tthe\tgolden-haired\tmale\tlingering\tby\tthe\tback\tgate. Rowan\tstiffened.\tHe\u2019d\tasked\ther\tpoint-blank\twhat\thad\thappened\twhen\this\tfriends\thad arrived\u2014if\tany\tof\tthem\thad\ttried\tto\thelp.\tShe\thad\ttried\tto\tavoid\tit,\tbut\the\twas\trelentless, and\tshe\tfinally\ttold\thim\tthat\tonly\tGavriel\thad\tshown\tany\tinclination.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tblame\this men.\tThey\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\ther,\towed\ther\tnothing,\tand\tRowan\thad\tbeen\tinside,\tin\tharm\u2019s\tway. She\t didn\u2019t\t know\t why\t it\t mattered\t so\t much\t to\t Rowan,\t and\t he\t told\t her\t it\t was\t none\t of\t her business. But\tthere\twas\tGavriel,\twaiting\tfor\tthem\tat\tthe\tback\tgate.\tSince\tRowan\twas\tstone-faced, she\tsmiled\tfor\tboth\tof\tthem\tas\tthey\tapproached. \u201cI\tthought\tyou\u2019d\tbe\tgone\tby\tnow,\u201d\tRowan\tsaid. Gavriel\u2019s\t tawny\t eyes\t flickered.\t \u201cThe\t twins\t and\t Vaughan\t left\t an\t hour\t ago,\t and\t Lorcan left\tat\tdawn.\tHe\tsaid\tto\ttell\tyou\tgood-bye.\u201d Rowan\t nodded\t in\t a\t way\t that\t made\t it\t very\t clear\t he\t knew\t Lorcan\t had\t done\t no\t such thing.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\twant?\u201d She\t wasn\u2019t\t quite\t sure\t they\t had\t the\t same\t definition\t of\t friend\t that\t she\t did.\t But\t Gavriel looked\t at\t her\t from\t head\t to\t toe\t and\t back\t up\t again,\t then\t at\t Rowan,\t and\t said,\t \u201cBe\t careful when\tyou\tface\tMaeve.\tWe\u2019ll\thave\tgiven\tour\treports\tby\tthen.\u201d Rowan\u2019s\tstormy\texpression\tdidn\u2019t\timprove.\t\u201cTravel\tswiftly,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tand\tkept\twalking.","Celaena\tlingered,\tstudying\tthe\tFae\twarrior,\tthe\tglimmer\tof\tsadness\tin\this\tgolden\teyes. Like\tRowan,\the\twas\tenslaved\tto\tMaeve\u2014and\tyet\the\tthought\tto\twarn\tthem.\tWith\tthe\tblood oath,\tMaeve\tcould\torder\thim\tto\tdivulge\tevery\tdetail,\tincluding\tthis\tmoment.\tAnd\tpunish him\tfor\tit.\tBut\tfor\this\tfriend\t\u2026 \u201cThank\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tto\tthe\tgolden-haired\twarrior.\tHe\tblinked,\tand\tRowan\tfroze.\tHer arms\t ached\t from\t the\t inside\t out,\t and\t her\t cut\t hand\t was\t bandaged\t and\t still\t tender,\t but\t she extended\tit\tto\thim.\t\u201cFor\tthe\twarning.\tAnd\tfor\thesitating\tthat\tday.\u201d Gavriel\tlooked\tat\ther\thand\tfor\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tshaking\tit\twith\tsurprising\tgentleness. \u201cHow\told\tare\tyou?\u201d\the\tasked. \u201cNineteen,\u201d\t she\t said,\t and\t he\t loosed\t a\t breath\t that\t could\t have\t been\t sadness\t or\t relief\t or maybe\tboth,\tand\ttold\ther\tthat\tmade\ther\tmagic\teven\tmore\timpressive.\tShe\tdebated\tsaying that\t he\t would\t be\t less\t impressed\t once\t he\t learned\t of\t her\t nickname\t for\t him,\t but\t winked\t at him\tinstead. Rowan\t was\t frowning\t when\t she\t caught\t up\t to\t him,\t but\t said\t nothing.\t As\t they\t walked away,\tGavriel\tmurmured,\t\u201cGood\tluck,\tRowan.\u201d Rowan\tbrought\ther\tto\ta\tforest\tpool\tshe\u2019d\tnever\tseen\tbefore,\tthe\tclear\twater\tfed\tby\ta\tlovely waterfall\tthat\tseemed\tto\tdance\tin\tthe\tsunlight.\tHe\ttook\ta\tseat\ton\ta\tbroad,\tflat,\tsun-warmed rock,\tpulling\toff\this\tboots\tand\trolling\tup\this\tpants\tto\tdip\this\tfeet\tin\tthe\twater.\tShe\twinced at\tevery\tsore\tmuscle\tand\tbone\tin\ther\tbody\tas\tshe\tsat.\tRowan\tscowled,\tbut\tshe\tgave\thim\ta look\tthat\tdared\thim\tto\torder\ther\tback\tto\tbed\trest. When\ther\town\tfeet\twere\tin\tthe\tpool\tand\tthey\thad\tlet\tthe\tmusic\tof\tthe\tforest\tsink\tinto them,\t Rowan\t spoke.\t \u201cThere\t is\t no\t undoing\t what\t happened\t with\t Narrok.\t Once\t the\t world hears\tthat\tAelin\tGalathynius\tfought\tagainst\tAdarlan,\tthey\twill\tknow\tyou\tare\talive.\tHe\twill know\t you\t are\t alive,\t and\t where\t you\t are,\t and\t that\t you\t do\t not\t plan\t to\t cower.\t He\t will\t hunt you\tfor\tthe\trest\tof\tyour\tlife.\u201d \u201cI\t accepted\t that\t fate\t from\t the\t moment\t I\t stepped\t outside\t the\t barrier,\u201d\t she\t said\t quietly. She\t kicked\t at\t the\t water,\t the\t ripples\t spreading\t out\t across\t the\t pool.\t The\t movement\t sent shuddering\tpain\tthrough\ther\tmagic-ravaged\tbody,\tand\tshe\thissed. Rowan\t handed\t her\t the\t skein\t of\t water\t he\u2019d\t brought\t with\t him\t but\t hadn\u2019t\t touched.\t She took\t a\t sip\t and\t found\t it\t contained\t the\t pain-killing\t tonic\t she\u2019d\t been\t guzzling\t since\t she\u2019d awoken\tthat\tmorning. Good\t luck,\t Rowan,\t Gavriel\t had\t said\t to\t his\t friend.\t There\t was\t a\t day\t coming,\t all\t too soon,\t when\t she\t would\t also\t have\t to\t bid\t him\t farewell.\t What\t would\t her\t parting\t words\t be? Would\tshe\tbe\table\tto\toffer\thim\tonly\ta\tblessing\tfor\tluck?\tShe\twished\tshe\thad\tsomething\tto give\t him\u2014some\t kind\t of\t protection\t against\t the\t queen\t who\t held\t his\t leash.\t The\t Eye\t of Elena\t was\t with\t Chaol.\t The\t Amulet\t of\t Orynth\u2014she\t would\t have\t offered\t him\t that,\t if\t she hadn\u2019t\tlost\tit.\tHeirloom\tor\tno,\tshe\twould\trest\teasier\tif\tshe\tknew\tit\twas\tprotecting\thim. The\tamulet,\tdecorated\twith\tthe\tsacred\tstag\ton\tone\tside\t\u2026\tand\tWyrdmarks\ton\tthe\tother. Celaena\t stopped\t breathing.\t Stopped\t seeing\t the\t prince\t beside\t her,\t hearing\t the\t forest humming\t around\t her.\t Terrasen\t had\t been\t the\t greatest\t court\t in\t the\t world.\t They\t had\t never","been\tinvaded,\thad\tnever\tbeen\tconquered,\tbut\tthey\thad\tprospered\tand\tbecome\tso\tpowerful that\t every\t kingdom\t knew\t to\t provoke\t them\t was\t folly.\t A\t line\t of\t uncorrupted\t rulers,\t who had\tamassed\tall\tthe\tknowledge\tof\tErilea\tin\ttheir\tgreat\tlibrary.\tThey\thad\tbeen\ta\tbeacon\tthat drew\tthe\tbrightest\tand\tboldest\tto\tthem. She\tknew\twhere\tit\twas\u2014the\tthird\tand\tfinal\tWyrdkey. It\thad\tbeen\taround\ther\tneck\tthe\tnight\tshe\tfell\tinto\tthe\triver. And\t around\t the\t neck\t of\t every\t one\t of\t her\t ancestors,\t going\t back\t to\t Brannon\t himself, when\t he\t stopped\t at\t the\t Sun\t Goddess\u2019s\t temple\t to\t take\t a\t medallion\t from\t Mala\u2019s\t High Priestess\u2014and\tthen\tdestroyed\tthe\tentire\tsite\tto\tprevent\tanyone\tfrom\ttracing\this\tsteps. The\tmedallion\tof\tcerulean\tblue,\twith\tthe\tgold\tsun-stag\tcrowned\twith\timmortal\tflame\u2014 the\tstag\tof\tMala\tFire-Bringer.\tUpon\tleaving\tWendlyn\u2019s\tshores,\tBrannon\thad\tstolen\tthose same\tstags\taway\tto\tTerrasen\tand\tinstalled\tthem\tin\tOakwald.\tBrannon\thad\tplaced\tthe\tthird sliver\tof\tWyrdkey\tinside\tthe\tamulet\tand\tnever\ttold\ta\tsoul\twhat\the\thad\tdone\twith\tit. The\tWyrdkeys\tweren\u2019t\tinherently\tbad\tor\tgood.\tWhat\tthey\twere\tdepended\ton\thow\ttheir bearers\tused\tthem.\tAround\tthe\tnecks\tof\tthe\tkings\tand\tqueens\tof\tTerrasen,\tone\tof\tthem\thad been\tunknowingly\tused\tfor\tgood,\tand\thad\tprotected\tits\tbearers\tfor\tmillennia. It\thad\tprotected\ther,\tthat\tnight\tshe\tfell\tinto\tthe\triver.\tFor\tit\thad\tbeen\tWyrdmarks\tshe\u2019d seen\tglowing\tin\tthe\tfrozen\tdepths,\tas\tif\tshe\thad\tsummoned\tthem\twith\ther\twatery\tcries\tfor help.\tBut\tshe\thad\tlost\tthe\tAmulet\tof\tOrynth.\tIt\thad\tfallen\tinto\tthat\triver\tand\u2014no. No.\t It\t couldn\u2019t\t have,\t because\t she\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t made\t it\t to\t the\t riverbank,\t let\t alone survived\tthe\thours\tshe\tlay\there.\tThe\tcold\twould\thave\tclaimed\ther.\tWhich\tmeant\tshe\u2019d\thad it\t when\t \u2026\t when\t \u2026\t Arobynn\t Hamel\t had\t taken\t it\t from\t her\t and\t kept\t it\t all\t these\t years,\t a prize\twhose\tpower\the\thad\tnever\tguessed\tthe\tdepth\tof. She\thad\tto\tget\tit\tback.\tShe\thad\tto\tget\tit\taway\tfrom\thim\tand\tmake\tsure\tthat\tno\tone\tknew what\tlay\tinside.\tAnd\tif\tshe\thad\tit\t\u2026\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\therself\tthink\tthat\tfar. She\t had\t to\t hurry\t to\t Maeve,\t retrieve\t the\t information\t she\t needed,\t and\t go\t home.\t Not\t to Terrasen,\tbut\tto\tRifthold.\tShe\thad\tto\tface\tthe\tman\twho\thad\tmade\ther\tinto\ta\tweapon,\twho had\tdestroyed\tanother\tpart\tof\ther\tlife,\tand\twho\tcould\tprove\tto\tbe\ther\tgreatest\tthreat. Rowan\tsaid,\t\u201cWhat\tis\tit?\u201d \u201cThe\t third\t Wyrdkey.\u201d\t She\t swore.\t She\t could\t tell\t no\t one,\t because\t if\t anyone\t knew\t \u2026 they\twould\thead\tstraight\tto\tRifthold.\tStraight\tto\tthe\tAssassins\u2019\tKeep. \u201cAelin.\u201d\tWas\tit\tfear,\tpain,\tor\tboth\tin\this\teyes?\t\u201cTell\tme\twhat\tyou\tlearned.\u201d \u201cNot\twhile\tyou\tare\tbound\tto\ther.\u201d \u201cI\tam\tbound\tto\ther\tforever.\u201d \u201cI\tknow.\u201d\tHe\twas\tMaeve\u2019s\tslave\u2014worse\tthan\ta\tslave.\tHe\thad\tto\tobey\tevery\tcommand, no\tmatter\thow\twretched. He\tleaned\tover\this\tknees,\tdipping\ta\tlarge\thand\tin\tthe\twater.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tright.\tI\tdon\u2019t\twant you\tto\ttell\tme.\tAny\tof\tit.\u201d \u201cI\thate\tthat,\u201d\tshe\tbreathed.\t\u201cI\thate\ther.\u201d","He\t looked\t away,\t toward\t Goldryn,\t discarded\t behind\t them\t on\t the\t rock.\t She\u2019d\t told\t him its\t history\t this\t morning\t as\t she\t scarfed\t down\t enough\t food\t for\t three\t full-grown\t Fae warriors.\t He\t hadn\u2019t\t seemed\t particularly\t impressed,\t and\t when\t she\t showed\t him\t the\t ring she\u2019d\tfound\tin\tthe\tscabbard,\the\thad\tnothing\tto\tsay\tother\tthan\t\u201cI\thope\tyou\tfind\ta\tgood\tuse for\tit.\u201d\tIndeed. But\t the\t silence\t that\t was\t building\t between\t them\t was\t unacceptable.\t She\t cleared\t her throat.\tPerhaps\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell\thim\tthe\ttruth\tabout\tthe\tthird\tWyrdkey,\tbut\tshe\tcould\toffer him\tanother. The\t truth.\t The\t truth\t of\t her,\t undiluted\t and\t complete.\t And\t after\t all\t that\t they\t had\t been through,\tall\tthat\tshe\tstill\twanted\tto\tdo\t\u2026 So\tshe\tsteeled\therself.\t\u201cI\thave\tnever\ttold\tanyone\tthis\tstory.\tNo\tone\tin\tthe\tworld\tknows it.\tBut\tit\u2019s\tmine,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tblinking\tpast\tthe\tburning\tin\ther\teyes,\t\u201cand\tit\u2019s\ttime\tfor\tme\tto tell\tit.\u201d Rowan\tleaned\tback\ton\tthe\trock,\tbracing\this\tpalms\tbehind\thim. \u201cOnce\t upon\t a\t time,\u201d\t she\t said\t to\t him,\t to\t the\t world,\t to\t herself,\t \u201cin\t a\t land\t long\t since burned\tto\tash,\tthere\tlived\ta\tyoung\tprincess\twho\tloved\ther\tkingdom\t\u2026\tvery\tmuch.\u201d And\t then\t she\t told\t him\t of\t the\t princess\t whose\t heart\t had\t burned\t with\t wildfire,\t of\t the mighty\tkingdom\tin\tthe\tnorth,\tof\tits\tdownfall\tand\tof\tthe\tsacrifice\tof\tLady\tMarion.\tIt\twas\ta long\t story,\t and\t sometimes\t she\t grew\t quiet\t and\t cried\u2014and\t during\t those\t times\t he\t leaned over\tto\twipe\taway\ther\ttears. When\tshe\tfinished,\tRowan\tmerely\tpassed\ther\tmore\tof\tthe\ttonic.\tShe\tsmiled\tat\thim,\tand he\t looked\t at\t her\t for\t a\t while\t before\t he\t smiled\t back,\t a\t different\t smile\t than\t all\t the\t others he\u2019d\tgiven\ther\tbefore. They\twere\tquiet\tfor\tsome\ttime,\tand\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\twhy\tshe\tdid\tit,\tbut\tshe\theld\tout\ta hand\tin\tfront\tof\ther,\tpalm\tfacing\tthe\tpool\tbeneath. And\tslowly,\twobbling,\ta\tdroplet\tof\twater\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\tmarble\trose\tfrom\tthe\tsurface\tto her\tcupped\tpalm. \u201cNo\twonder\tyour\tsense\tof\tself-preservation\tis\tso\tpathetic,\tif\tthat\u2019s\tall\tthe\twater\tyou\tcan conjure.\u201d\tBut\tRowan\tflicked\ther\tchin,\tand\tshe\tknew\the\tunderstood\twhat\tit\tmeant,\tto\thave summoned\teven\ta\tdroplet\tto\ther\thand.\tTo\tfeel\ther\tmother\tsmiling\tat\ther\tfrom\trealms\taway. She\tgrinned\tat\tRowan\tthrough\ther\ttears,\tand\tsent\tthe\tdroplet\tsplashing\tonto\this\tface. Rowan\ttossed\ther\tinto\tthe\tpool.\tA\tmoment\tlater,\tlaughing,\the\tjumped\tin\thimself. After\ta\tweek\tof\tregaining\ther\tstrength,\tshe\tand\tthe\tother\tinjured\tdemi-Fae\thad\trecovered enough\tto\tattend\ta\tcelebration\tthrown\tby\tEmrys\tand\tLuca.\tBefore\tshe\tand\tRowan\theaded downstairs\tto\tjoin\tthe\tfestivities,\tCelaena\tpeered\tin\tthe\tmirror\u2014and\tstopped\tdead. The\tsomewhat\tshorter\thair\twas\tthe\tleast\tof\tthe\tchanges. She\t was\t now\t flushed\t with\t color,\t her\t eyes\t bright\t and\t clear,\t and\t though\t she\u2019d\t regained the\t weight\t she\u2019d\t lost\t that\t winter,\t her\t face\t was\t leaner.\t A\t woman\u2014a\t woman\t was\t smiling back\t at\t her,\t beautiful\t for\t every\t scar\t and\t imperfection\t and\t mark\t of\t survival,\t beautiful\t for","the\tfact\tthat\tthe\tsmile\twas\treal,\tand\tshe\tfelt\tit\tkindle\tthe\tlong-slumbering\tjoy\tin\ther\theart. She\tdanced\tthat\tnight.\tThe\tmorning\tafter,\tshe\tknew\tit\twas\ttime. When\tshe\tand\tRowan\thad\tfinished\tsaying\ttheir\tgood-byes\tto\tthe\tothers,\tshe\tpaused\tat the\tedge\tof\tthe\ttrees\tto\tlook\tat\tthe\tcrumbling\tstone\tfortress.\tEmrys\tand\tLuca\twere\twaiting for\tthem\tat\tthe\ttree\tline,\tfaces\tpale\tin\tthe\tmorning\tlight.\tThe\told\tmale\thad\talready\tstuffed their\tbags\tfull\tof\tfood\tand\tsupplies,\tbut\the\tstill\tpressed\ta\thot\tloaf\tinto\tCelaena\u2019s\thands\tas they\tlooked\tat\teach\tother. She\tsaid,\t\u201cIt\tmight\ttake\ta\twhile,\tbut\tif\u2014when\tI\treclaim\tmy\tkingdom,\tthe\tdemi-Fae\twill always\t have\t a\t home\t there.\t And\t you\t two\u2014and\t Malakai\u2014will\t have\t a\t place\t in\t my household,\tshould\tyou\twish\tit.\tAs\tmy\tfriends.\u201d Emrys\u2019s\teyes\twere\tgleaming\tas\the\tnodded,\tgripping\tLuca\u2019s\thand.\tThe\tyoung\tman,\twho had\topted\tto\tkeep\ta\tlong,\twicked\tscratch\tbestowed\tin\tbattle\tdown\this\tface,\tmerely\tstared at\ther,\twide-eyed.\tA\tpart\tof\ther\theart\tached\tat\tthe\tshadows\tthat\tnow\tlay\tin\this\tface.\tBas\u2019s betrayal\twould\thaunt\thim,\tshe\tknew.\tBut\tCelaena\tsmiled\tat\thim,\truffled\this\thair,\tand\tmade to\tturn\taway. \u201cYour\tmother\twould\tbe\tproud,\u201d\tEmrys\tsaid. Celaena\tput\ta\thand\ton\ther\theart\tand\tbowed\tin\tthanks. Rowan\t cleared\t his\t throat,\t and\t Celaena\t gave\t them\t one\t last\t parting\t smile\t before\t she followed\tthe\tprince\tinto\tthe\ttrees\u2014to\tDoranelle,\tand\tto\tMaeve,\tat\tlast.","Chapter\t58 \u201cJust\t be\t ready\t to\t leave\t for\t Suria\t in\t two\t days,\u201d\t Aedion\t ordered\t Ren\t as\t the\t three\t of\t them gathered\tat\tmidnight\tin\tthe\tapartment\twhere\tRen\tand\tMurtaugh\thad\tstayed,\tstill\tunaware of\twho\tit\tbelonged\tto.\t\u201cTake\tthe\tsouthern\tgate\u2014it\u2019ll\tbe\tthe\tleast\tmonitored\tat\tthat\thour.