Page 113 of Shardless

The rain was coming down in earnest as they stepped through the doors of the main building.Water had started to collect in the courtyard, and they had to carefully navigate the rapidly forming puddles. As they approached the line for the commissary, Kato offered her his coat, a plain, standard-issue Gate Watcher’s cloak made from waterproof canvas. The queue trailed out the door of the kitchens, through the mud and trampled down hay, and Taly accepted the garment gratefully, pulling the hood over her hair as the wind picked up.

“Lovely weather we’re having,” she said, trying to break the heavy silence.

Kato’s lips twitched. “Yes. Funny that the weather should take such a nasty turn as soon as you arrived. In fact, a lot of things seemed to have taken a turn as soon as you arrived. Why do you think that is?”

“Bad luck.” Taly took a deep breath, trying to slow her racing heartbeat and praying that the dull patter of the rain would confuse Kato’s enhanced senses. “Some might even say I’m cursed.”

That’s certainly not a lie, she thought, prodding carefully at the mental barrier.

“Very bad luck,” he countered blithely. The smile on his lips fell, seemingly washed away by the rain. “You know I’m not sure what I’m angrier about—that someone’s creating shades or that there are those inside our walls selling out their own people. I’ve been thinking about it, and if I had to guess, I would say that our traitor most likely infiltrated the compound as a refugee during all of the confusion. I would also guess that she’s looking for something.”

“She?” Taly pulled at the coat, trying to pass off the trembling in her hands as a shiver.

Kato nodded, unaffected by the wet and the cold. Fey tended to run a few degrees warmer than humans. “Yes. That’s what the guards said when they were questioned—a woman brought them wine just before the time crystals in the gate went missing.”

Taly’s throat bobbed, the only reaction she would allow herself as she continued to stare straight ahead. Why did everything always circle back around to time magic?

“You know what I find myself wondering?” Kato mused. Although his face was the picture of concerned confusion as he scuffed at the edge of a puddle with his boot, his eyes were cold. “Now that our traitor has the time crystals from the Seren Gate, what do you think she’ll go for next? What is she after?”

“I don’t know,” Taly replied stoically.

“Are you sure?” Kato pressed. “Come on, you’re a smart girl. You don’t have any ideas?” Taly shook her head, unnerved by the ruthlessness she could see lurking just beneath the surface of that boyish façade. “That’s too bad,” he said with a convincing sigh. “Because if I knew what she wanted, I’d be tempted to just give it to her. Anyone would. Especially if it would save the lives of all theseinnocentpeople.” He held out his arms, gesturing toward the hundreds of displaced refugees milling about the courtyard. “How many more people have to die, Taly?”

Because of you, her subconscious hissed at her.Time mage. Freak.

Taly took a step back, her appetite having grown cold. “You know, on second thought, I’m not feeling very hungry. I think I’m just going to go to bed.” Shrugging out of his coat, she tossed it to himas she turned to walk away.

His hand grabbed her wrist, and as he whirled her around to face him, a crest of pain, the sharpest one yet, tore through her, almost bringing her to her knees. She managed to bite back her cry, but when she looked up, what she saw in Kato’s eyes had her backing away. Suspicion. Betrayal.Anger. There was so much anger behind that deceptive smile. “Now, now… I promised my brother I’d take care of you,” he said with just the right amount of concern. “You’re starting to look a bit piqued. Stay in line. Let’s get something to eat.”

“I’ll get something later. Promise,” Taly replied hastily, stumbling over her feet in her attempt to get away. This time he let her retreat, and it was all she could do not to run as she forced herself to slow her pace, edge around the courtyard as she pretended to shy away from the rain.

He knew. Kato knew what she was. Maybe the first pulse of magic in the library really was an accident, and each spell that had subsequently snapped had been nothing more than a link in a chain reaction that had already been set in motion. But when Kato grabbed her arm just now, when he took her hand in the tower and looped her arm with his—she had felt it. The subtle,deliberatebite of shadow magic. Searching. Seeking. Its claws strummed the fraying cords of the enchantments woven across her skin, scraping across the barrier that was just barely holding back her magic. He hadn’t been sure before, but now… he had everything he needed. And he must have come to the same conclusion she had. Whoever was doing this was after her. Innocent people had died because of her.

As soon as she passed through the doors of the main building, Taly started sprinting, choosing to take the servants’ stairs. The darkened stairwell was deserted, and she finally allowed herself to sag against the wall, panting. Another whip-like snap of pain jolted her body, and her lip bled as she desperately attempted to shove the released power back behind the wall. Gasping for breath, she started taking the stairs at a far more sedate pace.

She couldn’t stay here, not anymore. She couldn’t knowingly endanger more innocent lives just so that she could stay hidden. And no matter how much she may have wanted to, she couldn’t tell Skye. Because if she did, he might not make the right decision. He might not send her away. She couldn’t take that chance.

You’re the only thing keeping me going. That’s what he had said to Taly just hours earlier. Bursting into their room, she hesitated. This was going to kill him. He would never forgive her. If she ran out on him a second time, that was it. He might still care about her, but he would be well within his rights to wash his hands of her. For good.

But maybe it was better that way. Maybe she had been right the first time. He really was better off without her. Everyone was.

Peeling off her now-sopping wet coat and sweater, Taly paused as three tiny, bell-shaped blooms fluttered to the floor. She had found them growing in the courtyard and stopped to pluck them as she and Skye made their way to the tower to meet with the other members of the leadership.

Snowdrops. The same as the twining mass of flowers that Skye had so lovingly etched onto thecrystal frame of her pistols.

Picking up one of the wilting buds, Taly twirled the stem between her forefinger and thumb, gently prodding at the wall and teasing out a small trickle of magic from between the stones. As she watched the golden mist snake its way between her fingers, she couldn’t help but think it felt familiar in a way, this power—like an old friend. The golden threads wove themselves around the bloom, pulling and tightening until the petals were once again smooth and supple and new.

She had to leave. About that, she was sure. But this time, she wouldn’t just disappear into the night with no explanation.

This time, she would say goodbye.

Chapter 24

-From the personal notes of Ivain Castaro

The 25thday of the month Ares, during the 246thyear of the Empty Throne

As I approach my elderhood, evenings like this are what I live for. Late summer on Tempris has always been my favorite—the sunsets are so vibrant, so heartbreakingly beautiful, that even the most hard-hearted of souls couldn’t help but stop and linger.

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