Servant of Earth (The Shards of Magic, #1)

by Sarah Hawley

There was the wooden cup that had been one of my first finds. A rusty nail. A chunk of rose quartz. Each object told a story: of the morning when I’d found it, of the people or animals of the unknown past, of the bog and me.

you, the Fae guide my hand from afar. They will adore each and every one of you.” It was more likely the Elder’s hand would be guided by the tremors of age, I thought cynically.

Even Elder Holman had expected people to bow to him, and he’d been nothing but a small village leader. Drustan was immortal royalty. “I don’t particularly enjoy protocol. It too often creates an atmosphere of fear rather than engendering loyalty.”

oh ok facts

As I followed, I wondered how she managed to look so elegant all the time. Did young Fae girls practice that precise angle of the head, that swaying stride? I wanted to look elegant, too.

aww

We have diverse gifts but one history. It is only together, united under my rule, that we can be truly strong.”

hmmmmm.....

I added a leather pouch to my belt just in case I was able to grab another candidate’s token. With that, I was ready.

LMAO girl... good luck with your human self

If only his tunic was shorter so I could see the curve of his buttocks, too…

WHAT

I feinted high, then sliced low, severing the artery in his thigh.

Now how the hell do you know how to do that

Lara looked like a spring dream. Her black hair hung loose and waving to her waist, topped by a crown of yellow roses. More roses lined the hem of her flowing green dress, and she wore a gossamer cape dotted with tiny diamonds.

Prettttyyyy

“The spring equinox is a time of renewal and rebirth. One thing we renew every year is our pledge to commit no violence against the throne.”

Oh man

caught a glimpse of Lara through the crowd, tossing back her head and laughing as she spun in the arms of a lady from Void House.

Be gay

what I would do. I inhaled deeply. When I exhaled, I breathed out Anya’s ghost at last.

is this just an excuse so we don’t have to write about her anymore lmao

Even without her immortality, Lara had a level of endurance and strength I lacked.

cause she’s… magical?

The vial was small. I surreptitiously tilted it to my mouth, swallowing half of the potion before I gave her the rest.

NOW WHY WOJLD YOU DO THAT? THATS FOR MAGICAL PPL

Memories of killing in outright conflict. Never like that.

Woke dagger

And for the first time in these trials, killing another candidate was allowed. Lara would get as far away from the others as she could, cover her scent with mud, and seek shelter.

LET THE FAE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN

“Am I the wrong person in this scenario, or are you?” I somehow managed to ask, heart fluttering like a trapped rabbit’s. Now he looked startled. “Are you—” He broke the words off, then made a soft noise I couldn’t interpret. “What a strange woman you are.”

“What about the human world?” His gaze was solid and steady, encouraging me to continue. “Dancing is more exuberant. Everyone ends up sweaty and laughing by the end of it. No one down there wants to sweat.” “How succinctly you summarize the difference between the Fae and humans.”

And I did, teaching him a rollicking dance I’d always loved. It wasn’t dignified or elegant, but it was fun. We spun madly, and as he threw his head back and finally laughed freely, I laughed with him.

Then Edric emerged, grinning. A crown of flame hovered above his head. “Oh, thank the Shards,” Aidan muttered, leaning heavily on me.

Then I was standing before a rainbow-hued cyclone. From this close I could hear singing, an impossibly beautiful melody that would be the last thing I ever heard. They pushed me in.

WELL SHE DID ALL THE TRIALS BITCH

“What?” Drustan turned on her. “Your son stood beside me.” “And died beside you.” There the bitterness was, seeping through her cool facade.

“She has a house of one,” Hector said dryly, and I had to admit it was a reasonable argument.

As he passed, he murmured, “If you wanted another war, congratulations. This is how you get one.”

We kept staring at each other. “This may sound strange,” I said, “but do you want to—” “Yes,” she interrupted. “Whatever it is, yes.” I laughed through the sob that caught in my throat. “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask you.” “It doesn’t matter. You’re my friend.” Tears poured down my face as I pulled her into a tight hug. I cried into her shoulder, and she wept into my hair.

“Can you help me with…” I gestured at Anya, whose gaze was still blank. By every power in me, the old stubbornness and the new, strange magic, I would help her get well again. “Yes,” Lara said. “Always.”