\u201d It\thad\tbeen\tweeks\tsince\tthey\u2019d\tlast\tmet,\tand\tthree\tdays\tsince\ta\tvague\tletter\thad\tarrived for\tMurtaugh\tfrom\tSol\tof\tSuria,\ta\tfriendly\tinvitation\tto\ta\tlong-lost\tfriend\tto\tvisit\thim.\tThe wording\t was\t simple\t enough\t that\t they\t all\t knew\t the\t young\t lord\t was\t feeling\t them\t out, hinting\t at\t interest\t in\t the\t \u201copportunity\u201d\t Murtagh\t had\t mentioned\t in\t an\t earlier\t letter.\t Since then,\tAedion\thad\tcombed\tevery\tpath\tnorthward,\tcalculating\tthe\tmovements\tand\tlocations of\tevery\tlegion\tand\tgarrison\talong\tthe\tway.\tTwo\tmore\tdays;\tthen\tperhaps\tthis\tcourt\tcould begin\tto\trebuild\titself. \u201cWhy\t does\t it\t feel\t like\t we\u2019re\t fleeing,\t then?\u201d\t Ren\t paused\t his\t usual\t pacing.\t The\t young Lord\t of\t Allsbrook\t had\t healed\t up\t just\t fine,\t though\t he\u2019d\t now\t converted\t some\t of\t the\t great room\t into\t his\t own\t personal\t training\t space\t to\t rebuild\t his\t strength.\t Aedion\t wondered\t just how\tthrilled\ttheir\tqueen\twould\tbe\tto\tlearn\tabout\tthat. \u201cYou\tare\tfleeing,\u201d\tAedion\tdrawled,\tbiting\tinto\tone\tof\tthe\tapples\the\u2019d\tpicked\tup\tat\tthe market\tfor\tRen\tand\tthe\told\tman.\t\u201cThe\tlonger\tyou\tstay\there,\u201d\the\twent\ton,\t\u201cthe\tbigger\tthe risk\t of\t being\t discovered\t and\t of\t all\t our\t plans\t falling\t apart.\t You\u2019re\t too\t recognizable\t now, and\tyou\u2019re\tof\tbetter\tuse\tto\tme\tin\tTerrasen.\tThere\u2019s\tno\tnegotiating,\tso\tdon\u2019t\tbother\ttrying.\u201d \u201cAnd\twhat\tabout\tyou?\u201d\tRen\tasked\tthe\tcaptain,\twho\twas\tseated\tin\this\tusual\tchair. Chaol\t frowned\t and\t said\t quietly,\t \u201cI\u2019m\t going\t to\t Anielle\t in\t a\t few\t days.\u201d\t To\t fulfill\t the bargain\t he\u2019d\t made\t when\t he\t sold\t his\t freedom\t to\t get\t Aelin\t to\t Wendlyn.\t If\t Aedion\t let himself\t think\t too\t much\t about\t it,\t he\t knew\t he\t might\t feel\t bad\u2014might\t try\t to\t convince\t the captain\t to\t stay,\t even.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t that\t Aedion\t liked\t the\t captain,\t or\t even\t respected\t him.\t In fact,\the\twished\tChaol\thad\tnever\tcaught\thim\tin\tthat\tstairwell,\tmourning\tthe\tslaughter\tof\this people\tin\tthe\tlabor\tcamps.\tBut\there\tthey\twere,\tand\tthere\twas\tno\tgoing\tback. Ren\tpaused\this\tpacing\tto\tstare\tdown\tthe\tcaptain.\t\u201cAs\tour\tspy?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ll\tneed\tsomeone\ton\tthe\tinside,\tregardless\tof\twhether\tI\u2019m\tin\tRifthold\tor\tAnielle.\u201d \u201cI\thave\tpeople\ton\tthe\tinside,\u201d\tRen\tsaid. Aedion\twaved\ta\thand.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tcare\tabout\tyour\tpeople\ton\tthe\tinside,\tRen.\tJust\tbe\tready to\tgo,\tand\tstop\tbeing\ta\tpain\tin\tmy\tass\twith\tyour\tendless\tquestions.\u201d\tHe\twould\tchain\tRen to\ta\thorse\tif\the\thad\tto. Aedion\t was\t about\t to\t turn\t to\t go\t when\t feet\t thundered\t up\t the\t stairs.\t They\t all\t had\t their swords\t drawn\t as\t the\t door\t flew\t open\t and\t Murtaugh\t appeared,\t panting\t and\t grasping\t the doorframe.\tThe\told\tman\u2019s\teyes\twere\twild,\this\tmouth\topening\tand\tclosing.\tBehind\thim,\tthe stairwell\t revealed\t no\t sign\t of\t a\t threat,\t no\t pursuit.\t But\t Aedion\t kept\t his\t sword\t out\t and angled\thimself\tinto\ta\tbetter\tposition.","Ren\trushed\tto\tMurtaugh,\tslipping\tan\tarm\tunder\this\tshoulders,\tbut\tthe\told\tman\tplanted his\t heels\t in\t the\t rug.\t \u201cShe\u2019s\t alive,\u201d\t he\t said,\t to\t Ren,\t to\t Aedion,\t to\t himself.\t \u201cShe\u2019s\u2014she\u2019s truly\talive.\u201d Aedion\u2019s\theart\tstopped.\tStopped,\tthen\tstarted,\tthen\tstopped\tagain.\tSlowly,\the\tsheathed his\tsword,\tcalming\this\tracing\tmind\tbefore\the\tsaid,\t\u201cOut\twith\tit,\told\tman.\u201d Murtaugh\tblinked\tand\tlet\tout\ta\tchoked\tlaugh.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tin\tWendlyn,\tand\tshe\u2019s\talive.\u201d The\t captain\t stalked\t across\t the\t floor.\t Aedion\t might\t have\t joined\t him\t had\t his\t legs\t not stopped\t working.\t For\t Murtaugh\t to\t have\t heard\t about\t her\t \u2026\t The\t captain\t said,\t \u201cTell\t me everything.\u201d Murtaugh\t shook\t his\t head.\t \u201cThe\t city\u2019s\t swarming\t with\t the\t news.\t People\t are\t in\t the streets.\u201d \u201cGet\tto\tthe\tpoint,\u201d\tAedion\tsnapped. \u201cGeneral\t Narrok\u2019s\t legion\t did\t indeed\t go\t to\t Wendlyn,\u201d\t Murtaugh\t said.\t \u201cAnd\t no\t one knows\t how\t or\t why,\t but\t Aelin\t \u2026\t Aelin\t was\t there,\t in\t the\t Cambrian\t Mountains,\t and\t was part\t of\t a\t host\t that\t met\t them\t in\t battle.\t They\u2019re\t saying\t she\u2019s\t been\t hiding\t in\t Doranelle\t all this\ttime.\u201d Alive,\t Aedion\t had\t to\t tell\t himself\u2014alive,\t and\t not\t dead\t after\t the\t battle,\t even\t if Murtaugh\u2019s\tinformation\tabout\ther\twhereabouts\twas\twrong. Murtaugh\t was\t smiling.\t \u201cThey\t slaughtered\t Narrok\t and\t his\t men,\t and\t she\t saved\t a\t great number\t of\t people\u2014with\t magic.\t Fire,\t they\t say\u2014power\t the\t likes\t of\t which\t the\t world\t has not\tseen\tsince\tBrannon\thimself.\u201d Aedion\u2019s\tchest\ttightened\tto\tthe\tpoint\tof\thurting.\tThe\tcaptain\twas\tjust\tstaring\tat\tthe\told man. It\twas\ta\tmessage\tto\tthe\tworld.\tAelin\twas\ta\twarrior,\table\tto\tfight\twith\tblade\tor\tmagic. And\tshe\twas\tdone\twith\thiding. \u201cI\u2019m\t riding\t north\t today.\t It\t cannot\t wait\t as\t we\t had\t planned,\u201d\t Murtaugh\t said,\t turning toward\t the\t door.\t \u201cBefore\t the\t king\t tries\t to\t keep\t the\t news\t from\t spreading,\t I\t need\t to\t let Terrasen\t know.\u201d\t They\t trailed\t him\t down\t the\t stairs\t and\t into\t the\t warehouse\t below.\t Even from\t inside,\t Aedion\u2019s\t Fae\t hearing\t picked\t up\t the\t rising\t commotion\t in\t the\t streets.\t The moment\the\tentered\tthe\tpalace,\the\twould\thave\tto\tconsider\this\tevery\tstep,\tevery\tbreath.\tToo many\teyes\twould\tbe\ton\thim\tnow. Aelin.\t His\t Queen.\t Aedion\t slowly\t smiled.\t The\t king\t would\t never\t suspect,\t not\t in\t a thousand\t years,\t who\t he\u2019d\t actually\t sent\t to\t Wendlyn\u2014that\t his\t own\t Champion\t had destroyed\tNarrok.\tFew\thad\tever\tknown\tabout\tthe\tGalathyniuses\u2019\tdeeply\trooted\tdistrust\tof Maeve\u2014so\t Doranelle\t would\t be\t a\t believable\t place\t to\t hide\t and\t raise\t a\t young\t queen\t all these\tyears. \u201cOnce\t I\t get\t out\t of\t the\t city,\u201d\t Murtaugh\t said,\t going\t to\t the\t horse\t he\u2019d\t tied\t inside\t the warehouse,\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tsend\triders\tto\tevery\tcontact,\tto\tFenharrow\tand\tMelisande.\tRen,\tyou\tstay here.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tcare\tof\tSuria.\u201d Aedion\tgripped\tthe\tman\u2019s\tshoulder.\t\u201cGet\tword\tto\tmy\tBane\u2014tell\tthem\tto\tlie\tlow\tuntil\tI","return,\tbut\tkeep\tthose\tsupply\tlines\twith\tthe\trebels\topen\tat\tany\tcost.\u201d\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\tgo\tuntil Murtaugh\tgave\thim\ta\tnod. \u201cGrandfather,\u201d\tRen\tsaid,\thelping\tthe\tman\tinto\tthe\tsaddle.\t\u201cLet\tme\tgo\tinstead.\u201d \u201cYou\tstay\there,\u201d\tAedion\tordered,\tand\tRen\tbristled. Murtaugh\tmurmured\this\tagreement.\t\u201cGather\twhat\tinformation\tyou\tcan,\tand\tthen\tyou\u2019ll come\tto\tme\twhen\tI\u2019m\tready.\u201d Aedion\t didn\u2019t\t give\t Ren\t time\t to\t refuse\t as\t he\t hauled\t open\t the\t warehouse\t door\t for Murtaugh.\t Brisk\t night\t air\t poured\t in,\t bringing\t with\t it\t the\t ruckus\t from\t the\t city.\t Aelin\u2014 Aelin\t had\t done\t this,\t caused\t this\t clamor\t of\t sound.\t The\t stallion\t pawed\t and\t huffed,\t and Murtaugh\tmight\thave\tgalloped\toff\thad\tthe\tcaptain\tnot\tsurged\tto\tgrab\this\treins. \u201cEyllwe,\u201d\t Chaol\t breathed.\t \u201cSend\t word\t to\t Eyllwe.\t Tell\t them\t to\t hold\t on\u2014tell\t them\t to prepare.\u201d\t Perhaps\t it\t was\t the\t light,\t perhaps\t it\t was\t the\t cold,\t but\t Aedion\t could\t have\t sworn there\twere\ttears\tin\tthe\tcaptain\u2019s\teyes\tas\the\tsaid,\t\u201cTell\tthem\tit\u2019s\ttime\tto\tfight\tback.\u201d Murtaugh\t Allsbrook\t and\t his\t riders\t spread\t the\t news\t like\t wildfire.\t Down\t every\t road,\t over every\triver,\tto\tthe\tnorth\tand\tsouth\tand\twest,\tthrough\tsnow\tand\train\tand\tmist,\ttheir\thooves churning\tup\tthe\tdust\tof\teach\tkingdom. And\tfor\tevery\ttown\tthey\ttold,\tevery\ttavern\tand\tsecret\tmeeting,\tmore\triders\twent\tout. More\tand\tmore,\tuntil\tthere\twas\tnot\ta\troad\tthey\thad\tnot\tcovered,\tuntil\tthere\twas\tnot\tone soul\t who\t did\t not\t know\t that\t Aelin\t Galathynius\t was\t alive\u2014and\t willing\t to\t stand\t against Adarlan. Across\tthe\tWhite\tFangs\tand\tthe\tRuhnns,\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tthe\tWestern\tWastes\tand\tthe\tred- haired\tqueen\twho\truled\tfrom\ta\tcrumbling\tcastle.\tTo\tthe\tDeserted\tPeninsula\tand\tthe\toasis- fortress\t of\t the\t Silent\t Assassins.\t Hooves,\t hooves,\t hooves,\t echoing\t through\t the\t continent, sparking\tagainst\tcobblestones,\tall\tthe\tway\tto\tBanjali\tand\tthe\triverfront\tpalace\tof\tthe\tKing and\tQueen\tof\tEyllwe,\tstill\tin\ttheir\tmidnight\tmourning\tclothes. Hold\ton,\tthe\triders\ttold\tthe\tworld. Hold\ton. Dorian\u2019s\t father\t was\t in\t a\t rage\t the\t likes\t of\t which\t he\u2019d\t not\t seen\t before.\t Two\t ministers\t had been\texecuted\tthis\tmorning,\tfor\tno\tworse\tcrime\tthan\tattempting\tto\tcalm\tthe\tking. A\t day\t after\t the\t news\t arrived\t of\t what\t Aelin\t had\t done\t in\t Wendlyn,\t his\t father\t was\t still livid,\tstill\tdemanding\tanswers. Dorian\t might\t have\t found\t it\t funny\u2014so\t typically\t Celaena\t to\t make\t such\t a\t flamboyant return\u2014had\t he\t not\t been\t utterly\t petrified.\t She\t had\t drawn\t a\t line\t in\t the\t sand.\t Worse\t than that,\tshe\u2019d\tdefeated\tone\tof\tthe\tking\u2019s\tdeadliest\tgenerals. No\tone\thad\tdone\tthat\tand\tlived.\tEver. Somewhere\t in\t Wendlyn,\t his\t friend\t was\t changing\t the\t world.\t She\t was\t fulfilling\t the promise\tshe\u2019d\tmade\thim.\tShe\thad\tnot\tforgotten\thim,\tor\tany\tof\tthem\tstill\there.","And\tperhaps\twhen\tthey\tfigured\tout\ta\tway\tto\tdestroy\tthat\ttower\tand\tfree\tmagic\tfrom\this father\u2019s\t yoke,\t she\t would\t know\t her\t friends\t had\t not\t forgotten\t her,\t either.\t That\t he\t had\t not forgotten\ther. So\tDorian\tlet\this\tfather\trage.\tHe\tsat\tin\ton\tthose\tmeetings\tand\tshut\tdown\this\trevulsion and\t horror\t when\t his\t father\t sent\t a\t third\t minister\t to\t the\t butchering\t block.\t For\t Sorscha,\t for the\tpromise\tof\tkeeping\ther\tsafe,\tof\tsomeday,\tperhaps,\tnot\thaving\tto\thide\twhat\tand\twho\the was,\the\tkept\ton\this\twell-worn\tmask,\toffered\tbanal\tsuggestions\tabout\twhat\tto\tdo\tregarding Aelin,\tand\tpretended.\tOne\tlast\ttime. When\tCelaena\tgot\tback,\twhen\tshe\treturned\tas\tshe\u2019d\tsworn\tshe\twould\t\u2026 Then\tthey\twould\tset\tabout\tchanging\tthe\tworld\ttogether.","Chapter\t59 It\ttook\ta\tweek\tfor\tCelaena\tand\tRowan\tto\treach\tDoranelle.\tThey\ttraveled\tover\tthe\trough, miserable\t mountains\t where\t Maeve\u2019s\t wild\t wolves\t monitored\t them\t day\t and\t night,\t then down\tinto\tthe\tlush\tvalley\tthrough\tforests\tand\tfields,\tthe\tair\theavy\twith\tspices\tand\tmagic. The\ttemperature\tgrew\twarmer\tthe\tfarther\tsouth\tthey\ttraveled,\tbut\tbreezes\tkept\tit\tfrom being\t too\t unpleasant.\t After\t a\t while,\t they\t began\t spotting\t pretty\t stone\t villages\t in\t the distance,\tbut\tRowan\tkept\tthem\taway,\thidden,\tuntil\tthey\tcrested\ta\trocky\thill\tand\tDoranelle spread\tbefore\tthem. It\ttook\ther\tbreath\taway.\tEven\tOrynth\tcould\tnot\tcompare\tto\tthis. They\thad\tcalled\tit\tthe\tCity\tof\tRivers\tfor\ta\treason.\tThe\tpale-stoned\tcity\twas\tbuilt\ton\ta massive\tisland\tsmack\tin\tthe\tcenter\tof\tseveral\tof\tthem,\tthe\twaters\traging\tas\tthe\ttributaries from\t the\t surrounding\t hills\t and\t mountains\t blended.\t On\t the\t island\u2019s\t north\t end,\t the\t rivers toppled\t over\t the\t mouth\t of\t a\t mighty\t waterfall,\t its\t basin\t so\t huge\t that\t the\t mist\t floated\t into the\t clear\t day,\t setting\t the\t domed\t buildings,\t pearlescent\t spires,\t and\t blue\t rooftops\t shining. There\t were\t no\t boats\t moored\t to\t the\t city\t edges,\t though\t there\t were\t two\t elegant\t stone bridges\t spanning\t the\t river\u2014heavily\t guarded.\t Fae\t moved\t across\t the\t bridges,\t and\t carts loaded\twith\teverything\tfrom\tvegetables\tto\thay\tto\twine.\tSomewhere,\tthere\thad\tto\tbe\tfields and\tfarms\tand\ttowns\tto\tsupply\tthem.\tThough\tshe\u2019d\tbet\tMaeve\thad\ta\tstronghold\tof\tgoods stocked\tup. \u201cI\t assume\t you\t normally\t fly\t right\t in\t and\t don\u2019t\t deign\t to\t use\t the\t bridges,\u201d\t she\t said\t to Rowan,\twho\twas\tfrowning\tat\tthe\tcity,\tnot\tlooking\tvery\tmuch\tlike\ta\twarrior\tabout\tto\treturn home.\t He\t nodded\t distantly.\t He\u2019d\t fallen\t silent\t in\t the\t past\t day\u2014not\t rude,\t but\t quiet\t and vague,\t as\t if\t he\t were\t rebuilding\t the\t wall\t between\t them.\t This\t morning,\t she\u2019d\t awoken\t in their\t hilltop\t camp\t to\t find\t him\t staring\t at\t the\t sunrise,\t looking\t for\t all\t the\t world\t as\t if\t he\u2019d been\thaving\ta\tconversation\twith\tit.\tShe\thadn\u2019t\thad\tthe\tnerve\tto\task\tif\the\u2019d\tbeen\tpraying\tto Mala\tFire-Bringer,\tor\twhat\the\twould\teven\task\tof\tthe\tSun\tGoddess.\tBut\tthere\thad\tbeen\ta strangely\t familiar\t warmth\t wrapped\t around\t the\t camp,\t and\t she\t could\t have\t sworn\t that\t she felt\ther\tmagic\tleap\tin\tjoyous\tresponse.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\therself\tthink\tabout\tit. Because\tfor\tthe\tpast\tday,\tshe,\ttoo,\thad\tbeen\tlost\tin\therself,\tbusy\tgathering\ther\tstrength and\t clarity.\t She\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t able\t to\t talk\t much,\t and\t even\t now,\t focusing\t on\t the\t present required\t an\t immense\t effort.\t \u201cWell,\u201d\t she\t said,\t taking\t an\t exaggerated\t breath\t and\t patting Goldryn\u2019s\thilt,\t\u201clet\u2019s\tgo\tsee\tour\tbeloved\taunt.\tI\u2019d\thate\tto\tkeep\ther\twaiting.\u201d It\t took\t them\t until\t nightfall\t to\t reach\t the\t bridge,\t and\t Celaena\t was\t glad:\t there\t were\t fewer Fae\t to\t witness\t their\t arrival,\t even\t though\t the\t winding,\t elegant\t streets\t were\t now\t full\t of musicians\tand\tdancing\tand\tvendors\tselling\thot\tfood\tand\tdrinks.\tThere\thad\tbeen\tplenty\tof that\t in\t Adarlan,\t but\t here\t there\t was\t no\t empire\t weighing\t on\t them,\t no\t darkness\t or\t cold\t or despair.