The Shadowglass (The Bone Witch, #3)(57)

“Remind me never to anger the good asha,” Lord Stefan said as I stalked away.

“You haven’t looked at me since this morning,” Kalen observed as he caught up to me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my head down.

“Was it because of last night?”

Of course it was about last night! I had drunkenly announced my ardent love for Kalen to anyone who would listen, then pledged to exchange heartsglass while also threatening everyone at the same time. And that was right after a fight about returning to Kion. My cheeks colored. I’d asked him to marry me! “No,” I mumbled.

Kalen stared straight ahead. “When the worst of this is over and we find the culprits responsible, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Mind what?”

“Exchanging heartsglass.” Then he strode away, leaving me stunned.

By the time I caught up with Kalen, he was with Likh and Khalad in the now-empty great hall. Likh was bent over a cup of tea, breathing in the aroma. He looked as bad as I felt, though I suspected he was worse off. He had refused to relinquish the runic wards in light of recent news. The Heartforger had taken off his spectacles, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“The Drychta thinks the First Harvest is in Mithra’s Wall,” I announced, and both turned to me. “Aadil’s army managed to sneak past the southern kingdoms, and they now occupy the range. Kance’s army is there, trying to head them off. We must help them. From what the spy says, it seems Aadil is well aware of the shadowglass spell, and that Druj has allied himself with them.”

“I thought Lord Garindor said that the First Harvest was in the Ring of Worship?” Khalad asked.



“He said he thinks it’s there. But if Druj thinks it’s at Mithra’s Wall, we can’t risk not investigating.”

Likh started to rise, then flinched when a ray of sunlight from a nearby window glanced across his face and sat back down. “Right now?” he asked weakly.

“We’re leaving, but you aren’t. Don’t argue with me on this, Likh. It’s too risky for you, and you know it. There’ll be Faceless there, and I have no doubt Druj will be in those mountains. If he’s anything like Aenah or Usij, he’ll find some way around the wards.”

“Okay,” the asha said meekly.

I raised my eyebrow. “Really? You’re not going to fight me on this?”

“I’d be fairly useless, wouldn’t I? It’s not like I can use any spells at this point, and I haven’t quite gotten the fighting part of my training perfected yet.” Likh took a sip of his tea and shuddered. “I’m so occupied with trying not to throw up that I don’t have much room in me to protest. I want to die,” he moaned.

“Is tea the best solution?”

“It’s Althy’s concoction that we brought with us,” Khalad said shortly, then softened his tone. “Drink up, Likh, and I’ll make you a fresh batch.”

“It tastes disgusting,” Likh mumbled, but drank obediently.

“I want you here with him,” Kalen told his cousin. “With Likh under the wards, you’re the most qualified to seek out other blighted here in Yadosha.”

“I take it you’re off to join Kance’s fight?”

“The Yadoshans are also interested in coming to his aid. They’re not very happy about being fooled. But Tea and I will be faster on the azi. If Kance is facing off against the Faceless, then time’s of the essence. And if anything happens here, we’ll only be a dragon’s flight away.” He glanced at me, and I nodded. “Stefan is sending word to Istera and Tresea as well. They have no love lost for the Drychta. As soon as we hear word of what the Yadoshans intend to do, we’ll be leaving.”

“Good luck and get back safely. And send my regards to my brother.”

“It might be a good idea to address some other issues while you’re here in Thanh,” Kalen advised gently.

Khalad looked back at Likh, who rested his head on the table. “I suppose you’re right.” He picked up the empty teacup. “I’ll refill this.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kalen said.

“You okay?” I asked Likh once they were gone.

The boy’s head bobbed, face still buried in his arms. “I am never ever going to drink again.”

“Is now a good time to bring up Khalad?”

“You’re an evil person, Tea,” he accused.

“So I’ve been told.”

Likh jerked up. “Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know what you meant.” I’d been so close to forgetting about Daisy, about Fox. I forced down my own melancholy, stifling a sudden spasm of grief. “Does he know now?”

“He does.” Likh’s face was miserable. “I…I blurted it out in the heat of anger. He just stared at me like I’d grown another head. He had no idea. He hadn’t thought about me that way. That’s what made me want to drink and forget last night. That’s why I was flirting with your friends. I wanted to feel, for one brief second, how it would be if I were what I looked like, instead of what I really am. I know that’s no excuse…”

“I’m so sorry.”