登陆注册
10432500000009

第9章

They'd arrived on Teschel the night before. Another island. They hadn't been to the mainland in weeks. This time Jorn hadn't bothered with an inn. Instead, he'd set up camp in an unused granary across from a run-down farm. The storehouse was blocky and stained from age and weather and had long windows so filthy, they bordered on opaque. Pale trees-the very edge of a forest-pressed up against one side of the building, and abandoned fields stretched out on the others. Weeds sprouted upward, some tall enough to reach past Amara's hips.

Amara didn't know what had happened for people to abandon the farm, but Jorn was right about one thing: no one would expect to find a princess here.

Maart was inside, tending to Cilla and preparing their lunch. Amara ought to help. Instead, she sat crouched by the entrance. The low sun cast everything in the pink shade of morning, from the dew on the grass to Jorn's shape as he crossed the fields. After every determined step, he paused, leaned in to brush his hands over the ground, then took his next step. He kept his head down. A distant whine accompanied his spell.

Shimmery air-as if from heat-trailed behind him, coiling around too-tall weeds and dipping with every dried-out ditch he crossed. Slowly, the tail end of the trail sank and faded as it settled into blades of grass and thick-leaved autumn flowers.

It shouldn't fade, Amara thought. I'm a mage. I should still be able to see a simple boundary spell.

Amara concentrated, squinted, willed with all her might: nothing.

Frustrated, she glanced back at Maart, who was muttering from inside the granary. He'd been rinsing their kommer leaves in a bowl of cold water, but right now, the water frothed and bubbled.

Backlash. Harmless backlash, maybe, but it added up. That was exactly why she sat in this crouch whenever Jorn cast his detection wards. With her legs getting stiffer by the second, she'd draw a crude temple in the cold-as-water dirt before her, place her hand in its center, and ask the spirits to forgive Jorn for demanding so much of them.

This time, instead of a temple, she drew three lines. Three blackouts. They had one thing in common. She'd been in danger each time. She might've called on the spirits without realizing it, like a defense mechanism, instinct.

But why? Danger was exactly when she couldn't afford to black out.

Movement. Jorn was pulling away from his spell. Quickly, Amara rubbed out the lines in the dirt and backed into the storehouse, but Jorn wasn't coming their way. He crossed the field toward the forest's edge. He'd already completed the part of the spell that extended into the forest, though, and he never left without telling them.

Right before he disappeared behind an abandoned shed, Amara saw a piece of glass flicker in his hand, and her eyes widened. Mages used enchanted glass or mirrors to communicate. She knew Jorn and Cilla had people working alongside them. That was how they'd recruited Maart when the servant before him died; that was how Jorn kept their funds up. Amara had never found out who, and she'd stopped asking long ago. If those people included mages, though… mages on their side, without Jorn's temper, who she might be able to ask about the blackouts…

Following Jorn was stupid under normal circumstances. Jorn's mood lately made it even stupider.

Amara did it, anyway.

"I'll get firewood," she signed to Maart, and ran lightly across the field. A heron stood watch on the shed's roof, overseeing a ditch below. She slowed the closer she came. She heard Jorn's voice but couldn't make out the words. She heard another voice, too. Male.

She pressed herself against the shed and sneaked around one corner, then peeked past the next. Jorn looked as if he was praying, head bowed, one hand to the ground. His fingers rested on the edges of the glass, which flickered in the watery morning light.

A breeze carried his voice with it. "… I can track Cilla if she runs. No, I'm worried about Amara. I can handle her, but these blackouts…"

The wind brushed stray nettles past Amara's hand, and she flinched at the sting but stayed dead silent. Her heart crept upward and beat in her throat. Jorn knew about the blackouts? She needed to hear every word of this.

"Blackouts? Plural?" The other man swore.

"According to Cilla, yes. She told me out of concern. But it's not just that the blackouts might put Cilla in danger-"

"Yeah. It's about what happens if they get worse." Amara knew the voice but couldn't place it. She inched back around the corner. Nettles rustled by her ankles. "Whoever's causing this will catch on and try again. Keep an eye on Amara. If it continues, bring her to Drudo palace. In the meantime, I'll send one of us to help. I'd go myself, but I don't know how much Amara remembers. Bracha's new, though. Those kids won't recognize her. Maessen is a ghost town, anyway-they don't need her there."

Maessen-a Dit-founded mainland city, Amara knew, on the north side of the Dunelands. The servant before Maart had died near there. Jorn then took Maart from the Maessen palace, told him his duty was to the crown, not the ministers, and proceeded to forget all about the servant who'd come before.

Up until a minute ago, that was all Amara had known of Maessen.

Now, she remembered another detail: the name of Maessen's new minister, Bracha.

One of us, the man had said, and I don't know how much Amara remembers, and Drudo palace, and-acutely-Amara realized why she knew his voice.

Jorn hesitated. "Let's wait. I'll handle it for now."

"But if-"

"Better than recognizing Bracha." Jorn's sudden rise in volume startled a nearby hare. It bolted to safety, diving into the thicket at the edge of the field. "I need to go. How's Ammelore?"

