the shadow and bone

Chapter 6

I DREAMED THAT I was back in Keramzin, slipping through the

darkened hallways on stockinged feet, trying to find Mal. I could hear him

calling to me, but his voice never seemed to get any closer. Finally, I

reached the top floor and the door to the old blue bedroom where we liked

to sit in the window seat and look out at our meadow. I heard Mal laughing.

I threw open the door ... and screamed. There was blood everywhere. The

volcra was perched on the window seat and, as it turned on me and opened

its horrible jaws, I saw that it had gray quartz eyes.

I bolted awake, my heart thudding in my chest, and looked around in

terror. For a moment I couldn't remember where I was. Then I groaned and

flopped back onto the pillows.

I had just started to doze off again when someone began pounding on the

door.

"Go away," I mumbled from beneath the covers. But the pounding only

grew louder. I sat up, feeling my whole body shriek in rebellion. My head

ached, and when I tried to stand, my legs did not want to cooperate.

"All right!" I shouted. "I'm coming!" The knocking stopped. I stumbled

over to the door and reached for the lock, but then I hesitated. "Who is it?"

"I don't have time for this," a female voice snapped from behind the

door. "Open. Now!"

I shrugged. Let them kill me or kidnap me or whatever they wanted. As

long as I didn't have to ride a horse or climb stairs, I wouldn't complain.

I had barely unlocked the door when it flew open and a tall girl pushed

past me, surveying the room and then me with a critical eye. She was easily

the most beautiful person I'd ever seen. Her wavy hair was deepest auburn,

her irises large and golden; her skin was so smooth and flawless that she

looked as if her perfect cheekbones had been carved from marble. She wore

a cream-colored kefta embroidered in gold and lined in reddish fox fur.

"All Saints," she said, looking me over. "Have you even bathed? And

what happened to your face?"

I flushed bright red, my hand flying to the bruise on my cheek. It had

been nearly a week since I'd left camp, and longer since I'd bathed or

brushed my hair. I was covered in dirt and blood and the smell of horses. "I

—"

But the girl was already shouting orders to the servants who had followed

her into the room. "Draw a bath. A hot one. I'll need my kit, and get her out

of those clothes."

The servants descended upon me, pulling at my buttons.

"Hey!" I shouted, batting their hands away.

The Grisha rolled her eyes. "Hold her down if you have to."

The servants redoubled their efforts.

"Stop!" I shouted, backing away from them. They hesitated, looking