Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King #2)

by Rachel Gillig

To anyone who’s ever felt lost in a wood. There is a strange sort of finding in losing.

The Twin Alders is hidden in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. Betwixt ancient trees, where the mist cuts bone-deep, the last Card remains, waiting, asleep. The wood knows no road—no path through the snare. Only I can find the Twin Alders … For it was I who left it there.

Ravyn knew death—had been its exactor. He’d watched light go out of men’s eyes. Heard final, gasping breaths.

fell. Because you’ve never been turned by a beautiful woman, have you, Captain?

“You really thought I wouldn’t remember you?” She had. He could tell by the flare in her eyes. “All that talk of pleasure and warmth and that terrible, unquiet ache between your legs,” he murmured.

“Tell me, Hawthorn—does it make you feel something, toying with me like this?”

“What,” Jespyr called, incredulous, “is a Taxus?” “An old name, for an old, twisted tree.” When he caught Ravyn’s gaze lingering at his sword, he traced a pale finger over the hilt. “Surely you didn’t think it was sheep I shepherded.”

“Perhaps one day I’ll make a Card to read your mind, too, Brutus Rowan.”

And I could not use a single one.

OH MY GOD HES RAVYN

Bennett smiled. “Haven’t I? There are Cards I can no longer use.” He pulled a second Providence Card from his pocket, the Nightmare, violet and burgundy blurring between his fingers. “Someday, I won’t be able to use these either.”

RAVYN MOTHERFUCKING YEW OH MY GOD HES A YEW

process, it will break him. Yews do not break, came the Nightmare’s menacing rebuttal. They bend. I looked out

IM FUCKING TELLING YOU THE NIGHTMARE IS A YEW LIKE THE SHEPERED KING WAS A YEW

There’s a reason you are here a second time, I said to the Nightmare, my voice urgent. You may have lost a sister to magic, but you must not resign Ravyn to the same fate. You are the Shepherd King—the author of everything I have ever known. You wrote Blunder’s history, Aemmory Percyval Taxus. Now rewrite it.

“You liked me …out of envy?” His arm tightened around her. “I’m a rotten thing, Ione. I’m learning as I go.”

liked me that way, too.” “I like that I can finally read your face, and that you’ve chosen to show it to me. You can tell me your terrible truths, Ione. I’m not going anywhere.”

It was Hauth.

NOOOOOLO

“Welcome, Elspeth Spindle.”

“Let’s try this once more, betrothed.” He raised his dagger. And plunged it to the hilt into Ione’s chest.

The last barter waits in a place with no time. A place of great sorrow and bloodshed and crime. No sword there can save you, no mask hide your face. You’ll return with the Twin Alders … But you’ll never leave that place.

“Measure your words carefully with her,” the Nightmare warned. “They may be your last.”

“The dark bird has three heads. Highwayman, Destrier, and another. One of age, of birthright. Tell me, Ravyn Yew, after your long walk in my wood—do you finally know your name?” A memory tugged at Ravyn. He’d heard those words before. Emory had whispered them back at Stone.

“Taxus. My name is Taxus.”

It will not unite with Ravyn’s blood, I said. He will not die, bleeding over your Cards. I will not allow that, Nightmare. Nor will I. Then whose blood will unite the Deck? I have a plan.

“You know it already.” Ravyn looked deep into the Nightmare’s eyes. “It’s yours, after all.”

bloodlines. Your inability to use the Cards—that, I did recognize.” Warmth stole over his mind. “Along with your nose.”

Blunder families have always taken the names of the trees, I whispered. But I have never heard of a tree called Taxus. That’s because it is an old name, came his oily reply. For an old, twisted tree.

Don’t die. I won’t. Because if you do, and we never get the time we’re owed, I’ll hate you, Ravyn Yew. I’ll love you and hate you forever.

quirked. This will all be over at midnight, Elspeth. After that, you can love me as thoroughly as you like. The Nightmare made a retching

Ravyn reached for the Nightmare Card, hands shaking. “Destroy this, and Elspeth returns?”

“Goodbye, Taxus. Be wary. Be clever. Be good.” He waited ten minutes in the meadow. Then tore the Nightmare Card in two.

There once was a girl, clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King, a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two—

Elspeth. No. I’m not ready. Not yet. Finish the story, dear one. My voice shook. The two were together— Together.

So the two were the same. The girl, he whispered, honey and oil and silk. The King … We said the final words together, our voices echoing, listless, through the dark. A final note. ...

To my kingdom, my Blunder, my land—be wary. Be clever. Be good. —The King of Elms

“They’re there,”

“All of them. Even Ayris this time. Even Bennett. All of them, with him.”

I nodded, and a tear fell down my cheek. Ravyn’s calloused th...

We, who had shepherded the others toward their destinies. We, who had rearranged the kingdom like trees in our very own wood.

was more than the girl, the King, and the monster of Blunder’s dark, twisted tale. I was its author.