"She's a big city-she's doing fine without you," the man said. "Hey, I'll contact the harbor and tell them you need more silver. Keep me informed-and in the names of the dead, stay away from the pubs. We don't need to clean up more of your messes."

Amara turned, sidestepping nettles and twigs that might give her away. Behind her, she heard the crack of glass.

She walked faster, disappearing into the trees, far away, farther, as far as she could without crossing Jorn's detection ward, kneeling to pick up dried branches here and there for firewood. Thorns tore open her skin.

Jorn would know she'd listened in on him. He knew about the blackouts and he probably knew a million more things she didn't and never would, and that voice, and-and she needed to calm down. Work on collecting firewood. When she returned, Jorn had to believe she'd collected firewood and nothing else.

He couldn't find out Amara had listened in.

He couldn't find out Amara had recognized that man's voice.

He couldn't find out Amara knew where she recognized it from.

Between the ministers' coup and being plucked away to protect Cilla, Amara had spent months at the Bedam palace learning its new name and serving its new owner. She'd been a kid with all her early teeth still, used to getting ordered around. The person behind those orders didn't matter. She'd been more concerned about her friends who'd died in the takeover and the way her elbow had healed after she'd cut it on a rusted nail in the barn.

Still, she'd seen her new boss around. Ruudde was a short man, thickset and draped in Dit gemstones. His voice had been kind but direct and had sounded almost-not quite, but almost-the same coming through a broken pane of glass.

Jorn was working with the ministers.

同类推荐
  • The Chronicles of Faerie

    The Chronicles of Faerie

    Dana Faolan, the spunky half-faerie heroine of The Light-Bearer's Daughter, the third book in The Chronicles, has been using her access to the land of Faerie to escape the troubles of being a teenager in a new town. But a dark, mysterious enemy is determined to sever the two worlds forever, thus dooming both. It will take all of Dana's bravery and resourcefulness, plus the help of friends old and new, to save her two homes, especially when it becomes clear that the answer lies in an act of terrible sacrifice. Just as the previous books explored Ireland's rich folkloric history, The Book of Dreams delves into the magical lore of Canada. Melling delivers another "compelling blend of mythology and geography" (School Library Journal, starred review) that will thrill fans of the series.
  • Night Train to Lisbon

    Night Train to Lisbon

    Raimund Gregorius teaches classical languages at a Swiss lycae, and lives a life governed by routine. One day, a chance encounter with a Portuguese woman inspires him to question his lifeand leads him to an extraordinary book that will open the possibility of changing it. Inspired by the words of Amadeu de Prado, a doctor whose intelligence and magnetism left a mark on everyone who met him and whose principles led him into a confrontation with Salazar's dictatorship, Gergorius boards a train to Lisbon. As Gregorius becomes fascinated with unlocking the mystery of who Prado was, an extraordinary tale unfolds.
  • The Skeleton Road
  • 10th Muse: Blade of Medusa

    10th Muse: Blade of Medusa

    In Greek mythology there were 9 Muses, the daughters of Zeus, but history forgot one - The 10th Muse - the Muse of Justice, Emma Sonnet's birthright! Emma Sonnet is on the debate team, a cheerleader and popular. Everyone in high school has their secrets, hers being a superhero. This is a tale of one girl that will make a difference. When students on the swim team are missing, the 10th Muse must solve the puzzle of the Minotaur in time to save them.
  • The Divine Husband
热门推荐
  • 痴人福

    痴人福

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 穿越成为农家女

    穿越成为农家女

    一朝穿越一介女特工居然成了五岁的农家小妞,父亲上了战场渺无音讯,家里一贫如洗没有隔夜粮,只有母亲带着他们几个瘦的只剩皮包骨的兄妹,还有那为了争夺家产不惜将他们一家赶出家门的极品亲戚,且看她杨蝉儿如何在古代发家致富,带着一家人过上和和美美的好日子。
  • 神帝霸宠:嗜血妖孽小帝妃

    神帝霸宠:嗜血妖孽小帝妃

    “我曾属于地狱。”她这样评价自己。身为一个永生的吸血鬼,她不知道自己来自何处又该去向哪里。杀手,神医,音乐人等多重身份,在漫长的岁月里只能充实自己以此为乐……what?谁能告诉我吸血鬼会让雷劈死?还会有灵魂?还穿越?等等……“美男,跟你商量个事儿,帮我保守秘密呗?”某女狗腿的商求。某男好笑的看着她“不如……你以身相许?”“……”“如何?”....异世大陆游一遭,她将收获的可不仅是缺失的亲情友情.....还有.....某耿直boy霸气开口:“我会让你爱上我!”人类之躯重活一世,看他对她强势溺宠,爱她入骨,惯她无法无天。
  • 第一女巫

