Page 77 (1/2)

Manon bowed her head They had not spoken of the Crochan Manon had gotten the e: next time, it would be one of the Thirteen on her knees So she kept her head down as she said, "I only ask because I would not be parted with you, Grandrandmother turned back to the desk "I shall re the summer We have work to finish ­here"

Manon lifted her chin, her new red cloak pooling around her, and asked, "And when shall we fly to Morath?"

Her grand "Tomorrow"

•

Even under the cover of darkness, the warrass and snow-­s as Manon led the host south along the Fangs

They kept to the shadows of the ht to prevent anyone frohed through her nose, and the wind ripped the sound away, just as it strea red cloak behind her

Asterin and Sorrel flanked her, silent like the rest of the covens for the long hours they’d flon the mountains They would cross Oakhere Morath’s mountains ­were closest, then rise above the cover of the cloud line for the rest of the journey Unseen and as quiet as possible--­that was how the king wanted theht down the Fangs, swift and sleek as shadows, and the earth below quivered in their wake

Sorrel was stone-­faced,faintly It was not a wild grin, or one that pro the clouds Where every Blackbeak belonged Where Manon belonged

Asterin caught her stare and s behind the ahead Her cousin turned her face into the wind, breathing it in, exultant

Manon did not let herself savor that beautiful breeze or open herself to that joy She had work to do; they all did Despite what the Crochan had said, Manon had not been born with a heart, or a soul She did not need the’s hen his ene out around themonly then would they ­ride to reclaio ho sun was staining the Avery River with gold as the cloaked man strode onto a rickety dock in the slu out for the day, revelers ­were stuht, and Rifthold was still asleep--­unaware of what had happened the night before

Thein the first light of dawn For a longof all that it had once embodied But there was a neord at his side--­an ancient king’s blade, froood men had served noble rulers and the world had prospered for it

He would see that world reborn, even if it took his last breath Even if he had no name now, no position or title save Oath-­Breaker, Traitor, Liar

No one noticed when the sas jettisoned over the river, its poolden fire, a flash of light before it ed by the dark water, never to be seen again

68

It turned out that the "sub Rowan liked to interpret as it suited hi their two-­week trek to the nearest port in Wendlyn, he bossed Celaena around evento believe that noas part of her court, it entitled hi her safety, herto wonder, as they approached the docks at the end of the cobblestone street, if she hadhi for the past three days about her next move--­about the ship she’d hired to take her back to Adarlan

"This plan is absurd," Rowan said for the hundredth ti in the shadows of a tavern by the docks The sea air was light and crisp "Going back alone see back as Celaena, not Aelin--"

"Celaena, who did not acco to hunt down"

"The King and Queen of Eyllwe should have gotten their warning by now" She’d sent it the first ti the h letters ­were nearly impossible to send into the e around that And as for Chaolwell, that was another reason why she was ­here, on this dock, about to get onto this ship She had awoken this er It had felt like a blessed release, a final shadow lifted from her heart But there ­were still words left unsaid between them, and she needed to make sure he was safe--­and would reet the key from your old master, find the captain, and then what?"

Coo north"

"And I’ods kno many months?"

She rolled her eyes "You’re not exactly inconspicuous, Rowan If your tattoos don’t attract attention, then the hair, the ears, the teeth"

"I have another foric ­doesn’t work there anyh I do hear that Rifthold rats are particularly delicious, if you want to eat thelared at her, then scanned the ship--­even though she knew he’d snuck out of their rooer together than apart"

"If I’d known you would be such a pain in the ass, I never would have let you swear that oath"

"Aelin" At least he ­wasn’t calling her "Majesty" or "My Lady" "Either as yourself or as Celaena, they will try to find you and kill you They are probably already tracking you down We could go to Varese right now and approach your ht have a plan"