\t Maeve\t had\t not\t sent\t aid\t ten\t years\t ago\u2014and\t while\t the\t Fae\t danced\t and\t drank mulled\t cider,\t Celaena\u2019s\t people\t had\t been\t butchered\t and\t burned.\t She\t knew\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t their","fault,\t but\t as\t she\t headed\t across\t the\t city,\t toward\t the\t northern\t edge\t by\t the\t waterfall,\t she couldn\u2019t\tbring\therself\tto\tsmile\tat\tthe\tmerriment. She\t reminded\t herself\t that\t she\t had\t danced\t and\t drunk\t and\t done\t whatever\t she\t pleased while\ther\town\tpeople\thad\tsuffered\tfor\tten\tyears,\ttoo.\tShe\twas\tin\tno\tposition\tto\tresent\tthe Fae,\tor\tanyone\texcept\tthe\tqueen\twho\truled\tover\tthis\tcity. None\tof\tthe\tguards\tstopped\tthem,\tthough\tshe\tdid\tnote\tshadows\ttrailing\tthem\tfrom\tthe rooftops\tand\talleys,\ta\tfew\tbirds\tof\tprey\tcircling\tabove.\tRowan\tdidn\u2019t\tacknowledge\tthem, though\tshe\tcaught\this\tteeth\tglinting\tin\tthe\tgolden\tlamplight.\tApparently,\tthe\tescort\twasn\u2019t making\t the\t prince\t too\t happy,\t either.\t How\t many\t of\t them\t did\t he\t know\t personally?\t How many\thad\the\tfought\tbeside,\tor\tventured\twith\tto\tunmapped\tlands? They\t saw\t no\t sign\t of\t his\t friends,\t and\t he\t made\t no\t comment\t about\t whether\t or\t not\t he expected\tto\tsee\tthem.\tEven\tthough\this\tgaze\twas\tstraight\tahead,\tshe\tknew\the\twas\taware\tof every\tsentry\twatching\tthem,\tevery\tbreath\tissued\tnearby. She\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tthe\tspace\tleft\tin\ther\tfor\tdoubt\tor\tfear.\tAs\tthey\twalked,\tshe\tplayed\twith the\t ring\t tucked\t into\t her\t pocket,\t turning\t it\t over\t and\t over\t as\t she\t reminded\t herself\t of\t her plan\t and\t of\t what\t she\t needed\t to\t accomplish\t before\t she\t left\t this\t city.\t She\t was\t as\t much\t a queen\tas\tMaeve.\tShe\twas\tthe\tsovereign\tof\ta\tstrong\tpeople\tand\ta\tmighty\tkingdom. She\twas\tthe\their\tof\tash\tand\tfire,\tand\tshe\twould\tbow\tto\tno\tone. They\twere\tescorted\tthrough\ta\tshining\tpalace\tof\tpale\tstone\tand\tsky-blue\tgossamer\tcurtains, the\t floors\t a\t mosaic\t of\t delicate\t tiles\t depicting\t various\t scenes,\t from\t dancing\t maidens\t to pastorals\t to\t the\t night\t sky.\t Throughout\t the\t building,\t the\t river\t itself\t ran\t in\t tiny\t streams, sometimes\tgathering\tin\t pools\t freckled\t with\t night-blooming\t lilies.\t Jasmine\t wove\t around the\tmassive\tcolumns,\tand\tlights\tof\tcolored\tglass\thung\tfrom\tthe\tarched\tceilings.\tEnough\tof the\tpalace\twas\topen\tto\tthe\telements\tto\tsuggest\tthat\tthe\tweather\there\twas\talways\tthis\tmild. Music\tplayed\tfrom\tdistant\trooms,\tbut\tit\twas\tfaint\tand\tplacid\tcompared\tto\tthe\triot\tof\tsound and\tcolor\tin\tthe\tcity\toutside\tthe\tmammoth\tmarble\tpalace\twalls. Sentries\twere\teverywhere.\tThey\tlurked\tjust\tout\tof\tsight,\tbut\tin\ther\tFae\tbody\tshe\tcould smell\t them,\t the\t steel\t and\t the\t crisp\t scent\t of\t whatever\t soap\t they\t must\t use\t in\t the\t barracks. Not\ttoo\tdifferent\tfrom\tthe\tglass\tcastle.\tBut\tMaeve\u2019s\tstronghold\thad\tbeen\tbuilt\tfrom\tstone \u2014so\t much\t stone,\t everywhere,\t all\t of\t it\t pale\t and\t carved\t and\t polished\t and\t gleaming.\t She knew\t Rowan\t had\t private\t quarters\t in\t this\t palace,\t and\t that\t the\t Whitethorn\t family\t had various\t residences\t in\t Doranelle,\t but\t they\t saw\t nothing\t of\t his\t kin.\t He\u2019d\t told\t her\t on\t their journey\tthat\tthere\twere\tseveral\tother\tprinces\tin\this\tfamily,\twith\this\tfather\u2019s\tbrother\truling over\t them.\t Fortunately\t for\t Rowan,\t his\t uncle\t had\t three\t sons,\t keeping\t him\t free\t of responsibility,\t though\t they\t certainly\t tried\t to\t use\t Rowan\u2019s\t position\t with\t Maeve\t to\t their advantage.\tAs\tscheming\tand\tsycophantic\tas\tany\troyal\tfamily\tin\tAdarlan,\tshe\tsupposed. After\tan\teternity\tof\twalking\tin\tsilence,\tRowan\tled\ther\tonto\ta\twide\tveranda\toverhanging the\triver.\tHe\twas\ttense\tenough\tto\tsuggest\the\twas\tscenting\tand\thearing\tthings\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t, but\t he\t offered\t no\t warning.\t The\t waterfall\t beyond\t the\t palace\t roared,\t though\t not\t loud enough\tto\tdrown\tout\tconversation. Across\tthe\tveranda\tsat\tMaeve\ton\ther\tthrone\tof\tstone.","Sprawled\t on\t either\t side\t of\t the\t throne\t were\t the\t twin\t wolves,\t one\t black\t and\t one\t white, monitoring\ttheir\tapproach\twith\tcunning\tgolden\teyes.\tThere\twas\tno\tone\telse\u2014no\tsmell\tof Rowan\u2019s\t other\t friends\t lurking\t nearby\t as\t they\t crossed\t the\t tiled\t floor.\t She\t wished\t Rowan had\tlet\ther\tfreshen\tup\tin\this\tsuite,\tbut\t\u2026\tshe\tsupposed\tthat\twasn\u2019t\twhat\tthis\tmeeting\twas about,\tanyway. Rowan\tkept\tpace\twith\ther\tas\tshe\tstalked\tto\tthe\tsmall\tdais\tbefore\tthe\tcarved\trailing,\tand when\tthey\tstopped,\the\tdropped\tto\this\tknees\tand\tbowed\this\thead.\t\u201cMajesty,\u201d\the\tmurmured. Her\taunt\tdid\tnot\teven\tglance\tat\tRowan\tor\tbid\thim\tto\trise.\tShe\tleft\ther\tnephew\tkneeling as\tshe\tturned\ther\tviolet,\tstarry\teyes\tto\tCelaena\tand\tgave\ther\tthat\tspider\u2019s\tsmile. \u201cIt\twould\tseem\tthat\tyou\thave\taccomplished\tyour\ttask,\tAelin\tGalathynius.\u201d Another\ttest\u2014using\ther\tname\tto\telicit\ta\treaction. She\tsmiled\tright\tback\tat\tMaeve.\t\u201cIndeed.\u201d Rowan\tkept\this\thead\tdown,\teyes\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tMaeve\tcould\tmake\thim\tkneel\tthere\tfor\ta hundred\tyears\tif\tshe\twished.\tThe\twolves\tbeside\tthe\tthrone\tdidn\u2019t\tmove\tan\tinch. Maeve\tdeigned\ta\tglance\tat\tRowan\tand\tthen\tgave\tCelaena\tthat\tlittle\tsmile\tagain.\t\u201cI\twill admit\t that\t I\t am\t surprised\t that\t you\t managed\t to\t gain\t his\t approval\t so\t swiftly.\t So,\u201d\t Maeve said,\t lounging\t in\t her\t throne,\t \u201cshow\t me,\t then.\t A\t demonstration\t of\t what\t you\t have\t learned these\tmonths.\u201d Celaena\tclenched\tthe\tring\tin\ther\tpocket,\tnot\tlowering\ther\tchin\tone\tmillimeter.\t\u201cI\twould prefer\tto\tfirst\tretrieve\tthe\tknowledge\tyou\u2019re\tkeeping\tto\tyourself.\u201d A\tfeminine\tclick\tof\tthe\ttongue.\t\u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\ttrust\tmy\tword?\u201d \u201cYou\t can\u2019t\t believe\t I\u2019d\t give\t you\t everything\t you\t want\t with\t no\t proof\t you\t can\t deliver your\tside\tof\tthe\tbargain.\u201d Rowan\u2019s\tshoulders\ttensed,\tbut\this\thead\tremained\tdown. Maeve\u2019s\teyes\tnarrowed\tslightly.\t\u201cThe\tWyrdkeys.\u201d \u201cHow\tthey\tcan\tbe\tdestroyed,\twhere\tthey\tare,\tand\twhat\telse\tyou\tknow\tof\tthem.\u201d \u201cThey\tcannot\tbe\tdestroyed.\tThey\tcan\tonly\tbe\tput\tback\tin\tthe\tgate.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\tstomach\ttwisted.\tShe\u2019d\tknown\tthat\talready,\tbut\thearing\tthe\tconfirmation\twas hard,\tsomehow.\t\u201cHow\tcan\tthey\tbe\tput\tback\tin\tthe\tgate?\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t think\t they\t would\t already\t have\t been\t restored\t to\t their\t home\t if\t anyone knew?\u201d \u201cYou\tsaid\tyou\tknew\tabout\tthem.\u201d An\tadder\u2019s\tsmile.\t\u201cI\tdo\tknow\tabout\tthem.\tI\tknow\tthey\tcan\tbe\tused\tto\tcreate,\tto\tdestroy, to\t open\t portals.\t But\t I\t do\t not\t know\t how\t to\t put\t them\t back.\t I\t never\t learned\t how,\t and\t then they\twere\ttaken\tby\tBrannon\tacross\tthe\tsea\tand\tI\tnever\tsaw\tthem\tagain.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdid\tthey\tlook\tlike?\tWhat\tdid\tthey\tfeel\tlike?\u201d Maeve\t cupped\t her\t palm\t and\t looked\t at\t it,\t as\t if\t she\t could\t see\t the\t keys\t lying\t there.","\u201cBlack\tand\tglittering,\tno\tmore\tthan\tslivers\tof\tstone.\tBut\tthey\twere\tnot\tstone\u2014they\twere like\tnothing\ton\tthis\tearth,\tin\tany\trealm.\tIt\twas\tlike\tholding\tthe\tliving\tflesh\tof\ta\tgod,\tlike containing\t the\t breath\t of\t every\t being\t in\t every\t realm\t all\t at\t once.\t It\t was\t madness\t and\t joy and\tterror\tand\tdespair\tand\teternity.\u201d The\t thought\t of\t Maeve\t possessing\t all\t three\t of\t the\t keys,\t even\t for\t brief\t moment,\t was horrifying\tenough\tthat\tCelaena\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\therself\tfully\tcontemplate\tit.\tShe\tjust\tsaid,\t\u201cAnd what\telse\tcan\tyou\ttell\tme\tabout\tthem?\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\tall\tI\tcan\trecall,\tI\u2019m\tafraid.\u201d\tMaeve\tsettled\tback\tin\ther\tthrone. No\u2014no,\tthere\thad\tto\tbe\tsome\tway.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tspent\tall\tthese\tmonths\tin\ta\tfool\u2019s bargain,\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\ttricked\tthat\tbadly.\tBut\tif\tMaeve\tdid\tnot\tknow,\tthen\tthere\twere other\tbits\tof\tinformation\tto\textract;\tshe\twould\tnot\twalk\tout\tof\there\tempty-handed. \u201cThe\tValg\tprinces\u2014what\tcan\tyou\ttell\tme\tof\tthem?\u201d For\t a\t few\t heartbeats,\t Maeve\t remained\t silent,\t as\t if\t contemplating\t the\t merits\t of answering\t more\t than\t she\u2019d\t originally\t promised.\t Celaena\t wasn\u2019t\t entirely\t sure\t that\t she wanted\t to\t know\t why\t Maeve\t decided\t in\t her\t favor\t as\t the\t queen\t said,\t \u201cAh\u2014yes.\t My\t men informed\t me\t of\t their\t presence.\u201d\t Maeve\t paused\t again,\t no\t doubt\t dredging\t up\t the information\tfrom\tsome\tancient\tcorner\tof\ther\tmemory.\t\u201cThere\tare\tmany\tdifferent\traces\tof Valg\u2014creatures\tthat\teven\tyour\tdarkest\tnightmares\twould\tflee\tfrom.\tThey\tare\truled\tby\tthe princes,\twho\tthemselves\tare\tmade\tof\tshadow\tand\tdespair\tand\thatred\tand\thave\tno\tbodies\tto occupy\tsave\tthose\tthat\tthey\tinfiltrate.\tThere\taren\u2019t\tmany\tprinces\u2014but\tI\tonce\twitnessed\tan entire\tlegion\tof\tFae\twarriors\tdevoured\tby\tsix\tof\tthem\twithin\thours.\u201d A\tchill\twent\tdown\ther\tspine,\tand\teven\tthe\twolves\u2019\thackles\trose.\t\u201cBut\tI\tkilled\tthem\twith my\tfire\tand\tlight\u2014\u201d \u201cHow\t do\t you\t think\t Brannon\t won\t himself\t such\t glory\t and\t a\t kingdom?\t He\t was\t a discarded\tson\tof\tnobody,\tunclaimed\tby\teither\tparent.\tBut\tMala\tloved\thim\tfiercely,\tso\this flames\t were\t sometimes\t all\t that\t held\t the\t Valg\t princes\t at\t bay\t until\t we\t could\t summon\t a force\tto\tpush\tthem\tback.\u201d She\topened\tto\ther\tmouth\tto\task\tthe\tnext\tquestion,\tbut\tpaused.\tMaeve\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tsort\tto toss\t out\t random\t bits\t of\t information.\t So\t Celaena\t slowly\t asked,\t \u201cBrannon\t wasn\u2019t\t royal- born?\u201d Maeve\t cocked\t her\t head.\t \u201cDidn\u2019t\t anyone\t ever\t tell\t you\t what\t the\t mark\t on\t your\t brow means?\u201d \u201cI\twas\ttold\tit\twas\ta\tsacred\tmark.\u201d Maeve\u2019s\t eyes\t danced\t with\t amusement.\t \u201cSacred\t only\t because\t of\t the\t bearer\t who established\t your\t kingdom.\t But\t before\t that,\t it\t was\t nothing.\t Brannon\t was\t born\t with\t the bastard\u2019s\t mark\u2014the\t mark\t every\t unclaimed,\t unwanted\t child\t possessed,\t marking\t them\t as nameless,\t nobody.\t Each\t of\t Brannon\u2019s\t heirs,\t despite\t their\t noble\t lineage,\t has\t since\t been graced\twith\tit\u2014the\tnameless\tmark.\u201d And\t it\t had\t burned\t that\t day\t she\u2019d\t dueled\t with\t Cain.\t Burned\t in\t front\t of\t the\t King\t of Adarlan.\tA\tshudder\twent\tdown\ther\tspine.\t\u201cWhy\tdid\tit\tglow\twhen\tI\tdueled\tCain,\tand\twhen I\tfaced\tthe\tValg\tprinces?\u201d\tShe\tknew\tMaeve\twas\twell\tinformed\tabout\tthe\tshadow-creature","that\t had\t lived\t inside\t Cain.\t Perhaps\t not\t a\t Valg\t prince,\t but\t something\t small\t enough\t to\t be contained\tby\tthe\tWyrdstone\tring\the\u2019d\tworn\tinstead\tof\ta\tcollar.\tIt\thad\trecognized\tElena\u2014 and\tit\thad\tsaid\tto\tboth\tof\tthem,\tYou\twere\tbrought\there\u2014all\tof\tyou\twere.\tAll\tthe\tplayers\tin the\tunfinished\tgame. \u201cPerhaps\tyour\tblood\tmerely\trecognized\tthe\tpresence\tof\tthe\tValg\tand\twas\ttrying\tto\ttell you\tsomething.\tPerhaps\tit\tmeant\tnothing.\u201d She\t didn\u2019t\t think\t so.\t Especially\t when\t the\t reek\t of\t the\t Valg\t had\t been\t in\t her\t parents\u2019 bedroom\tthe\tmorning\tafter\tthey\u2019d\tbeen\tmurdered.\tEither\tthe\tassassin\thad\tbeen\tpossessed, or\t he\u2019d\t known\t how\t to\t use\t their\t power\t to\t keep\t her\t parents\t unconscious\t while\t he slaughtered\tthem.\tAll\tbits\tof\tinformation\tto\tbe\tpieced\ttogether\tlater,\twhen\tshe\twas\taway from\tMaeve.\tIf\tMaeve\tlet\ther\twalk\tout\tof\there. \u201cAre\tfire\tand\tlight\tthe\tonly\tway\tto\tkill\tthe\tValg\tprinces?\u201d \u201cThey\t are\t hard\t to\t kill,\t but\t not\t invincible,\u201d\t Maeve\t admitted.\t \u201cWith\t the\t way\t the Adarlanian\t king\t compels\t them,\t cutting\t off\t their\t heads\t to\t sever\t the\t collar\t might\t do\t the trick.\tIf\tyou\tare\tto\treturn\tto\tAdarlan,\tthat\twill\tbe\tthe\tonly\tway,\tI\tsuspect.\u201d Because\tin\tAdarlan,\tmagic\twas\tstill\tlocked\tup\tby\tthe\tking.\tIf\tshe\tfaced\tone\tof\tthe\tValg princes\tagain,\tshe\u2019d\thave\tto\tkill\tit\tby\tblade\tand\twits.\t\u201cIf\tthe\tking\tis\tindeed\tsummoning\tthe Valg\tto\this\tarmies,\twhat\tcan\tbe\tdone\tto\tstop\tthem?\u201d \u201cThe\t King\t of\t Adarlan,\t it\t seems,\t is\t doing\t what\t I\t never\t had\t the\t nerve\t to\t do\t while\t the keys\twere\tbriefly\tin\tmy\tpossession.\tWithout\tall\tthree\tkeys,\the\tis\tlimited.\tHe\tcan\tonly\topen the\tportal\tbetween\tour\tworlds\tfor\tshort\tperiods,\tlong\tenough\tto\tlet\tin\tperhaps\tone\tprince to\t infiltrate\t a\t body\t he\t has\t prepared.\t But\t with\t all\t three\t keys,\t he\t could\t open\t the\t portal\t at will\u2014he\tcould\tsummon\tall\tthe\tValg\tarmies,\tto\tbe\tled\tby\tthe\tprinces\tin\ttheir\tmortal\tbodies, and\u2026\u201d\t Maeve\t looked\t more\t intrigued\t than\t horrified.\t \u201cAnd\t with\t all\t three\t keys,\t he\t might not\t need\t to\t rely\t on\t magically\t gifted\t hosts\t for\t the\t Valg.\t There\t are\t countless\t lesser\t spirits amongst\tthe\tValg,\thungry\tfor\tentrance\tto\tthis\tworld.\u201d \u201cHe\u2019d\thave\tto\tmake\tcountless\tcollars\tfor\tthem,\tthen.\u201d \u201cHe\twould\tnot\tneed\tto,\tnot\twith\tall\tthree\tkeys.\tHis\tcontrol\twould\tbe\tabsolute.\tAnd\the would\tnot\tneed\tliving\thosts\u2014only\tbodies.\u201d Celaena\u2019s\t heart\t stumbled\t a\t beat,\t and\t Rowan\t tensed\t from\t his\t spot\t on\t the\t ground.\t \u201cHe could\thave\tan\tarmy\tof\tthe\tdead,\tinhabited\tby\tthe\tValg.\u201d \u201cAn\tarmy\tthat\tdoes\tnot\tneed\tto\teat\tor\tsleep\tor\tbreathe\u2014an\tarmy\tthat\twill\tsweep\tlike\ta plague\tacross\tyour\tcontinent,\tand\tothers.\tMaybe\tother\tworlds,\ttoo.\u201d But\t he\t would\t need\t all\t three\t keys\t for\t it.