Starheart: The Vale of Stars Book 1 by Hailey Griffiths

Author:Hailey Griffiths [Griffiths, Hailey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-28T22:00:00+00:00

9

A Map

“This necklace seems more than it is. Sometimes I feel as if it is almost alive. It scares me.”

Aurelia, 6th Grace

The Illuminated Paths spun out through the Vale of Astyria like gold veins. They threaded their way from the fallen city of Cythia, through the Skylands and the Pyscorian Plains, before converging again in Ystellia, the sylvan heart of the Vale. Each one gleamed a fierce, unmissable light. They connected every corner of the Vale—the fastest, safest way to get anywhere.

Or at least, they used to be.

Since the Decline, taking the Paths was a risk at best. At worst, your family would find your bleached bones on their doorstep weeks later.

There was only one person who could take the Paths safely.

And she was stubbornly resisting Tainn’s urging to do so.

“It’ll be quicker.”

“No.”

“Seriously,” whined Tainn, “So much quicker, and so much less creepy.”

Elle clenched her jaw at the mention of the strange shadow that seemed to follow them through the Everwood. Echo clung to her, a very real tripping hazard, but too comforting to shoo away.

“It’ll also be kinder to my ankle.” Tainn gestured at an unmistakably swelling limb. Sarai meowed in strident agreement and sat down primly at his feet, bringing their small party to a halt. Her slinky white tail twitched, then folded itself tightly across her little furry paws.

Sweat snaked down Elle’s neck, and she resisted the urge to look back. They’d been hurrying through the Everwood after the loren, trying to make as little noise as possible. The voices behind them had faded once they were far enough away from the town, but no one in their small group had dared slow their pace until now. Tainn’s breath was becoming heavier with each step, and it was only when he was practically hissing that he had let her slip an arm around his waist.

Elle frowned.

She’d been considering it. But something—an old instinct, a new hesitation—made her shake her head again. The strangely dark woods made her anxious. They should be brighter where she stepped. A little worm of worry had burrowed its way into her heart.

Did Annaria really have the power to declare her a false Grace?

Tainn nudged Sarai with his swollen ankle. “Lead on, little one.”

Sarai’s piercing green glare made Elle bristle with anger and frustration. She, at least, still seemed to think Elle should be working wonders. Echo didn’t appear to have an opinion and was using the break to attempt to lick his own chest.

Elle took another look at the golden pathway next to them and sighed.

Tainn perked up and he flashed her a smile that was just a tiny bit gloating. Sometimes she forgot how much of a team he and that damned cat were.

Ignoring his excitement, she turned slowly back to look over her shoulder, squinting into the gloom of the forest. Anxiety was making her palms damp, and she couldn’t get her racing thoughts to focus.

Risk Tainn’s life with the broken magic of the Paths, or risk them all by

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.