The Shape of Darkness (Heavy Lies the Crown) by D. Fischer

Author:D. Fischer [Fischer, D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Divinus Kingdom Publishing, LLC
Published: 2021-01-04T06:00:00+00:00

The safety she’s never had? Nefari Ashcroft cannot believe her ears! She doesn’t have to reprimand Cyllian, however, because Sibyl’s expression is enough.

Cyllian says to Sibyl, “I understand why you’re upset, but we cannot toss her over the mountain.”

“If you are wise, you would!” Sibyl barks. In such a young body, her outbursts appear unthreatening – laughable even; if the situation weren’t so unusual. But Nefari knows better than to point that out. She’s never seen Sibyl scared. She’s never seen any crone scared.

“It’s not up to us,” Nefari reminds, her words low and telling to her irritation. It feels different stating the same thing to Sibyl than it had to Kaymen. “It’s up to the council.”

“Bah!” the crone growls. She turns on her dusty boot heel and scurries from the Council Hut’s main room. They watch her disappear back the way she came.

How odd. Yesterday, it was Nefari who walked out on her. Today, it’s Sibyl who has had enough.

“She’s finally cracked,” Dao murmurs under his breath. But Nefari doesn’t think so. Sibyl has always approached things with grace and perspective.

Chewing on the inside of her lip, Nefari glances at the sword still in her hand.

Fawn nudges her forward. “Go,” Fawn mumbles. “Now’s the time to ask her about it.”

Without hesitation, Nefari takes off after Sibyl and heads into the dark hall. The child is fast for someone so short, bent, and misshapen.

Nefari ignores the conversation happening among the convening council as she passes and jogs faster when the crone slips outside the back door. She follows, and as soon as the wind kisses the tip of her nose, she hollers Sibyl’s name.

Wincing, Sibyl halts, and Nefari wordlessly thanks the stars she won’t have to chase the child up the mountain. Nefari strides to her. Her boots crunch in the snow as she says, “What is going on? What is this?”

Sibyl whirls around, and the jewelry around her neck sways. “I do not trust her.”

“I certainly don’t, and no one is asking you to, either.”

Pointing to the hut behind Nefari, she whispers in rage, “She is tainted by your enemy, Fari. You cannot allow her to stay. You have no idea how contagious darkness can be – how it can taint a bright star such as yourself.”

“I’m not a council member.” She steps closer, refusing to acknowledge the bright star comment and the notation that her opinion and decree matters in these mountains. “I’m not saying you’re wrong. Just tell me what you see so I can understand.”

“It is not my information to tell.”

Nefari quirks a brow. “Not yours to tell? Or you’re not sure what you stumbled across?”

Sibyl nervously glances around, but passersby pay no attention to their secluded conversation. “If you want those answers, you’ll have to seek them yourself. But mark my words, Fari. You will not like what you find about this girl. This I know.”

Exhaling softly, Nefari adjusts her grip on the pommel of her sword. “Noted, but I – Look, I came out here to ask you about my sword.

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