\t Her\t chest\t tightened,\t and\t though\t they\t were\t in the\t open\t air,\t the\t palace,\t the\t river,\t the\t stars\t seemed\t to\t push\t in\t on\t her.\t There\t would\t be\t no army\tthat\tshe\tcould\traise\tto\tstop\tthem,\tand\twithout\tmagic\t\u2026\tthey\twere\tdoomed.\tShe\twas doomed.\tShe\twas\u2014 A\tcalming\twarmth\twrapped\taround\ther,\tas\tif\tsomeone\thad\tpulled\ther\tinto\tan\tembrace. Feminine,\t joyous,\t infinitely\t powerful.\t This\t doom\t has\t not\t yet\t come\t to\t pass,\t it\t seemed\t to whisper\tin\ther\tear.\tThere\tis\tstill\ttime.\tDo\tnot\tsuccumb\tto\tfear\tyet.","Maeve\twas\twatching\ther\twith\ta\tfeline\tinterest,\tand\tCelaena\twondered\twhat\tit\twas\tthat the\t dark\t queen\t beheld\u2014if\t she,\t too,\t could\t sense\t that\t ancient,\t nurturing\t presence.\t But Celaena\t was\t warm\t again,\t the\t panic\t gone,\t and\t though\t the\t feeling\t of\t being\t held disappeared,\tshe\tstill\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthe\tpresence\tlingered\tnearby.\tThere\twas\ttime\u2014the king\tstill\tdid\tnot\thave\tthe\tthird\tkey. Brannon\u2014he\thad\tpossessed\tall\tthree,\tyet\thad\tchosen\tto\thide\tthem,\trather\tthan\tput\tthem back.\tAnd\tsomehow,\tsuddenly,\tthat\tbecame\tthe\tgreatest\tquestion\tof\tall:\twhy? \u201cAs\t for\t the\t locations\t of\t the\t three\t keys,\u201d\t Maeve\t said,\t \u201cI\t do\t not\t know\t where\t they\t are. They\twere\tbrought\tacross\tthe\tsea,\tand\tI\thave\tnot\theard\tof\tthem\tagain\tuntil\tthese\tpast\tten years.\tIt\twould\tseem\tthat\tthe\tking\thas\tat\tleast\tone,\tprobably\ttwo.\tThe\tthird,\thowever\t\u2026\u201d She\tlooked\ther\tup\tand\tdown,\tbut\tCelaena\trefused\tto\tflinch.\t\u201cYou\thave\tsome\tinkling\tof\tits whereabouts,\tdon\u2019t\tyou?\u201d She\t opened\t her\t mouth,\t but\t Maeve\u2019s\t fingers\t clenched\t the\t arm\t of\t her\t throne\u2014just enough\tto\tmake\tCelaena\tglance\tat\tthe\tstone.\tSo\tmuch\tstone\there\u2014in\tthis\tpalace\tand\tin\tthe city.\tAnd\tthat\tword\tMaeve\thad\tused\tearlier,\ttaken\t\u2026 \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou?\u201d\tMaeve\tpressed. Stone\u2014and\tnot\ta\tsign\tof\twood,\tsave\tfor\tplants\tand\tfurniture\t\u2026 \u201cNo,\tI\tdon\u2019t,\u201d\tsaid\tCelaena. Maeve\tcocked\ther\thead.\t\u201cRowan,\trise\tand\ttell\tme\tthe\ttruth.\u201d His\thands\tclenched,\tbut\the\tstood,\this\teyes\ton\this\tqueen\tas\the\tswallowed.\tTwice.\t\u201cShe found\t a\t riddle,\t and\t she\t knows\t the\t King\t of\t Adarlan\t has\t at\t least\t the\t first\t key,\t but\t doesn\u2019t know\twhere\the\tkeeps\tit.\tShe\talso\tlearned\twhat\tBrannon\tdid\twith\tthe\tthird\u2014and\twhere\tit is.\tShe\trefused\tto\ttell\tme.\u201d\tThere\twas\ta\tglimmer\tof\thorror\tin\this\teyes,\tand\this\tfists\twere trembling,\t as\t if\t some\t invisible\t force\t had\t compelled\t him\t to\t say\t it.\t The\t wolves\t only watched. Maeve\ttutted.\t\u201cKeeping\tsecrets,\tAelin?\tFrom\tyour\taunt?\u201d \u201cNot\tfor\tall\tthe\tworld\twould\tI\ttell\tyou\twhere\tthe\tthird\tkey\tis.\u201d \u201cOh,\tI\tknow,\u201d\tMaeve\tpurred.\tShe\tsnapped\ther\tfingers,\tand\tthe\twolves\trose\tto\ttheir\tfeet, shifting\t in\t flashes\t of\t light\t into\t the\t most\t beautiful\t men\t she\u2019d\t ever\t beheld.\t Warriors\t from the\tsize\tof\tthem,\tfrom\tthe\tlethal\tgrace\twith\twhich\tthey\tmoved;\tone\tlight\tand\tone\tdark,\tbut stunning\u2014perfect. Celaena\twent\tfor\tGoldryn,\tbut\tthe\ttwins\twent\tfor\tRowan,\twho\tdid\tnothing,\tdidn\u2019t\teven struggle\t as\t they\t gripped\t his\t arms,\t forcing\t him\t again\t to\t his\t knees.\t Two\t others\t emerged from\tthe\tshadows\tbehind\tthem.\tGavriel,\this\ttawny\teyes\tcarefully\tempty,\tand\tLorcan,\tface stone-cold.\tAnd\tin\ttheir\thands\t\u2026 At\tthe\tsight\tof\tthe\tiron-tipped\twhip\teach\tbore,\tCelaena\tforgot\tto\tbreathe.\tLorcan\tdidn\u2019t hesitate\tas\the\tripped\tRowan\u2019s\tjacket\tand\ttunic\tand\tshirt\tfrom\thim. \u201cUntil\tshe\tanswers\tme,\u201d\tMaeve\tsaid,\tas\tif\tshe\thad\tjust\tordered\ta\tcup\tof\ttea. Lorcan\t unfurled\t the\t whip,\t the\t iron\t tip\t clinking\t against\t the\t stones,\t and\t drew\t back\t his arm.\tThere\twas\tnothing\tmerciful\ton\this\trugged\tface,\tno\tglimmer\tof\tfeeling\tfor\tthe\tfriend","on\this\tknees. \u201cPlease,\u201d\t Celaena\t whispered.\t There\t was\t a\t crack,\t and\t the\t world\t fragmented\t as\t Rowan bowed\twhen\tthe\twhip\tsliced\tinto\this\tback.\tHe\tgritted\this\tteeth,\thissing,\tbut\tdid\tnot\tcry\tout. \u201cPlease,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid.\tGavriel\tsent\this\twhip\tflying\tso\tfast\tRowan\thad\tonly\ta\tbreath\tto recover.\tThere\twas\tno\tremorse\ton\tGavriel\u2019s\tlovely\tface,\tno\tsign\tof\tthe\tmale\tshe\u2019d\tthanked weeks\tago. Across\tthe\tveranda,\tMaeve\tsaid,\t\u201cHow\tlong\tthis\tlasts\tdepends\tentirely\ton\tyou,\tniece.\u201d Celaena\tdid\tnot\tdare\tdrag\ther\tgaze\taway\tfrom\tRowan,\twho\ttook\tthe\twhipping\tas\tif\the had\t done\t this\t before\u2014as\t if\t he\t knew\t how\t to\t pace\t himself\t and\t how\t much\t pain\t to\t expect. His\t friends\u2019\t eyes\t were\t dead,\t as\t if\t they,\t too,\t had\t given\t and\t received\t this\t manner\t of punishment. Maeve\thad\t harmed\t Rowan\t before.\t How\t many\t of\t his\t scars\t had\t she\t given\t him?\t \u201cStop it,\u201d\tCelaena\tgrowled. \u201cNot\tfor\tall\tthe\tworld,\tAelin?\tBut\twhat\tabout\tfor\tPrince\tRowan?\u201d Another\tstrike,\tand\tblood\twas\ton\tthe\tstones.\tAnd\tthe\tsound\u2014that\tsound\tof\tthe\twhip\t\u2026 the\tsound\tthat\techoed\tin\ther\tnightmares,\tthe\tsound\tthat\tmade\ther\tblood\trun\tcold\t\u2026 \u201cTell\tme\twhere\tthe\tthird\tWyrdkey\tis,\tAelin.\u201d Crack.\tRowan\tjerked\tagainst\tthe\ttwins\u2019\tiron\tgrip.\tWas\tthis\twhy\the\thad\tbeen\tpraying\tto Mala\tthat\tmorning?\tBecause\the\tknew\twhat\tto\texpect\tfrom\tMaeve? She\t opened\t her\t mouth,\t but\t Rowan\t lifted\t his\t head,\t teeth\t bared,\t his\t face\t savage\t with pain\tand\trage.\tHe\tknew\tshe\tcould\tread\tthe\tword\tin\this\teyes,\tbut\the\tstill\tsaid,\t\u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d It\twas\tthat\tword\tof\tdefiance\tthat\tbroke\tthe\thold\tshe\u2019d\tkept\ton\therself\tfor\tthe\tpast\tday, the\tdamper\tshe\u2019d\tput\ton\ther\tpower\tas\tshe\tsecretly\tspiraled\tdown\tto\tthe\tcore\tof\ther\tmagic, pulling\tup\tas\tmuch\tas\tshe\tcould\tgather. The\theat\tspread\tfrom\ther,\twarming\tthe\tstones\tso\tswiftly\tthat\tRowan\u2019s\tblood\tturned\tto red\tsteam.\tHis\tcompanions\tswore\tand\tnear-invisible\tshields\trippled\taround\tthem\tand\ttheir sovereign. She\tknew\tthe\tgold\tin\ther\teyes\thad\tshifted\tto\tflame,\tbecause\twhen\tshe\tlooked\tto\tMaeve, the\tqueen\u2019s\tface\thad\tgone\tbone-white. And\tthen\tCelaena\tset\tthe\tworld\ton\tfire.","Chapter\t60 Maeve\t was\t not\t burning,\t and\t neither\t were\t Rowan\t or\t his\t friends,\t whose\t shields\t Celaena tore\t through\t with\t half\t a\t thought.\t But\t the\t river\t was\t steaming\t around\t them,\t and\t shouting arose\t from\t the\t palace,\t from\t the\t city,\t as\t a\t flame\t that\t did\t not\t burn\t or\t hurt\t enveloped everything.\tThe\tentire\tisland\twas\twreathed\tin\twildfire. Maeve\t was\t standing\t now,\t stalking\t off\t the\t dais.\t Celaena\t let\t a\t little\t more\t heat\t seep through\t her\t hold\t on\t the\t flame,\t warming\t Maeve\u2019s\t skin\t as\t she\t moved\t to\t meet\t her\t aunt. Wide-eyed,\tRowan\thung\tfrom\this\tfriends\u2019\tarms,\this\tblood\tfizzing\ton\tthe\tstones. \u201cYou\twanted\ta\tdemonstration,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tquietly.\tSweat\ttrickled\tdown\ther\tback,\tbut she\tgripped\tthe\tmagic\twith\teverything\tshe\thad.\t\u201cOne\tthought\tfrom\tme,\tand\tyour\tcity\twill burn.\u201d \u201cIt\tis\tstone,\u201d\tMaeve\tsnapped. Celaena\tsmiled.\t\u201cYour\tpeople\taren\u2019t.\u201d Maeve\u2019s\tnostrils\tflared\tdelicately.\t\u201cWould\tyou\tmurder\tinnocents,\tAelin?\tPerhaps.\tYou did\tit\tfor\tyears,\tdidn\u2019t\tyou?\u201d Celaena\u2019s\tsmile\tdidn\u2019t\tfalter.\t\u201cTry\tme.\tJust\ttry\tto\tpush\tme,\tAunt,\tand\tsee\twhat\tcomes\tof it.\t This\t was\t what\t you\t wanted,\t wasn\u2019t\t it?\t Not\t for\t me\t to\t master\t my\t magic,\t but\t for\t you\t to learn\t just\t how\t powerful\t I\t am.\t Not\t how\t much\t of\t your\t sister \u2019s\t blood\t flows\t in\t my\t veins\u2014 no,\t you\u2019ve\t known\t from\t the\t start\t that\t I\t have\t very\t little\t of\t Mab\u2019s\t power.\t You\t wanted\t to know\thow\tmuch\tI\tgot\tfrom\tBrannon.\u201d The\t flames\t rose\t higher,\t and\t the\t shouts\u2014of\t fright,\t not\t pain\u2014rose\t with\t them.\t The flames\twould\tnot\thurt\tanyone\tunless\tshe\twilled\tit.\tShe\tcould\tsense\tother\tmagics\tfighting against\t her\t own,\t tearing\t holes\t into\t her\t power,\t but\t the\t conflagration\t surrounding\t the veranda\tburned\tstrong. \u201cYou\tnever\tgave\tthe\tkeys\tto\tBrannon.\tAnd\tyou\tdidn\u2019t\tjourney\twith\tBrannon\tand\tAthril to\tretrieve\tthe\tkeys\tfrom\tthe\tValg,\u201d\tCelaena\twent\ton,\ta\tcrown\tof\tfire\twreathing\ther\thead. \u201cYou\twent\tto\tsteal\tthem\tfor\tyourself.\tYou\twanted\tto\tkeep\tthem.\tOnce\tBrannon\tand\tAthril realized\t that,\t they\t fought\t you.\t And\t Athril\u2026\u201d\t Celaena\t drew\t Goldryn,\t its\t hilt\t glowing bloodred.\t\u201cYour\tbeloved\tAthril,\tdearest\tfriend\tof\tBrannon\t\u2026\twhen\tAthril\tfought\tyou,\tyou killed\t him.\t You,\t not\t the\t Valg.\t And\t in\t your\t grief\t and\t shame,\t you\t were\t weakened\t enough that\t Brannon\t took\t the\t keys\t from\t you.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t some\t enemy\t force\t who\t sacked\t the\t Sun Goddess\u2019s\ttemple.\tIt\twas\tBrannon.\tHe\tburned\tany\tlast\ttrace\tof\thimself,\tany\tclue\tof\twhere he\twas\tgoing\tso\tyou\twould\tnot\tfind\thim.\tHe\tleft\tonly\tAthril\u2019s\tsword\tto\thonor\this\tfriend\u2014 in\tthe\tcave\twhere\tAthril\thad\tfirst\tcarved\tout\tthe\teye\tof\tthat\tpoor\tlake\tcreature\u2014and\tnever told\t you.\t After\t Brannon\t left\t these\t shores,\t you\t did\t not\t dare\t follow\t him,\t not\t when\t he\t had the\tkeys,\tnot\twhen\this\tmagic\u2014my\tmagic\u2014was\tso\tstrong.\u201d It\t was\t why\t Brannon\t had\t hidden\t the\t Wyrdkey\t in\t his\t household\u2019s\t heirloom\u2014to\t give them\t that\t extra\t ounce\t of\t power.\t Not\t against\t ordinary\t enemies,\t but\t in\t case\t Maeve\t ever","came\tfor\tthem.\tPerhaps\the\thad\tnot\tput\tthe\tkeys\tback\tin\tthe\tgate\tbecause\the\twanted\tto\tbe able\tto\tcall\tupon\ttheir\tpower\tshould\tMaeve\tever\tdecide\tto\tinstall\therself\tas\tmistress\tof\tall lands. \u201cThat\twas\twhy\tyou\tabandoned\tyour\tland\tin\tthe\tfoothills\tand\tleft\tit\tto\trot.\tThat\twas\twhy you\t built\t a\t city\t of\t stone\t surrounded\t by\t water:\t so\t Brannon\u2019s\t heirs\t could\t not\t return\t and roast\tyou\talive.\tThat\twas\twhy\tyou\twanted\tto\tsee\tme,\twhy\tyou\tbargained\twith\tmy\tmother. You\t wanted\t to\t know\t what\t manner\t of\t threat\t I\t would\t pose.\t What\t would\t happen\t when Brannon\u2019s\tblood\tmixed\twith\tMab\u2019s\tline.\u201d\tCelaena\topened\ther\tarms\twide,\tGoldryn\tburning bright\t in\t one\t hand.\t \u201cBehold\t my\t power,\t Maeve.\t Behold\t what\t I\t grapple\t with\t in\t the\t deep dark,\twhat\tprowls\tunder\tmy\tskin.\u201d Celaena\texhaled\ta\tbreath\tand\textinguished\teach\tand\tevery\tflame\tin\tthe\tcity. The\tpower\twasn\u2019t\tin\tmight\tor\tskill.\tIt\twas\tin\tthe\tcontrol\u2014the\tpower\tlay\tin\tcontrolling herself.\t She\u2019d\t known\t all\t along\t how\t vast\t and\t deadly\t her\t fire\t was,\t and\t a\t few\t months\t ago, she\t would\t have\t killed\t and\t sacrificed\t and\t slaughtered\t anyone\t and\t anything\t to\t fulfill\t her vow.\tBut\tthat\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\tstrength\u2014it\thad\tbeen\tthe\trage\tand\tgrief\tof\ta\tbroken,\tcrumbling person.\t She\t understood\t now\t what\t her\t mother\t had\t meant\t when\t she\t had\t patted\t her\t heart that\tnight\tshe\u2019d\tgiven\ther\tthe\tamulet. As\tevery\tlight\twent\tout\tin\tDoranelle,\tplunging\tthe\tworld\tinto\tdarkness,\tCelaena\tstalked over\t to\t Rowan.\t One\t look\t and\t a\t flash\t of\t her\t teeth\t had\t the\t twins\t releasing\t him.\t Their bloodied\t whips\t still\t in\t hand,\t Gavriel\t and\t Lorcan\t made\t no\t move\t toward\t her\t as\t Rowan sagged\tagainst\ther,\tmurmuring\ther\tname. Lights\tkindled.\tMaeve\tremained\twhere\tshe\tstood,\tdress\tsoot-stained,\tface\tshining\twith sweat.\t \u201cRowan,\t come\t here.\u201d\t Rowan\t stiffened,\t grunting\t with\t pain,\t but\t staggered\t to\t the dais,\tblood\ttrickling\tfrom\tthe\thideous\twounds\ton\this\tback.\tBile\tstung\tCelaena\u2019s\tthroat,\tbut she\tkept\ther\teyes\ton\tthe\tqueen.\tMaeve\tbarely\tgave\tCelaena\ta\tglance\tas\tshe\tseethed,\t\u201cGive me\tthat\tsword\tand\tget\tout.\u201d\tShe\textended\ta\thand\ttoward\tGoldryn. Celaena\t shook\t her\t head.\t \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t think\t so.\t Brannon\t left\t it\t in\t that\t cave\t for\t anyone\t but you\t to\t find.\t And\t so\t it\t is\t mine,\t through\t blood\t and\t fire\t and\t darkness.\u201d\t She\t sheathed Goldryn\tat\ther\tside.\t\u201cNot\tvery\tpleasant\twhen\tsomeone\tdoesn\u2019t\tgive\tyou\twhat\tyou\twant,\tis it?\u201d Rowan\t was\t just\t standing\t there,\t his\t face\t a\t mask\t of\t calm\t despite\t his\t wounds,\t but\t his eyes\u2014was\t it\t sorrow\t there?\t His\t friends\t were\t silently\t watching,\t ready\t to\t attack\t should Maeve\tgive\tthe\tword.\tLet\tthem\ttry. Maeve\u2019s\tlips\tthinned.\t\u201cYou\twill\tpay\tfor\tthis.\u201d But\tCelaena\tstalked\tto\tMaeve\tagain,\ttook\ther\thand,\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cOh,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tI\twill.\u201d She\tthrew\ther\tmind\topen\tto\tthe\tqueen. Well,\t part\t of\t her\t mind\u2014the\t vision\t Narrok\t had\t given\t her\t as\t she\t burned\t him.\t He\t had known.\tSomehow\the\thad\tseen\tthe\tpotential,\tas\tif\the\u2019d\tfigured\tit\tout\twhile\tthe\tValg\tprinces sorted\t through\t her\t memories.\t It\t was\t not\t a\t future\t etched\t in\t stone,\t but\t she\t did\t not\t let\t her aunt\tknow\tthat.\tShe\tyielded\tthe\tmemory\tas\tif\tit\twere\ttruth,\tas\tif\tit\twere\ta\tplan.","The\t deafening\t crowd\t echoed\t through\t the\t pale\t stone\t corridors\t of\t the\t royal\t castle\t of Orynth.\t They\t were\t chanting\t her\t name,\t almost\t wailing\t it.\t Aelin.\t A\t two-beat\t pulse\t that sounded\tthrough\teach\tstep\tshe\tmade\tup\tthe\tdarkened\tstairwell.\tGoldryn\twas\theavy\tat\ther back,\tits\truby\tsmoldering\tin\tthe\tlight\tof\tthe\tsun\ttrickling\tfrom\tthe\tlanding\tabove.\tHer\ttunic was\tbeautiful\tyet\tsimple,\tthough\ther\tsteel\tgauntlets\u2014armed\twith\thidden\tblades\u2014were\tas ornate\tas\tthey\twere\tdeadly. She\treached\tthe\tlanding\tand\tstalked\tdown\tit,\tpast\tthe\ttowering,\tmuscled\twarriors\twho lurked\tin\tthe\tshadows\tjust\tbeyond\tthe\topen\tarchway.