Page 128 of Shardless
All will be explained in due time, child, the voice whispered soothingly.For now, run. Go to the palace. I will meet you there when I am able.
Taly shuddered but kept running. Byron reared back when she approached but settled quickly when he heard the sound of her voice. He still seemed uneasy as she swung herself into the saddle but apparently grasped the urgency of the situation as he set off at a gallop through the trees, easily responding to the faintest press of her leg against his flank.
The sound of time restarting followed them—a thunderous explosion interlaced with screams of pain and rage cascading through the dense underbrush of the forest. The distant clamor bounced off the trees but sounded far enough away that Taly could be confident in her escape.
She had no idea what had just happened. Everything was a blur of confusion as she ducked out of the way of the leaves and branches that tore at her skin and clothing. The only thing she knew for certain was that, for better or worse, whatever was inside her had been set free, and she had been transformed—changed. But into what and to what end, she wasn’t quite sure.
Chapter 27
-A letter from Nissa Caeli of House Tira, High Lady of Air, to Atlas Venwraith of House Arendryl, High Lord of Water.
A note from the imperial scrivener:As per Her Imperial Majesty, the High Lady of Air’s request, this letter has been stricken from the official record.
The 8thday of the month Anon, during the 236thyear of the Empty Throne
Atlas,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. Given our long-abiding friendship, Matriarch Bryer has asked me to deliver some most troubling news. It is with the utmost regret that I must inform you that both Breena and her daughter passed away last year. There was an accident during the child’s Attunement Ceremony, and she did not survive. I’mtold Breena took her own life shortly afterward.
I know that we have not always seen eye-to-eye, especially as of late, but you have my deepest condolences. The others do not know what it is like to lose a Guardian—not in the way that we do. If there is anything that you need in the coming days, do not hesitate to ask. Even though our ability to correspond has become increasingly limited, please know that I am here for you, old friend, whenever you have need of me.
With my deepest sympathies and everlasting friendship,
Nissa
The chill of nightfall was just starting to set in, and it made Taly’s teeth chatter. Infinity’s Edge, the Time Queen’s abandoned seat of power, peeked through the thinning tree cover. The outline of the rusted iron gates was nothing but a shadow set against the bright backdrop of the second rising moon just visible over the next ridge.
Can’t stop yet, Taly thought, shaking off the lethargy that had seeped into her very bones. It took everything she had just to stay astride Byron, but thankfully, they were almost at the river now.
So far, she and Byron had encountered neither beast nor shade in their flight from Vale. Their progress had slowed as the underbrush of the forest thickened, but it was that same underbrush that had probably kept the shadow mage from pursuing them. She could smell thewater now. The Arda, the river that bisected the island of Tempris, was close by. If they could just make it out of the forest, they could follow the river back to Infinity’s Edge. Mysterious voices aside, the palace’s old defense system could at least offer some measure of protection if Taly could figure out a way to jump-start it.
When they finally emerged from the tree line, Taly slid out of the saddle, her boots slipping on the smooth stones as she stumbled to the river’s edge. The dank smell of moss assaulted her senses as she eased herself to the ground and took several long frantic gulps of the sweetest water she had ever tasted. They had made it. Byron pawed at the water, sending sprays of icy droplets washing over her as he too took a much-needed respite.
When she finally pulled back, she splashed her face, scrubbing at the trails of dried, flaking blood until the liquid streaming through her fingers finally ran clear. She sat there for a moment, staring into the water and doing her best to ignore how each breath felt like fire inside her lungs.
Aether depletion, she thought, placing a hand on her chest. The shortness of breath, the unexplained fatigue—it was textbook aether depletion. Truthfully, Taly wasn’t sure why that particular revelation surprised her at this point.
The ripples of river water distorted her reflection, but as the image began to resolve itself, she couldn’t help but gape at the girl that stared back at her. Surely, it was a trick of the moonlight. Maybe some spell cast by that horrible mage?
Her eyes looked…strangein the river’s reflection. Too bright—almost silver. And had her cheeks hollowed out? Or was it perhaps theexaggerated arch of her eyebrows that made the sweep of her cheekbones seem so much more… pronounced?
“What happened?” she asked, pulling at the skin of her face—no longer tanned from the sun. As she patted down her body, she noted that her limbs felt thinner. No, not thinner exactly. Although her arms looked willowy, almost delicate, there was a strength that hadn’t been there before. She could feel it.
Were her eyes playing tricks on her? Well, nothereyes, but those strange, highborn eyes that could now see farther and with more clarity than seemed natural? It was as though all her features had somehow been enhanced, transforming her into something too smooth, toofeyto be considered completely human.
Shards, she… she was supposed to be human!
But…no. Taly swept back her hair to reveal the pointed arch of her ear. Not human. Not anymore at least. A deep pit opened up in her stomach as the realization slowly began to sink in.
Maybe she hadn’t ever really been human.
Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she tried to grapple with these revelations—hell, witheverythingthat had just happened. She started when Byron nudged his nose against her cheek.
Not the time, he seemed to say.
Stupid horse. He was right. This wasn’t the time to give in to panic. She was beside a river in the middle of the night with an incensed shadow mage most likely pursuing her. No, what she needed to do was go meet this mystery voice whispering in her ear in the ruined remains of a long-abandoned palace. Because that seemed reasonable. That was what a perfectly sane personwould do, right?
Stumbling to her feet, Taly pulled herself back into the saddle. Then, urging her horse forward, they continued upstream. Their progress along the bank of the river was slow and arduous. They were both tired, and Byron’s hooves kept slipping along the riverbank. She slumped in the saddle, her arms clinging to his neck when she was no longer strong enough to give commands.
