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He was Lord of Nothing. Lord of Oath-Breakers. Lord of Liars.
The khagan was a living myth. As much of a deity as the thirty-six gods who ruled over this city and empire.
Atop his snowy head sat no crown. For gods among mortals did not need markers of their divine rule.
Prince of Spies, they called Arghun. While his two brothers had become the finest of warriors, Arghun had honed his mind, and now oversaw his father’s thirty-six viziers.
Help them … and perhaps receive help in return. Chaol said baldly, “If you trust me enough to have me do that, to tell me all this, then why not agree to join with us in this war?” “It is not my place to say or guess.” A trained soldier. Kashin examined the suite as if assessing any potential enemies lying in wait. “I march only when my father gives the order.”
For wherever you need to go—and then some. The world needs more healers.
So you may look at me with resentment, Yrene Towers, and I will not blame you for it. But believe me when I say that there is no one in Erilea who loathes me more than I do myself.” “For the path you found yourself forced down?” He slung his shirt over his head and reached for his pants. “For fighting that path to begin with—for the mistakes I made in doing so.”
I do not hold as much sway with my father as others, but he knows the ruk riders are loyal to me.” “I thought—” “That I was his favorite?” A low, bitter laugh. “I perhaps stand a chance at being named Heir, but the khagan does not select his Heir based on whom he loves best. Even so, that particular honor goes to Duva and Kashin.”
“There is beauty in my father’s lands,” the prince went on while Kadara ripped into that monstrous carcass, “but there is much lurking beneath the surface, too.”
“She will make life very difficult if I do not appear to get you to warm to me.” He halted her hand at his bicep, finding her fingers shaking slightly. Perhaps it was the sweet, cloying smoke curling around them, perhaps it was the music and the dancers with their bare skin and jewels, but Chaol said, “I would think you’d already done that, Yrene Towers.”
“Skull’s Bay,” he threw out. “Tell her fire can be found at Skull’s Bay.” It was perhaps the one place Aelin would never go—down to the domain of the Pirate Lord.
well shit
She wrote two notes. The first one, to her aunt and uncle, was full of love and warning and well-wishes. Her second note … it was quick, and to the point: I have gone with Sartaq to see the rukhin. I shall be gone three weeks. I hold you to no promises. And I will hold to none of my own.
Wind-seeker, her mother had once called her. Unable to keep still, always wandering where the wind calls you. Where shall it beckon you to journey one day, my rose? How far the wind had now called her.
He rested his forearms on his knees. “That’s what my spies called you, what I called you until you arrived. Neith’s Arrow.” The Goddess of Archery—and
His answering grin was the portrait of princely arrogance. “Because I sent word a day before that you were likely to join me.” Nesryn gaped at him, unable to maintain that mask of calm.
something feels weird
The kharankui, and other beasts of shadow.” The words echoed through Nesryn. The kharankui—the stygian spiders … and other infiltrators. None of them ordinary beasts at all. But Valg.
And when Falkan waved on his feet before them, a hand pressed to the bloody wound in his ribs, Nesryn breathed, “You’re a shape-shifter.”
“I would like to place another order. I would like to double the Queen of Terrasen’s order, actually.” Silence.
The khagan asked quietly, “Do you even know what warfare is?” Chaol clenched his jaw. “I suppose I’m about to find out, aren’t I.”
He had let them all go. Had walked out himself, too, but with Aelin, with Dorian, with Nesryn, he had let them go, and he had not gone after them.
She reached the handle. Fumbled blindly for it. And if she left, if he let her walk out … Yrene pushed down on the handle. And Chaol took a step toward her.
It was like waking up or being born or falling out of the sky. It was an answer and a song, and she could not think or feel fast enough.
“They might explain this. What the healers could do against the Valg.”
For wherever you need to go—and then some. The world needs more healers. That’s what I keep in my pocket—that
loved you before I ever set eyes on you,” he said. “Please,” Nesryn wept. Sartaq’s hand tightened on hers. “I wish we’d had time.” A hiss behind him, a rising bulk of shining black— Then the prince was gone. Ripped from her hands. As if he had never been.
There. Sprawled on the ground nearby, covered foot to neck with silk. His face crusted with blood, eyes closed— Sartaq’s chest rose and fell.
“Our queen,” the spider said. “We wait for Her Dark Majesty to return at last.” “Not—not Erawan?” Servants to a dark crown, Houlun had said … The spider spat, the venom landing near Sartaq’s covered feet. “Not him. Never him.” “Then who—” “We wait for the Queen of the Valg,” the spider purred, rubbing against the carving. “Who in this world calls herself Maeve.”
WHAT
Made keys to do so, shared with his brothers. Three keys, for the three kings.
ruled over by two sister-queens.” Mab and Mora. Holy gods— “And using her powers, she ripped into their minds. Made them believe they had a sister, an eldest sister to rule with them. Three queens—for the three kings that might one day come.
“Find her,” Falkan said, taking a step toward the horrors churning below. “My fortune—all of it is for her. And I may have failed her in this life. But not in my death.”
lyssandra omg
Yrene cleared her throat, caressing her thumb over his wrist. “I realized the night before. That I had one of my own. My hatred, my anger and fear and pain.” She brushed away a stray curl. “They were all parasites, feeding on me these years. Sustaining me, but also feeding on me.”
Yrene whispered, “I think I can heal them. I think the Valg … I think they are parasites, and I can treat the people they infect.” “Then everyone Erawan has captured, held with those rings and collars—” “We could potentially free them.” He squeezed her hand. “But you’d have to get close to them. And their power, Yrene—” “I would assume that is where Aelin and Dorian would come in. To hold them down.”
“They were victorious. Aelin was spotted returning to her armada hours later. They’ve set sail—north, apparently.”
fuuuuuuck
Chaol took a shuddering breath. “What did Aelin promise you?” Hasar smiled to herself. “A better world.”
“Watching the horizon won’t get us there any faster,” he murmured onto her neck. “Neither will teasing your wife about it.” Chaol smiled against her skin. “How else am I to amuse myself during the long hours than by teasing you, Lady Westfall?”
A moment of kindness. From a young woman who ended lives to a young woman who saved them.
