Page 47 of The Bone Season

I suddenly clawed for Alsafi, trying to rake his face. He jerked back as if my hand was on fire, releasing one of my shoulders. I used my other hand to swipe his knife from its sheath on his belt.

One deep stab was all it took to break his grip. I lurched away from him and stood in front of Seb, the knife clutched in my hand.

‘Stay back,’ I warned.

Nashira was unmoved. To her, I was already a performer – a human with a head full of confetti and fireworks, here to entertain my betters.

For the first time, I noticed the angels Liss had mentioned, close to Nashira. Only two of her five were here, but they hummed with power. If I attacked her, they would overwhelm me.

Warden stood nearby, his gaze soldered to my face. I pointed the knife at him.

Alsafi lifted a hand to the wound I had just put in his side. When I looked at the blade, I saw a yellowish light at its tip. The same glow that had bled from Warden.

‘You are resourceful,’ Nashira said. ‘Very well. If you refuse to kill the amaurotic yourself, perhaps you will defend him.’

‘And you expect us to respect you.’ I shook my head. ‘State of you all, torturing some frightened kid who can’t fight back.’

‘If you are what I suspect, then youcanfight back, 40.’

Seb was crying now. I tightened my grip on the knife, but my hands were clammy.

‘I can’t,’ I said again. ‘Just fail me. Send us both to the Rookery.’

‘That would be a terrible waste of potential,’ Nashira said. ‘Aludra, disarm her.’

Aludra Chertan stepped forward. Pale hair sleeked to her waist, not a flyaway or split end in sight. She drew it away from her face, fastening it at the base of her neck.

‘This is your last chance, 40,’ she said in a silvery voice. ‘Kill the amaurotic.’

Even if I had wanted to, I still had no idea how to project my spirit, or I would have done it for Jaxon. Even his barbs and wheedling had never forced it out. Only a threat to my life had worked.

‘No,’ I said.

Warden came to join Aludra. I planted my feet, taking slow breaths through my nose.

Part of me knew I would lose. I couldn’t defeat all these Rephs with a knife, and other than the two angels, which would only answer to Nashira, there were no spirits to spool in this chamber.

But seeing Warden reminded me. When I had cleaned his wounds in the dark, his blood had sharpened my perception of the æther.

Alsafi had the same light in his veins.

I held the blade up to my face and inhaled. The æther enfolded and submerged me like ice water. All at once, I felt calmer. I focused.

With a flick of my wrist, I flung the knife at Aludra. She sidestepped it, but only just. My aim had improved, just as I had thought.

Aludra picked up a candleholder – almost as tall as she was – with unnerving ease. ‘You have lost your weapon,’ she said. ‘Not that it would have helped you. What are you going to do now?’

‘Come and find out,’ I said.

Aludra stalked towards me. I led her away from Seb. I was leaving him vulnerable, but Warden made no move towards him. His gaze stayed on me.

When Aludra swung her improvised weapon, I ducked. The candleholder hit one of the carvings, destroying its face in a shower of dust. I moved again at once, trying to keep plenty of distance between me and the Reph. If she could wield something that heavy without breaking a sweat, she could also snap me like a twig.

I didn’t expect her to throw it at me.

Seb screamed my name as the candleholder soared across the chamber. I dived to the floor. A heartbeat later, the candleholder clanged down, barely missing me. The din rang through the chamber like a stricken bell. Before I could get up, Aludra was on top of me. She lifted me with one hand, bringing us face to face again.

‘We know what you are,’ she said. ‘Your days of hiding are over.’

---