Chapter no 39
Inej’s heart careened against her ribs. On the aerial swings, there was a moment when you let go of one and reached for the next, when you realised you’d made a mistake and you no longer felt weightless, when you simply started to fall. The guards hauled her back through the prison gate. There were […]
Chapter no 38
ELEVEN BELLS AND THREE-QUARTERS CHIME Kaz had considered trying to eavesdrop on Matthias and Brum in the ballroom, but he didn’t want to lose sight of Nina when there were so many drüskelle around. He’d gambled on Matthias’ feelings for Nina, but he’d always liked those odds. The real risk had been in whether or […]
Chapter no 37
ELEVEN BELLS AND QUARTER CHIME When Matthias opened the door to Nina’s cell, she hesitated for the briefest moment. She couldn’t help it. As long as she lived, she would never forget Matthias’ face at that window, how cruel he’d seemed, or the doubt that had sprung up in her heart. She felt it again, […]
Chapter no 36
ELEVEN BELLS Jesper waited by the slit in the wall, a sniper’s bolt, the perfect place for a boy like him. What did we just do? he wondered. But his blood was alive, his rifle was at his shoulder, the world made sense again. So where were the guards? Jesper had expected them to rush […]
Chapter no 35
ELEVEN BELLS “ She’s beautiful,” Brum said, “in an exaggerated way. You were strong not to be lured by her.” I was lured, though, thought Matthias. And it wasn’t just her beauty. “The alarm—” Matthias said. “Her compatriots, no doubt.” “But—” “Matthias, my men will take care of it. The Ice Court is secure.” He […]
Chapter no 34
TEN BELLS AND HALF CHIME Nina prayed her panic didn’t show. Did Brum recognise her? He looked exactly the same: long gold hair touched by grey at the temples, the lean jaw marked by a tidy beard, the drüskelle uniform – black and silver, the right sleeve emblazoned with the silver wolf’s head. It had […]
Chapter no 33
TEN BELLS AND HALF CHIME “ Just how long are we going to be kept waiting?” a man in wine- coloured velvet asked. The guards ignored him, but the other guests clustered by the entry with Inej grumbled their frustration. “I came here at great expense,” he continued, “and it was not so I could […]
Chapter no 32
TEN BELLS AND HALF CHIME Jesper’s clothes were covered in tiny slivers and shavings of steel. His stolen uniform was soaked with sweat, his arms ached, and the headache that had burrowed into his left temple felt as if it was setting up permanent residence there. For nearly a half hour, he had been focusing […]
Chapter no 31
NINE BELLS AND HALF CHIME Nina dared one more glance over her shoulder, watching the guards drag Inej away. She’s smart, deadly. Inej can take care of herself. The thought brought Nina little comfort, but she had to keep moving. She and Inej had clearly been together, and she wanted to be gone before the […]
Chapter no 30
NINE BELLS AND QUARTER CHIME Jesper knew he should be mad at Kaz – for going after Pekka Rollins and blowing their first plan to bits, and for pushing them into deeper danger with this new scheme. But as he and Wylan crept along the drüskelle roof towards the gatehouse, he was too damn happy […]