Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Author:Jay Kristoff [Kristoff, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9781466885035
Google: 3GQCswEACAAJ
Amazon: 1250073022
Goodreads: 26114463
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Published: 2016-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

Sleep had come slowly, and Mia woke before the rising bells, staring at the walls. Determined to get the strength in her swordarm back, she exercised; push-ups at the foot of her bed, pull-ups on her door. Her elbow was screaming after a few minutes, but she struggled on until tears welled in her eyes. Finally collapsing on the floor, she lay there and caught her breath, cursing Solis for a bastard beneath it.

Slipping from her bedchamber, she headed toward the bathhouse. Passing by one acolyte’s room, she heard a crash, the tinkling of broken glass from inside. She came to a halt outside the door; several more thumps and bangs resounded from within.

“… those who poke their noses into others’ business tend to lose them…”

“Call me curious.”

“… you’ve heard what it did to the cat…”

Mia leaned in closer, put her ear against the wood.

The door swung open, and Mia sprang back, startled. There in the gloom, she saw Hush. Red-eyed. Pale skin. That beautiful face, streaked with tears. He was shirtless, sweating from exertion. The room beyond was in chaos, drawers upended and flung against the wall, bedding in ruin. Mia looked him up and down. Lithe and well muscled. Hairless chest. Other than some bruising at his wrists, his body showed no sign of the torture Marielle and Adonai had inflicted.

The boy stared. Lips thin. Rage in his eyes.

“Apologies, Hush,” Mia said. “I heard noises.”

Hush remained mute. Motionless.

“Are you all right?”

No answer. Just a cold, tear-stained stare. She remembered the image of him yestereve, head thrown back, lips peeling away from toothless gums. Was that why he never spoke? How had he lost every tooth in his head? Could he have ripped them out himself for tithe to gain entry to the Church?

The pair of them hung there, neither willing to move. The silence rang louder than the nevernight bells across Godsgrave.

“I’m sorry,” Mia tried. “About what they did to you. That was cruel.”

The boy inclined his head slightly. The tiniest of shrugs.

“If you ever want to talk about it…”

Hush flashed her a humorless smirk.

“I mean…” Mia flailed slightly. “Write about it. If you wish it. I’m here.”

The boy stared into Mia’s eyes. And stepping back with a flick of his bruised wrist, he slammed the door right in her face. Mia flinched away, narrowly avoiding another broken nose. Hooked her thumbs into her belt and shrugged.

“… well, that went swimmingly…”

“Can’t blame a girl for trying,” she said, shuffling down the corridor.

“… is this some stratagem…?”

“What, it’s so outrageous I give a damn?”

“… not outrageous. simply pointless…”

“Look, just because I don’t stand to gain from it, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care. They tortured him, Mister Kindly. Even though he doesn’t have a scar from it, doesn’t mean it didn’t leave a mark. And it’s like Naev said. I should look after the things that are important here.”

“… important? that boy is nothing to you…”

“I know I’m supposed to think of him as competition. I know there aren’t enough places for all of us among the Blades.

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