Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6)

by Sarah J. Maas

Houlun murmured, “It is starting anew, isn’t it?” Those dark eyes slid to Nesryn, the fire gilding the whites. “The One Who Sleeps has awoken.” “Erawan,” Nesryn breathed. She could have sworn the great fire banked in answer. “You know of him, Ej?” Sartaq moved to sit on the woman’s other side, allowing Nesryn to scoot closer down the stone bench. But the hearth-mother swept her sharp stare over Nesryn. “You have faced them. His beasts of shadow.” Nesryn clamped down on the memories that surfaced. “I have. He’s built an army of terrors on the northern continent. In Morath.” Houlun turned toward Sartaq. “Does your father know?” “Bits and pieces. His grief …” Sartaq watched the fire. Houlun placed a hand on the prince’s knee. “There was an attack in Antica. On a healer of the Torre.” Houlun swore, as filthily as her hearth-son. “We think one of Erawan’s agents might be behind it,” Sartaq went on. “And rather than waste time convincing my father to listen to half-formed theories, I remembered your tales, Ej, and thought to see if you might know anything.” “And if I told you?” A searching, sharp look—fierce as a ruk’s gaze. “If I told you what I know of the threat, would you empty every aerie and nest? Would you fly across the Narrow Sea to face them—to never return?” Sartaq’s throat bobbed. And Nesryn realized that he had not come here for answers. Perhaps Sartaq already knew enough about the Valg to decide for himself about how to face the threat. He had come here to win over...