A Gathering of Shadows (Shades of Magic, #2)

by V.E. Schwab

Delilah Bard had a way of finding trouble.

One of my quirks is remembering exactly where I was when I wrote a specific scene. The opening chapters in particular. For instance, I wrote the entirety of THIEF AT SEA while sitting on the floor of a tiny cottage at the edge of a French farm in Normandy. This opening is made all the more particular because when I write, I break my book down into episodes, structuring each as a miniature story arc, and THIEF AT SEA is the example I always give of this specific structure. It's the most self-contained arc in the series (followed closely by the following section, PRINCE AT LARGE).

Men had gathered along the rail, and she crossed the width of the Thief to greet them, pushing the mask up onto her brow. Most of the men were frowning, but in the center, a tall figure stood, wearing a black sash and an amused smile, his tawny brown hair swept back and a sapphire in his brow. Alucard Emery. Her captain.

I will say it once and only once in this book. No, I did not realize when I named him that Alucard was Dracula backwards. I just liked the name!!!

TWO PRINCE AT LARGE

Fun fact: PRINCE AT LARGE was originally going to be a short story. I couldnt get over the idea of following an eager Rhy and reluctant Kell through a night on the town. Then, as I began to lay out GATHERING, I realized it would serve as a perfect reintroduction to the newly bound brothers.

Kell held out his hand and helped Rhy to his feet. The prince took a step forward, and swayed, but Kell caught him and kept him upright. “There you go again,” murmured Rhy, leaning his head on Kell’s shoulder. “You never let me fall.”

Their entire relationship in a nutshell.

Vaguely, Holland recalled lying in the Stone Forest, numb to everything but the slow fading of his pulse. And after, the drag of the abyss. A darkness he assumed was death. But death had rejected him, delivering him to this place. And it could only be one place. Black London.

One of the most exciting things about being a story's creator instead of its consumer is knowing secrets before the audience, such as knowing that Holland and Black London would both be making a reprisal. I so looked forward to being able to write a scene set in the strange and mysterious lost world. And no character was better suited to be our guide than the White London Antari.

“Dammit, Bard, you’re going to set the cat on fire.”

Someone pointed out to me that there's a shortage of pets in this series, while I personally prefer animals to people every day of the week. The reason for the absence, I believe, is my sheer terror as a reader every time an animal is introduced into a book. My first thought is, THIS ANIMAL BETTER NOT DIE. Anyway, I decided to give Alucard a pet. It doesn't die.

Back at the Wandering Road, the crowd had thinned, but the wolfhound was still sprawled in the exact same position by fire. Lila couldn’t help but wonder if it was alive.

I have, over the years, received a variety of fanmail, but my favorite has to be from the proud owner of a wolfhound, thanking me for my accurate portrayal of the world's laziest breed.

Alucard was already pulling away, and for an instant all Rhy wanted to do was pull him back, hold fast, terrified that if he let go, Alucard would vanish again, not just from the room but from London, from him, slip out into the night and the sea as he’d done three years before. Alucard must have seen the panic in his eyes, because he turned back, and drew Rhy in, and pressed his lips to Rhy’s one last time, a gentle, lingering kiss. “Peace,” he said, pulling slowly free. “I am not a ghost.” And then he smiled, and smoothed his coat, and turned away. “Fix your crown, my prince,” he called back as he reached the door. “It’s crooked.”

Ive never enjoyed writing a scene so much in my life.

Lila woke like a drowning person breaking the surface of water. Her eyes shot open, but the world stayed pitch-black. She opened her mouth to shout, and realized it was already open, a cloth gag muffling the sound. There was a throbbing ache in the side of her head that sharpened with every motion, and she thought she might be sick. She tried to sit up, and she quickly discovered that she couldn’t. Panic flooded through her, the need to retch suddenly replaced by the need to breathe. She was in a box. A very small box. She went still, and she exhaled shakily when the box didn’t shift or sway. As far as she could tell, she was still on land. Unless, of course, she was under it.

I have only one true fear in this world, and it's being buried alive, so believe me when I say this was a stressful scene to write. I didn't have to do research because I am INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED with the fear (also that scene in Kill Bill) but every single time I had to work on this scene, I nearly gave myself a panic attack.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” growled Kell. Alucard saw him, and stopped. He made a sound halfway between a chuckle and a cough. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt—” “It’s fine, Captain,” said Lila at the same time Kell growled, “Go away, Emery.” Lila and Kell looked at each other, confused. “You know him?” demanded Kell. Alucard straightened. “Of course she does. Bard works for me aboard the Night Spire.” “I’m his best thief,” said Lila. “Bard,” chided Alucard, “we don’t call it thieving in the presence of the crown.” Kell, meanwhile, appeared to be losing his mind. “No,” he muttered, running a hand through his copper hair. “No. No. There are dozens.” “Kell?” she asked, moving to touch his arm. He shook her off. “Dozens of ships, Lila! And you had to climb aboard his.” “I’m sorry,” she shot back, bristling, “I was under the impression that I was free to do as I pleased.” “To be fair,” added Alucard, “I think she was planning to steal it and slit my throat.” “Then why didn’t you?” snarled Kell, spinning on her. “You’re always so eager to slash and stab, why couldn’t you have stabbed him?” Alucard leaned in. “I think she’s growing fond of me.” “She can speak for herself,” shot Lila. She twisted toward Kell. “Why are you so upset?” “Because Alucard Emery is a worthless noble with too much charm and too little honor, and you chose to go with him.” The words cut through the air as Rhy rounded the corner. “What on earth are you all shouting about…” The prince trailed off as he...

Okay, so I said in the notes for A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC that fight scenes were my favorite thing to write. In actuality, it’s probably ensemble scenes involving characters that intensely dislike each other. The banter, you guys. The banter. And the tension. I love adding straw to the proverbial camel's back.

Whatever I am, she thought, pressing her hand to the wall, let it be enough.

Okay, the ending seems harsh, I know, but I will tell you here what I've told readers at events everywhere. The original ending was worse. Trust me. Don't trust me? Then allow me to say that the original ending was about three chapters longer--or three chapters into ACOL, since it picks up right where this one leaves off, so you better go start that one right now. Go ahead. I'll tell you when you get to the place where this book originally ended. Then you'll see.