\tNot\tjust\twarriors\u2014her\twarriors.\tHer court.\tAedion\twas\tthere,\tand\ta\tfew\tothers\twhose\tfaces\twere\tobscured\tby\tshadow,\tbut\ttheir teeth\tgleamed\tfaintly\tas\tthey\tgave\ther\tferal\tgrins.\tA\tcourt\tto\tchange\tthe\tworld. The\t chanting\t increased,\t and\t the\t amulet\t bounced\t between\t her\t breasts\t with\t each\t step. She\tkept\ther\teyes\tahead,\ta\thalf\tsmile\ton\ther\tface\tas\tshe\temerged\tat\tlast\tonto\tthe\tbalcony and\t the\t cries\t grew\t frantic,\t as\t overpowering\t as\t the\t frenzied\t crowd\t outside\t the\t palace,\t in the\tstreets,\tthousands\tgathered\tand\tchanting\ther\tname.\tIn\tthe\tcourtyard,\tyoung\tpriestesses of\tMala\tdanced\tto\teach\tpulse\tof\ther\tname,\tworshipping,\tfanatic. With\t this\t power\u2014with\t the\t keys\t she\u2019d\t attained\u2014what\t she\t had\t created\t for\t them,\t the armies\tshe\thad\tmade\tto\tdrive\tout\ttheir\tenemies,\tthe\tcrops\tshe\thad\tgrown,\tthe\tshadows\tshe had\t chased\t away\t \u2026\t these\t things\t were\t nothing\t short\t of\t a\t miracle.\t She\t was\t more\t than human,\tmore\tthan\tqueen. Aelin. Beloved.\tImmortal.\tBlessed. Aelin. Aelin\tof\tthe\tWildfire.\tAelin\tFireheart.\tAelin\tLight-Bringer. Aelin. She\t raised\t her\t arms,\t tipping\t back\t her\t head\t to\t the\t sunlight,\t and\t their\t cries\t made\t the entirety\tof\tthe\tWhite\tPalace\ttremble.\tOn\ther\tbrow,\ta\tmark\u2014the\tsacred\tmark\tof\tBrannon\u2019s line\u2014glowed\t blue.\t She\t smiled\t at\t the\t crowd,\t at\t her\t people,\t at\t her\t world,\t so\t ripe\t for\t the taking. Celaena\tpulled\tback\tfrom\tMaeve.\tThe\tqueen\u2019s\tface\twas\tpale. Maeve\thad\tbought\tthe\tlie.\tShe\tdid\tnot\tsee\tthat\tthe\tvision\thad\tbeen\tgiven\tto\tCelaena\tnot to\ttaunt\ther\tbut\tas\ta\twarning\u2014of\twhat\tshe\tmight\tbecome\tif\tshe\tdid\tindeed\tfind\tthe\tkeys and\tkeep\tthem.\tA\tgift\tfrom\tthe\tman\tNarrok\thad\tonce\tbeen. \u201cI\tsuggest,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid\tto\tthe\tFae\tQueen,\t\u201cthat\tyou\tthink\tvery,\tvery\tcarefully\tbefore threatening\tme\tor\tmy\town,\tor\thurting\tRowan\tagain.\u201d \u201cRowan\tbelongs\tto\tme,\u201d\tMaeve\thissed.\t\u201cI\tcan\tdo\twhat\tI\twish\twith\thim.\u201d Celaena\tlooked\tat\tthe\tprince,\twho\twas\tstanding\tso\tstalwart,\this\teyes\tdull\twith\tpain.\tNot from\tthe\twounds\ton\this\tback,\tbut\tfrom\tthe\tparting\tthat\thad\tbeen\tcreeping\tup\ton\tthem\twith each\tstep\tthat\ttook\tthem\tcloser\tto\tDoranelle. Slowly,\tcarefully,\tCelaena\tpulled\tthe\tring\tfrom\ther\tpocket.","It\twas\tnot\tChaol\u2019s\tring\tthat\tshe\thad\tbeen\tclutching\tthese\tpast\tfew\tdays. It\twas\tthe\tsimple\tgolden\tring\tthat\thad\tbeen\tleft\tin\tGoldryn\u2019s\tscabbard.\tShe\thad\tkept\tit safe\t all\t these\t weeks,\t asking\t Emrys\t to\t tell\t story\t after\t story\t about\t Maeve\t as\t she\t carefully pieced\ttogether\tthe\ttruth\tabout\ther\taunt,\tjust\tfor\tthis\tvery\tmoment,\tfor\tthis\tvery\ttask. Maeve\twent\tas\tstill\tas\tdeath\twhile\tCelaena\tlifted\tthe\tring\tbetween\ttwo\tfingers. \u201cI\tthink\tyou\u2019ve\tbeen\tlooking\tfor\tthis\tfor\ta\tlong\ttime,\u201d\tCelaena\tsaid. \u201cThat\tdoes\tnot\tbelong\tto\tyou.\u201d \u201cDoesn\u2019t\t it?\t I\t found\t it,\t after\t all.\t In\t Goldryn\u2019s\t scabbard,\t where\t Brannon\t left\t it\t after grabbing\t it\t off\t Athril\u2019s\t corpse\u2014the\t family\t ring\t Athril\t would\t have\t given\t you\t someday. And\tin\tthe\tthousands\tof\tyears\tsince\tthen,\tyou\tnever\tfound\tit,\tso\t\u2026\tI\tsuppose\tit\u2019s\tmine\tby chance.\u201d\tCelaena\tclosed\ther\tfist\taround\tthe\tring.\t\u201cBut\twho\twould\thave\tthought\tyou\twere so\tsentimental?\u201d Maeve\u2019s\tlips\tthinned.\t\u201cGive\tit\tto\tme.\u201d Celaena\tbarked\tout\ta\tlaugh.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\thave\tto\tgive\tyou\ta\tdamn\tthing.\u201d\tHer\tsmile\tfaded. Beside\tMaeve\u2019s\tthrone,\tRowan\u2019s\tface\twas\tunreadable\tas\the\tturned\ttoward\tthe\twaterfall. All\t of\t it\u2014all\t of\t it\t for\t him.\t For\t Rowan,\t who\t had\t known\t exactly\t what\t sword\t he\t was picking\t up\t that\t day\t in\t the\t mountain\t cave,\t who\t had\t thrown\t it\t to\t her\t across\t the\t ice\t as\t a future\t bargaining\t chip\u2014the\t only\t protection\t he\t could\t offer\t her\t against\t Maeve,\t if\t she\t was smart\tenough\tto\tfigure\tit\tout. She\t had\t only\t realized\t what\t he\u2019d\t done\u2014that\t he\u2019d\t known\t all\t along\u2014when\t she\u2019d mentioned\tthe\tring\tto\thim\tweeks\tago\tand\the\u2019d\ttold\ther\the\thoped\tshe\tfound\tsome\tuse\tfor\tit. He\t didn\u2019t\t yet\t understand\t that\t she\t had\t no\t interest\t in\t bargaining\t for\t power\t or\t safety\t or alliance. So\t Celaena\t said,\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t make\t a\t trade\t with\t you,\t though.\u201d\t Maeve\u2019s\t brows\t narrowed. Celaena\t jerked\t her\t chin.\t \u201cYour\t beloved\u2019s\t ring\u2014for\t Rowan\u2019s\t freedom\t from\t his\t blood oath.\u201d Rowan\tstiffened.\tHis\tfriends\twhipped\ttheir\theads\tto\ther. \u201cA\t blood\t oath\t is\t eternal,\u201d\t Maeve\t said\t tightly.\t Celaena\t didn\u2019t\t think\t his\t friends\t were breathing. \u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tcare.\tFree\thim.\u201d\tCelaena\theld\tout\tthe\tring\tagain.\t\u201cYour\tchoice.\tFree\thim,\tor\tI melt\tthis\tright\there.\u201d Such\t a\t gamble;\t so\t many\t weeks\t of\t scheming\t and\t planning\t and\t secretly\t hoping.\t Even now,\tRowan\tdid\tnot\tturn. Maeve\u2019s\t eyes\t remained\t on\t the\t ring.\t And\t Celaena\t understood\t why\u2014it\t was\t why\t she\u2019d dared\ttry\tit.\tAfter\ta\tlong\tsilence,\tMaeve\u2019s\tdress\trustled\tas\tshe\tstraightened,\ther\tface\tpale and\t tight.\t \u201cVery\t well.\t I\u2019ve\t grown\t rather\t bored\t of\t his\t company\t these\t past\t few\t decades, anyway.\u201d Rowan\t faced\t her\u2014slowly,\t as\t if\t he\t didn\u2019t\t quite\t believe\t what\t he\t was\t hearing.\t It\t was","Celaena\u2019s\tgaze,\tnot\tMaeve\u2019s,\tthat\the\tmet,\this\teyes\tshining. \u201cBy\tmy\tblood\tthat\tflows\tin\tyou,\u201d\tMaeve\tsaid.\t\u201cThrough\tno\tdishonor,\tthrough\tno\tact\tof treachery,\tI\thereby\tfree\tyou,\tRowan\tWhitethorn,\tof\tyour\tblood\toath\tto\tme.\u201d Rowan\t just\t stared\t and\t stared\t at\t her,\t and\t Celaena\t hardly\t heard\t the\t rest,\t the\t words Maeve\t spoke\t in\t the\t Old\t Language.\t But\t Rowan\t took\t out\t a\t dagger\t and\t spilled\t his\t own blood\t on\t the\t stones\u2014whatever\t that\t meant.\t She\t had\t never\t heard\t of\t a\t blood\t oath\t being broken\tbefore,\tbut\thad\trisked\tit\tregardless.\tPerhaps\tnot\tin\tall\tthe\thistory\tof\tthe\tworld\thad one\tever\tbeen\tbroken\thonorably.\tHis\tfriends\twere\twide-eyed\tand\tsilent. Maeve\tsaid,\t\u201cYou\tare\tfree\tof\tme,\tPrince\tRowan\tWhitethorn.\u201d That\twas\tall\tCelaena\tneeded\tto\thear\tbefore\tshe\ttossed\tthe\tring\tto\tMaeve,\tbefore\tRowan rushed\tto\ther,\this\thands\ton\ther\tcheeks,\this\tbrow\tagainst\ther\town. \u201cAelin,\u201d\t he\t murmured,\t and\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t reprimand,\t or\t a\t thank-you,\t but\t \u2026\t a\t prayer. \u201cAelin,\u201d\t he\t whispered\t again,\t grinning,\t and\t kissed\t her\t brow\t before\t he\t dropped\t to\t both knees\tbefore\ther. And\twhen\the\treached\tfor\ther\twrist,\tshe\tjerked\tback.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tfree.\tYou\u2019re\tfree\tnow.\u201d Behind\t them,\t Maeve\t watched,\t brows\t high.\t But\t Celaena\t could\t not\t accept\t this\u2014could not\tagree\tto\tit. Complete\t and\t utter\t submission,\t that\u2019s\t what\t a\t blood\t oath\t was.\t He\t would\t yield everything\tto\ther\u2014his\tlife,\tany\tproperty,\tany\tfree\twill. Rowan\u2019s\tface\twas\tcalm,\tthough\u2014steady,\tassured.\tTrust\tme. I\tdon\u2019t\twant\tyou\tenslaved\tto\tme.\tI\twon\u2019t\tbe\tthat\tkind\tof\tqueen. You\thave\tno\tcourt\u2014you\tare\tdefenseless,\tlandless,\tand\twithout\tallies.\tShe\tmight\tlet\tyou walk\tout\tof\there\ttoday,\tbut\tshe\tcould\tcome\tafter\tyou\ttomorrow.\tShe\tknows\thow\tpowerful\tI am\u2014how\tpowerful\twe\tare\ttogether.\tIt\twill\tmake\ther\thesitate. Please\tdon\u2019t\tdo\tthis\u2014I\twill\tgive\tyou\tanything\telse\tyou\task,\tbut\tnot\tthis. I\tclaim\tyou,\tAelin.\tTo\twhatever\tend. She\tmight\thave\tcontinued\tto\tsilently\targue\twith\thim,\tbut\tthat\tstrange,\tfeminine\twarmth that\tshe\u2019d\tfelt\tat\tthe\tcampsite\tthat\tmorning\twrapped\taround\ther,\tas\tif\tassuring\ther\tit\twas all\t right\t to\t want\t this\t badly\t enough\t that\t it\t hurt,\t telling\t her\t that\t she\t could\t trust\t the\t prince, and\tmore\tthan\tthat\u2014more\tthan\tanything,\tshe\tcould\ttrust\therself.\tSo\twhen\tRowan\treached for\ther\twrist\tagain,\tshe\tdid\tnot\tfight\thim. \u201cTogether,\tFireheart,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tpushing\tback\tthe\tsleeve\tof\ther\ttunic.\t\u201cWe\u2019ll\tfind\ta\tway together.\u201d\tHe\tlooked\tup\tfrom\ther\texposed\twrist.\t\u201cA\tcourt\tthat\twill\tchange\tthe\tworld,\u201d\the promised. And\tthen\tshe\twas\tnodding\u2014nodding\tand\tsmiling,\ttoo,\tas\the\tdrew\tthe\tdagger\tfrom\this boot\tand\toffered\tit\tto\ther.\t\u201cSay\tit,\tAelin.\u201d Not\t daring\t to\t let\t her\t hands\t shake\t in\t front\t of\t Maeve\t or\t Rowan\u2019s\t stunned\t friends,\t she took\this\tdagger\tand\theld\tit\tover\ther\texposed\twrist.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tpromise\tto\tserve\tin\tmy\tcourt, Rowan\tWhitethorn,\tfrom\tnow\tuntil\tthe\tday\tyou\tdie?\u201d\tShe\tdid\tnot\tknow\tthe\tright\twords\tor","the\tOld\tLanguage,\tbut\ta\tblood\toath\twasn\u2019t\tabout\tpretty\tphrases. \u201cI\tdo.\tUntil\tmy\tlast\tbreath,\tand\tthe\tworld\tbeyond.\tTo\twhatever\tend.\u201d She\twould\thave\tpaused\tthen,\tasked\thim\tagain\tif\the\treally\twanted\tto\tdo\tthis,\tbut\tMaeve was\tstill\tthere,\ta\tshadow\tlurking\tbehind\tthem.\tThat\twas\twhy\the\thad\tdone\tit\tnow,\there\u2014so Celaena\tcould\tnot\tobject,\tcould\tnot\ttry\tto\ttalk\thim\tout\tof\tit. It\twas\tsuch\ta\tRowan\tthing\tto\tdo,\tso\tpigheaded,\tthat\tshe\tcould\tonly\tgrin\tas\tshe\tdrew\tthe dagger\tacross\ther\twrist,\tleaving\ta\ttrail\tof\tblood\tin\tits\twake.\tShe\toffered\ther\tarm\tto\thim. With\tsurprising\tgentleness,\the\ttook\ther\twrist\tin\this\thands\tand\tlowered\this\tmouth\tto\ther skin. For\t a\t heartbeat,\t something\t lightning-bright\t snapped\t through\t her\t and\t then\t settled\u2014a thread\t binding\t them,\t tighter\t and\t tighter\t with\t each\t pull\t Rowan\t took\t of\t her\t blood.\t Three mouthfuls\u2014his\t canines\t pricking\t against\t her\t skin\u2014and\t then\t he\t lifted\t his\t head,\t his\t lips shining\twith\ther\tblood,\this\teyes\tglittering\tand\talive\tand\tfull\tof\tsteel. There\twere\tno\twords\tto\tdo\tjustice\tto\twhat\tpassed\tbetween\tthem\tin\tthat\tmoment. Maeve\tsaved\tthem\tfrom\ttrying\tto\tremember\thow\tto\tspeak\tas\tshe\thissed,\t\u201cNow\tthat\tyou have\tinsulted\tme\tfurther,\tget\tout.\tAll\tof\tyou.\u201d\tHis\tfriends\twere\tgone\tin\tan\tinstant,\tpadding off\tfor\tthe\tshadows,\ttaking\tthose\twretched\twhips\twith\tthem. Celaena\thelped\tRowan\tto\this\tfeet,\tletting\thim\theal\tthe\twound\ton\ther\twrist\tas\this\tback knitted\ttogether.\tShoulder\tto\tshoulder,\tthey\tlooked\tat\tthe\tFae\tQueen\tone\tlast\ttime. But\tthere\twas\tonly\ta\twhite\tbarn\towl\tflapping\toff\tinto\tthe\tmoonlit\tnight. They\t hurried\t out\t of\t Doranelle,\t not\t stopping\t until\t they\t found\t a\t quiet\t inn\t in\t a\t small,\t half- forgotten\ttown\tmiles\taway.\tRowan\tdidn\u2019t\teven\tdare\tto\tswing\tby\this\tquarters\tto\tcollect\this belongings,\t and\t claimed\t he\t had\t nothing\t worthwhile\t to\t take,\t anyway.\t His\t friends\t did\t not come\t after\t them,\t did\t not\t try\t to\t bid\t them\t good-bye\t as\t they\t slipped\t across\t the\t bridge\t and into\tthe\tnight-veiled\tlands\tbeyond.\tAfter\thours\tof\trunning,\tCelaena\ttumbled\tinto\tbed\tand slept\t like\t the\t dead.\t But\t at\t dawn,\t she\t begged\t Rowan\t to\t retrieve\t his\t needles\t and\t ink\t from his\tpack. She\tbathed\twhile\the\treadied\twhat\the\tneeded,\tand\tshe\tscrubbed\therself\twith\tcoarse\tsalt in\t the\t tiny\t inn\t bathroom\t until\t her\t skin\t gleamed.\t Rowan\t said\t nothing\t as\t she\t walked\t back into\t the\t bedroom,\t hardly\t gave\t her\t more\t than\t a\t passing\t glance\t as\t she\t removed\t her\t robe, bare\tto\tthe\twaist,\tand\tlaid\ton\ther\tstomach\ton\tthe\tworktable\the\u2019d\tordered\tbrought\tin.\tHis needles\t and\t ink\t were\t already\t on\t the\t table,\t his\t sleeves\t had\t been\t rolled\t up\t to\t the\t elbows, and\t his\t hair\t was\t tied\t back,\t making\t the\t elegant,\t brutal\t lines\t of\t his\t tattoo\t all\t the\t more visible. \u201cDeep\tbreath,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tShe\tobeyed,\tresting\ther\thands\tunder\ther\tchin\tas\tshe\tplayed\twith the\t fire,\t weaving\t her\t own\t flames\t among\t the\t embers.\t \u201cHave\t you\t had\t enough\t water\t and food?\u201d She\tnodded.\tShe\u2019d\tdevoured\ta\tfull\tbreakfast\tbefore\tgetting\tinto\tthe\tbath. \u201cLet\tme\tknow\twhen\tyou\tneed\tto\tget\tup,\u201d\the\tsaid.\tHe\tgave\ther\tthe\thonor\tof\tnot\tsecond-","guessing\t her\t decision\t or\t warning\t her\t of\t the\t oncoming\t pain.\t Instead,\t he\t brushed\t a\t steady hand\tdown\ther\tscarred\tback,\tan\tartist\tassessing\this\tcanvas.\tHe\tran\tstrong,\tcallused\tfingers along\teach\tscar,\ttesting,\tand\ther\tskin\tprickled. Then\t he\t began\t the\t process\t of\t drawing\t the\t marks,\t the\t guide\t he\t would\t follow\t in\t the hours\t ahead.\t Over\t breakfast,\t he\u2019d\t already\t sketched\t a\t few\t designs\t for\t her\t approval.\t They were\tso\tperfect\tit\twas\tas\tif\the\u2019d\treached\tinto\ther\tsoul\tto\tfind\tthem.\tIt\thadn\u2019t\tsurprised\ther at\tall. He\tlet\ther\tuse\tthe\tbathing\troom\twhen\the\u2019d\tfinished\twith\tthe\toutline,\tand\tsoon\tshe\twas again\t facedown\t on\t the\t table,\t hands\t under\t her\t chin.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t move\t from\t now\t on.\t I\u2019m starting.\u201d She\t gave\t a\t grunt\t of\t acknowledgment\t and\t kept\t her\t gaze\t on\t the\t fire,\t on\t the\t embers,\t as the\theat\tof\this\tbody\thovered\tover\thers.\tShe\theard\this\tslight\tintake\tof\tbreath,\tand\tthen\u2014 The\tfirst\tprick\tstung\u2014holy\tgods,\twith\tthe\tsalt\tand\tiron,\tit\thurt.\tShe\tclamped\ther\tteeth together,\t mastered\t it,\t welcomed\t it.\t That\t was\t what\t the\t salt\t was\t for\t with\t this\t manner\t of tattoo,\t Rowan\t had\t told\t her.\t To\t remind\t the\t bearer\t of\t the\t loss.\t Good\u2014good,\t was\t all\t she could\tthink\tas\tthe\tpain\tspiderwebbed\tthrough\ther\tback.