Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2)

by Rachel Gillig

No lake monster came to claim him. The only things that fought Ravyn now were his own straining muscles. Somewhere near the middle of the lake, his left leg cramped. He compensated with his right and kept going. But just as he neared the shore, his right leg seized as well. Ravyn dipped into darkness, a path of bubbles fleeing his mouth.

oh come on that’s the equivalent of the hot dumb girl tripping while running away from the killer in horror movies

Ahead, just on the other side of the trees, voices sounded in the meadow. One was louder than the others, echoing with harsh clarity, both brutish and cold. Ravyn’s skin went clammy, then fiery hot. He knew that voice. It belonged to his cousin Hauth.

again, i say LETS. FUCKIN. GO!

Erik cocked his head to the side, his voice rusty with disuse. “They’re coming, Prince. Do not falter.”

who the fuck is erik

Erik Spindle watched him through the bars between their cells.

ooooh yeah elspeths dad

A weak, trembling sound. Tyrn. “M-my Ione. She escaped? She’s safe?” “I don’t know.” Elm put his face in his hands. “Pray she forgives you for trading that Nightmare Card for a marriage to Hauth. Because I never will.”

MY MAN!

They strapped him to a horse like a newly slaughtered deer. Elm could see only the ground—the path directly beneath the animal’s legs.

what a powerful humiliating gesture

“Movement, Highness,” a Destrier called, pointing his sword to trees on the other side of the meadow. “There—just ahead.”

WOOOO HERE COMES THE MOTHERFUCKING CAVALRY

Elm needed her to look at him. Needed her to know that it couldn’t end like this. “Ione,” he said, his voice in tatters. “Go. Please—go.” She didn’t budge an inch, save to plant her feet deeper into the snow.

she’s making a fine distraction

Behind Elm, Linden laughed.

lol he’s such a doofus

He appeared out of nothingness and stood in front of Ione, a dark, vengeful bird of prey. Hauth’s eyes went wide and he took a step back, the only man he’d ever feared standing in front of him—marking him.

unfffff

There was a deep, wrenching groan— And the earth began to roll. Snow shook from treetops, the world a flurry of white. The terrible groan was coming from the wood. Something was coming from the wood. The trees, Elm realized. The trees were moving. Roots tore from the earth, boughs whipping through the air. Twisting, the yew trees rushed into the meadow from all sides, swiping—grasping—at the Destriers.

FUCK YEAH TREEBEARD AND THE ENTS COMING IN FTW

The last Destrier who had not run after Ione was Allyn Moss.

shit idk who any of these randos are anymore

Hauth was still in the heart of the meadow, kept busy by three yew trees. They circled him—whipped at him. Hauth felled several branches with his sword, dodged and tried to slip between trunks, but the trees kept twisting, bending.

oh come on theYRE TREES FOR FUCKS SAKE, SQUISH HIM

Hauth let out a triumphant bark. “The untouchable Ravyn Yew, finally made to bleed.”

buddy he /let/ you get the first hit in. it’s his turn now ~

Hauth pushed forward, his neck pressing over Ravyn’s dagger until it split his skin. Blood wept from the wound, but Hauth didn’t even flinch—he barreled into Ravyn with the force of a charging horse.

ok but that’s kind of badass tbf

Ravyn leveled him with a decade of malice. He’d saved it, praying a day would come when he could unleash it. Hit after hit he paid Hauth with a closed fist. One for killing the King.

the death of the king meh

“Says the man who can’t even wield a Scythe.” Hauth spat in his face. “You want to bring me to heel, Ravyn? Make me.”

c h a l l e n g e a c c e p t e d b i t c h

“You know, yellow girl, I’ve always liked you best. But if you do not be quiet and let me listen, I’m going to tell the trees to press their branches over your mouth.”

lololol king sass

The Nightmare hissed and wrenched away. “Get away from me, you traitorous scab.”

xD that’s a hell of an insult

Magic burned up our arms, powerful, vengeful, and full of fury.

woo buddy i hope this is good

“You should have known better than to flee into my wood, Hauth Rowan,” the Nightmare seethed. “Your Destriers met their end here. So, too, shall you.”

MAKE IT PAINFUL (lol that video that was so popular a while ago immediately came to mind where the guy is at an MMA fight and is screaming “GRAB HIS DICK AND TWIST IT!!!!”)

Hauth backed against the far wall of the chamber. His crown had fallen. He picked it up and placed it back on his head, his foot knocking against another crown upon the earthen floor. One with twisting yew branches instead of rowan.

…ok but how has he kept his crown on his head this whole time also a crown is for an audience dipshit lol ain’t no one here to see you in the thing you weirdo

Elm glanced between Hauth and the Nightmare, his green eyes narrowing. “You know what you must do?” the Nightmare asked him. Elm nodded. The Nightmare caught Elm’s hand and pressed the hilt of his sword into it. “Then it’s yours. All of it.”

In it, a single, unfamiliar Providence Card remained.

erm wat

The Nightmare’s gaze collided with Ravyn’s. “Elspeth says she’s utterly sick of you.” His voice was weak. “She didn’t say that.” “No. She didn’t.” The words slipped out of the Nightmare’s mouth on a fine thread.

lol i love the banter

The Nightmare lowered his head, his spine hunching. “Elspeth will not heal if she touches the Shepherd Card.” Ravyn froze. “She has to.” “The thirteenth Card will heal anyone who wishes to be healed of the infection—permanently, just as the Maiden heals permanently. It will not be limited to one user at a time, nor will there be any ill effects for using it too long.” His jaw went hard, his words slipping through his lips. “But Elspeth’s magic is… strange. If she touches the Shepherd Card, she will absorb it. Every last barter—every payment I made. All twelve Providence Cards.” He shook his head. “She will not be healed.”

where the fuck did this thirteenth card come from