    第一女巫

    在这个神奇又残酷的魔法世界,身为孤儿的爱丽丝遇见了曾经背叛她的朋友。背叛者摇身一变,化身为魔法家族继承人。她过上了与人类截然不同的生活:和魔法会长成为舍友、对抗邪恶巫师、把妖怪当小弟、收到各方势力邀请、探秘魔禁之地、守卫万界和平…… 最终成为世界上最伟大的——第一女巫!
  • 伪婚:豪门潜规则

    伪婚:豪门潜规则

    一夜强宠,他掷下五百万,她拿走金卡以为两人不再有交集,她却拿着怀孕化验单出现在他的面前她竟然以此为要挟找他要五百万,他生平最厌恶见钱眼开的女人他绝对不会因此听从母亲而娶她,他毫不怜惜地讽刺她他们的婚礼上,他未出现,第二天关于他的桃色新闻满天飞最后他对她怒目而视,李思静,等你生下宝宝,就滚出旋家!她回复,不用你说我也知道!旋郁森,生下宝宝后,你我再无瓜葛!生下宝宝第二天,她便无故失踪,此时他的心却空了起来,往日的种种全部齐聚心头他不是厌恶她,讨厌她的吗?为什么他的表现却像忘不了她?他派人去找,全部音信全无,却查到了当初的真相,他实在错的离谱!三年后,珠宝界出现一个叱咤风云的女人,当她出现在他的宴会上他那该死的冷静去了哪里?他的视线追逐着她她却笑着和别的男人跳舞,旋郁森,我早说过我们再无瓜葛他靠近她,觥筹交错间,他道,李思静,你逃不掉的,这次,我是赢家!
  • 我的火影忍者

    我的火影忍者

    博人传博人:我爸是火影,我爷爷是火影,我爷爷师父的老师是火影,我爸师父的老婆是火影,我爸师父的老婆她祖父和叔公都是火影,我爸的老师也是火影,我全家都是火影!鹿代:我们能不说火影吗?博人:六道仙人是我哥鹿代:...我们还是说说火影吧博人:我全家都是火影!鹿代:……这是一个小时候不小心解开了封印,导致九尾当爸,水门当妈的鸣人的故事。企鹅群:223685218新书已经发布,书名:为美好的异世献上科学,欢迎品尝
  • 喜欢你有多难

    喜欢你有多难

    你忘了过去的一切,我却把所有细节都印在脑中
  • 史上最强电音王

    史上最强电音王

    新的风暴已经出现,怎么战争还在上演,穿越时空,竭尽全力,我会来到你身边。微笑面对危险,遵循残酷丛林波澜,鼓起戾气,开启变革,电音一定改变一切。“加藤,那是我见过最棒的音乐会。”“诗羽,还记得那夕阳西下的奔跑吗?那是我青春的Fade。”“亚瑟,生活充满了乐趣,或许你也可以很Tiger!”“亚丝娜记住了,电音,那是一种孤独。”阴盛:“上帝带走了A神,那我就让他的精神以另一种方式活在另一个世界。”
  • 墨染繁花:冷魅墨君驭兽妃

    墨染繁花:冷魅墨君驭兽妃

    一朝穿越化身花痴废物风三小姐,废物、花痴、无能是她的标签。废物吗?当她涅槃归来时,医毒双绝,一手金针天下走,手握上古神兵,驭万兽。天不怕地不怕却惹上了冷魅的王爷,“这只鸟翅膀硬了啊,有本事了敢不要本王了?!暗卫扶额,这真的是他们墨王殿下?真的没被换内芯吗?!一场爱情追逐,最终她入了他设的情局.小鸟娇嗔了他一眼要将他推走,谁知他栖身上前打横一个公主抱“推不走我的,但你可以推倒”,小鸟一脸嫌弃“别忘了,众人皆说我是花痴”,妖孽王爷灿烂一笑“花痴吗?!那你来吃我吧,我主动躺好,吃干抹净,绝对不跑。”
  • 快穿之FFF团新手报道

    快穿之FFF团新手报道

    #戏精且惜命#系统#主角很强?不务正业的陆星阑每天都在熬夜打游戏,于是他成功地在罚站的时候猝死了。?“广播站通知,我是校长。今天高二某班的陆同学在罚站时晕倒了,经医院检查……特此警醒,同学们一定要按时作息,好好学习。”?不甘心的陆星阑被一个自称FFF团工作室执行老师的东西抓了回来,成了工作室的实习员工。试炼世界,病弱小公子的复仇计划(已崩)第一正式世界,敌国前太子的翻身(正在进行)第二世界,病娇血族的饲养生活(待开启)第三世界,电竞大佬的反抗日常(待开启)第四世界,高冷师尊在线带娃(待开启)第五世界,女装大佬在线陪聊(待开启)……最后,陆星阑被工作室老总拐走了。金主:我夜观天象,发现你和我特别配。被扛在肩上的陆星阑表示并不想搭理你。陆星阑:配你大爷。戏精和戏精之间的对决。#前期偶尔沙雕。#陆星阑个人意识很强,是个超怂戏精。#缘更但不坑。#有点玻璃心但是接受意见,我很能聊的(握拳)个人solo很卑微#恳请留评吧!拜托了!我想看见你们的存在!