\tGood. And\twhen\tRowan\tmade\tthe\tnext\tmark,\tshe\topened\ther\tmouth\tand\tbegan\ther\tprayers. They\twere\tprayers\tshe\tshould\thave\tsaid\tten\tyears\tago:\tan\teven-keeled\ttorrent\tof\twords in\t the\t Old\t Language,\t telling\t the\t gods\t of\t her\t parents\u2019\t death,\t her\t uncle\u2019s\t death,\t Marion\u2019s death\u2014four\t lives\t wiped\t out\t in\t those\t two\t days.\t With\t each\t sting\t of\t Rowan\u2019s\t needle,\t she beseeched\tthe\tfaceless\timmortals\tto\ttake\tthe\tsouls\tof\ther\tloved\tones\tinto\ttheir\tparadise\tand keep\t them\t safe.\t She\t told\t them\t of\t their\t worth\u2014told\t them\t of\t the\t good\t deeds\t and\t loving words\tand\tbrave\tacts\tthey\u2019d\tperformed.\tNever\tpausing\tfor\tmore\tthan\ta\tbreath,\tshe\tchanted the\tprayers\tshe\towed\tthem\tas\tdaughter\tand\tfriend\tand\their. For\tthe\thours\tRowan\tworked,\this\tmovements\tfalling\tinto\tthe\trhythm\tof\ther\twords,\tshe chanted\t and\t sang.\t He\t did\t not\t speak,\t his\t mallet\t and\t needles\t the\t drum\t to\t her\t chanting, weaving\t their\t work\t together.\t He\t did\t not\t disgrace\t her\t by\t offering\t water\t when\t her\t voice turned\thoarse,\ther\tthroat\tso\travaged\tshe\thad\tto\twhisper.\tIn\tTerrasen\tshe\twould\tsing\tfrom sunrise\tto\tsunset,\ton\ther\tknees\tin\tgravel\twithout\tfood\tor\tdrink\tor\trest.\tHere\tshe\twould\tsing until\tthe\tmarkings\twere\tdone,\tthe\tagony\tin\ther\tback\ther\toffering\tto\tthe\tgods. When\t it\t was\t done\t her\t back\t was\t raw\t and\t throbbing,\t and\t it\t took\t her\t a\t few\t attempts\t to rise\tfrom\tthe\ttable.\tRowan\tfollowed\ther\tinto\tthe\tnearby\tnight-dark\tfield,\tkneeling\twith\ther in\tthe\tgrass\tas\tshe\ttilted\ther\tface\tup\tto\tthe\tmoon\tand\tsang\tthe\tfinal\tsong,\tthe\tsacred\tsong of\ther\thousehold,\tthe\tFae\tlament\tshe\u2019d\towed\tthem\tfor\tten\tyears. Rowan\tdid\tnot\tutter\ta\tword\twhile\tshe\tsang,\ther\tvoice\tbroken\tand\traw.\tHe\tremained\tin the\t field\t with\t her\t until\t dawn,\t as\t permanent\t as\t the\t markings\t on\t her\t back.\t Three\t lines\t of text\tscrolled\tover\ther\tthree\tlargest\tscars,\tthe\tstory\tof\ther\tlove\tand\tloss\tnow\twritten\ton\ther: one\t line\t for\t her\t parents\t and\t uncle;\t one\t line\t for\t Lady\t Marion;\t and\t one\t line\t for\t her\t court and\ther\tpeople. On\t the\t smaller,\t shorter\t scars,\t were\t the\t stories\t of\t Nehemia\t and\t of\t Sam.\t Her\t beloved dead.","No\tlonger\twould\tthey\tbe\tlocked\taway\tin\ther\theart.\tNo\tlonger\twould\tshe\tbe\tashamed.","Chapter\t61 The\tWar\tGames\tcame. All\t the\t Ironteeth\t Clans\t were\t granted\t time\t to\t rest\t the\t day\t before,\t but\t none\t took\t it, instead\tsqueezing\tin\tlast-minute\tdrills\tor\tgoing\tover\tplans\tand\tstrategies. Officials\tand\tcouncilors\tfrom\tAdarlan\thad\tbeen\tarriving\tfor\tdays,\tcome\tto\tmonitor\tthe Games\tfrom\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tNorthern\tFang.\tThey\twould\treport\tback\tto\tthe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan about\twhat\tthe\twitches\tand\ttheir\tmounts\twere\tlike\u2014and\twho\tthe\tvictor\twas. Weeks\tago,\tafter\tAbraxos\thad\tmade\tthe\tCrossing,\tManon\thad\treturned\tto\tthe\tOmega\tto grins\t and\t applause.\t Her\t grandmother\t was\t nowhere\t to\t be\t seen,\t but\t that\t was\t expected. Manon\thad\tnot\taccomplished\tanything;\tshe\thad\tmerely\tdone\twhat\twas\texpected\tof\ther. She\tsaw\tand\theard\tnothing\tof\tthe\tCrochan\tprisoner\tin\tthe\tbelly\tof\tthe\tOmega,\tand\tno one\t else\t seemed\t to\t know\t anything\t about\t her.\t She\t was\t half\t tempted\t to\t ask\t her grandmother,\t but\t the\t Matron\t didn\u2019t\t summon\t her,\t and\t Manon\t wasn\u2019t\t in\t the\t mood\t to\t be beaten\tagain. These\tdays\ther\town\ttemper\twas\tfraying\tas\tthe\tClans\tclosed\tin\ttight,\tkept\tto\ttheir\town halls,\t and\t hardly\t spoke\t to\t each\t other.\t Whatever\t unity\t they\u2019d\t shown\t on\t the\t night\t of Abraxos\u2019s\t crossing\t was\t long\t gone\t by\t the\t time\t the\t War\t Games\t arrived,\t replaced\t by centuries\u2019\tworth\tof\tcompetition\tand\tblood\tfeuding. The\t Games\t were\t to\t take\t place\t in,\t around,\t and\t between\t the\t two\t peaks,\t including\t the nearest\t canyon,\t visible\t from\t the\t Northern\t Fang.\t Each\t of\t the\t three\t Clans\t would\t have\t its own\tnest\tatop\ta\tnearby\tmountain\tpeak\u2014a\tliteral\tnest\tof\ttwigs\tand\tbranches.\tIn\tthe\tcenter of\teach\tlay\ta\tglass\tegg. The\teggs\twere\tto\tbe\ttheir\tsource\tof\tvictory\tand\tdownfall.\tEach\tClan\twas\tto\tcapture\tthe eggs\t of\t the\t two\t enemy\t teams,\t but\t also\t leave\t behind\t a\t host\t to\t protect\t their\t own\t egg.\t The winning\t Clan\t would\t be\t the\t one\t who\t gained\t possession\t of\t the\t two\t other\t eggs\t by\t stealing them\tfrom\tthe\tnests,\twhere\tthey\tcould\tnot\tbe\ttouched\tby\ttheir\tguardians,\tor\tfrom\twhatever enemy\t forces\t carried\t them.\t If\t an\t egg\t shattered,\t it\t meant\t automatic\t disqualification\t for whoever\tcarried\tit. Manon\t donned\t her\t light\t armor\t and\t flying\t leathers.\t She\t wore\t metal\t on\t her\t shoulders, wrists,\t and\t thighs\u2014any\t place\t that\t could\t be\t hit\t by\t an\t arrow\t or\t sliced\t at\t by\t wyverns\t or enemy\t blades.\t She\t was\t used\t to\t the\t weight\t and\t limited\t movement,\t and\t so\t was\t Abraxos, thanks\tto\tthe\ttraining\tshe\u2019d\tforced\tthe\tBlackbeaks\tto\tendure\tthese\tpast\tfew\tweeks. Though\t they\t were\t under\t strict\t orders\t not\t to\t maim\t or\t kill,\t they\t were\t allowed\t to\t carry two\t weapons\t each,\t so\t Manon\t took\t Wind-Cleaver\t and\t her\t best\t dagger.\t The\t Shadows, Asterin,\t Lin,\t and\t the\t demon-twins\t would\t wield\t the\t bows.\t They\t were\t capable\t of\t making kill\t shots\t from\t their\t wyverns\t now\u2014had\t taken\t run\t after\t run\t at\t targets\t in\t the\t canyons\t and made\t bulls-eyes\t each\t time.\t Asterin\t had\t swaggered\t into\t the\t mess\t hall\t that\t morning,\t well aware\tthat\tshe\twas\tlethal\tas\tall\thell.","Each\tClan\twore\tbraided\tstrips\tof\tdyed\tleather\tacross\ttheir\tbrows\u2014black,\tblue,\tyellow \u2014their\twyverns\tpainted\twith\tsimilar\tstreaks\ton\ttheir\ttails,\tnecks,\tand\tsides.\tWhen\tall\tthe covens\twere\tairborne,\tthey\tgathered\tin\tthe\tskies,\tpresenting\tthe\tentirety\tof\tthe\thost\tto\tthe little\tmortal\tmen\tin\tthe\tmountains\tbelow.\tThe\tThirteen\trode\tat\tthe\thead\tof\tthe\tBlackbeak covens,\tkeeping\tperfect\trank. \u201cFools,\tfor\tnot\tknowing\twhat\tthey\u2019ve\tunleashed,\u201d\tAsterin\tmurmured,\tthe\twords\tcarried to\tManon\ton\tthe\twind.\t\u201cStupid,\tmortal\tfools.\u201d Manon\thissed\ther\tagreement. They\t flew\t in\t formation:\t Manon\t at\t the\t head,\t Asterin\t and\t Vesta\t flanking\t behind,\t then three\trows\tof\tthree:\tImogen\tframed\tby\tthe\tgreen-eyed\tdemons,\tGhislaine\tflanked\tby\tKaya and\t Thea,\t the\t two\t Shadows\t and\t Lin,\t then\t Sorrel\t solo\t in\t the\t back.\t A\t battering\t ram, balanced\tand\tflawless,\tcapable\tof\tpunching\tthrough\tenemy\tlines. If\t Manon\t didn\u2019t\t bring\t them\t down,\t then\t the\t vicious\t swords\t of\t Asterin\t and\t Vesta\t got them.\t If\t that\t didn\u2019t\t stop\t them,\t the\t six\t in\t the\t middle\t were\t a\t guaranteed\t death\t trap.\t Most wouldn\u2019t\t even\t make\t it\t to\t the\t Shadows\t and\t Lin,\t who\t would\t be\t fixing\t their\t keen\t eyes\t on their\tsurroundings.\tOr\tto\tSorrel,\tguarding\ttheir\trear. They\t would\t take\t out\t the\t enemy\t forces\t one\t by\t one,\t with\t hands\t and\t feet\t and\t elbows where\t weapons\t would\t ordinarily\t do\t the\t job.\t The\t objective\t was\t to\t retrieve\t the\t eggs,\t not kill\tthe\tothers,\tshe\treminded\therself\tand\tthe\tThirteen\tagain.\tAnd\tagain. The\t Games\t began\t with\t the\t ringing\t of\t a\t mighty\t bell\t somewhere\t in\t the\t Omega.\t The skies\terupted\twith\twings\tand\tclaws\tand\tshrieks\ta\theartbeat\tlater. They\twent\tafter\tthe\tBlueblood\tegg\tfirst,\tbecause\tManon\tknew\tthe\tYellowlegs\twould\tgo for\t the\t Blackbeak\t nest,\t which\t they\t did\t immediately.\t Manon\t signaled\t to\t her\t witches\t and one\tthird\tof\ther\tforce\tdoubled\tback,\tfalling\tbehind\thome\tlines,\tputting\tup\ta\tsolid\twall\tof teeth\tand\twings\tfor\tthe\tYellowlegs\tto\tbreak\tagainst. The\tBluebloods,\twho\thad\tprobably\tdone\tthe\tleast\tplanning\tin\tfavor\tof\tall\ttheir\tvarious rituals\tand\tprayers,\tsent\ttheir\tforces\tto\tthe\tBlackbeaks\tas\twell,\tto\tsee\tif\textra\twings\tcould break\tthat\tiron-clad\twall.\tAnother\tmistake. Within\t ten\t minutes,\t Manon\t and\t the\t Thirteen\t surrounded\t the\t Blueblood\t nest\u2014and\t the home\tguard\tyielded\ttheir\ttreasure. There\t were\t whoops\t and\t hoots\u2014not\t from\t the\t Thirteen,\t who\t were\t stone-faced,\t eyes glittering,\t but\t from\t the\t other\t Blackbeaks,\t the\t back\t third\t of\t whom\t peeled\t off,\t circled around,\t and\t joined\t Manon\t and\t her\t returning\t force\t to\t smash\t the\t Bluebloods\t and Yellowlegs\tbetween\tthem. The\twitches\tand\ttheir\twyverns\tdove\thigh\tand\tlow,\tbut\tthis\twas\tas\tmuch\tfor\tshow\tas\tit was\t to\t win,\t and\t Manon\t did\t not\t yield\t them\t one\t inch\t as\t they\t pushed\t from\t the\t front\t and behind,\tan\taerial\tvise\tthat\thad\twyverns\tnearly\tbucking\toff\ttheir\triders\tin\tpanic. This\u2014this\t was\t what\t she\t had\t been\t built\t for.\t Even\t battles\t she\u2019d\t waged\t on\t a\t broom hadn\u2019t\t been\t this\t fast,\t brilliant,\t and\t deadly.\t And\t once\t they\t faced\t their\t enemies,\t once\t they added\tin\tan\tarsenal\tof\tweapons\t\u2026\tManon\twas\tgrinning\tas\tshe\tplaced\tthe\tBlueblood\tegg in\tthe\tBlackbeak\tnest\ton\tthe\tflat\tmountaintop.","Moments\tlater,\tManon\tand\tAbraxos\twere\tgliding\tover\tthe\tfray,\tthe\tThirteen\tcoming\tup from\t behind\t to\t regroup.\t Asterin,\t the\t only\t one\t who\u2019d\t kept\t close\t the\t entire\t time,\t was grinning\t like\t mad\u2014and\t as\t her\t cousin\t and\t her\t wyvern\t swept\t past\t the\t Northern\t Fang\t and its\t gathered\t observers,\t the\t golden-haired\t witch\t sprang\t up\t from\t her\t saddle\t and\t took\t a running\tleap\tright\toff\tthe\twing. The\tYellowlegs\twitch\ton\tthe\twyvern\tbelow\tdidn\u2019t\tsee\tAsterin\tuntil\tshe\u2019d\tlanded\ton\ther, a\t hand\t on\t her\t throat\t where\t a\t dagger\t would\t have\t been.\t Even\t Manon\t gasped\t in\t delight\t as the\tYellowlegs\twitch\tlifted\ther\thands\tin\tsurrender. Asterin\t let\t go,\t lifting\t her\t arms\t to\t be\t gathered\t up\t into\t the\t claws\t of\t her\t own\t wyvern. After\ta\ttoss\tand\ta\tharrowing\tfall,\tAsterin\treturned\tto\ther\town\tsaddle,\tswooping\tuntil\tshe was\t again\t beside\t Manon\t and\t Abraxos.\t He\t swung\t toward\t Asterin\u2019s\t blue\t wyvern,\t swiping with\this\twing\u2014a\tplayful,\talmost\tflirtatious\tgesture\tthat\tmade\tthe\tfemale\tmount\tshriek\tin delight. Manon\traised\ther\tbrows\tat\ther\tSecond.\t\u201cYou\u2019ve\tbeen\tpracticing,\tit\tseems,\u201d\tshe\tcalled. Asterin\tgrinned.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tclaw\tmy\tway\tto\tSecond\tby\tsitting\ton\tmy\tass.\u201d Then\t Asterin\t was\t swooping\t low\t again,\t but\t still\t within\t formation,\t a\t wing-beat\t away. Abraxos\troared,\tand\tthe\tThirteen\tfell\tinto\tformation\taround\tManon,\tfour\tcovens\tflanking them\t behind.\t They\t just\t had\t to\t capture\t the\t Yellowlegs\t egg\t and\t bring\t it\t back\t to\t the Blackbeak\tnest,\tand\tit\twould\tbe\tdone. They\t dodged\t and\t soared\t over\t fighting\t covens,\t and\t when\t they\t reached\t the\t Yellowlegs line,\t the\t Thirteen\t pulled\t up\u2014and\t back,\t sending\t the\t other\t four\t covens\t behind\t them shooting\tin\tlike\tan\tarrow,\tpunching\ta\tline\tthrough\tthe\tbarrier\tthat\tthe\tThirteen\tthen\tswept through. Closest\t to\t the\t Northern\t Fang,\t the\t Yellowlegs\t nest\t was\t circled\t by\t not\t three\t but\t four covens,\t a\t good\t chunk\t of\t the\t host\t to\t keep\t behind\t the\t lines.\t They\t rose\t up\t from\t the\t nest\u2014 not\tindividual\tunits,\tbut\tas\tone\u2014and\tManon\tsmiled\tto\therself. They\traced\tfor\tthem,\tand\tthe\tYellowlegs\theld,\theld\t\u2026 Manon\twhistled.\tShe\tand\tSorrel\twent\tup\tand\tdown\trespectively,\tand\ther\tcoven\tsplit\tin three,\t exactly\t as\t they\u2019d\t practiced.\t Like\t the\t limbs\t of\t one\t creature,\t they\t struck\t the Yellowlegs\tlines\u2014lines\twhere\tevery\tcoven\thad\tmixed,\tnow\tnext\tto\tstrangers\tand\twyverns with\twhom\tthey\thad\tnever\tridden\tclosely\tbefore.\tThe\tconfusion\tgot\tworse\tas\tthe\tThirteen scattered\t them\t and\t pushed\t them\t about.\t Orders\t were\t shouted,\t names\t were\t screamed,\t but the\tchaos\twas\tcomplete. They\twere\tclosing\tin\ton\tthe\tnest\twhen\tfour\tBlueblood\tcovens\tswept\tin\tout\tof\tnowhere, led\tby\tPetrah\therself\ton\ther\tmount,\tKeelie.\tShe\twas\tnearly\tfree-falling\tfor\tthe\tnest,\twhich had\t been\t left\t wide\t open\t while\t the\t Blackbeaks\t and\t the\t Yellowlegs\t fought.\t She\u2019d\t been waiting\tfor\tthis,\tlike\ta\tfox\tin\tits\thole. She\t swept\t in,\t and\t Manon\t dove\t after\t her,\t swearing\t viciously.\t A\t flash\t of\t yellow\t and\t a shriek\tof\tfury,\tand\tManon\tand\tAbraxos\twere\tback-flapping,\tveering\taway\tas\tIskra\tflashed past\tthe\tnest\u2014and\tslammed\tright\tinto\tPetrah. The\t two\t heirs\t and\t their\t wyverns\t locked\t talons\t and\t went\t sprawling,\t crashing\t through","the\tair,\tclawing\tand\tbiting.\tShouts\trose\tfrom\tthe\tmountain\tand\tfrom\tthe\tairborne\twitches. Manon\t panted,\t righting\t her\t spinning\t head\t as\t Abraxos\t leveled\t out\t above\t the\t nest, swooping\t back\t in\t to\t seal\t their\t victory.\t She\t was\t about\t to\t nudge\t him\t to\t dive\t when\t Petrah screamed.\tNot\tin\tfury,\tbut\tpain. Agonizing,\t soul-shredding\t pain,\t the\t likes\t of\t which\t Manon\t had\t never\t heard,\t as\t Iskra\u2019s wyvern\tclamped\tits\tjaws\ton\tKeelie\u2019s\tneck. Iskra\t let\t out\t a\t howl\t of\t triumph,\t and\t her\t bull\t shook\t Keelie\u2014Petrah\t clinging\t to\t the saddle. Now.\t Now\t was\t the\t time\t to\t grab\t the\t egg.\t She\t nudged\t Abraxos.\t \u201cGo,\u201d\t she\t hissed, leaning\tin,\tbracing\tfor\tthe\tdive. Abraxos\t did\t not\t move,\t but\t hovered,\t watching\t Keelie\t fight\t to\t no\t avail,\t wings\t barely flapping\tas\tPetrah\tscreamed\tagain.\tBegging\u2014begging\tIskra\tto\tstop. \u201cNow,\tAbraxos!\u201d\tShe\tkicked\thim\twith\ther\tspurs.\tHe\tagain\trefused\tto\tdive. Then\tIskra\tbarked\ta\tcommand\tto\ther\twyvern\t\u2026\tand\tthe\tbeast\tlet\tgo\tof\tKeelie. There\t was\t a\t second\t scream\t then,\t from\t the\t mountain.\t From\t the\t Blue-blood\t Matron, screaming\t for\t her\t daughter\t as\t she\t plummeted\t down\t to\t the\t rocks\t below.