too.
It seemed like a shadow to Yaz. A shadow on the ice above them. Only there was nothing to cast such a shadow. “The ice is . . . grey?” It took her a moment to understand. “The ice is grey!”
Following the stain back across the cavern roof she saw that it thickened and darkened until where it vanished into the gloom of the next chamber it might even be black.
“Back!” Arka turned, arms spread, ushering them toward another cavern.
“What is it?” Quina asked, staring but backing away.
“The taint,” Thurin said.
“You didn’t know it was here?” Kao asked Arka, pale in Yaz’s light. “You led us into it?”
“Theus is behind this. I know it.” Thurin backed away slowly as if holding every part of himself tight. “The taint can spread. It can move. Not fast, but faster than the ice moves.”
“It’s followed some fault in the ice or a shift in the heat flow,” Arka said. “I don’t think Theus—”
“You don’t know what he’s capable of!” Thurin was nearly shouting.
“You’re right. I don’t.” Arka held up her hands, peacemaking. “All I know is that it can spread.” She ushered them into a tunnel leading away. Standing to count them past her. “But it almost never does . . .”
Thurin followed Yaz away from the cave with a last glance over his shoulder and a shudder. “A lot of things that never happen have happened today.”
Even as she left, something tugged at Yaz, the feeling that she was being watched an unbearable itch on the back of her neck. She swung about, shaping the star’s light into a beam. It took an effort—a small shard of pain made itself known deep in her head—but the star shone as she asked it to, and she sent its radiance lancing into the chamber from which the taint had spread.
“Arka!” There, exposed in the distance, darkness’s black sheet whipped from them, stood a handful of ragged figures, grime stained, frozen by the light’s sudden interrogation.
“Tainted!” Thurin cried the warning. But the Tainted were already in full retreat, running for the security of the shadows.
The smallest of them lingered, just a moment, casting a malevolent glance over his shoulder, black eyes gleaming, mouth twisted in a rictus of hate. And in that heartbeat before he looked away and sprinted after the rest of the Tainted, Yaz recognised her brother.
“Zeen!” She gave chase with no thoughts for her safety, knowing she could never catch her brother in a footrace.
Thurin brought her crashing to the ground and they struggled briefly before she flung him away, slamming against the nearest ice wall. Yaz found her feet but Zeen was gone. Even the sound of his footsteps had faded into the distance, and into the momentary silence came Thurin’s groaning.
“You stopped me!” She helped him up, her anger warring with concern that she might have done him some serious injury.
“It’s how they trap you!” Thurin rose, clutching his side.
“That was my brother!” Yaz shouted.
“That was a demon wearing your brother like you wear a hide.” Thurin winced and straightened. “They would have trapped you in the black ice and tainted you.”
Arka joined them, the others following. “It’s true. At least you know he’s alive.” She gave an apologetic shrug. “Though it might be better for him if he weren’t.”
Yaz shook off the hand Quina reached tentatively toward her. Her anger still smouldered even though she knew they were right. Zeen was alive and she wasn’t able to drive the taint from him. Not yet. “Come on.” She headed back the way Arka had been leading them, eager now to reach this city.
Even in the tunnel Yaz felt followed, as though the taint might be snaking after them through the ice, and the Tainted following in its wake. Zeen’s hate-twisted face returned to her mind whenever she rested her eyes on any patch of shadow. Thurin, limping beside her without complaint, was her only proof that her brother remained behind those demon-tainted eyes, whole and restorable.
The sensation of being watched returned so strongly when they
The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 1 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 2 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 3 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 4 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 5 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 6 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 7 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 8 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 9 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 10 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 11 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 12 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 13 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 14 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 15 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 16 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 17 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 18 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 19 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 20 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 21 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 22 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 23 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 24 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 25 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 26 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 27 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 28 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 29 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 30 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 31 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 32 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 33 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 34 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 35 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 36 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 37 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 38 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 39 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 40 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 41 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 42 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 43 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 44 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 45 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 46 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 47 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 48 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 49 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 50 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 51 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 52 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 53 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 54 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 55 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 56 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 57 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 58 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 59 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 60 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 61 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 62 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 63 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 64 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 65 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 66 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 67 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 68 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 69 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 70 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 71 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 72 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 73 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 74 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 75 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 76 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 77 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 78 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 79 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 80 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 81 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 82 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 83 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 84 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 85 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 86 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 87 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 88 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 89 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 90 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 91 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 92 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 93 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 94 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 95 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 96 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 97 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 98 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 99 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 100 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 101 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 102 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 103 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 104 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 105 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 106 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 107 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 108 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 109 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 110 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 111 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 112 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 113 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 114 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 115 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 116 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 117 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 118 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 119 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 120 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 121 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 122 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 123 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 124 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 125 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 126 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 127 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 128 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 129 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 130 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 131 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 132 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 133 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 134 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 135 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 136 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 137 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 138 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 139 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 140 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 141 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 142 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 143 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 144 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 145 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 146 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 147 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 148 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 149 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 150 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 151 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 152 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 153 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 154 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 155 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 156 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 157 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 158 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 159 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 160 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 161 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 162 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 163 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 164 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 165 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 166 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 167 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 168 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 169 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 170 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 171 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 172 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 173 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 174 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 175 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 176 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 177 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 178 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 179 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 180 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 181 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 182 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 183 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 184 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 185 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 186 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 187 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 188 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 189 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 190 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 191 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 192 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 193 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 194 The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice #1) - Mark Lawrence - Page 195