\t The\t other Bluebloods\twhirled,\tbut\tthey\twere\ttoo\tfar\taway,\ttheir\twyverns\ttoo\tslow\tto\tstop\tthat\tfatal plunge. But\tAbraxos\twas\tnot. And\t Manon\t didn\u2019t\t know\t if\t she\t gave\t the\t command\t or\t thought\t it,\t but\t that\t scream,\t that mother\u2019s\tscream\tshe\u2019d\tnever\theard\tbefore,\tmade\ther\tlean\tin.\tAbraxos\tdove,\ta\tshooting\tstar with\this\tglistening\twings. They\tdove\tand\tdove,\tfor\tthe\tbroken\twyvern\tand\tthe\tstill-living\twitch\tupon\tit. Keelie\twas\tstill\tbreathing,\tManon\trealized\tas\tthey\tneared,\tthe\twind\ttearing\tat\ther\tface and\t clothes.\t Keelie\t was\t still\t breathing,\t and\t fighting\t like\t hell\t to\t keep\t steady.\t Not\t to survive.\t Keelie\t knew\t she\t would\t be\t dead\t any\t moment.\t She\t was\t fighting\t for\t the\t witch\t on her\tback. Petrah\t had\t passed\t out,\t twisted\t in\t her\t saddle,\t from\t the\t plunge\t or\t the\t loss\t of\t air.\t She dangled\t precariously,\t even\t as\t Keelie\t fought\t with\t her\t last\t heartbeats\t to\t keep\t the\t fall smooth\tand\tslow.\tThe\twyvern\u2019s\twings\tbuckled\tand\tshe\tyelped\tin\tpain. Abraxos\t hurtled\t in,\t wings\t spread\t as\t he\t made\t one\t pass\t and\t then\t a\t second,\t the\t canyon appearing\ttoo\tfast\tbelow.\tBy\tthe\ttime\the\tfinished\tthe\tsecond\tglide,\talmost\tclose\tenough\tto touch\tthat\tbloodstained\tleathery\thide,\tManon\tunderstood. He\t couldn\u2019t\t stop\t Keelie\u2014she\t was\t too\t heavy\t and\t he\t too\t small.\t Yet\t they\t could\t save Petrah.\tHe\u2019d\tseen\tAsterin\tmake\tthat\tjump,\ttoo.\tShe\thad\tto\tget\tthe\tunconscious\twitch\tout of\tthe\tsaddle. Abraxos\t roared\t at\t Keelie,\t and\t Manon\t could\t have\t sworn\t that\t he\t was\t speaking\t some alien\t language,\t bellowing\t some\t command,\t as\t Keelie\t made\t one\t final\t stand\t for\t her\t rider","and\tleveled\tout\tflat.\tA\tlanding\tplatform. My\tKeelie,\tPetrah\thad\tsaid.\tHad\tsmiled\tas\tshe\tsaid\tit. Manon\ttold\therself\tit\twas\tfor\tan\talliance.\tTold\therself\tit\twas\tfor\tshow. But\t all\t she\t could\t see\t was\t the\t unconditional\t love\t in\t that\t dying\t wyvern\u2019s\t eyes\t as\t she unbuckled\ther\tharness,\tstood\tfrom\tthe\tsaddle,\tand\tleapt\toff\tAbraxos.","Chapter\t62 Manon\thit\tKeelie\tand\tthe\tbeast\tscreamed,\tbut\theld\ton\tas\tManon\thauled\therself\tagainst\tthe wind\t and\t into\t the\t saddle\t where\t Petrah\t dangled.\t Her\t hands\t were\t stiff,\t her\t gloves\t making her\t even\t clumsier\t as\t she\t sliced\t with\t a\t blade\t through\t the\t leathers,\t one\t after\t another. Abraxos\troared\this\twarning.\tThe\tcanyon\tmouth\tloomed\tcloser. Darkness\thave\tmercy\ton\ther. Then\t Manon\t had\t Petrah\t free,\t the\t Blueblood\t heir\t a\t dead\t weight\t in\t her\t arms,\t her\t hair whipping\tManon\u2019s\tface\tlike\ta\tthousand\tsmall\tknives.\tShe\tlashed\ta\tlength\tof\tleather\taround herself\tand\tPetrah.\tOnce.\tTwice.\tShe\ttied\tit,\tlacing\ther\tarms\tthrough\tPetrah\u2019s.\tKeelie\tkept steady.\tThe\tcanyon\tlips\tclosed\taround\tthem,\tshadow\teverywhere.\tManon\tbellowed\tat\tthe weight\tas\tshe\thauled\tthe\twitch\tup\tout\tof\tthe\tstirrups\tand\tthe\tsaddle. Rock\trushed\tpast,\tbut\ta\tshadow\tblotted\tout\tthe\tsun,\tand\tthere\twas\tAbraxos,\tdiving\tfor her,\tplummeting,\tsmall\tand\tsleek.\tHe\twas\tthe\tonly\twyvern\tshe\u2019d\tseen\tbank\tat\tthat\tspeed in\tthis\tcanyon. \u201cThank\tyou,\u201d\tshe\tsaid\tto\tKeelie\tas\tshe\tflung\therself\tand\tPetrah\tinto\tthe\tair. They\t fell\t for\t a\t heartbeat,\t twisting\t and\t dropping\t too\t fast,\t but\t then\t Abraxos\t was\t there, his\tclaws\toutstretched.\tHe\tswept\tthem\tup,\tbanking\talong\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\tcanyon\tand\tover the\tlip,\trising\tinto\tthe\tsafety\tof\tthe\tair. Keelie\thit\tthe\tfloor\tof\tthe\tcanyon\twith\ta\tcrash\tthat\tcould\tbe\theard\tacross\tthe\tmountains. She\tdid\tnot\trise\tagain. The\tBlackbeaks\twon\tthe\tWar\tGames,\tand\tManon\twas\tcrowned\tWing\tLeader\tin\tfront\tof\tall those\t frilly,\t sweating\t men\t from\t Adarlan.\t They\t called\t her\t a\t hero,\t and\t a\t true\t warrior,\t and more\t nonsense\t like\t that.\t But\t Manon\t had\t seen\t her\t grandmother\u2019s\t face\t when\t she\t had\t set Petrah\tdown\ton\tthe\tviewing\tplatform.\tSeen\tthe\tdisgust. Manon\tignored\tthe\tBlueblood\tMatron,\twho\thad\tgotten\ton\ther\tknees\tto\tthank\ther.\tShe did\tnot\teven\tsee\tPetrah\tas\tshe\twas\tcarried\toff. The\t next\t day,\t rumor\t had\t it,\t Petrah\t would\t not\t rise\t from\t bed.\t They\t said\t she\t had\t been broken\tin\ther\tsoul\twhen\tKeelie\tdied. An\tunfortunate\taccident\tbrought\ton\tby\tuncontrollable\twyverns,\tthe\tYellowlegs\tMatron had\tclaimed,\tand\tIskra\thad\techoed.\tBut\tManon\thad\theard\tIskra\u2019s\tcommand\tto\tkill. She\tmight\thave\tcalled\tIskra\tout,\tmight\thave\tchallenged\ther,\tif\tPetrah\thadn\u2019t\theard\tthat command,\ttoo.\tThe\tvengeance\twas\tPetrah\u2019s\tto\tclaim. She\t should\t have\t let\t the\t witch\t die,\t her\t grandmother\t screamed\t at\t her\t that\t night\t as\t she struck\t Manon\t again\t and\t again\t for\t her\t lack\t of\t obedience.\t Lack\t of\t brutality.\t Lack\t of discipline.","Manon\tdid\tnot\tapologize.\tShe\tcould\tnot\tstop\thearing\tthe\tsound\tmade\tas\tKeelie\thit\tthe earth.\tAnd\tsome\tpart\tof\ther,\tperhaps\ta\tweak\tand\tundisciplined\tpart,\tdid\tnot\tregret\tensuring the\tanimal\u2019s\tsacrifice\thad\tnot\tbeen\tin\tvain. From\t everyone\t else,\t Manon\t endured\t the\t praise\t heaped\t on\t her\t and\t accepted\t the\t bows from\tevery\tgods-damned\tcoven\tno\tmatter\ttheir\tbloodline. Wing\t Leader.\t She\t said\t it\t to\t herself,\t silently,\t as\t she\t and\t Asterin,\t half\t of\t the\t Thirteen trailing\tbehind\tthem,\tapproached\tthe\tmess\thall\twhere\tthe\tcelebration\twas\tto\tbe\theld. The\tother\thalf\twere\talready\tthere,\tscouting\tahead\tfor\tany\tpossible\tthreat\tor\ttrap.\tNow that\tshe\twas\tWing\tLeader,\tnow\tthat\tshe\thad\thumiliated\tIskra,\tothers\twould\tbe\teven\tmore vicious\u2014to\tput\ther\tdown\tand\tclaim\ther\tposition. The\tcrowd\twas\tmerry,\tiron\tteeth\tglinting\tall\taround\tand\tale\u2014real,\tfresh\tale\tbrought\tin by\t those\t awful\t men\t from\t Adarlan\u2014sloshing\t in\t mugs.\t Manon\t had\t one\t shoved\t into\t her hand,\tand\tAsterin\tyanked\tit\taway,\tdrank\ta\tmouthful,\tand\twaited\ta\tmoment\tbefore\tshe\tgave it\tback. \u201cThey\u2019re\tnot\tabove\tpoisoning\tyou,\u201d\ther\tSecond\tsaid,\twinking\tas\tthey\tmade\ttheir\tway to\t the\t front\t of\t the\t room\t where\t the\t three\t Matrons\t were\t waiting.\t Those\t men\t at\t the\t Games had\theld\ta\tsmall\tceremony,\tbut\tthis\twas\tfor\tthe\twitches\u2014this\twas\tfor\tManon. She\thid\ther\tsmile\tas\tthe\tcrowd\tparted,\tletting\ther\tthrough. The\tthree\tHigh\tWitches\twere\tseated\tin\tmakeshift\tthrones,\tlittle\tmore\tthan\tornate\tchairs they\u2019d\t found.\t The\t Blueblood\t Matron\t smiled\t as\t Manon\t pressed\t two\t fingers\t to\t her\t brow. The\tYellowlegs\tMatron,\ton\tthe\tother\tend,\tdid\tnothing.\tBut\ther\tgrandmother,\tseated\tin\tthe center,\tsmiled\tfaintly. A\tsnake\u2019s\tsmile. \u201cWelcome,\t Wing\t Leader,\u201d\t her\t grandmother\t said,\t and\t a\t cry\t went\t up\t from\t the\t witches, save\t for\t the\t Thirteen\u2014who\t stayed\t cool\t and\t quiet.\t They\t did\t not\t need\t to\t cheer,\t for\t they were\timmortal\tand\tinfinite\tand\tgloriously,\twonderfully\tdeadly. \u201cWhat\tgift\tcan\twe\tgive\tyou,\twhat\tcrown\tcan\twe\tbestow,\tto\thonor\twhat\tyou\tshall\tdo\tfor us?\u201d\ther\tgrandmother\tmused.\t\u201cYou\thave\ta\tfine\tblade,\ta\tfearsome\tcoven\u201d\u2014the\tThirteen\tall allowed\ta\thint\tof\ta\tsmirk\u2014\u201cwhat\telse\tcould\twe\tgive\tyou\tthat\tyou\tdo\tnot\tpossess?\u201d Manon\t bowed\t her\t head.\t \u201cThere\t is\t nothing\t I\t wish\t for,\t save\t the\t honor\t which\t you\t have already\tgiven\tme.\u201d Her\tgrandmother\tlaughed.\t\u201cWhat\tabout\ta\tnew\tcloak?\u201d Manon\t straightened.\t She\t could\t not\t refuse,\t but\t \u2026\t this\t was\t her\t cloak,\t it\t had\t always been. \u201cThat\t one\t is\t looking\t rather\t shabby,\u201d\t her\t grandmother\t went\t on,\t waving\t her\t hand\t to someone\tin\tthe\tcrowd.\t\u201cSo\there\tis\tour\tgift\tto\tyou,\tWing\tLeader:\ta\treplacement.\u201d There\t were\t grunts\t and\t curses,\t but\t the\t crowd\t gasped\u2014in\t hunger,\t in\t anticipation\u2014as\t a brown-haired,\tshackled\twitch\twas\thauled\tforward\tby\tthree\tYellowlegs\tcronies\tand\tforced to\ther\tknees\tbefore\tManon.","If\ther\tbroken\tface,\tshattered\tfingers,\tlacerations,\tand\tburns\tdid\tnot\tgive\taway\twhat\tshe was,\tthen\tthe\tbloodred\tcloak\tshe\twore\tdid. The\tCrochan\twitch,\ther\teyes\tthe\tsolid\tcolor\tof\tfreshly\ttilled\tearth,\tlooked\tup\tat\tManon. How\t those\t eyes\t were\t so\t bright\t despite\t the\t horrors\t written\t on\t her\t body,\t how\t she\t didn\u2019t collapse\tright\tthere\tor\tstart\tbegging,\tManon\tdidn\u2019t\tknow. \u201cA\t gift,\u201d\t said\t her\t grandmother,\t extending\t an\t iron-tipped\t hand\t toward\t the\t Crochan. \u201cWorthy\tof\tmy\tgranddaughter.\tEnd\ther\tlife\tand\ttake\tyour\tnew\tcloak.\u201d Manon\t recognized\t the\t challenge.\t Yet\t she\t drew\t her\t dagger,\t and\t Asterin\t stepped\t in close,\teyes\ton\tthe\tCrochan. For\ta\tmoment,\tManon\tstared\tdown\tat\tthe\twitch,\ther\tmortal\tenemy.\tThe\tCrochans\thad cursed\tthem,\tmade\tthem\teternal\texiles.\tThey\tdeserved\tto\tdie,\teach\tand\tevery\tone\tof\tthem. But\tit\twas\tnot\ther\tvoice\tthat\tsaid\tthose\tthings\tin\ther\thead.\tNo,\tfor\tsome\treason,\tit\twas her\tgrandmother\u2019s. \u201cAt\tyour\tleisure,\tManon,\u201d\ther\tgrandmother\tcooed. Choking,\t her\t lips\t cracked\t and\t bleeding,\t the\t Crochan\t witch\t looked\t up\t at\t Manon\t and chuckled.\t \u201cManon\t Blackbeak,\u201d\t she\t whispered\t in\t what\t might\t have\t been\t a\t drawl\t had\t her teeth\tnot\tbeen\tbroken,\ther\tthroat\tringed\twith\tbruises.\t\u201cI\tknow\tyou.\u201d \u201cKill\tthe\tbitch!\u201d\ta\twitch\tshouted\tfrom\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\troom. Manon\tlooked\tinto\ther\tenemy\u2019s\tface\tand\traised\ther\tbrows. \u201cYou\tknow\twhat\twe\tcall\tyou?\u201d\tBlood\twelled\tas\tthe\tCrochan\u2019s\tlips\tpeeled\tinto\ta\tsmile. She\tclosed\ther\teyes\tas\tif\tsavoring\tit.\t\u201cWe\tcall\tyou\tthe\tWhite\tDemon.\tYou\u2019re\ton\tour\tlist\u2014 the\t list\t of\t all\t you\t monsters\t to\t kill\t on\t sight\t if\t we\t ever\t run\t into\t you.\t And\t you\u2026\u201d\t She opened\ther\teyes\tand\tgrinned,\tdefiant,\tfurious.\t\u201cYou\tare\tat\tthe\ttop\tof\tthat\tlist.\tFor\tall\tthat you\thave\tdone.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tan\thonor,\u201d\tManon\tsaid\tto\tthe\tCrochan,\tsmiling\tenough\tto\tshow\ther\tteeth. \u201cCut\tout\ther\ttongue!\u201d\tsomeone\telse\tcalled. \u201cEnd\ther,\u201d\tAsterin\thissed. Manon\tflipped\tthe\tdagger,\tangling\tit\tto\tsink\tinto\tthe\tCrochan\u2019s\theart. The\t witch\t laughed,\t but\t it\t turned\t into\t a\t cough\t that\t had\t her\t heaving\t until\t blue\t blood splattered\ton\tthe\tfloor,\tuntil\ttears\twere\tleaking\tfrom\ther\teyes\tand\tManon\tcaught\ta\tglimpse of\t the\t deep,\t infected\t wounds\t on\t her\t chest.\t When\t she\t lifted\t her\t head,\t blood\t staining\t the corners\tof\ther\tmouth,\tshe\tsmiled\tagain.\t\u201cLook\tall\tyou\twant.\tLook\tat\twhat\tthey\tdid\tto\tme, your\tsisters.\tHow\tit\tmust\tpain\tthem\tto\tknow\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tbreak\tme\tin\tthe\tend.\u201d Manon\tstared\tdown\tat\ther,\tat\ther\truined\tbody. \u201cDo\t you\t know\t what\t this\t is,\t Manon\t Blackbeak?\u201d\t the\t Crochan\t said.\t \u201cBecause\t I\t do.\t I heard\tthem\tsay\twhat\tyou\tdid\tduring\tyour\tGames.\u201d Manon\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhy\tshe\twas\tletting\tthe\twitch\ttalk,\tbut\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tmoved\tif she\twanted\tto.","\u201cThis,\u201d\tthe\tCrochan\tsaid\tfor\tall\tto\thear,\t\u201cis\ta\treminder.\tMy\tdeath\u2014my\tmurder\tat\tyour hands,\t is\t a\t reminder.\t Not\t to\t them,\u201d\t she\t breathed,\t pinning\t Manon\t with\t that\t soil-brown stare.\t\u201cBut\tto\tyou.\tA\treminder\tof\twhat\tthey\tmade\tyou\tto\tbe.\tThey\tmade\tyou\tthis\tway. \u201cYou\t want\t to\t know\t the\t grand\t Crochan\t secret?\u201d\t she\t went\t on.\t \u201cOur\t great\t truth\t that\t we keep\tfrom\tyou,\tthat\twe\tguard\twith\tour\tlives?\tIt\tis\tnot\twhere\twe\thide,\tor\thow\tto\tbreak\tyour curse.\t You\t have\t known\t all\t this\t time\t how\t to\t break\t it\u2014you\t have\t known\t for\t five\t hundred years\tthat\tyour\tsalvation\tlies\tin\tyour\thands\talone.\tNo,\tour\tgreat\tsecret\tis\tthat\twe\tpity\tyou.\u201d No\tone\twas\tspeaking\tnow. But\tthe\tCrochan\tdid\tnot\tbreak\tManon\u2019s\tstare,\tand\tManon\tdid\tnot\tlower\ther\tdagger. \u201cWe\tpity\tyou,\teach\tand\tevery\tone\tof\tyou.\tFor\twhat\tyou\tdo\tto\tyour\tchildren.\tThey\tare not\tborn\tevil.\tBut\tyou\tforce\tthem\tto\tkill\tand\thurt\tand\thate\tuntil\tthere\tis\tnothing\tleft\tinside of\tthem\u2014of\tyou.\tThat\tis\twhy\tyou\tare\there\ttonight,\tManon.\tBecause\tof\tthe\tthreat\tyou\tpose to\t that\t monster\t you\t call\t grandmother.\t The\t threat\t you\t posed\t when\t you\t chose\t mercy\t and saved\tyour\trival\u2019s\tlife.\u201d\tShe\tgasped\tfor\tbreath,\ttears\tflowing\tunabashedly\tas\tshe\tbared\ther teeth.\t\u201cThey\thave\tmade\tyou\tinto\tmonsters.\tMade,\tManon.\tAnd\twe\tfeel\tsorry\tfor\tyou.\u201d \u201cEnough,\u201d\t the\t Matron\t said\t from\t behind.\t But\t the\t whole\t room\t was\t silent,\t and\t Manon slowly\traised\ther\teyes\tto\ther\tgrandmother\u2019s. In\t them,\t Manon\t beheld\t a\t promise\t of\t the\t violence\t and\t pain\t that\t would\t come\t if\t she disobeyed.\t Beyond\t that,\t there\t gleamed\t nothing\t but\t satisfaction.\t As\t if\t the\t Crochan\t had spoken\ttrue,\tbut\tonly\tthe\tBlack-beak\tMatron\tknew\tshe\thad\tdone\tso. The\tCrochan\u2019s\teyes\twere\tstill\tbright\twith\ta\tcourage\tManon\tcould\tnot\tcomprehend. \u201cDo\tit,\u201d\tthe\tCrochan\twhispered.\tManon\twondered\tif\tanyone\telse\tunderstood\tthat\tit\twas not\ta\tchallenge,\tbut\ta\tplea. Manon\t angled\t her\t dagger\t again,\t flipping\t it\t in\t her\t palm.\t She\t did\t not\t look\t at\t the Crochan,\tor\ther\tgrandmother,\tor\tanyone\tas\tshe\tgripped\tthe\twitch\tby\tthe\thair\tand\tyanked back\ther\thead. And\tthen\tspilled\ther\tthroat\ton\tthe\tfloor. Legs\tdangling\toff\ta\tcliff\tedge,\tManon\tsat\ton\ta\tplateau\tatop\ta\tpeak\tin\tthe\tRuhnns,\tAbraxos sprawled\tat\ther\tside,\tsmelling\tthe\tnight-blooming\tflowers\ton\tthe\tspring\tmeadow. She\u2019d\thad\tno\tchoice\tbut\tto\ttake\tthe\tCrochan\u2019s\tcloak,\tto\tdump\ther\told\tone\tatop\tthe\tbody once\tit\tfell,\tonce\tthe\twitches\tgathered\taround\tto\trip\ther\tapart. They\thave\tmade\tyou\tinto\tmonsters. Manon\tlooked\tat\ther\twyvern,\tthe\ttip\tof\this\ttail\twaving\tlike\ta\tcat\u2019s.\tNo\tone\thad\tnoticed when\t she\t left\t the\t celebration.\t Even\t Asterin\t was\t drunk\t on\t the\t Crochan\u2019s\t blood,\t and\t had lost\t sight\t of\t Manon\t slipping\t through\t the\t crowd.\t She\t told\t Sorrel,\t though,\t that\t she\t was going\tto\tsee\tAbraxos.\tAnd\ther\tThird,\tsomehow,\thad\tlet\ther\tgo\talone. They\u2019d\t flown\t until\t the\t moon\t was\t high\t and\t she\t could\t no\t longer\t hear\t the\t shrieks\t and cackles\tof\tthe\twitches\tin\tthe\tOmega.\tTogether\tthey\tsat\ton\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tRuhnns,\tand\tshe gazed\tacross\tthe\tendless\tflat\texpanse\tbetween\tthe\tpeaks\tand\tthe\twestern\tsea.\tSomewhere","out\tthere,\tbeyond\tthe\thorizon,\twas\ta\thome\tthat\tshe\thad\tnever\tknown. Crochans\t were\t liars\t and\t insufferably\t preachy.\t The\t witch\t had\t probably\t enjoyed\t giving her\tlittle\tspeech\u2014making\tsome\tgrand\tlast\tstand.\tWe\tfeel\tsorry\tfor\tyou. Manon\t rubbed\t at\t her\t eyes\t and\t braced\t her\t elbows\t on\t her\t knees,\t peering\t into\t the\t drop below. She\t would\t have\t dismissed\t her,\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t thought\t twice\t about\t it,\t if\t it\t hadn\u2019t\t been for\tthat\tlook\tin\tKeelie\u2019s\teyes\tas\tshe\tfell,\tfighting\twith\tevery\tlast\tscrap\tof\tstrength\tto\tsave her\tPetrah.\tOr\tfor\tAbraxos\u2019s\twing,\tsheltering\tManon\tagainst\ticy\train. The\t wyverns\t were\t meant\t to\t kill\t and\t maim\t and\t strike\t terror\t into\t the\t hearts\t of\t their enemies.\tAnd\tyet\t\u2026 And\t yet.\t Manon\t looked\t toward\t the\t star-flecked\t horizon,\t leaning\t her\t face\t into\t a\t warm spring\t breeze,\t grateful\t for\t the\t steady,\t solid\t companion\t lounging\t behind\t her.\t A\t strange feeling,\tthat\tgratitude\tfor\this\texistence. Then\t there\t was\t that\t other\t strange\t feeling\t that\t pushed\t and\t pulled\t at\t her,\t making\t her replay\tthe\tscene\tin\tthe\tmess\thall\tagain\tand\tagain. She\thad\tnever\tknown\tregret\u2014not\ttrue\tregret,\tanyway. But\tshe\tregretted\tnot\tknowing\tthe\tCrochan\u2019s\tname.\tShe\tregretted\tnot\tknowing\twho\tthe new\t cloak\t on\t her\t shoulders\t had\t belonged\t to\u2014where\t she\t had\t come\t from,\t how\t she\t had lived. Somehow,\teven\tthough\ther\tlong\tlife\thad\tbeen\tgone\tfor\tten\tyears\t\u2026 Somehow,\tthat\tregret\tmade\ther\tfeel\tincredibly,\theavily\tmortal.","Chapter\t63 Aedion\t let\t out\t a\t low\t whistle\t and\t offered\t Chaol\t the\t bottle\t of\t wine\t between\t them\t on\t the rooftop\tof\tCelaena\u2019s\tapartment.\tChaol,\tnot\tfeeling\tat\tall\tlike\tdrinking,\tshook\this\thead. \u201cI\t wish\t I\t had\t been\t there\t to\t see\t it.\u201d\t He\t gave\t Chaol\t a\t wolfish\t smile.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t surprised you\u2019re\tnot\tcondemning\tme\tfor\tsaying\tthat.\u201d \u201cWhatever\tcreatures\tthe\tking\tsent\twith\tNarrok,\tI\tdo\tnot\tthink\tthey\twere\tinnocent\tmen,\u201d Chaol\tsaid.\t\u201cOr\treally\tmen\tat\tall\tanymore.\u201d She\t had\t done\t it\u2014had\t made\t such\t a\t statement\t that\t even\t days\t later,\t Aedion\t was\t still celebrating.\tQuietly,\tof\tcourse. Chaol\thad\tcome\there\ttonight\tplanning\tto\ttell\tAedion\tand\tRen\twhat\the\tknew\tof\tthe\tspell the\t king\t had\t used\t and\t how\t they\t might\t destroy\t it.\t But\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t yet.\t He\t still\t wondered what\t Aedion\t would\t do\t with\t that\t knowledge.\t Especially\t once\t Chaol\t left\t for\t Anielle\t in three\tdays. \u201cWhen\tshe\tgets\thome,\tyou\tneed\tto\tlie\tlow\tin\tAnielle,\u201d\tAedion\tsaid,\tswigging\tfrom\tthe bottle.\t\u201cOnce\tit\tcomes\tout\twho\tshe\twas\tall\tthese\tyears.\u201d And\tit\twould,\tChaol\tknew.\tHe\twas\talready\tpreparing\tto\tget\tDorian\tand\tSorscha\tout\tof the\t castle.\t Even\t if\t they\t had\t done\t nothing\t wrong,\t they\t had\t been\t her\t friends.\t If\t the\t king knew\tthat\tCelaena\twas\tAelin,\tit\tcould\tbe\tjust\tas\tdeadly\tas\tif\the\tdiscovered\tthat\tDorian\thad magic.\tWhen\tshe\tcame\thome,\teverything\twould\tchange. Yes,\tAelin\twould\tcome\thome.\tBut\tnot\tto\tChaol.\tShe\twould\tcome\thome\tto\tTerrasen,\tto Aedion\tand\tRen\tand\tthe\tcourt\tthat\twas\tregathering\tin\ther\tname.\tShe\twould\tcome\thome\tto war\tand\tbloodshed\tand\tresponsibility.\tPart\tof\thim\tstill\tcould\tnot\tfathom\twhat\tshe\u2019d\tdone to\tNarrok,\tthe\tbattle\tcry\tshe\u2019d\tissued\tfrom\tacross\tthe\tsea.\tHe\tcould\tnot\taccept\tthat\tpart\tof her,\tso\tbloodthirsty\tand\tunyielding.\tEven\tas\tCelaena,\tit\thad\tbeen\thard\tto\tswallow\tat\ttimes, and\the\thad\ttried\tto\tlook\tpast\tit,\tbut\tas\tAelin\t\u2026\tHe\u2019d\tknown,\tsince\tthe\tmoment\the\tfigured out\twho\tshe\twas,\tthat\twhile\tCelaena\twould\talways\tpick\thim,\tAelin\twould\tnot. And\t it\t would\t not\t be\t Celaena\t Sardothien\t who\t returned\t to\t this\t continent.\t It\t would\t take time,\the\tknew\u2014for\tit\tto\tstop\thurting,\tto\tlet\tgo.\tBut\tthe\tpain\twouldn\u2019t\tlast\tforever. \u201cIs\tthere\u2026\u201d\tAedion\tclenched\this\tjaw\tas\tif\tdebating\tsaying\tthe\trest.\t\u201cIs\tthere\tanything you\twant\tme\tto\ttell\ther,\tor\tgive\ther?\u201d\tAt\tany\tmoment,\tany\ttime,\tAedion\tmight\thave\tto\tflee to\tTerrasen\tand\tto\this\tqueen. The\t Eye\t of\t Elena\t was\t warm\t at\t his\t neck,\t and\t Chaol\t almost\t reached\t for\t it.\t But\t he couldn\u2019t\t bring\t himself\t to\t send\t her\t that\t message,\t or\t to\t let\t go\t of\t her\t that\t completely\u2014not yet.\tJust\tas\the\tcouldn\u2019t\tbring\thimself\tto\ttell\tAedion\tabout\tthe\tclock\ttower. \u201cTell\t her,\u201d\t Chaol\t said\t quietly,\t \u201cthat\t I\t had\t nothing\t to\t do\t with\t you.\t Tell\t her\t you\t barely spoke\tto\tme.\tOr\tDorian.\tTell\ther\tI\tam\tfine\tin\tAnielle,\tand\tthat\twe\tare\tall\tsafe.\u201d Aedion\t was\t quiet\t long\t enough\t that\t Chaol\t got\t up\t to\t leave.\t But\t then\t the\t general\t said,","\u201cWhat\twould\tyou\thave\tgiven\u2014just\tto\tsee\ther\tagain?\u201d Chaol\tcouldn\u2019t\tturn\taround\tas\the\tsaid,\t\u201cIt\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatter\tnow.\u201d Sorscha\trested\ther\thead\ton\tthe\tsoft\tspot\tbetween\tDorian\u2019s\tshoulder\tand\tchest,\tbreathing\tin the\tsmell\tof\thim.\tHe\twas\talready\tsleeping\tdeeply.\tAlmost\u2014they\thad\talmost\ttaken\tthings over\t the\t edge\t tonight,\t but\t she\t had\t again\t hesitated,\t again\t let\t that\t stupid\t doubt\t creep\t in when\the\tasked\ther\tif\tshe\twas\tready,\tand\tthough\tshe\twanted\tto\tsay\tyes,\tshe\thad\tsaid\tno. She\t lay\t awake,\t stomach\t tight\t and\t mind\t racing.\t There\t was\t so\t much\t she\t wanted\t to\t do and\t see\t with\t him.\t But\t she\t could\t feel\t the\t world\t shifting\u2014the\t wind\t changing.\t Aelin Galathynius\t was\t alive.\t And\t even\t if\t Sorscha\t gave\t everything\t to\t Dorian,\t the\t upcoming weeks\tand\tmonths\twould\tbe\ttrying\tenough\tfor\thim\twithout\thaving\tto\tworry\tabout\ther. If\tthe\tcaptain\tand\tthe\tprince\tdecided\tto\tact\ton\ttheir\tknowledge,\tif\tmagic\twas\tfreed\t\u2026\tit would\t be\t chaos.\t People\t might\t go\t as\t mad\t from\t its\t sudden\t return\t as\t they\u2019d\t gone\t from\t its departure.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tthink\twhat\tthe\tking\twould\tdo. Yet\t no\t matter\t what\t happened\t tomorrow,\t or\t next\t week,\t or\t next\t year,\t she\t was\t grateful. Grateful\t to\t the\t gods,\t to\t fate,\t to\t herself\t for\t being\t brave\t enough\t to\t kiss\t him\t that\t night. Grateful\tfor\tthis\tlittle\tbit\tof\ttime\tshe\u2019d\tbeen\tgiven\twith\thim. She\t still\t thought\t about\t what\t the\t captain\t had\t said\t all\t those\t weeks\t ago\u2014about\t being queen. But\tDorian\tneeded\ta\ttrue\tqueen\tif\the\twas\tto\tsurvive\tthis.\tSomeday,\tperhaps,\tshe\u2019d\thave to\tface\tthe\tchoice\tof\tletting\thim\tgo\tfor\tthe\tgreater\tgood.\tShe\twas\tstill\tquiet,\tand\tsmall.\tIf she\t could\t hardly\t stand\t up\t to\t Amithy,\t how\t could\t she\t ever\t be\t expected\t to\t fight\t for\t her country? No,\tshe\tcould\tnot\tbe\tqueen,\tfor\tthere\twere\tlimits\tto\ther\tbravery,\tand\tto\twhat\tshe\tcould offer. But\tfor\tnow\t\u2026\tfor\tnow,\tshe\tcould\tbe\tselfish\tfor\ta\tlittle\tlonger. For\ttwo\tdays,\tChaol\tcontinued\tto\tplan\tan\tescape\tfor\tDorian\tand\tSorscha,\tAedion\tworking with\thim.\tThey\thadn\u2019t\tobjected\twhen\the\u2019d\texplained\u2014and\tthere\thad\teven\tbeen\ta\thint\tof relief\t in\t the\t prince\u2019s\t eyes.\t They\t would\t all\t go\t tomorrow,\t when\t Chaol\t left\t for\t Anielle.\t It was\tthe\tperfect\texcuse\tto\tget\tthem\tout\tof\tthe\tcastle:\tthey\twanted\tto\taccompany\ttheir\tfriend for\t a\t day\t or\t two\t before\t bidding\t him\t farewell.\t He\t knew\t Dorian\t would\t try\t to\t return\t to Rifthold,\tthat\the\u2019d\thave\tto\tfight\thim\ton\tit,\tbut\tat\tleast\tthey\tcould\tboth\tagree\tthat\tSorscha was\t to\t get\t out.\t Some\t of\t Aedion\u2019s\t own\t belongings\t were\t already\t at\t the\t apartment,\t where Ren\tcontinued\tto\tgather\tresources\tfor\tthem\tall. Just\tin\tcase.\tChaol\thad\tturned\tin\this\tformal\tsuggestions\tfor\this\treplacement\tto\tthe\tking, and\t the\t announcement\t would\t be\t made\t tomorrow\t morning.\t After\t all\t these\t years,\t all\t that planning\tand\thoping\tand\tworking,\the\twas\tleaving.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tbring\thimself\tto leave\t his\t sword\t to\t his\t replacement,\t as\t he\t should\t have\t done.\t Tomorrow\u2014he\t only\t had\t to get\tthrough\ttomorrow. But\tthere\twas\tno\tway\tChaol\tcould\tprepare\tfor\tthe\tsummons\the\treceived\tfrom\tthe\tKing","of\t Adarlan\t to\t meet\t him\t in\t his\t private\t council\t chamber.\t When\t he\t arrived,\t Aedion\t was already\t inside,\t surrounded\t by\t fifteen\t guards\t Chaol\t did\t not\t recognize,\t all\t wearing\t those tunics\twith\tthe\troyal\twyvern\tembroidered\twith\tblack\tthread. The\tKing\tof\tAdarlan\twas\tgrinning. Dorian\t heard\t within\t minutes\t that\t Aedion\t and\t Chaol\t had\t been\t summoned\t to\t his\t father\u2019s private\tcouncil\troom.\tAs\tsoon\tas\the\theard,\the\tran\u2014not\tfor\tChaol,\tbut\tto\tSorscha. He\t almost\t collapsed\t with\t relief\t when\t he\t found\t her\t in\t her\t workroom.\t But\t he\t willed strength\tto\this\tknees\tas\the\tcrossed\tthe\troom\tin\ta\tfew\tstrides\tand\tgrabbed\ther\thand.\t\u201cWe\u2019re getting\tout.\tNow.\tYou\tare\tgetting\tout\tof\tthis\tcastle\tright\tnow,\tSorscha.\u201d She\tpulled\tback.\t\u201cWhat\thappened?\tTell\tme,\twhat\u2014\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re\tgoing\tnow,\u201d\the\tpanted. \u201cOh,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tthink\tso,\u201d\tsomeone\tpurred\tfrom\tthe\topen\tdoorway. He\t turned\t to\t find\t Amithy\u2014the\t old\t healer\u2014standing\t there,\t arms\t crossed\t and\t smiling faintly.\t Dorian\t could\t do\t nothing\t as\t half\t a\t dozen\t unfamiliar\t guards\t appeared\t behind\t her and\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201cThe\tking\twants\tto\tsee\tyou\tboth\tin\this\tchambers.\tImmediately.\u201d","Chapter\t64 In\t the\t council\t room\t high\t in\t the\t glass\t castle,\t Aedion\t had\t already\t marked\t the\t exits\t and considered\t what\t furniture\t he\t could\t use\t as\t a\t defense\t or\t as\t a\t weapon.\t They\u2019d\t taken\t his sword\twhen\tthey\u2019d\tcome\tfor\thim\tin\this\trooms,\tthough\tthey\thadn\u2019t\tshackled\thim.\tA\tlethal mistake.\t The\t captain\t wasn\u2019t\t shackled,\t either;\t in\t fact,\t the\t fools\t had\t left\t him\t armed.\t The captain\t was\t doing\t his\t best\t to\t look\t vaguely\t confused\t as\t the\t king\t watched\t them\t from\t his glass\tthrone. \u201cWhat\t an\t interesting\t night\t this\t has\t turned\t out\t to\t be.\t What\t interesting\t information\t my spies\t have\t brought\t me,\u201d\t the\t king\t said,\t looking\t from\t Aedion\t to\t Chaol\t to\t Dorian\t and\t his woman. \u201cMy\tmost\ttalented\tgeneral\tis\tfound\tto\tbe\tsneaking\taround\tRifthold\tin\tthe\tdead\tof\tnight \u2014after\tspending\tso\tmuch\tof\tmy\tgold\ton\tparties\the\tdoes\tnot\teven\tbother\tattending.\tAnd\the has\t somehow,\t despite\t years\t of\t animosity,\t become\t close\t with\t my\t Captain\t of\t the\t Guard. While\t my\t son\u201d\u2014Aedion\t did\t not\t envy\t the\t smile\t the\t king\t gave\t the\t Crown\t Prince\u2014\u201chas apparently\tbeen\tdabbling\twith\tthe\trabble.\tAgain.\u201d To\this\tcredit,\tDorian\tsnarled\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cConsider\tyour\twords\tcarefully,\tFather.\u201d \u201cOh?\u201d\tThe\tking\traised\ta\tthick,\tscarred\tbrow.\t\u201cI\thad\tit\ton\tgood\tauthority\tthat\tyou\twere planning\tto\trun\taway\twith\tthis\thealer.\tWhy\twould\tyou\tever\tdo\tsuch\ta\tthing?\u201d The\t prince\u2019s\t throat\t bobbed,\t but\t he\t kept\t his\t head\t high.\t \u201cBecause\t I\t can\u2019t\t stand\t the thought\t of\t her\t spending\t another\t minute\t in\t this\t festering\t shithole\t that\t you\t call\t a\t court.\u201d Aedion\t couldn\u2019t\t help\t but\t admire\t him\t for\t it\u2014for\t yielding\t nothing\t until\t the\t king\t showed his\thand.\tSmart\tman\u2014brave\tman.\tBut\tit\tmight\tnot\tbe\tenough\tto\tget\tthem\tout\tof\tthis\talive. \u201cGood,\u201d\tthe\tking\tsaid.\t\u201cNeither\tcan\tI.\u201d He\t waved\t a\t hand,\t and\t before\t Aedion\t could\t bark\t a\t warning,\t the\t guards\t separated\t the prince\t and\t the\t girl.\t Four\t held\t Dorian\t back,\t and\t two\t forced\t Sorscha\t to\t kneel\t with\t a\t kick behind\tthe\tknees. She\tcried\tout\tas\tshe\thit\tthe\tmarble,\tbut\twent\tsilent\u2014the\twhole\troom\twent\tsilent\u2014as\ta third\tguard\tpulled\ta\tsword\tand\tplaced\tit\tlightly\ton\tthe\tback\tof\ther\tslender\tneck. \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tdare,\u201d\tDorian\tgrowled. Aedion\tlooked\tto\tChaol,\tbut\tthe\tcaptain\twas\tfrozen.\tThese\twere\tnot\this\tguards.\tTheir uniforms\t were\t those\t of\t the\t men\t who\t had\t hunted\t Ren.\t They\t had\t the\t same\t dead\t eyes,\t the same\tvileness,\tthat\thad\tmade\thim\tnot\tat\tall\tregret\tkilling\ttheir\tcolleagues\tin\tthe\talley.\tHe\u2019d taken\tdown\tsix\tthat\tnight\twith\tminimal\tdamage\u2014how\tmany\tcould\the\tcut\tdown\tnow?\tHis gaze\t met\t the\t captain\u2019s,\t and\t the\t captain\t flicked\t his\t eyes\t to\t the\t guard\t who\t held\t Aedion\u2019s sword.\tThat\twould\tbe\tone\tof\this\tfirst\tmoves\u2014get\tAedion\ta\tsword\tso\tthey\tcould\tfight. Because\tthey\twould\tfight.\tThey\twould\tfight\ttheir\tway\tout\tof\tthis,\tor\tto\ttheir\tdeaths. The\tking\tsaid\tto\tDorian,\t\u201cI\twould\tchoose\tyour\tnext\twords\tcarefully,\tPrince.\u201d"]
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